Originally recorded to accompany a U.S. tour in 1996, Milwaukee's PROMISE RING team up with the New York City-based TEXAS IS THE REASON for a split 7" that still goes up for serious loot on internet auction sites everywhere despite the fact that it never went out of print and is available right here. Fairly outlandish, for sure, but we can understand why. THE PROMISE RING offer a slightly out-of-character track called "E. Texas Ave" that packs more punch than pop, while TEXAX IS THE REASON contribute a mournful number called "Blue Boy" - the final track they recorded before breaking up, still exclusive to this EP only.

The Promise Ring:

Davey vonBohlen: Vocals, Guitar
Jason Gnewikow: Guitar
Scott Beschta: Bass
Dan Didier: Drums

Texas is the Reason:

Garrett Klahn: Vocals, Guitar
Norm Arenas: Guitar
Scott Winegard: Bass
Chris Daly: Drums

The Promise Ring Recorded March 1996
Texas is the Reason Recorded 1996
Released May 1996

The Promise Ring

1. E. Texas Ave.

Recorded at Salad Days, MA
Engineered & Mixed by Brian McTernan
Mastered by Michael Sarsfield at Frankford Wayne, NYC
Graphics by John Yates
Live Photo by Justin Borucki

Texas is the Reason

2. Blue Boy

Recorded at Salad Days, MA
Engineered & Mixed by Brian McTernan
Mastered by Michael Sarsfield at Frankford Wayne, NYC
Graphics by John Yates
Live Photo by Justin Borucki