So Much For The City

Annoying

I had to check and see if this was a Grandaddy side project.

This album is good. This album is fun. It’s got earworms and is interesting. Should it be on this list? I don’t think so. 3.75

Album random ni mauvais ni excellent

the singer kinda ruining it 5.5/10 best song - one horse town

Great album! Felt like a bit of traditional folk with the voice of elliot smith!

I got given this album as a birthday gift way back when. It was surprising then as it wasn't anything like the music I listened to. The thing is that there's a lot here that I fell like I could like. Like a surfer mix of Modest Mouse and The Shins. The singer's voice just grates on me though. It's good music, but super tough to listen to.

This did not do much for me. I could not get the pop songs to stick and struggled with thinking this was a necessary to hear album. Im not mad at it though.

Good album

Honestly, this one didn't do much for me on the first listen. It was pleasant, but not interesting. Then I gave it a few more spins and it really grew on me. It's a nice, easy, breezy album, and I think there's more going on in the lyrics than you catch at first. Favorites tracks: One Horse Town & Santa Cruz

The music was, at times, sleepy. And I didn't enjoy the wispy vocals.

I remember when this came out. I didn’t care then either.

Not much to see here

The music was dull and uninspired. The vocalist sounds like an imitation Ben Folds.

My kind of vibe; somewhere between Grandaddy and a very sober Flaming Lips. First listen it was an easy 4, but it's lyrically lacking, with most of the songs being about going to, not going to, or hanging around some specific place in California. A vibe though

Hate dead end links that lead to no music. Refuse to chase the artist. Sorry - based upon reviews, I do not think I am missing anything...actually probably saved 46 minutes of my life!

Not thrilling. Of the great swathes of landfill indie that exist and are indeed sprinkled amongst this list, this is probably one of the least important.

Many bands have made similar music much better. Josh Pyke comes to mind

The inclusion of this twee and inconsequential album in the list is a textbook example of a temporal diversity hire.

I’m surprised by how much I like this. At first the Neil Young imitation was a little much for me, but it grew on me and I really liked the album. Just a really chill call back to the 60s.

Ik ging het eerst een 3 geven, maar ik heb er nu al enkel keren naar geluisterd en ik vind het opzicht niet zo slecht. Het wordt alleen een beetje monotoon naar het einde toe.

I’m getting some Bob Dylan vibes, some country influence, some folk influence… you get the picture. There’s a lot of harmonica and fiddle, that’s for sure. It’s a very chill album, and overall it’s decent enough, but it’s stylistically Meh. for me since a lot of these sounds aren’t my typical jam. But it isn’t bad, and I can see why people like it. I just don’t think I’ll ever come back to it.

Not my vibe, could not stand singers voice

Enjoyable

🎧Slight. The song "Say It Ain't So" appeared on US President George W. Bush's iPod in 2005.

I really loved this album, not heard of the band, had to look them up - Irish - that was a surprise tbh, back to the album, beautiful songs on here, I’ll give it another spin later

White people sittin around singing about how sad they are. Im also a sad white person today though, so I'll give it a point

Well I was excited to hear a band I had never even heard of. But it was meh

3/6

An Irish band making songs with lyrics about that time they took a trip to California. I think other bands were doing this style of Indie Pop better. ‘Til The Tide Creeps In is kinda funny with how it just kinda sounds like they were listening to Highway 61. Favorite song was Don’t Steal Our Sun.

This was god fucking awful.

Enjoyable to have on in the background. No big standouts

Didn’t know anything about this band. Not sure what to think. The album cover looks like 70s southern rock. The music is good. But something is “weird”. And I can’t place it. Each track it grows on me. Track four is great. And I think this album was weird at first because it’s every I like about 60s and 70s rock and psychedelic, but all in the same song at once. This is an album that I may no remember but I really like. I could put this daily when I need to relax.

5/10

I quite liked this little record. I wouldn't say its all that special but still good. I got some songs out of it. Not that memorable though to be honest. Just like a good summer blockbuster movie. Something to shovel some pop corn down your gullet and spend 2 hours. I could tell you what happened in rhe 12th fantastic 4 reboot but it might have been watchable at the time. I get the same feeling from this. It was good while I listened to it but only 24 hours later im less sure of what I heard. I remember it was good but the details are already gone. But I remember the fun I had. So its ok. Just not sticking for any length of time in my mind. But I know the feeling

Not saying it's right, but these guys would get bullied at my high school

You know that person who went to America once and made it their whole personality? This is them in album form.

