from Tasty World Magazine, no date:

The Connells
Darker Days (Demon Records)
Deriving, but not derivative, influenced, but also clearly influential, the
Raleigh NC band, The Connells, are the inheritors of the American rock
revival.  Rising above the paisley mass, Darker Days marks an auspicious and
challenging introduction to 1986.

Dismiss any references to the Connell's Smithiness as, at best, a hard-eared
misinterpretation of singer Doug MacMillan's unique style.  The songwriting
is inspired to an extent beyond a youthful debut, and the range of Darker
Days reveals a near perfect blend of American guitar and U.K. post-punk
essentials that achieves a groundbreaking emotional plateau reminiscent of
Chronic Town and Heaven Up Here.

In several ways the album fails to fulfill all of the promise heard in its
many splendid moments and leaves us crying for more of an edge--more bite,
more drive.  Only the percussion of Peele Womberly (at its most manic on
"7") delivers the energy we want to demand.  Still, Darker Days brings home
the bacon and secures my vote as the finest Tar Heel product in many moons.
      ---Travis Bickle, Jr.

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from City Limits Magazine (London), 2/14/86

The Connells:  Darker Days (Demon)
The Connells are one of the seemingly numerous garage bands currently
emanating from North Carolina.  According to Don Dixon, the co-producer of
this album, the group hails from the Triangle area of North Carolina, are
all fresh out of college, in their early 20's and, with the exception of
drummer Peele Kimberley (who plays gigs with Johnny Quest), in their first
band.

REM are an obvious influence though more as a sound ingredient than role
model.  For as with many bands on the new US rock scene, strength comes from
a synthesis of English post-punk vocal mannerisms/jangly guitars and an
American FM-rock attitude to rhythm and song structure.  Sprinkle in
seasoning not dissimilar in flavour to the Go-Betweens and you'll get a
rough idea of their sound.  Rough, because the Connells' real individuality
lies in a bunch of good songs, wistful and melancholic yet pushed along by a
dose of springy, dancey rock 'n' roll.  Try "Darker Days" or the denser
textures of "Hats Off" (with it's strong echoes of  '60s West Coasters Clear
Light) and be engaged by their vision.  (John Crosby)

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from Sounds (London), 3/8/86

THE   CONNELLS
'Darker Days'  (Demon VEX 1)
**** (four stars)
From the pale ambience of the sleeve for this debut album by The Connells, I
expected a kind of fake 4AD sound and was at something of a loss as to why
it should be on Demon.  Very wrong, though.  The Connells are very
different.

'Darker Days' presents a series of thumbnail masterpieces traced lightly in
sparkling, strummed guitar.  Etched into the twangy and very comfortable
framework comes a heartfelt vocal line tinged with a folky veneer and a
reasonable respect for the lyrical intonations of Lloyd Cole.

Add to all that the fact that The Connells write pretty fine pop songs which
bounce around the back of your head with familiar abandon, and it becomes
clear that there's the distinct possibility that we'll be hearing a lot more
from this versatile five piece.

'Darker Days' is merely a scratch on the surface. But it's enough for the
damage to be done.  Once you're exposed to these infectious tunes then you,
too, can join the new-wave-of-very-hummable-whistling-lyrics society.  Or at
least renew your membership.    - Dave Henderson

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from Music Week, 3/15/86

THE CONNELLS:  Darker Days.
Demon, VEX1
Flattering parallels with the Smiths will be plain to all but the most
cloddish, in the plangeant guitar of Mike Connel and warbling vocals of Doug
MacMillan, but to see only that is to disregard Colorado's Connells own
(albeit nascent) charms.  It's funny how a band like Raymonde who strike a
visible "attitude" can be hailed as "the new Smiths", while no one even
knows The Connells exist.  Brighter days ahead?

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