The 50 Greatest Rock & Roll Albums of All Time

Opinionated Connells Discography

Album Grade Comments

Darker Days [1986] B Still trying to find their voice (literally); while a few songs hint at the pop greatness that would follow ("Hats Off," ", they're still trying to figure out if they want to be R.E.M. or the Smiths, while not really succeeding at either.

Boylan Heights [1987] A+ See my full review.

Fun & Games [1989] A An outstanding follow-up to Boylan Heights, with loads of catchy jangle-guitar-pop and soaring harmonies. The band turns the volume up a notch, and the album is much more rocking (but still relatively gentle) than the predecessor.

One Simple Word [1990] B Includes their best song, the insanely catchy "Stone Cold Yesterday" (a #1 hit if radio listeners weren't all sheep), and a few other catchy ones ("Get a Gun," "The Joke"), but also some decent but forgettable filler. Once again, the band turns the volume up, but the harder edge to the album comes at the expence of the melodicism which made the earlier albums so special.

Ring [1993] B Like the previous one, a great song ("Slackjawed"), some nice guitar pop ("74-75," "New Boy"), and some less-than-essential material, though song for song it's a marginal improvement.

Weird Food & Devastation [1996] D Even the best bands misfire, but few do it so disastrously as the Connells do here. It's a much harder-rocking album than anything else they've produced, which might have been ok had they bothered to write a single memorable song (much less a single catchy hook). Avoid this one.

Still Life [1998] A- A wonderful rebound, with the band returning to the melodic, catchy hooks of yore. Several really strong, upbeat pop tunes, as well as some beautiful balladry. Even the dull spots are catchier than most of what was found on the three previous albums.

Old School Dropouts [2001] B The band's swan song, a depressing commentary on the sad state of popular music. The last album before the break-up finds the band still in surprisingly good (or least consistent) form. Yet it's recorded on the cheap for a (very) indie label -- there's a typo on the song list, a few blown guitar lines stay in the mix, and a handful of tracks appear as lo-fi demo tracks. Even the amateurish production can't keep a good song down, though, and there are several here (most notably the insanely catchy "Back In Blighty"). Bands this good don't deserve the obscurity they got.

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Album	Grade	Comments
Darker Days [1986]	B	Still trying to find their voice (literally); while a few songs hint at the pop greatness that would follow ("Hats Off," ", they're still trying to figure out if they want to be R.E.M. or the Smiths, while not really succeeding at either.
Boylan Heights [1987]	A+	See my full review.
Fun & Games [1989]	A	An outstanding follow-up to Boylan Heights, with loads of catchy jangle-guitar-pop and soaring harmonies. The band turns the volume up a notch, and the album is much more rocking (but still relatively gentle) than the predecessor.
One Simple Word [1990]	B	Includes their best song, the insanely catchy "Stone Cold Yesterday" (a #1 hit if radio listeners weren't all sheep), and a few other catchy ones ("Get a Gun," "The Joke"), but also some decent but forgettable filler. Once again, the band turns the volume up, but the harder edge to the album comes at the expence of the melodicism which made the earlier albums so special.
Ring [1993]	B	Like the previous one, a great song ("Slackjawed"), some nice guitar pop ("74-75," "New Boy"), and some less-than-essential material, though song for song it's a marginal improvement.
Weird Food & Devastation [1996]	D	Even the best bands misfire, but few do it so disastrously as the Connells do here. It's a much harder-rocking album than anything else they've produced, which might have been ok had they bothered to write a single memorable song (much less a single catchy hook). Avoid this one.
Still Life [1998]	A-	A wonderful rebound, with the band returning to the melodic, catchy hooks of yore. Several really strong, upbeat pop tunes, as well as some beautiful balladry. Even the dull spots are catchier than most of what was found on the three previous albums.
Old School Dropouts [2001]	B	The band's swan song, a depressing commentary on the sad state of popular music. The last album before the break-up finds the band still in surprisingly good (or least consistent) form. Yet it's recorded on the cheap for a (very) indie label -- there's a typo on the song list, a few blown guitar lines stay in the mix, and a handful of tracks appear as lo-fi demo tracks. Even the amateurish production can't keep a good song down, though, and there are several here (most notably the insanely catchy "Back In Blighty"). Bands this good don't deserve the obscurity they got.