It was 75 degrees in Chicago today and with the early onset of daylight savings time, things seem just about perfect around here. It is that feeling that makes me think of The Connells. This Raleigh, NC band had its heyday in the early 90’s but (surprisingly) is still active despite many lineup changes. I recall getting their now long-out-of-print 1993 album Ring for Christmas from my older cousin Steve when I was fifteen years old. The music is essentially jangly southern power-pop with subtle Celtic influences, but is also much more than that. I can probably attribute my feelings about this music to nostalgia, but that doesn’t diminish just how good this stuff is. On Ring The Connells are in perfect form and (IMHO) created a record that should have been a huge hit but that remains amazingly under appreciated. Easily one of the best power-pop rock albums of the 90’s.
MP3 | The Connells – Slackjawed Ring
MP3 | The Connells – 74/75 Ring
MP3 | The Connells – Insane In The Brain (Cypress Hill Cover) When Pigs Fly
I was a little too old for The Connells, knew OF them by rep as just as supposedly another band trying to hop on the REM train (not a bad way to travel by the way).
A month or so ago I heard 74-75 on another blog. Oh my freakin’ God! This song is incredibly great. I have not heard anything else by them this good (although some of the other stuff is all right — and honestly most even good bands never had one record as stunning as 74-75), but I’ll continue checking them out.
The other blog suggested a Rhino 18 track compilation. Sounds like a great idea.
Bruce K.
Yeah, I’m seriously amazed that they are still around. Nice picks. And yeah, I’d forgotten that I liked that big song of theirs from way back in the day 74/75.
I haven’t a clue what 74-75 is actually about but it’s still one of my favourite ever songs. Should have been HUGE!
I loved 74/75. I remember buying the tape cuz the store didn’t have the cd. I remember seeing them on 120 minutes talking about the video for 74/75. They found some high school yearbook from the year 74-75, showed pictures of the seniors and then actually showed them currently(93?) whenever this came out. It was a small town and the director actually tracked down several people. Pretty amazing. This song is a piece of melancholic bliss. I need to go to my dad’s house and find this cassette. Thanks.
Wow, I saw The Connells about 12 years ago at the Horde Festival that my friend and I got dragged to by his Dad. I feel old.
Wow, thanks for remembering The Connells! These guys were amazing back in the day, and their music still sounds incredible. They signed with TVT, which i still believe kept them from getting the exposure they deserved.
Check out “Fun and Games” as well, keeping in mind it was released in the late 80s, but it’s one big hook.
great writing overall, thanks for the site!
being from NC, i grew up seeing this band. they sorta unfortunately had a huge frat/sorority following that made their live shows hard to tolerate, but the songs were great pop no matter who else liked them.