So Much For The City

Oh Jesus, now it’s Irish indie pop on a Friday, like damn dude. This project has my total commitment but I’m truly feeling let down by the horrendously disproportionate ratio of hundreds of nonsense non-special records to the very few and far between actual legit epic bangers. Something truly worthy next please?? Please!

Cute early 2000s indie. I do not have my copy of the 1001 Albums book on hand but I can bet this didn’t last more than one edition

Inaccurate name

the entire album is about their trip to california

Really dug this one. It's one of the few albums that was as advertised - a 60s-inspired band releasing music in the early 2000s. What's not to love?

Very chill album. If the guy had a better falsetto, would be a 5, sometimes takes away from the beauty of the music. One could argue that the cracking heard in the falsetto contributes to the general conveyance of the emotion though.

I have an explanation for why their song “appeared on George W. Bush’s iPod in 2005” (truly an honor among honors for any artist, I’m sure). Dubya, clearly distraught by Pavement’s breakup in 1999, used his power as president to have Pavement kidnapped, taken to a CIA black site, injected daily with Herculean combo-doses of Ritalin and SSRI’s and told them they could only leave if they made a late 60’s West Coast Pop record. This record is the result of that unlawful deed, a suspension of habeas corpus.

I'm a massive fan of Indie music so I was looking forward to this, but gosh darnit, if this wasn't lame as heck. So frigging twee and the lead vocalist's voice was so annoying. I do believe this is the first Indie record that I couldn't finish listening to. Oh, and the name of the band is completely misleading also.

Liked this one more than I thought I would!

Surprisingly enjoyable. 7/10

I listened to this album a lot when it came out. It’s airy music that’s nice to listen to at the cottage in the summer. Nice harmonies. Solid indie record. Can’t imagine all the Iggy Poppers liking it much haha.

An Irish band that's obsessed with Americana, singing indie pop about America when they probably hadn't been to America when they wrote this album. Also, I guess half the people on the cover aren't actually in the band? Christ, it's sugary sweet. I imagine this is the sort of music they play in insane asylums to try and keep everyone happy, but it just drives everyone even madder. 2/5.

What if The Flaming Lips never, ever, ever did drugs even one time and frankly is offended that you even asked about it?

If you call this Sunny you’ve never been to California. Subjectivity of seeing the West Coast and then writing about in during cold Northern Irish winters. Like Ben Folds meets Death Cab with a juvenile SoCal twist.

A five star album before I listened to this with a fresh pair of ears. I pretty much lived this album when it was first released. I rinsed it continuously for around six months. Some albums have that impact on you. I'm not sure why I was drawn to it at the time. It stood apart from the drum 'n' bass that was also taking over my life. I haven't played it for a few years, up until this morning. It still has that spark for me. The optimism, the musicianship, the songs. Plus it sounds like a session, rather than a polished, studio crafted album. It's the pure joy that it offers that still gives me a buzz. Outstanding.

oh hunny 5 stars. psychedelic fan’s dream. sounds like how swimming in the ocean where your feet can’t touch the bottom feels

I really enjoyed this. I remember hearing a couple of songs when they came out and this took me right back to that point in my life. I’m happy to have listed to this. It’s really pleasant and clean.

Loved it: why this album isn't so know I have no clue bc I loved it. Felt instantly recognisable and hit the spot on my first listening. Some of the best new rock I have listen to yet and probably my favourite band I have discovered whom I have never even heard of before. Keep it coming.

first listen not used to hearing banjo from an irish band

A pleasant and inoffensive indie folk rock record from the early noughties. Maybe this will be something I'll sort of vibe with going into autumn, with shorter and cooler days coming back around, a nice time to get out and go for country walks, when the British weather allows for it... I didn't find much of this to be of much interest though, but there were a few good tracks here, and nothing I outright disliked. Favourite: Say It Ain't So

