Thought you guys might be interested in the review that was in the Weekend
section of today's Washington Post.  At the end of the review there was
information regarding next week's show at the 9:30 Club in DC.
 
-Steph
 
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The Connells originally came to prominence with a sound that gave Southern
neo-folk-rock a Celtic-lilt -- sort of R.E.M. with a side order of Big
Country.  After consistently failing to make another album as engaging as
1987's "Boylan Heights," the new "Weird Food and Devastation" finds the
North Carolina sextet in a subdued, even rueful mood.
 
On "The Adjective Song," frontman Doug MacMillan sings words like "smarter"
and "nicer" and then concludes that "these are words that we use to lie."
On "Friendly Time," the Connells ironically feign to be pals with a list of
insufficiently sympathetic rock critics (including one whose name seems
awfully familiar).
 
There are some up-tempo tracks on the album, notably "Fifth Fret," "Let it
Go," and "Hang On," whose chorus falsetto suggests a kinship with David
Bowie's "Hang on to Yourself."  Elsewhere, however, the band attempts to
get "Back to Blue" with songs that cultivate a hushed, late-night feel.  As
usual, the overall effect is adept but underwhelming; "Weird Food and
Devastation" should please the band's fans, but probably won't attract many
new ones.
 
-Mark Jenkins
The Washington Post
Friday, October 27