Connells high on emotion

Albums are too often merely 13 songs slapped together for a profit. The best albums consciously balance consistency and diversity.

Songs fit together like puzzle pieces make certain albums stand out from trend-following super groups. The latest release from The Connells is a puzzle with 13 pieces. Separately each piece is beautiful, and together the album is a portrait of emotion.

Unfortunately, thousands of listeners are still not familiar with The Connells. These listeners don't know about the band's timeless lyrics and musical combinations that hypnotize with sound and communicate with the vocalist's words.

REVIEW
	The Connells Still Life TVT Records 4 stars

The most powerful aspect of "Still Life" is its lyrical content. The title track best displays the album's complexity. "This still life has its virtues/ because everything in motion leaves/ or is just left behind."

Each song is emotionally driven by its lyrics. Feelings of disappointment, happiness, encouragement and stability come through, giving the album a diversity not considered by many bands.

The back drop for all the emotion is the equally ardent musicianship of each track. Lyrics sometimes overpower music, but in this case, the two walk hand in hand.

In "Bruised," the guitar introduction takes the listener flying, high and fast. Bringing them back down to earth are the song's lyrics, "Hey ain't it funny/ Everybody knows/ How my skin shows/ Black and bruised."

But the lyrics don't leave the listener on the ground. The guitars take listeners back up into the air and let them fly for the rest of the song.

Beautiful lyrics, soft vocals, sweet melodies and skilled instrumental work epitomizes almost every song on "Still Life." But The Connells attempt to divert from the album's well-established pop format. The fourth track, "Curley's Train," is a country song, equipped with plenty of twang and even some pop melody. Straying even farther from the norm, "Queen of Charades" is practically a waltz, featuring Mike Connell's startlingly beautiful high voice.

Creating a balance between fluff pop and snooty alternative rock, The Connells offer listeners an album that can both challenge and satisfy, just like a puzzle.

05-26-98