Ring

Connells

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 21, 1993)
• Original Release Date: 1993
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Tvt
• ASIN: B000000GPT
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #49,836 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Album You've Never Heard!, August 27, 2002

By	Thnairg "Thnairg" (Oregon, USA) - See all my reviews

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!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As close as they came to getting over the top, February 1, 2004

By	D. Roche (Pelham, NY United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Shoulda been a contender, January 19, 2001

By	"ceguru" (Grand Haven, MI USA) - See all my reviews

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.