By Jay Scott Kanes

PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND, Canada -- Singer-songwriter John Connolly leaves his listeners wanting more – a lot more – after his debut album, a self-titled release from Sandbar Music. Earlier, he had an EP called Soul Sessions.

The album’s nine well-crafted songs, like “For Old Times’ Sake”, “From Now On’, “Miramichi”, “Sunbird” and “Indian Summer”, carry a folk-rock flavor. John hails from Charlottetown, Canada’s smallest provincial capital.

For old times’ sake, darling,
Won’t you break this heart of mine?
Make no mistake.
We could never break a love so fine.
For old times’ sake, darling,
Won’t you break this heart one more time?
From “For Old Times’ Sake”, John Connolly, co-written with Patty Rossiter, 2008

John’s gravelly voice, meaningful lyrics and firm delivery all stir images of Leonard Cohen. Twenty-five-year-old John may surpass Cohen someday.

He received her letter,
And sat home staring at the wall.
When he went out there to get her,
He made a stand and took the fall.
Now two hearts are beating,
Beating just as one,
The emptiness retreating.
This matter has only just begun….
Oh, don’t think twice.
Don’t let this be a love just come and gone.
Oh, won’t it be nice,
Just the two of us together from now on.
“From Now On” John Connolly, 2008

Although John wrote most of the songs, he includes one, “Hard As I Try”, by the late, great Gene MacLellan. “That’s not one of his best known songs, but to me, it’s one of his most beautiful,” John said. “From his catalogue, that’s really saying something.”

John plays guitar too. On the album, he has strong backup musicians like Ian Toms, Chris Corrigan and Remi Arsenault. He calls them “some of my favorite players in the world”.

Admittedly, the CD’s far from perfect. For starters, a good album, one to keep music fans content, usually needs at least 10 songs. So John falls short. But after such a promising debut, he’s likely to continue writing and performing all the way to another release. Anyone who listens carefully won’t want him to stop.

“Already, I have ideas about going back and recording more,” John said. “I’d just love to keep going.”

For more information: www.sandbarmusic.com

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