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New England power pop/garage rock standouts the Connection may no longer be in operation, but the band’s values live on through its members. Unsurprisingly, Connection singer/guitarist Brad Marino flies the flag with colors closest to the original, with three albums of melodic rock & roll of the same stripe (plus a couple of Ramones tributes). Latest missive Grin & Bear It maintains the, um, connection through a series of energized, tuneful gems, from the synth-spiced kiss-off “First Stone” and the bouncy Bobby Fuller cover “Another Sad and Lonely Night” to the hard candy popster “I’m Broke” and the balls-out rocker title track. Marino has a great ear for a tune and the perfect voice to deliver it, and assembles an excellent crew of pros ‘n’ pals to perform it – including most, if not all, of the Connection. (Why did this band break up again?) As long as Marino treads the boards, old school rock & roll values of melody, riff, and spice will never die.
