Still Life

TVT Records

The only other Connells CD I have was their first one, 1986’s Darker Days. That was a brooding, minor chord, ambient pop album that owed a lot to R.E.M. and Aztec Camera. It, along with the band, was easily forgotten. Six albums and 12 years later, the Connells have gone from neu-punks to pop stars. "Still Life" mixes the Judy Bats’ melodrama and Freedy Johnston down-home fun to create a tremendously smooth pop album. Think Wallflowers with a touch of Matthew Sweet. The super-slick production comes by way of Jim Scott (Tom Petty, Wilco, The Rolling Stones), a guy who’s known for producing hit records. Sounds like he might have another on his hands. If "Crown," "Gauntlet," or "Dull, Brown and Gray" don’t catch the eye of some wily L.A. music programmer, then there is no justice in this ol’ world.

--Tim McMahan

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Copyright © 1998 Tim McMahan. All rights reserved.

Rating: Yes