3/5

Very nice album

Not certain why this made the list over other indie albums from this time. It was fine but not outstanding.

A perfectly fine album which in no way stirred any interest in me. It just washed by in the background.

This is ok. Every song just keeps name dropping different California cities. This is maybe a little too laid back. This is a very pleasant, if somewhat unexciting, listen. Feels like the music from One Tree Hill. And a hidden song, so I get to wait here. This should just be a simple transaction between me and the album, it plays and I listen, not some stupid ass scavenger hunt to hear their music.

даж дослушивать не охото полный кал

Inoffensive but forgot it the second it was over

What is this?

It's not terrible, it's not good. Next! 3 stars or C-.

Listened before?: nope Santa Cruz (You're Not That Far) - 4/5 Big Sur - 4/5 Don't Steal Our Sun - 4/5 Deckchairs and Cigarettes - 2/5 One Horse Town - 3/5 Old Friends, New Lovers - 2/5 Say It Ain't So - 3/5 Hollywood Kids - 2/5 Just Travelling Through - 2/5 Your Love Is Like Las Vegas - 2/5 'Til the Tide Creeps In / Plans - 2/5 Average score: 2.7/5 ⭐️⭐️ did i really just spend (or waste) 40+ minutes listening to an irish indie group sing about various locations in california? from what i've gathered, this album is literally about their trip to cali. cute i guess? with the lyrics and the catchy little nods to acts of the past (Beach Boys, Monkees, etc), i can understand how this could appeal to the nostalgia of listeners in the early 2000s. however, as a new listener today, it's pretty boring. besides the little name drops they do, the lyrics in particular are far too simplistic and repetitive to keep my attention. i can't really understand how this landed on the must-listen list (aside from it being a UK album of course)

Not very thrilling to be fair. A decent collection of songs however the singer is very generic. Really just another faceless ppst millennium indie band.

7/10

Peak early 2000's indie

We have pavement at home (twee af)

not bad

don’t steal our sub hollywood kids til the tide crepes in were my favorites

Pleasant jingley jangle indieness

Enjoyed this more then I thought i would. Very lemon twigs feel. Sunshine indie pop nice album. 3.5

Remember these from early 00s. Heard One Horse Town and Big Sur before Inoffensive, middle of the road Cant get more than a 3.

There is nothing remarkable about this album at all. It's totally fine, nothing really wrong with it, but it isn't something I would want to listen to again. I can't imagine that this album has made it in every version of the 1001 Albums book. Should it be in the list? Probably not. 2.5/5

Not for me. Don't like the singers voice

Probably the most shocking record on the list so far. I absolutely love it, but I’ve only ever talked to one person who has heard it. They were playing this at the Basement (Nashville venue) 20th anniversary party, and Mike ‘Grimey’ Grimes told me he had a great story about them. He didn’t tell me the story, but as least I know he knew the record. That’s it.

Definitely did not expect to see this on the list. A band that has disappeared from history. I remember enjoying the singles. Still do, a fun poppy indie album. Incredibly derivitive. 3.5 rounded down Heard before? Some Owned: Yes, 98/373 (26%) Will I get: No

The curse of "reminded me of other music i like better"

too sleepy

If you took all music created between 2000-2016 and categorised as 'indie' and deleted it from Spotify, you would undoubtedly get rid of some cracking records. Not this one though - this sits smack bang in the middle of the 95% I wouldn't miss at all. This is bouncy, surface-level indie pop which is indistinguishable from most of the stuff popular in the early 2000s. It's inoffensive, which is, in itself, slightly offensive. The worst sin of all is that the 'hidden' track is rubbish! What's the point?!

Me gustó

Yes it's alright. A bit light but it is listenable.

They seem like they’re having a fun time.

Fine, you Irish goofballs

Album of the year???? Where? Another album I couldn't make it through.

Reminds me of my 20s

This terrible album had a hidden track. Worst surprise of my life.

