If you had a glass into which you poured some 80’s new wave sound, a bit of The Strokes, an oddly UK-sounding lilt originating in Kansas and just a few dashes of the Kings of Leon mumbles, you’d have a close approximation of Conner and their album, Hello Graphic Missile (Sonic Boom Recordings).James Duft, Tom Wagner, Bryce Boley and Phil Bonahoom create a throwback sound that doesn’t sound dated or cliché. Their songs are well-constructed and catchy but not the type of catchy that annoys. On their new album, the fourth track, Floating on Error, ascends into a sonic maelstrom with ridiculous drums and raucous guitar, and their song Enough For You and Me opens with a Rolling Stones feel and then settles into a relaxed, laidback groove.
With great vocals and awesome guitar solos throughout, Conner successfully makes the sounds that a lot of other bands attempt to create. Some would compare Conner to bands like The Killers, but I think Conner has a truer sound that isn’t an obvious grab at commercialism.
In short, I dig it.
Stream:
Conner | Silent Film Score
Conner | Cold Feelings
