PUNKNEWS.ORG: - I first heard of the Ringers a couple months ago in an issue of AP. The exact words that I was intrigued by in the short review were when they mentioned how they sound like Dillinger Four. They actually claimed that the Ringers sound just like Dillinger Four. While I knew this had to be impossible, it was enough to trigger some online research. The MP3s I found on 1-2-3-4 Go! Records were definitely enough to make me order their only album, Curses.

These Boston rockers do have some Dillinger Four in them, as in some of the sound, the vocals and definitely in the cynicism of the lyrics, such as “Sometimes this city has a big heart of stone / The sidewalk feels like a snare drum when I’m walking home / And there’s always this jackass talking my ear off / telling me what went wrong with the punk scene / then nonchalantly asks if I could get his band some shows.” These could be from the Dillinger Four album that we’ve been waiting for all these years. But enough of the comparisons to the Minneapolis rockers.

Where Ringers really differentiate from what you would expect of this categorization is that they really have fun with these songs. There is a little Tim Armstrong in this band, in the ability to add just enough catchiness to each song that you want to develop some new dance with each track. Almost every song on this album makes you want to sing along, pump a fist and think about life.

The lyrics are definitely what stands out the most on this album. On the terrifically catchy song “Not Many,” they really show a thoughtful and mature approach; "I wake up in a place that can’t be home and I wake up sort of all alone / My friend is sick but it’s not the flu season and I feel like shit, but I’ve got good reasons / When I wake up I taste the words I said last night / When I wake up, I think: 'This can’t be right' / That’s not like me." These are not your tired, retread songs about girls or chants about politics. These songs are about life, about growing up, about realizing nothing’s perfect, including yourself.

Curses isn’t a perfect album, as the production could use some improvement and a couple of the songs don’t quite live up to the rest of the album (“Who Killed Darby Crash?”). It doesn’t have some groundbreaking style or innovative songwriting. It’s just a solid, fun, punk rock record. This is the kind of album that will not disappoint, mostly because it’s the first album of a band that doesn’t have that large of a following...yet. This is the kind of album that will inspire hope, hope that bands like this continue to show up, that people will continue to seek out bands that seem to be doing this for more that just a paycheck or a legacy. I can’t suggest the Ringers and Curses enough for people that are looking for an album that will get them lost for a half-hour and remind them that punk rock isn’t all that complicated. 4 1/2 stars out of 5. (tenderbransonx)

HOME FOR ORPHANS/DEEP FRY BONANZA: - This album really surprised me and I’ve taken a huge liking to it. Upon first read of an ad in a zine I knew I’d probably get hooked on it. Right after that, I think while it was actually in the mail to me, I read another blurb on the album in Al Quint’s column in MRR. The Ringers hail from Boston, Mass (where I believe one of the guys owns a record shop) and play a melodic, gruff-vocaled kind of punk. The hooks and choruses are there and I’m in anthemic-raise-yer-beer punk heaven. Thanks Ringers and this is entering in as one of my top albums this month – ringers indeed. This has only left my player once since it came out and I’m worried to put it back out to stock in fear of forgetting about it.

PUNK PLANET: - Boston's Ringers make the city's street punk scene proud with this strong collection of raw and melodic tunes that immediately bring to mind early One Man Army and the Workin' Stiffs. That said, the band infuses the familiar sound with energetic surges of dual guitars and a potent rhythm section, giving the songs an edgy quality and originality. Listen to "Horseshoes and Hand Grenades" as well as "Not Many" the standout tracks. (BN)

SLUG AND LETTUCE: - These guys ended up playing my birthday party last year though I had never heard of them before they blew the minds of everyone there (sorry about the crap PA). They play tune full in your face punk rock. If I was going to compare them to anyone it would have to be DILLINGER 4 but they definitely have their own sound. It's definitely got a classic punk feel as well with maybe even a slight touch of Oi (the good parts). I think this is definitely one of the best records of 2005. The songs are catchy yet still tough and gritty. The lyrics are insightful and about more than just girls as most pop punk is. The lyric "all my friends are serving food, to buy drugs to forget serving food" describes too many people I know. Bands like this give me hope for punk and it remaining awesome. Highly recommended. (europian)

MAXIMUMROCKNROLL: - I reviewed this band's four song demo a few months back and those songs are all here, along with seven other tracks for the band's debut album. They're based out of Boston, although only two of 'em live here (one is in brooklyn, one in maine --practicing must be a pain!). Loud as fuck melodic punk with irresistable hooks and heart-on-sleeve lyrics. The early-20's coming of age theme runs through a lot of these songs: evaluating ones place in the world, as well as people, places and things that provide love/hate feelings--punk rock, for instance. The production isn't too polished and the intstruments crash out of the speakers. They slow it down a bit for "Not Many", "Hope St." and "Grind Your Teeth" (the latter with non-cheesy sounding "whooahs") but the songs otherwise are played at a boisterous clip. (Al Quint)

NO FRONT TEETH (UK): - Fuckin cool artwork throughout this release which is important to me because when you're reviewing records like a motherfucker and something jumps out of the pile it's a rare pleasure I can tell you. So thumbs up on the art and what about the music? Well, I didn't know what to expect and that's another plus point because from the graphics this could've been anything and I like that when it's a surprise and what RINGERS actually play is straight-up punk rock which is another thumbs up from me. No hardcore, no ska, no keyboards, no pop, no new wave, no nothing but thick chords and singalongs served up at a great pace. Cool vocals/vocal lines and aggressive melodies and no monotony. What happened to punk like this? Why did bands keep adding things and adding things until the punk was obscured by all the extra shit? I like my punk rock straight forward and powerful and RINGERS agree with me because that's what the fuck they play. If this sound isn't your bag then punk rock isn't your bag... you're getting mixed up with some other over-elaborate shit that you think is punk rock. Get with it.

HANGING LIKE A HEX: - I feel bad saying this, but The Ringers are most definitely pop punk. Generally I put about as much stock in that style of music being good as I do putting faith in someone telling me genital herpes will improve my sex life. Thankfully, The Ringers are wise to the ways of punk, have abandoned their MTV, and produced a full-length of really catchy and scathing punk rock. Sure, they sing, sure their songs are really catchy, but think more like old Screeching Weasel, Ramones, Descendents… ya know, stuff that is actually good. This is a current band that any group that wants to write catchy punk rock should look to for cliff notes.

AMP Magazine: - I'm starting to get a renewed sense of faith about punk rock. For so long, month in and month out, I got a box full of cookie-cutter, pop-rock-screamo-emo-bullshit. When I got a CD from some small, unknown band, I could almost always guess what it would sound like, and that it would suck. Finally that is starting to change, with more and more straight forward punk rock bands coming back and starting to play it loud and fast and fun. Enter RINGERS - Boston's latest band. I'll steal a quote from their press sheet to describe them - 'driving, anthemic, honest and heartfelt punk sans pretense and eyeliner.' NO EYELINER!? FUCK THAT!! HA! Seriously though, that nails it. The label won't compare them to other bands, so neither will I. Just know this - this is good fucking shit. Go git it!! (MWB)