01) Santa Cruz (You're Not That Far) - 7,5 02) Big Sur - 8,0 03) Don't Steal Our Sun - 7,0 04) Deckchairs and Cigarettes - 7,0 05) One Horse Town - 7,5 06) Old Friends, New Lovers - 6,5 07) Say It Ain't So - 6,5 08) Hollywood Kids - 6,5 09) Just Travelling Through - 6,5 10) Your Love Is Like Las Vegas - 6,5 11) 'Til the Tide Creeps In/Plans - 6,5 TOTAL: 6,91 (69/100) Current ranking: 580/989

I was wondering why their accent was so ridiculously fuckass, then proceeded to find out that they were Irish. Yeah, that explains it. On another note, I was shocked by how much I actually liked this album. My expectations were initially that this was going to be yet another cruddy country snoozefest, but I found myself enjoying this one quite a bit. It is rather well produced and I do think the vocals are quite satisfying to listen to. There is also a very evident early 2000's influence on it which is neat. That being said, if there were only 1001 albums that were to exist that I ought to listen to, I don't think this should be one of them. 3/5

I've never heard of The Thrills or any of the songs on this album. I had high hopes, as they are described as an indie/pop band from Ireland, but I was a bit disappointed. Their sound was a bit all over the place. Some songs sounded like a cross between The Lumineers and The Beach Boys. Some songs had an upbeat country twang to them. Some songs were just slow and not very interesting. The lead singer had that whispery vocal thing going on, and it got a bit annoying a couple of songs in. This is another album that I'm struggling to figure out what about it made it impactful enough to make this list. The only thing I could find is that George W. Bush had the song "Say It Ain't So" on his iPod in 2005. And while that was probably my favorite song on the album, I'm not sure having George W. load your song on his iPod is a claim to fame for a musician. Politics aside, we just saw the opening celebration for the Obama Presidential Library and saw the Obama's dancing and singing to Stevie Wonder, and George W. looking a little confused as to what he was listening to. You take from that what you will! Find to listen to, if not a little boring. But a definite question mark from me as to why this one is on the list.

Yet another album nobody has ever heard of which, in my estimation, was placed on the list because one music critic liked it when they were young. Utterly unremarkable.

Five Irish kids from Dublin got dropped by their record label, felt miserable, visited California once, and recorded an entire album about how much they missed it. Lead singer Conor Deasy later explained that place names like Santa Cruz were put in the songs as a way of escapism to pick themselves up. They said Santa Cruz so many times that I briefly considered the drive there myself, not to visit, but to stick my head in the ocean until the album was over. The album won Album of the Year at the Irish national music awards, spent 61 weeks in the Irish charts, debuted at number three in the UK, and was nominated for the Mercury Prize, losing to Dizzee Rascal's Boy in da Corner, which is the most correct Mercury Prize decision since the award was invented. One California based reviewer noted with some bewilderment that the band visited one time and recorded a whole album about how much they love and miss the concept of California. This is either the most romantic thing an Irish band has ever done or the most embarrassing, and I am not Thrilled. Big Sur borrows elements from the Theme from the Monkees without apparent irony. Deckchairs and Cigarettes sounds like someone attempting Rainer Maria very very badly, which is a sentence I never expected to write and stand fully behind. Say Ain't It So arrives like the Flaming Lips with a country twang, which sounds more interesting than it is by a considerable distance. I am not thrilled by the Thrills. I said it twice. It deserved saying twice. 1 out of 5. The single star is awarded to Santa Cruz, California, which did nothing wrong and did not ask to be mentioned this many times by people who visited once and then went home.

I would not have guessed they were Irish. At least one of the songs gives me strong Wilco vibes. I'm enjoying it a lot. I'm sorry I missed out on them when they first came out. I'm amused by the album cover. At first I thought, "oh, some of the band members are women." Then I looked them up on Wikipedia, and... nope. There are five men in the band. All of the other full band photos in the CD booklet (at Discogs) show only five men. (Because apparently I'm keeping track now, this is the fourth of the 91 I've been served that I was not at all familiar with.)

A fun, twangy, breezy album that hearkens back to 70's California rock and the Monkees-style pop. You'd never know they were Irish and the guy's voice sounds like either Wayne Coyne from Flaming Lips or the lead singer of Grandaddy. It's good but slight and a little too twee at times. I really liked "Santa Cuz," "Big Sur," and especially "One Horse Town." Not an essential album by any means but there are a lot worse on this list.

