Next to a cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter's night, there aren't many more things as soothing as the sound of The Connells.

Together now for nearly 10 years, The Connells continue to find new ways to mold their sound. On the band's fifth album, Ring, the melodic guitars and insightful lyrics have taken on a more mature tone -- they've stopped drinking the Swiss Miss in favor of some swiss mocha.

Formed in 1984 by students at the University of North Carolina, the lineup has remained fairly steady over the years. With Mike Connell and George Huntley on guitars, David Connell on bass, Peele Wimberley on drums and Doug MacMillian holding vocal duties, the band recently added keyboardist Steve Potek to the fold to flesh out its sound.

Songs such as "Slackjawed" and the haunting "74-75" prove age has brought a certain level of cynicism to the Raleigh, N.C., group. The cynical attitude in the lyrics seems at odds with the stirring music carrying it -- a technique that is an integral part of The Connells' music, Mike Connell said.

"Our music isn't exactly hard-edged, so if you had saccharine-sweet lyrics on top of the music, it'd be a big, syrupy mess," he said.

But who can blame The Connells for exerting a little cynicism? During the three years between 1990's One Simple Word and last year's Ring, the band found itself embroiled in a long-winded battle with its label, TVT, about how the band was being handled and promoted.

Although the situation was rectified and the contract renegotiated, Huntley sees that period as a big waste of time. He said there are certain things that a label such as TVT can offer that are advantageous to the band's well-being.

"There is always an enjoyment of being on an indie label because of the artistic freedom that comes with it," Huntley said.

Although the band's sound is often compared to fellow-southerners R.E.M., The Connells' brand of rock owes more to the British pop bands of the '60s. With moody quitars, catchy hooks and MacMillian's often sad but compassionate voice, the band has established itself as a worthy alternative to the Seattle-inspired anger that has typified the '90s.

But with only a few more albums left on their contract, The Connells must now think about the major labels that will undoubtedly beckon them in the near future. Yet Mike Connell approaches such a situation with a fair amount of skepticism, adding that there is no guarantee that being on a major record label would ensure an increase in sales.

"It's a possibility, but there are plenty of bands that haven't done as well as we have," he said. "I feel that if certain things had gone certain ways, we could have reached a wider audience by this point. I'm just grateful that we've been able to do this for as long as we have."

As for the known future, Huntley will begin work soon on a solo album, while Mike Connell is preparing himself for his June 11 marriage. But will married life dispel the cynic from his soul?

"That's what the president of TVT asked me," he said. "He was worried I wasn't going to have anymore cynical songs. In fact, they'll probably become more cynical."

The Connells will perform with fellow North Carolinans The Veldt at 9:30 p.m. today at Player's Sports Bar, 112 W. College Ave. Tickets are $5 in advance and $6 at the door.