Steadman's Wake

The Connells

Pubblicato il 21/09/21 su Missing Piece Records
Artisti principali: The Connells
Genere: Musica alternativa e indie

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Faced with playing their old hits or trying to forge ahead with new material, many former alternative rock stars are now in the grip of making those long delayed (and often unwise) comeback albums. Two decades after their last recording, The Connells, the once regional superstars from the fertile Research Triangle music scene, have returned with Steadman's Wake. Built from re-recordings of three tunes from 2001's Old School Dropouts, and eight new numbers, this album also introduces two new band members Mike Ayers on guitar and drummer Rob Ladd. Stylistically however, little has changed since the 1990s. For fans of The Connells of yore, this is eminently satisfying news. There are no adventures into metal or awkward integrations of electronics here. Doug McMillan and Mike Connell are in fine voice throughout and keyboardist Steve Potak (who joined in 1991) is still adding flavorful touches. Led by Connell's songwriting, the band remains in the thrall of the now ancient question surrounding all southern jangle pop: did they have their sound before or after Michael Stipe and Co. took it to the stars? With half the record recorded three years ago in Mitch Easter's North Carolina studio, Fidelitorium, and the rest produced and recorded more recently by John Plymale at Overdub Lane Studios in Durham, NC, the sonic presentation here is the bouncy ensemble wash that marks alt rock as a group effort rather than a solo art.

The album's unconvincing title track—which features a processed vocal overdub "oh well, oh well, oh well," that is nearly a straight lift out of Warner-era R.E.M.—is an unsuccessful attempt to get topical and political by mixing allusions to the Civil War, the current opioid crisis, and the 2016 Charlottesville protests. While "Hello Walter," one of the tunes from Old School Dropouts adds nothing to the Connells canon, and new tunes like "Helium" look backward at old tricks, the album picks up speed and regains some of the band's former melodic snap in "Burial" where the chorus wryly repeats, "Dig me, dig me, dig me now." In this collection's highlight "Universal Glue," they are firmly back in the old groove, echoing their influences but rocking hard with feeling. On Steadman's Wake these onetime wide-eyed hipsters have clearly become old pros. The only hitch is that musically what was once edgy has now become alt-rock oldies—fine for remembrance but plowing very familiar ground. © Robert Baird/Qobuz

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Steadman's Wake

The Connells

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