Was shocked these guys are Irish then saw they're from Blackrock, makes sense. Went to California once and made it their whole personality. Lead singer sounds uncannily like Jason Lytle of Grandaddy (who's from California, unlike these posers). There's a band that deserves an album on this list. Really reliant on pulling from other artists, they even go for a country rock Eagles thing on a few songs, but in the process they dont find a sound of their own that's memorable. I guess they never had one. Too twee for my blood

Dit is zo'n album waarbij de onnozelheid van een dergelijke lijst weer eens een beetje zichtbaar wordt: Dit is in geen enkel opzicht een album dat je geluisterd hoeft te hebben voor je nog één keer op je rug gaat liggen, maar ik luister liever dit dan zo'n (even grof gegokt) 85% van de lijst. Een relaxed, wat indie aanvoelend album. Af en toe uptempo, af en toe heerlijk rustig. Af een toe een laag country die zelfs voor de niet-country-liefhebber goed te handelen is. Zanger doet wel elke track exact het zelfde met z'n hoge hijgstem, maar ik kan me er vandaag blijkbaar niet aan storen. Het is donderdag, dat helpt. Ik geef 4 sterren, waarbij ik de vraag of je dit geluisterd moet hebben negeer.

Fun music, not the most unique but an interesting blend of classic music and broody 2000s. Hollywood Kids and te country vibe was good too.

In an alternate universe, the Flaming Lips never make it to Japan to battle Yoshimi and the Pink Robots, but end up joining a May Semester trip along the coast of California. So much more psychedelic and nostalgic than cosmic. Fun, safe, and close to anachronistic... but enjoyable.

Another 2003 album? This feels spiritually stomp-clap-hey. Not really my thing anymore.

If I could give this half a star I would. Genuinely one of the worst albums I’ve listened to with one of the most annoying and whiny voices ever

Voi ei, tyhjänpäiväistä irkkuindietä täysin kauniiseen kesäpäivään. Tämä 1001 albumin projekti on tosi kiva ja olen luvannut itselleni kuunnella joka ikisen albumin. Tämä täysin jonninjoutavien albumien määrä on kuitenkin yllättänyt minut negatiivisesti. Onneksi joukossa on klassikoita ja itselleni täysin uusia mestariteoksia. Tämä on kuitenkin ihan tusinatavaraa eikä mielestäni kuuluisi tällaiselle listalle. Toivottavasti seuraavaksi joku loistava albumi. 2/5

A little ahead of the 2010s indie rock sound but this is very emblematic of that movement.

🥱 Dull

meh

Enjoyed but will I remember

I really liked this album.

A few nice singles, not much else going on. Why is this album on this list?

Best Track - "Big Sur"

Like it 3/5

Please just shut up and move to California already. 2/5

I remember enjoying this when it was released, less so 23 years later

Decent

Enjoyable first half Fave track: Big Sur

Just lacking in something that’s hard to quantify. 2.5/5

3,5: It’s really good!

Mostly harmless, as the saying goes.

don’t hate on my monkees 😡

Opening track bit weaker than I recall. Big Sur and One Horse Town still nice tunes. A tad lame overall though. Poundshop Granddaddy. A clear 3 - pleasant enough but why on the list.

Really liked this! Dug the 60s CA reference points (almost a concept album?) and the sound, all that reverb, nice instrumentation... Will play again, maybe on a road trip..

In theory, I should quite like this album as it takes clear influence from the kind of 60s West Coast music that I enjoy. The execution however, is not that great, the vocals are overly soft and the sound just comes across as a little bit too twee and manufactured for my liking

I'm probably bias because I grew up with the Thrills. I like them, it's wistful and reminds me of the beach boys. Doesn't deserve a place on the list though. 3/5.

I fell asleep to this. It just could not hold my attention. Just more self sucking indie rock I suppose.

Boring indie rock/pop album. I don’t hate the concept but the execution was a snoozer

Thrills Cool album. I liked the instrumentation, banjo, harmonica, and synths then kinda caught me by surprise. Some cool fuzzed out guitar solos too. Makes me want to head out to the west coast. Good melodys and songs but some of the lyrics are not as good. Well done 60’s pop style . Also reminds me of Jon Brion and Wilco. Say It Ain’t So has a nice uptempo alt country thing - super fun! I like the stylized fragile sounding vocals but sometimes it sounds a bit forced like he is putting on a southern accent or something maybe trying to be too stylized. Watched a couple of their music videos, funny how in 3 videos the tall bass player has the mic stand comically low. 4

Very california centric album from very irish band. It was really well done, Voice is really interesting but not sure if i liked it. Overall didnt find it super memorable and didnt feel like something i have to hear before i die

