Search - Connells :: Darker Days

One of the greatest albums ever made

Leon | United States | 01/28/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Lots of folks don't like this album. It is fundamentally different than the Connells other albums, but it just flat out rocks. I highly recommend you pick this up and take a listen to it."

The genuine original, but poorly produced

D. DABBS | Richmond VA | 03/18/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This album contains the first seven original pieces by this band. They identified the songs to each other by number (one through seven, although I don't know if that's the order of presentation here). This is smooth, upbeat pop rock. The instrumental approach is obviously influenced by early REM, and although they're also from the south (Raleigh NC) there's nothing immediately identifiable as southern about the music. Pronounced con-NELLS. My impression (from a show at U.Va. in about 1989) is they had a small but devoted following of well-scrubbed college preppies.
Unfortunately the mix on this first record was a poor job. I've read that the band has said as much, that this was somebody's first try and they think the later records are much better made, although I think the material here is probably better. It sounds overproduced -- actually several of their records do, but this one especially. I've tried to fix it with an equalizer, but decided you really can't because different intruments seem to be mixed with radically different EQ. It may seem to weird to be so focused on this, but I can't think of another record by anybody where it's such a problem, and it feels like a shame because there's some great music here. I have this on LP and see no indication the CD would sound any different. This would be an excellent candidate for a remaster."

But it's fun....

D. DABBS | 05/14/1999

(2 out of 5 stars)

"This CD sounds completely different from their later work, but it's still a lot of fun. Doug MacMillan's voice has definitely improved since this album, when it seems as if he was trying to emulate Morrissey. Reminds me of the college dorm and listening to The Smiths, old REM, and The Cure."