I have to admit, until about five minutes ago, I had no idea The Thrills were Irish. Years ago, an ex-girlfriend loaded a bunch of their tracks from the first two albums onto my iPod, and despite being familiar with their music, I always assumed they were from the U.S.—likely the West Coast, maybe even California. Can you blame me? Just look at the track titles, listen to the music, or glance at the album cover—they've nailed the look and sound of a California dream. The only clue to their Irish roots is their names. Conor Deasy’s voice is unmistakable—wistful, plaintive, and instantly the focal point. His range isn’t vast, but his vocal tone perfectly complements the themes of longing and escapism that run through So Much for the City. And curiously, there’s hardly a trace of an Irish accent, further adding to the band’s sun-soaked illusion. The guitars shimmer and jangle with clear nods to The Byrds, The Beach Boys, and maybe R.E.M.—bright, clean, and dripping with reverb. The sound is pure nostalgia, drenched in sunshine. The bass playing is tight and subtle, while the drumming is precise, serving the songs without drawing attention to itself. Taken at face value, this is a solid collection of songs—good but not quite stellar. "Santa Cruz (You’re Not That Far)" and "Big Sur" set the tone, offering breezy melodies and a carefree vibe, while tracks like "One Horse Town" and "Hollywood Kids" round out the album’s stronger moments. To the album’s credit, you can breeze through the 11 tracks with ease. But here's the catch—it all feels like an impersonation. The Thrills name-drop Santa Cruz, Big Sur, Hollywood, and Las Vegas in the song titles alone, transporting themselves to a place and era they don’t belong to. It feels like they’re trying on a Californian persona, and while the songs are entertaining, the whole package comes off as a costume—an aesthetic they’ve borrowed rather than lived. Tony Hoffer’s production, known for his work with Beck and Air, is sun-soaked and polished to perfection. But maybe a little too perfect. As the album progresses, it starts to fizzle out—the same polished sheen that works in the beginning contributes to a sense of emotional distance as it goes on. The lack of grit or spontaneity keeps it from leaving a lasting impact. So Much for the City had its moment, but The Thrills couldn’t sustain the success. It’s no surprise the album was eventually dropped from the 1001 Albums list. It’s a pleasant, well-crafted listen, but in the end, it lacks the authenticity and staying power to hold a place in music history. Do I own this release? Most of it on an iPod. Does this release belong on the list? No. Would this release make my personal list? No. Will I be listening to it again? I enjoyed this, but it shouldn’t be anywhere near the list. I won’t mind if it comes on, but I won’t seek it out.

This sounds light early-naughties indie-folk-rock. Its pleasant, but not mind blowing.

Santa Cruz is a great song. Reminds me of my college days - I learned it from my shuttle bus driver - who would blast this song everyday in 2003. The rest of the album is mediocre indie pop rock. Honestly, this made me nervous that many of my favorite 21st century albums will not be on this list. - which i guess is ok - since this is about learning new things.

It's... charming? Competent? Droll? A minor, forgettable Flaming Lips? Okay? But why is it in here? I mean, of course it is (or was, hah), being another minisculely different flavour of British/Irish/US pop rock - collect 'em all! - but seriously? See also: what's wrong with this compilation - and that's a Bingo! The Rule as per #244: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Every time one of these 1001 supposedly world's greatest albums turns out to be just another minute variation on [or channeling] USUK '65-'80s rock the generator has served me many dozens of times before, I will give you a different album you could be listening to today. For instance:" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ☞ Brad - Shame (1993) ☜ A beautiful record from '93, from Seattle with Pearl Jam's Stone Gossard on the guitar but it files under Grunge more by those associations than anything. Late Night Grunge maybe, for smoky, desolate bars and nightly car drives. A not really underrated but severely underknown gem. Go listen.

Noughties “The…” bands appear here like a goal with posts moved to corner flags, the keeper kicked in the balls. Seeing this pop up, I was ready to put another notch in my cricket bat. But I couldn’t do it, those big wide eyes looking up at me. This falls beyond the point where simple naivety transforms into fantasy, and I found its helpless cheer sweet.

Came away wondering why this album was on the list. The blog summary of the album did not explain it. Sounded like they were trying to impersonate Elliott Smith but with none of the emotion.

It reminds me of the time when it was cool to support your chorus with a nice little glockenspiel.

Why is this album even here? Generic indie pop with zero impact on anything, ffs. I guess they thought "hey, 1001 is a cool number", chose the few hundred that are really worth and then started to randomly fill the gaps. It is the only explanation I can think of that justifies this kind of music being present here.

So twee it sets your teeth on edge. Couldn’t wait for it to be over.

Great value Wilco.

This was so beige I could not care about it. Every song blurred into one. Not for me!!

Very forgettable. So much so that after it finished and went onto something else I struggled to remember what it was like. It's just kind of samey stuff. It sounds nice, I guess but it's just blah.