Sometimes I liked his voice. Sometimes I hated it. Favorite was the ghost track

the debut album of irish indie band the thrills, a group of friends that essentially got together and used music to keep everyone healthy. the album is said to be pretty personal by the lead singer, conor deasy. a lot of the songs are about their own life experiences and staying in the united states for a bit. the band's efforts seemed to work out pretty well considering the album achieved popularity both in ireland and the united kingdom. we've got some pretty fun pop rock music today. in a single descriptor, this sounds like a whole bunch of traveling friends, chatting and playing songs on a big ol' truck. like you have the driver as the vocalist, and the passenger and a few other people sitting at the trunk are playing the instruments, riding through the highway. there's audible influence from the sunny poppy music from decades past... these guys must took some notes from some classic groups as they were staying in the usa. i can see why a lot of people from the uk especially like this music; i can't really pinpoint it specifically but this sort of pop rock stuff seems very... just european in general. i think us north americans have a certain way of composing pop rock, and european people have their own way too.

Sometimes I give a lower rating to an album but I understand why it's on this list because even though I didn't enjoy it, it's an album that did have an impact musically and culturally. This is not one of those albums. This is one that gets a lower rating because it's decidedly mid. Conceptually it's not especially original, and musically it's inoffensive and bland. It's one I'll be looking back on in a week and have no memory of listening to it. I'm sure The Thrills are proud of their work, sorry that it's underwhelmed me to this extent.

Very bland album. Some sparse interesting sounds, i really wanted to like old friends but the singer seems to be unable to sing anything past a weak annoying ass whisper throughout the entire album

I mean, it’s all right, but just sounds like a worse version of early Wilco. Top tracks: “Old Friends, New Lovers,” “One Horse Town”

--Santa Cruz (You're Not That Far)...interesting. kind of sounds like the Beach Boys mixed with the Unicorns. not sure the combo works yet --Big Sur...these guys are Irish? decent jangly pop --Don't Steal Our Sun...pleasant harmonies. more decent-but-not-great pop --Deckchairs and Cigarettes...if you told me this was a Nick Thorburn/Islands song I'd absolutely believe you --One Horse Town...not sure I love the songs but the production throughout this LP has been great. this track injects some much needed oomph --Old Friends, New Lovers...I'm a sucker for a mandolin and some well arranged orchestration. vocals are a little rough but this hits --Say It Ain't So...of course W likes this. it does kick --Hollywood Kids...lethargic and too long --Just Travelling Through...lazy river song. production is still quite good --Your Love Is Like Las Vegas...once again the production is better than the song --Til the Tide Creeps In...I was almost out then you pulled me back in with an organ --Plans (hidden track)...production good song meh

Never heard of this album or band. Review on Allmusic: "lavish, well-crafted pop songs". Yes, I can agree there's a lot here that's well crafted: the arrangements are mostly neat (not too many loose ends), the production is well put together, I like the sound of the lead vocals and occasional features eg slide guitar, distorted bass. But I'm left wondering why this album was made - seems like retro without much payoff. Same review: "one-dimensional repetitive lyrics" - yes, a major problem, and that phrase is still too kind. Some Americana is supposedly justified by meaningful lyrics, this album has tried to slip through with nothing (or very little) to say. Some of the songs don't even make it to one dimension, eg Santa Cruz (You're Not That Far) has lines that don't connect to anything else in the song (just fit on top of a musical phrase), and Your Love Is Like Las Vegas is just a gesture at a lyric, that doesn't have any internal connections. Maybe the making of any type of music is potentially admirable, but why pick American West Coast 60s/70s as your happy place? Did we need any more of this type of music than already existed? I'm not feeling it. I've listened all the way through, I'm rating it Pretty Poor, 3/10.

This definitely has that stereotypical indie vibe to it, which I personally don't dislike. I think that this album has a timeless feel to it , and that really interests me. The instrumentation is quite fluid and has very melancholic tone throughout the album. Definitely has a strong sense of style. Main issue with the album, the lead singer has a very 'unique' sounding voice. He has that very typical indie voice , and it gets quite annoying quite quickly. Overall , I did enjoy it , but it's not gonna be on rotation for me. Fav Track: Santa Cruz

#182/1001 🇮🇪 Wait a minute, these guys are Irish. I had the first 2 tracks on an itunes compilation that i made for a road trip down route 1 in California. The rest of the album is ok I guess, not one that can get excited or nostalgic about and i don't feel the need to come back to. Best tracks: Big Sur, Santa Cruz.

