Album Review – Ags Connolly’s “Wrong Again”
Being a country music artist comes with more curses than blessings. Not only are the economics troublesome if you want to make actual country music as opposed to the close approximation they play on mainstream radio, some country artists feel they need to indefinitely suffer so their music is instilled with the heartbreak and soul that good country music requires.
You would be a fool to choose country music as a profession or even a side hustle voluntarily. You’re better off finding a much more sensible hobby or occupation. But country music often chooses you, whether you like it or not. The best country artists don’t make music because they want to. They make country because they have to. That’s the only explanation why someone would pursue such a difficult course through life. Otherwise you would have to be a glutton for punishment. Sometimes country music doesn’t even discriminate against country of origin when it singles out a mark and infects them with the insatiable desire to make a bygone style of music that has been pushed to the margins. That’s the case with Oxforshire, England’s Ags Connolly.
We’re far past calling Ags’s passion for Austin style honky-tonk some sort of passing phase or lark. Now on his third full-length album of original traditional country released in the last five years, he’s become one of the first names you cite as an example of how anyone can make country music as long as a sincerity for the art form resides in their heart. Over the last few years, Ags has risen from a relative unknown, to the name that’s on the tip of the tongue whenever one asks who (if any) are the best true country artists from England at the moment.
This isn’t British-style country music. This is country-style country music, written to pack and dress the wounds of those with bad luck stories and broken hearts. Of course the voice of Ags Connolly is not going to come with some sincere form of Southern twang. It would be silly if he tried. But all the turns of phrase and heartfelt storytelling that are dead giveaways for a country song are here, along with the instrumental accompaniment that true country music requires. Ags Connolly is so country and his catalog deep enough now, it veers towards insult to feel like you must explain away concerns about his authenticity simply for where he’s from. Though region of origin will always be something that certain performers can use as cred in country music, Ags Connolly is case study #1 of why being from rural America is in no way a prerequisite.
It only takes a few bars of “Wrong Again (You Lose a Life)” for the universal language of country music to kick in and resonate in your ears. A no hold’s barred traditional country heartbreak record, songs like “I’ll Say When” and “The Meaning of the Word” are as country and agonizing as the come, while “Sad Songs Forever” speaks to why these songs are so beloved by country fans. But if you really want to understand the anguish Ags Connolly faces as both the bearer of a broken heart, and a man whose body resides at home, but his soul somewhere far off in a foreign land where country music is sung and played in far greater frequency, the song “Indian Sign” is the best illustration. All traditional country artists were born in the wrong time. Ags was born in the wrong time and place. But lucky for us, it results in some great music.
It’s also fair to characterize Wrong Again as a little fey initially, and needing of a few listens to warm up to. So listeners are encouraged to give it multiple spins before coming to any hard and fast conclusions. The music on a few songs feels almost a little too polished and “stock” in style as opposed to Ags finding a sound that can separate him from the standard run of traditional country singers, even if he does add a little accordion in there for flavor. There are a few really intimate acoustic moments on the record, like the well-written “Early Morning Rain.” But “Lonely Nights in Austin” might meander a little too much to properly convey its emotion.
It’s tough enough being a traditional country artist in 2019. Try being one located some 4,000 to 5,000 miles away from the country music epicenters of Nashville and Austin, attempting to ply your craft where the misnomers about country music are sometimes impenetrable. This feat could only occur if your passion for country music is pure, your talent undeniable, and your tolerance for internal torment exceptional. Luckily, Ags Connolly enjoys all of these attributes, and expresses them with honesty and poetic grace in Wrong Again.
1 1/2 Guns Up (7.5/10)
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albert
November 17, 2019 @ 11:12 am
always warms my heart to hear someone so obviously committed to COUNTRY music- from the writing to the arrangements to the vocal performances – who TOTALLY GETS it . there are so few dedicated and honest torchbearers , relatively speaking , that it becomes that much more important and even necessary to support their ‘missions’ ….especially when , as trigger so rightly points out , the mission is, indeed , a labour of love . if you can’t hear that love in these tracks maybe you never will .
Arron Hope
November 17, 2019 @ 11:38 am
The 2 songs you nicely provided grabbed me instantly! The steel guitar was great without overpowering the rest of the instrumentation. I didn’t consider the songs overproduced.I thought it to be a professional effort from a real studio, bucking the trend of recording in a barn and mixing it on a MacBook pro! 👍
OlaR
November 17, 2019 @ 11:53 am
Great find!
