(back to press)

Newhouse News Service
Springfield Republican
Kevin O'Hare


P.J. O'Connell, "Careful" FOUR STARS 


    He's a big buddy of the boys in NRBQ and their extended musical 
family, which lands P.J. O'Connell in some pretty good company from the 
start.
    Several of the BQs make guest appearances on this excellent 
roots-rockin' affair. The sound on "Careful" at times recalls a mix 
between that band at its best and everyone from Elvis Costello to Graham 
Parker, the dB's and Big Star. The key thing throughout, though, is former 
Flying  Pigs frontman O'Connell's powerhouse voice, which can roll rough 
'n' ready with the rockin' fare and slide just as easily into a smooth upper 
octave. Couple that voice with some superb songs like the harmony-filled 
"Walked Away," the hook-laden title track and the equally catchy "All This 
Time," and it makes for one  consistently strong album.
    That latter cut in particular has a very NRBQ feel to it, not 
surprising since BQs Terry Adams, Johnny Spampinato and Tom Ardolino all 
contribute to the track. Adams also lays down a deliciously distinctive
piano solo on one of the album's other standout songs, "Run Out of Hope."

                                            Kevin O'Hare