The Connection – Wish You Success

The Connection is my guilty pleasure. Unlike The Stan Laurels’ new one, there’s nothing outlandishly different here. But it’s equally as fun to listen to. Here’s the thing, though. The Connection’s Wish You Success is there best effort yet.

Past releases have always struck me as a collection of singles. Some were really good, others not fully realized. On Wish You Success, every song has a musical story to tell. And there are hooks a plenty. “You Know” is an excellent opening track in the same spirit as any number of George Thorogood hits of yesteryear. “Checking” is a song we can all identify with.

“Checking the mail. Checking the news. Checking if I got shit on my shoes. Checking the latch. Checking my stash. Checking of the cops are on my back. My head’s in pain. I’m on the go all day. I never get away.”

If it’s classic power pop you want, then “Color Me Unimpressed” is your deal. Got a Rockabilly itch you need to scratch? Try the title track or “The Girl Is Trouble”. On the latter, the guys channel Rockpile channeling The Everlys / Buddy Holly. It’s pure bliss.

And the best songs have been saved for last. “In the End” is a rip snortin’ tirade about the music business and life in general. The chorus of “Thinking Out Loud” is a monster hook that’s guaranteed to grab ya.

Wish You Success is the best collection of songs The Connection have ever released. Well written, tune-full and catchy to a fault. Get this one on CD from Kool Kat Musik or digitally at the band’s bandcamp site.