|
|
|
BANDS: Punk
& Ska INTERESTS: Venues ETC... About LOTD
|
A Review of The Connells Old School Dropouts
In an effort to be
objective, I feel the need to disclose that the Connells are and always have
been my favorite band. Having said
that, I should also mention that I was completely prepared to give Old School
Dropouts a mediocre review if honesty called for it.
The Raleigh, NC band has been together since 1984 and has released seven
full-length albums prior to this one. Albums
like Boylan Heights, Fun & Games, and Ring are what put
the Connells on the map, particularly in the Southeast and in Europe.
Following Ring, however, were two albums that seemed to please
only the most ardent of the bands fans.
While critics tended to agree with those fans by praising the albums, the
Connells lost many of their more casual listeners with the more grown-up (but
not necessarily better) song writing of Weird Food & Devastation and
Still Life. Given all this,
plus the fact that the Connells recently severed its fourteen-year relationship
with its label, TVT, I was not at all sure what to expect from Old School
Dropouts. Pleasant surprise best describes my reaction to the too-short, eleven-track album. The disc starts out with the witty, energetic Bust, which represents a return to the bands trademark jangling guitar sound, a sound the band helped make famous alongside its southern college rock peers, REM. Bust, Gladiator Heart and Put Down should please a great number of old fans that were lost after the bands digressions following Ring. A real treat is Back in Blighty sung by Mike Connell, who is the bands primary songwriter, but not the primary lead singer. Mikes higher voice suits the light, melodic tune. The discs only real disappointment is Radio, which drags on a bit, in the same manner as a few of the tracks on Weird Food & Devastation. Old School Dropouts also marks a slight change in recording style for the Connells. I am not sure if a lower budget or an artistic decision is responsible, but three of the albums tracks were recorded using a 4-track analog recorder; the Connells are a six-piece band! The lo-fi sound is somewhat refreshing and fitting in Gladiator Heart and Rusted Fields. On the other hand, Bust is such a texturally rich song that this type of recording prevents the listener from hearing everything clearly. The freedom of no longer being tied to a record label has clearly done a great deal for the Connells music, allowing the band to come full circle and create the kind of songs that won so many die-hard fans during the late 80s and early 90s. Still, the lower budget that comes with an independent album means the music might never reach those who would appreciate it, which is especially tragic at this late date in the bands career.
You can purchase music by The Connells from Amazon & CDUniverse LEFT OFF THE DIAL's Connells Page About LOTD Contact/Staff Advertise Home All content © LEFT OFF THE DIAL 2001-2005. All rights reserved. |
