The Connells

September 19 - 26, 1 9 9 6 [Off the Record]

*1/2 The Connells

WEIRD FOOD AND DEVASTATION

(TVT)
The Connells hammer out working-class rock spiked with smart pop choruses; the best tracks here are a mixture of filthy guitars, melancholy Hammond B-3, and rambling, sometimes nonsensical lyrics. On "Start," the band pay homage to R.E.M. with a crisp vamp and a bright, beautiful chorus. "Pretty Rough" is a European pub song split open with thumping drums, a shaker, and a melancholy guitar wail; you can almost smell the spilt beer. "Let It Go" is a mean, grimy blues with a slamming beat. Keyboardist Steve Potak chops out Jerry Lee Lewis-style piano riffs, sliding and falling into a chorus full of Motown-style back-up singers. Everyone even remembers to add the mandatory handclaps on the two and four.
The Connells play best when they emulate other bands. Which makes this CD a collection of interesting pop hooks and skillfully layered blues-rock references without a trace of originality.
-- Jonathan Follett