I found a really old setlist from August 23, 1986 last night, and on the
back it had three photocopied reviews (all from mid 1986) that I thought
the list would find interesting.  All three compare Darker Days to the
Smiths, which is amusing because I've never thought that, but not one
R.E.M. reference in them :-)
 
colin
 
-----
May 9, 1986
CMJ New Music Report
Connells - Darker Days
Elvis Costello does it again, or at least his label does.  Britain's Demon
Records followed up their American Heartland success with EIEIO with the
Connells debut LP, DARKER DAYS which is just now finding U.S. release (as
is EIEIO).  Combining the feel of real down-to-earth southern pop, bright
production (Bob Dash and Don Dixon), and a British style that conjures up
the Moody Blues, these North Carolina boys have come up with an album that
feels fresh.  Twangy guitar, pounding bass, and vocals that give that
Morrissey whine a real rockin' feeling makes "Hats Off" and "Seven" stand
out, but if you really want that popified Smiths sound, it jumps right out
on the title track.  The colorful sounds of "1934" and the fuzzy
instrumental "Dial It" make for a well rounded record.
-----
THE NEW ROUTE
The Connells - Darker Days - Black Park Records
"No hipsters here claiming to have been playing country-rock before it was
cool.  No roguish string-tied 'vested cow thrash, no morbid all black
make-up-in-lace death rock, or angst-ridden balefulness.  This band can be
cool all on its own." - Tasty World
And so it goes, this "cool" band has just recently released in Europe in
January of 1986 by England's Demon Records (co-owned by Elvis Costello).
The Connells, a five piece band from Raleigh, NC, produce an energetic
pop/folk sound with strummed guitars, sprightly speed rolls on the skins
and Smithlike vocals.  But these guys are not the Smiths!  They're
America's own - The Connells.
-----
OPTION
The Connells - Darker Days
This Raleigh, NC band drew Smiths comparisons early on, but has thankfully
transcended the initial label, where Morrissey & Co. stubbornly place the
singer's grating affected vocal right in front of you, Doug MacMillan's
warble - a warm and friendly one at that - is integrated smoothly into the
complex web of jangly guitars and unobtrusive textural keyboards.  Bands
past and present flit past, the Byrds, Modern English, Let's Active, even
Simon & Garfunkel.  Yet this is totally unique, melodically exhilirating,
glorious music.  Most tracks are midtempo; the casual listenermay complain
of sameness.  The dense, ominous headlong rush of "Hats Off" should
counter, its amphetamined brace of choppy guitars battling it out with an
aggressive blurted vocal.  There are classic moments throughout the nine
songs present, too many to list and truthfully, too emotional to dwell upon
in writing.  Record of the month.
-----
 
 
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Colin Law                |
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