Boylan Heights (album)

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Boylan Heights
Studio album by
Released1987
Recorded1986-87
StudioDrive-In Studio, Winston-Salem, North Carolina
GenreAlternative rock, jangle pop
Length39:19
LabelTVT
ProducerMitch Easter[1]
The Connells chronology
Darker Days
(1985)
Boylan Heights
(1987)
Fun & Games
(1989)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[2]
Chicago Tribune[3]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music[4]
MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide[1]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[5]

Boylan Heights is the second album by the American pop/rock band the Connells.[6][7] It was released in 1987, and was their first for TVT Records.[8] The title of the album references the historic Boylan Heights neighborhood of Raleigh, North Carolina.

Production[edit]

The album was recorded at Drive-In Studio, and was produced by Mitch Easter.[9]

Critical reception[edit]

AllMusic praised the album as an improvement on the previous effort, noting the influences of Southern rock and Celtic rock.[2] Trouser Press wrote that "the band has matured into a distinctive enough unit to do justice to Michael’s yearning collegiate considerations of love, war and alienation."[10] MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide deemed Boylan Heights "one of the most distinctive college rock albums of the '80s."[1] The Orlando Sentinel called it "a collection of warmly energetic and melodic rockers."[11]

Track listing[edit]

All songs by Mike Connell, except "Home Today" by George Huntley.

  1. "Scotty's Lament" - 3:24
  2. "Choose A Side" - 3:44
  3. "Try" - 3:17
  4. "Just Like Us"- 3:28
  5. "If It Crumbles" - 3:43
  6. "Pawns" - 3:24
  7. "Over There" - 3:29
  8. "Elegance" - 3:40
  9. "Home Today" - 3:28
  10. "OT² (Instrumental)" - 2:52
  11. "I Suppose" - 4:50

Personnel[edit]

The Connells
  • Doug MacMillan - lead vocals
  • Mike Connell - guitar, backing vocals
  • George Huntley - guitar, backing vocals, keyboards; lead vocals on "Home Today"
  • David Connell - bass
  • Peele Wimberley - drums
Additional personnel
  • Mitch Easter - producer
  • Bill Spencer - trumpet
  • Angie Carlson - Hammond organ
  • Molly Leach - design
  • Lane Smith - illustration
  • Steve Wilson - photography

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c MusicHound Rock: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 1999. p. 265.
  2. ^ a b AllMusic Review
  3. ^ "DANCE-POP, FUNK - AND THE BLOB". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  4. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 2. MUZE. p. 515.
  5. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. pp. 157–158.
  6. ^ Jenkins, Mark (20 Nov 1987). "A R.E.M.inder By the Connells". The Washington Post: N21.
  7. ^ Worrell, Kris (7 Feb 1992). "THE CATCHY CONNELLS POWER POP GROUP LETS THE MUSIC DO THE TALKING". Daily Press: 13.
  8. ^ "Artist Biography by Jason Ankeny". AllMusic. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  9. ^ Menconi, David (2020). Step It Up and Go: The Story of North Carolina Popular Music, from Blind Boy Fuller and Doc Watson to Nina Simone and Superchunk. UNC Press Books. p. 144.
  10. ^ "Connells". Trouser Press. Retrieved 29 March 2021.
  11. ^ "Best Patrol bets". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 29 March 2021.