Never heard of the Thrills before, I don't really see how much space there was in the 00s for a Beach Boys style band and I guess that's why they only put out 3 albums. There are some nice moments throughout the album and it does obviously have its own feel which is slightly unique. I'm also sure they had a great great time making and recording this album, but I wouldn't say it's that special or exciting for me. I'd rather just go and listen to a Beach Boys album which is slightly better. So although I do enjoy this formula of catchy melodies, multiple layered harmonies, experimentation with many instruments and sounds, and American summer surf vibes, that's only one layer of the depth of multiple layers to the Beach Boys.

That was alright, but nothing new under the sun.

So Much for an Average Indie Rock Album Aping Teenage Fanclub With Some Indie Folk Influences Thrown In

i found this album boring. in fact i almost fell asleep 47 times while listening to it. even during the more upbeat songs, something seems missing. and i just can’t with that guy’s voice.

Kinda sounds like if bruce Springsteens backing band played for a shittier songwriter

Funny enough, this band is called The Thrills which is kinda opposite of the mood this singer brings. The music is not bad. The melodies are interesting, instrumentation and recording is great. Just a little too mellow & dreamy for me.

It seemed like this should have been a solid alternative album, but the vocals were kind of whiny and breathy, which got a little annoying. Overall the whole thing just sounded kind of hollow

I've never heard of The Thrills before, so I wasn't sure what to expect with this album. The first few tracks were somewhat enjoyable, but after "Say It Ain't So," the album fell off a pretty sharp cliff. The banjo playing was a nice and unique touch, which is difficult to admit in a post-Mumford era. I enjoyed some of the vocals as well, and there were a few nice harmonies sprinkled in here and there. "Big Sur" started off with some nice psychedelic sounds, but never built upon it. The best thing going for this album was the cohesive theme of places that the band longed for. This album did a few things well, but the band didn't leverage those things very well. I'm really confused as to why this was on this list. I'd much rather listen to Guster, Built to Spill, or Dawes, all of whom do a much better job of what I think The Thrills were trying to do here.

the calm songs towards the end were more enjoyable than the rest

Why exactly is this on this list. Boring and unremarkable

oh my fucking god the singer sounds like jennifer coolidge. what the fuck.

Never finds it own sound outside of the frontman’s whining - there are some promising glimpses here and there, a track that evokes Elliot Smith or shows some Dinosaur Jr. influences, but nothing that coalesces over a very generous runtime. And yeah the vocals are just bad sorry

Meh

And this album is special because of ____?

It's not a bad listen. But it's also not that memorable. They sound like a watered-down, hokey version of Arcade Fire. "Santa Cruz" and "Big Sur" were the best of the bunch. I just couldn't get past the singer sounding like a baritone version of Elmo from Sesame Street. If you listen to the first 15 seconds of any song, then you have heard the entire song.

his voice is annoying. 2 songs in and his voice is still annoying. and it's musically quite boring. not very many interesting things going on. 4th song and it just doesn't end. praying for this to finish as soon as possible. just listen to steely dan. his voice is so whiny! did NOT enjoy.

It’s an off-putting blend of the Doobie Brothers, Arcade Fire, and “Exile…” era Rolling Stones. The result is a languid indie-folk/country pop record. Really not into it at all.

Completely forgettable

Meh. Boring and bland. Why this would be an album that anyone would say you must listen to before you die is beyond me. 1/5

Outside of their immediate family, who is this album for?! Did youse go on a little trip to America and write a few wee songs about it? I am commencing legal action under under the Truth In Advertising act forthwith

Wilco-wannabe dreck. Next!!

I am generally suspicious of most indie Americana, particularly so when it happens to come from Ireland. I mean, I have to give it to him, he nailed the breathy/whiny American indie rocker accent, even adding an affected rootsy twang... but why? Why construct an entirely forced vocal persona to hide behind? This is some kinda weird fantasy role-playing shit, and I don't like it. It's off-putting. Just look at them on the cover. Doesn't exactly scream authenticity. They look jaded, bored, and overdressed. At least they are competent at aping the far-from-unique sound they seek to emulate, but this sucks.

