Customer Reviews

Ring

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I stumbled across The Connells one day when I was ordering songs in a Music+Plus store on a handy-dandy new custom music service called Personics. (This was long before CD burners, boys and girls!) The song was "Over There", and I've loved The Connells ever since.

This album is my favorite in their discography. "New Boy" is perhaps my favorite Connells song of all, and has one of the best guitar hooks I've ever heard. This album boasts many great songs, including affecting ballads like "'74-'75" (a huge hit in Germany) and "Disappointed", and energetic songs like "Slackjawed" and "Hey You".

Why The Connells have never made it big in their native U.S.A., I'll never know, especially when there are so many less-talented and less-experienced bands getting much more attention than they really deserve. Do yourself a favor and buy this amazing disc!

This is a great band, and as other reviewers have noted, their music has appeal for a wide variety of listeners. Its a shame that they never "made" it. This album, with the minor hit 74-75, and with Slackjawed also receiving some radio play, was the closest the band came to breaking into the mainstream. Top to bottom this is my favorite Connells album, although they are all good. Particular favorites include "Doin You," "Carry My Picture," and "Burden." Often compared to REM, I find the Connells more consistently listenable than them, and less pretentious for sure. Bands in the early 90s such as Hootie, the Gin Blosssoms, and Soul Asylum all broke through with albums that Ring is every bit as good as or better.

Ever wonder why some bands make it big while others don't? I do. And no band has ever confused me with its lack of commercial success more than the Connells. Ring is the album that should have made these guys a household name.

The Connells are a band that really doesn't do anything fancy. They play basic bittersweet guitar pop with lovely melodies and lyrics that generally focus on relationships. Certainly, you're not going to find anything on Ring that would sound out of place to fans of lesser bands who have sold more records like the Gin Blossoms or Hootie and the Blowfish. What sets the Connells apart from other acts mining this vein are its uniformly crisp playing and the sweet piped vocals of Doug MacMillan. Oh yeah, and lest we overlook the obvious, album after album of really terriffic songs.

Although all of the band's pre-Ring albums are recommended, this is unquestionably their best effort--a record that consolidates and builds upon the strengths of its predecessors. The opening track "Slackjawed" stands as one of the best power pop singles of the 90's, maybe ever. Built on a driving beat, stellar vocal and a great guitar line its the type of number that sounds familiar after one listen and still sounds fresh several years later. Its followed by "Carry My Picture," which is tougher yet nearly as catchy and the album just takes off from there. Throughout, the band shows its trademark knack for lovely ballads (",74-,75" and "Disappointed" being standouts) and killer lyrics ("Doin' you is like doin' time") as well as that trademark jangly southern guitar pop. There's not a weak track in the bunch.

Yet, somehow Ring was a minor college radio hit, saw some MTV airplay on 120 minutes, but for the most part stayed obscure. Meanwhile Hootie, the Gin Blossoms, Goo-Goo Dolls and others have struck gold. The Connells still exist, more or less,although they don't seem to get out of North Carolina much. They still put out the occasional strong album and I still haven't met a person who, upon hearing Ring doesn't immediately ask "Hey, who's this? They're really good!" Explain that one.

A mate of mine won this album in a raffle and let me borrow it for a while, that was a decade ago. It's an album full of marvelously inspiring ear candy that I've listened to in both happy and sad times thru those past 10 years, and what's more, nobody has ever heard of this band. So go get this album, listen to it, feel a strange satisfaction and rest in the knowledge that only you and me know about it.

I've got to admit, the closest thing "The Connells" ever had to a hit ('74-'75), is the reason I got this album. It's almost a perfect alt-pop song, and is also on the "Heavy" soundtrack. But the rest is very pleasing too. "Slackjawed" seems like another single, "Carry My Picture", "Doin' You", and "Burden" are all great as well. I've had their "One Simple Word" album also, but this is better I think. They really do have that "college band" sound to them, and this is all pretty catchy stuff. Picking up "Ring" is the only way to "Find Out".

REM can choke on a rope. This is one of the best college albums ever made. With pleasing structure and solid songs throughout you will be very happy with this one. I saw them when they toured in support of this and they were great. Some of the best southern rock/pop to come out of the early 90s, along with the Judybats. Running Mary is beautiful without being sappy. I gave it to my younger brother right before he left for law school and he played the cassette until it broke. Now I am glad to finally get it on CD...

I know why this CD didn't sell. The name of the band wasn't stupid enough, and the vocals didn't sound like rodents being swallowed, a la a la nis. In other words, it is alternately fun, inspiring, funny -- and just generally a kick. One might have hoped that the cover art -- which *is*, I hasten to point out, quite stupid -- might have been enough. But alas, no. The problem is, these are strikingly good songs, flawlessly performed. I've owned 'Ring' since it came out, and I don't know of one other person hereabouts who's even heard it. I can't even remember why I bought it -- might have been featured on the scabiephones in the store. But whatever prompted me to pick it up, I'm glad I did because even now I keep pulling it out a couple times a year and loving it. I can hardly get it out of my player. Listen for yourself. I'd list the best cuts, but there are too many. Really is a remarkable thing, how good it is, and how no one -- I mean *no one* -- knows about it. Except me. And, now, you.

Not to knock the delightful _Boylan Heights_, _One Simple Word_, or _Weird Food & Devastation_, but _Ring_ is *the* place to start with The Connells. The triple-shot of "Slackjawed," "Carry My Picture," and "'74-'75" that kicks off this album is arguably unrivaled as a melodic pop winning streak. But then you also get "Spiral," and "Burden," and "New Boy," and...okay, let's just put it this way. If you enjoy the likes of Toad the Wet Sprocket, Matthew Sweet, the Judybats, Goo Goo Dolls, and/or, yeah yeah, R.E.M., you absolutely need _Ring_ in your collection.

This album is soooooooo good! I bought it on the strength of "74-75" and was amazed. Am I the only Connells fan in the UK??? Buy and enjoy.:)

This song may not have the 1 or 2 greatest Connells songs, but from back-to-front is their strongest effort. Every song is good.