Listening to his older albums right now (How About Now – Album – 2014 & Nothin’ Unexpected – Album – 2017).
Wrong Again is the best album (production)…but his older albums are fine too.
No bad track on Wrong Again. My highlights: “Early Morning Rain”, “Sad Songs Forever” & “The Meaning of The Word”.
New & Not So New Stuff:
Robert Ross – It’s Never Too Late – Album (10 Tracks) – Released (08/18)
New traditional australian country artist. New single is the uptempo “Jack Daniels”.
Other Highlights: “Golden Band” & “Baby Don’t Go”.
David Ball – Thinkin’ Problem Demos EP – EP (7 Tracks) – Released (11/14)
For (hardcore) fans with a new demo version of “What Do You Want With This Love”
Dos Borrachos – Dos Borrachos – Album (10 Tracks) – Released (11/14)
Texas artists Kevin Fowler & Roger Creager are Dos Borrachos. First single “Barroom Buddies” is a fast rising hit on the Texas Top 100 (#27 – week 7).
The album is filled with fun tracks & all should be hits with a live audience.
My highlights: “Fool About You Baby” & “Salt”.
albert
November 17, 2019 @ 12:05 pm
david ball was criminally ignored . he had the songs , the vibe and the unique vocal character to have been much ‘bigger’ than he is . ” amigo ” ” when the thought of you ..etc..'” ” hot water pipe ” ..all great material with huge style ( like a george strait record ) and those COUNTRY vocals …one of y longtime faves ..
OlaR
November 17, 2019 @ 12:37 pm
He has a strange career.
One big bang platinum selling album with Thinkin’ Problem & he bombed big time with the follow-ups & the late release of his debut album on RCA Nashville.
Fast forward to 2001 & the single “Riding With Private Malone” (#2) & the album Amigo (#11).
All later releases came & went without much buzz or success.
I thought after the great Thinkin’ Problem album he would become a superstar. I thought the same about Doug Supernaw, Michael Peterson & Kevin Denney.
I was wrong.
Ken
November 18, 2019 @ 12:14 pm
Some of David Ball’s problems are self inflicted perhaps by his management. But the album he released over a year ago was only released to one streaming outlet, and not released at all to YouTube until August of this year fully 365 days after the original album was released. In any event it is out now so we can enjoy the album which by the way is one of his best.
Bo Fiddley
November 18, 2019 @ 10:53 am
Thanks for the heads up on that David Ball EP. What Do You Want With His Love has always been my favorite from that great album.
As far as Ags goes, I loved his first two albums. Can’t wait to give this one a listen.
taff Martin
November 17, 2019 @ 12:03 pm
Great artist and a genuine country fan of the older country and his knowledge of the genre is pretty impressive as well.
Played a few of his songs on my show in UK, and hoping to have him on for a session soon.
PeterD
November 17, 2019 @ 12:11 pm
Ags is one of the best.
ScottG
November 17, 2019 @ 12:12 pm
Wait…is he from England and does it matter?
Seriously though nice review…this guy sounds good.
Just saw an ad during the Baltimore/Texans game for a new “official” Johnny Cash documentary on YouTube…looks interesting. Anyone seen it?
Nicolas
November 17, 2019 @ 12:12 pm
I love this album! Your write-up is excellent. As a frenchman, I appreciated particularly when you said : “A man whose body resides at home, but his soul somewhere far off in a foreign land where country music is sung and played in a ar greater frequency”. I think you really described perfectly the feelings of country music lovers overseas, and particularly in Europe, far from Southern US. “Born is the wrong time and place” is something I feel regularly. So your words have a particular meaning for me and, I suppose, for all those who love traditional country music overseas.
PaulK
November 17, 2019 @ 5:57 pm
Great to see Ags getting some attention and plaudits from across the Atlantic. As you say, his birthplace has been no barrier to his “authentic” take on country. All three albums are great while his self released cowboy album has been praised by Tom Russell. It should be noted that Ags has tirelessly promoted American musicians here in the UK, touring with them on a shoestring budget, we had the privilege of hosting house concerts with Ags who brought along Jeremy Pinnell and then Leo Rondeau, both of them blowing away our audiences.
Daniele
November 18, 2019 @ 10:49 am
Jeremy Pinnell played in Europe??? I didn’t know it, damn!! Anyway great review as always for a great artist and inspiration. Hope to meet him somewhere in ol’Europe someday…