I found this quite tedious quite quickly. I was quite surprised to learn they were from Ireland. Has real US early 2000s indie vibes, with more than a whiff of The Magic Numbers. The idea behind it - to cheer themselves up - also seems rather self-indulgent. What about cheering anyone else up? This did not make me feel better about anything, except when I finally turned it off. That this was even on the same shortlist as Boy In Da Corner makes me want to weep. Blander than the blandest thing in Blandland. A highly-inappropriately named band if ever there was one. Although who am I to question the musical taste of US President George W. Bush?

What a great album. Never heard of this group before but I’m glad I have now.

What a delightful surprise. Another unexpected gem that this list has opened my eyes to. At first listen I was a bit confused about why an Irish band had so many US song names but hearing the story just made me smile along with them. By the end of the second listen I was hooked. Faves: Santa Cruz, Say It Ain't So

This brings me back. I was introduced to The Thrills by an English woman I met when we both started school in Santa Cruz. It's not that far.

Wonderful slice of 00s pop

oh god...this isn't a good album to listen to in my current state of mind. It is amazing. I love it. I just want to be hanging out in The O.C. and enjoying life instead of whatever I'm doing now. Some times I think I failed at life. The above was before I exercised for the day. I feel okay now. But I wonder who the real me is. The one who nostalgically yearns for something else or the one that feels okay. Do I have a 'Thrill'ing life? What has this review turned into?

This album is soooooo goooood!!!

Never heard them before, just the name, but this one is brilliant

holy shit what a fucking find. This is unskippable, beautiful voice beautiful arrangements. Fan for life

4-5 One Horse Town!

Wow. What an album! I was not expecting to get such a nice 69th record! Jokes aside, this is such a great album. I loved every song and the unique feel this album has. I have never heard a record like this one. The opening track, Santa Cruz (You're not that far) is a great track, as well as the closer and the hidden track that comes along with it. However, my favourite track has to be One Horse Town, I love the instruments, the vocals and the lyrics. Such a wonderful album. This album appears to not have much international praise but has won multiple awards within the home country of The Thrills, Ireland. I think it deserves more credit than it has, and in my opinion deserves a 9/10 rating.

It's like someone flew some California sunshine to Ireland and The Thrills put it in a blender with some 70s pop radio and this is what we got. I heard similarities to The Carpenters, Pinball Wizard, the theme from Midnight Cowboy (not "Everybody's Talkin'" but the instrumental that was in all the John Brimhall piano books that is still one of only four songs I am able to play), and East Bound and Down (from Smokey and the Bandit). Some fun instrumentation and an overall uplifting sound made for a great listen today.

"Who the hell is this, now?" I thought to myself, seeing the "post punk revival" category on the Wikipedia article. "Here we go again. *sigh*" As soon as I listened I liked them very much and they sounded very familiar (and not at all what I'd consider post punk). Turns out I had saved two of their songs from this album in my Apple library from a Las Vegas-themed mix CD a dear friend gave me 20 years ago. I really enjoyed the folky, jangly, piano-y goodness of this one, and getting to hear the whole delightful album. Yay!

For my first listen, I didn't overly excite me, but it was good. On the second, I found a charm that was quite endearing.

I heard the song “One Horse Town” and fell in love with it while shopping somewhere in New York in the early 2000s. Shortly after I bought this album and loved it. I hadn’t looked much into the band, so I was surprised today to learn that they aren’t from California but instead from Ireland… now I hear that lead singers’ voice differently. The group creates some catchy tunes with interesting hooks and nice banjo. I still love this album!

Good but gets samey

I loved this album when it came out. I hadn’t listened to it in years, but glad it held up. It is such sunny indie pop that makes me want to take a road trip

I have not heard of this album or band before. I was surprised I actually liked ‘Irish indie pop’ music but it had a lot of rock elements to it which may have contributed to my enjoyment. I liked the songs: Santa Cruz, and Big Sur. I will listen again!

Listening to this album, in a lot of spots I was reminded of Owl City. And The Beach Boys. And Barenaked Ladies. And Ben Folds. And The Flaming Lips. And "You're So True" from SHREK 2. And, like, in another person's eyes that'd be harsh criticism, but me, I'm just like, "Heck, I like all those bands; I'm down for this 100%."

Favoritlåt: Hollywood Kids

santa cruz, don't steal our sun

decent album, reminded me of Rod Stewart

An overall nice package, reminiscent of the California music scene of the 60s and 70s.

