Chad VanGaalen’s sophomore effort, Skelliconnection, swings open a lot like a Sufjan Stevens record, soft, sweet, purring with a deep groove and the hum of multi-layered vocal tracks. Add to that the punch-up changes and emotive lyrics of an Elliot Smith-type, and Skelliconnection starts to come alive.
By the time one gets to track eight, it is evident VanGaalen fancies himself a regular Bob Dylan. His depth in words complements his ability to craft intricate arrangements, so much so that it is a surprise to find that Skelliconnection was recorded largely in the artist’s basement.
Nonetheless, the accolades and noticeable likeness to some of our greatest songwriters end about mid-record. By song “Red Hot Drops,” the query of VanGaalen‘s influences desists, absorbed now by a focus on his amateur tendencies resonant throughout the culmination of the record. At this point, he makes an unfortunate and strange departure in the direction of experimental pop/folk.
Both jarring and even a bit standoffish, it leaves us without the desire for more.
– Bill Wallace
Chad VanGaalen (Subpop)