Chris Connelly "Private Education" Underground, Inc. UI1017 2002 (47:08)
Harbour Days (8:32)
Samaratin (6:09)
You Versus Miracle (4:50)
About the Beauty of Laura (5:00)
Fortune Strikes Again (4:32)
Lipstick in Labyrinth Park (5:59)
No One Is Scared (5:45)
The Last Hit Man in Heaven (6:21)
For his sixth solo album Scottish born, Chicago based singer-songwriter Chris Connelly really goes it alone. Save for some trusty old drum machine and specks of effects and female backing vocals, these vocal and guitar based songs are shorn of any other adornment. Connelly's solo compositions are poetic, melodic and romantic with vivid lyrics and rich vocals - quite a bit different from his work with industrial strength rock clans such as The Damage Manual, Ministry, the Revolting Cocks, Pigface and KMFDM. Most of these eight new songs are of a jaunty mood despite a bit of heartbreak here and there (women and love naturally being dominant themes throughout) and the waterfront is never too far off. Chris confesses with a stuttered bellow "and it kills me to say I love you!" in the climax of the eight and a half minute opener "Harbour Days". The subject of "About the Beauty of Laura" is apparently one of the many lovely but indifferent girls that "have a wonderful day capsizing the men". By the chorus of "Fortune Strikes Again" you would be forgiven for thinking it's a classic early '70s Bowie tune you've somehow never heard. "Lipstick in Labyrinth Park" best sets a love struck liaison: "a good night for perfume predictions / my fictitious accomplice is wearing a dress colored sweet by the moon / off her slim frame it falls and the light kissed her skin / I submerge in her anthems and labyrinths". "Samaratin" [sic] and "No One Is Scared" are slower paced and maybe a bit more serious, Chris advising "when they cut within you / the farthest place to be is still outside" and "nobody's frightened even when you change for good". Oh, I could go on and on but I'll spare you. Connelly is one of a handful of contemporary singer-songwriters whose every song is like magic to me. And like any songsmith worth their salt he proves his talent for the craft here with just the essentials. Connelly will likely hit the road alone in August in support of the album and a rarities enhanced retrospective is also in the works ...
Chris
Connelly
Chris Connelly at Invisible
Records
Underground, Inc.
Where did I get this CD? - CD Universe