Noise indie folk. Qué bonito sonido.

Good songs. First 2 are the standouts. The rest are kind of the same bluesy longing with banjos and saloon pianos and slide guitars. Pleasant to listen too.

I will continue to profess my love of aughts-era indie rock! This is fantastic. I can't believe I've never listened to them before. The vocalist really reminds me of Jason Lytle who I love. These songs are just super upbeat and infectiously catchy.

Wish I had known about this band when they hit the scene. Got a So. Cal 70’s sound…Pete Best referenced in the lyrics! Most of the songs gave me a…thrill.

3.4

Great energetic poppy songwriting. Brilliant production. A gem.

You can tell this was influenced by Elliott Smith, specifically Figure 8. The standout track to me, Don’t Steal Our Sun, would be right at home on that album.

That last review was supposed to go here. "this is like death cab for cutie and guster meets The Beach Boys and I really liked it."

"So Much for the City" by The Thrills is a breezy and nostalgic album that pays homage to the golden era of California rock. Released in 2003, it's a melodic and sun-soaked record that transports listeners to a different time and place. Tracks like "Big Sur" and "One Horse Town" are catchy and immediately evoke feelings of carefree summer days. The album's production is polished, capturing the essence of '60s and '70s pop-rock with lush harmonies and jangly guitars. While "So Much for the City" doesn't necessarily break new ground, it excels in its ability to conjure a sense of longing and nostalgia. It's a perfect soundtrack for road trips and lazy afternoons, making it a delightful addition to the indie rock landscape. With its evocative melodies and warm vibes, it earns a solid 4/5 rating.

Sweet ost for someone in his 30s, seeing the middle of the road right ahead

Very nostalgic. Reminded me of The OC.

Muy bueno! Por la tapa esperaba mucho menos; pero fue un muy lindo viaje y el último tema me copó.

It was pretty lovely and soothing

Noise indie folk. Qué bonito sonido.

I really enjoyed this album. Sounds straight out of the 60s pop rock scene, hints of Beach Boys, Weezer, and the Flaming Lips with some folk country tones as well. Unique lead vocal. Really enjoyed this album.

How did I never hear this record? Oh, right, I went to college in Nowheresville, Iowa. I almost didn’t believe these guys are from Dublin. They sound like a bunch of crunchy, wake-and-bake surf rats from Carlsbad. Whatever. This album is great.

I quite enjoyed that!

Very good clean fun. Their freshening up of a certain timeless sort of West Coast vibe holds up so much better than so many more "original" records of the same era (looking at you Strokes, YYYs, DCFC!). They pull it off with aplomb – and a great deal of fun by fully embracing the playfulness of the homage (note the "end it" yelp at the end of the most excellent opener). They seem very much in on the joke and go over the top with a winning wink. Strings, glockenspiel (one thinks), Plus the cover suggests a relatable crew one would enjoy having a pint with. Not even having a cut on W's iPod takes away the charm.

Całkiem fajne, trochę the kooks, wokal jak Ryan Ross z patd Nie wiem co to robi na liście płyt które trzeba przesłuchać. Zespół z Irlandii który wydał 3 płyty a ta była wysoko na listach w Irlandii i uk Ulubiona piosenka Say it aint soi W ostatniej piosence jest hidden track ❤️

This album is some lovely sunny 00’s California pop. I’ve never heard of The Thrills. The sometimes fun, sometimes chill vibe has me craving a beach, a sunset, a cooler full of seltzers, vegan volcano nachos and good friends. Nowhere else to go, nothing else to do.

Very enjoyable jangly pop. I hadn't even heard about this band before it popped up on my list. I guess it came out during the time I was dealing with little kids and didn't have the time and energy to notice new music. But definitely reminiscent of psychedelic-inspired rock/pop.

Sehr entspannte Akustikmelodien, die sich nach deutlich älterem Indie-Rock anhören als sie eigentlich sind.

These guys sound like The Beach Boys meets The Flaming Lips, Sloan, or Oasis. Solid indie rock with banjo and mandolin. Favourite songs: One Horse Town, Big Sur, Don't Steal Our Sun, Santa Cruz (You're Not That Far), Your Love Is Like Las Vegas, "Old Friends, New Lovers", 'Til The Tide Creeps In, Just Travelling Through Least favourite songs: Hollywood Kids, Plans 4/5