Hey hey you’re the have I listened to this album before? The song Big Sur sounded very familiar. Did I borrow this album from the library 20ish years ago back when I did that sort of thing? Was that song Big Sur on the soundtrack for a movie or TV show or on some compilation that came with a magazine?

Better than I expected but still nothing to bump this up to a four.

I liked it OK. A little unexciting, a little my vibe. I think 3 is a fair rating.

Really like the lush vocals and the Beach Boys influence on this one. It’s a bit untemarkable, but I still enjoyed listening to it a lot.

Chill time and easy-going...

Quite nice — another pleasant surprise.

This singer sounds so much like the Grandaddy singer. That was probably worth a point in itself.

𝘚𝘰 𝘔𝘶𝘤𝘩 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘊𝘪𝘵𝘺 is a charming indie album that blends early-2000s guitar pop with touches of folk and a distinctly West Coast-inspired sound. The Thrills create a warm, melodic atmosphere that makes the album an easy and enjoyable listen from start to finish. What I like most is its laid-back character. The songs are catchy without feeling forced, and the folk influences give the record an easygoing charm that suits it well. It’s the kind of album that’s pleasant to put on, even if it rarely demands your full attention. That said, I never felt it reached the level of an essential record. It’s an enjoyable listen with plenty to like, but I don’t hear enough that truly sets it apart. Good, certainly — but not one I would consider indispensable.

Ok

Started brightly but faded. Or do I just have the attention span of a 14 year old? Anyway, I'm pleased they enjoyed their trip to California.

Thought I had never heard of these guys, but then Big Sur came on. Great. Faded a bit at the end but a solidly enjoyable album.

I did not enjoy this. The lead singer's voice annoyed me, I really didn't enjoy the Monkees one, and one of the other songs sounded like it was about to turn into Save Your Love by Rene and Renata. I remember The Rockingbirds doing a much better fake American schtick than this. Must give them another listen.

It's okay if I were in the right mood but no thrill for me today.

todas iguales las canciones. Meh

No reason at all to listen to this over literally any other early-00's Indie band. So much for essential albums...

Ooh hidden track... No thanks. Couldn't wait for it to finish.

Irish indie beach country. The Kooks meets Rooney meets the Celts.

Very reminiscent of the Flaming Lips but not in a bad way. Last song was very jarring when I realized it wasn’t over

Irish droning

No business being on this list. Whiny singing and boring indie. Slide guitar was interesting I suppose

This is so mid that it’s bad? Does that make sense? Idk. It it’s not good. Such a whiny vocalist.

Not bad. Easygoing Irish indie rock with those classic 2000s twee vocals. Questionable choice for the book, but regardless it’s fine music.

Feel like there was a lot of this kind of thing around in the late 90s and early 00s - upbeat jangly pop with a glance back to the 60s, along the lines of Grandaddy, and maybe Cosmic Rough Riders or Pernice Brothers. Consequently this feels even more derivative than usual. And it's pleasant enough, but it feels stretched over an album, and is a long way from essential. Low 3.

Answers the question: What if the Flaming Lips went Americana. Adding in all the California references makes it all the more surprising to find out they’re from Dublin? New to me—great album.

“The album was nominated for the 2003 Mercury Prize but lost to Dizzee Rascal's Boy in da Corner“ THANK GOD! Here’s a comp for ya, the lead singer sounds like Dashboard Confessional. Very forcibly airy in his vocal delivery. Not saying it’s good or bad, just how it sounds. This project is innocuous to a fault. They all sound like they’re having a good time but damn is everything so twee and wandering. I surely won’t remember a single song either, none of this was impactful or captivating. “Hollywood Kids” was interesting enough for the slide guitar, but that’s about it. Another sleepy, questionable pick. 2/5

Not my favourite vocalist. Almost no chest voice lack in power. But overall a very smooth and pleasant album. Liked your love is like Las Vegas. At least the vocalist knows what he’s good at and what’s he’s not. A good album.

inoffensive album. Pretty chill to listen to but I didnt think there was much to it

If I had come across this in high school I know I would have enjoyed it a lot more. Almost 20 years later and the breathy vocals did start to drag on me after a while. That being said, I let Spotify continue on with songs from The Thrills after the album ended, so really it just sounds like this whole review is hypocritical. Four stars.

I'm not crazy about the whisper breathy singing, but the music itself is good. A 3.5 stars album.

The strokes + the pains of being pure at heart + neutral milk hotel + flaming lips (yoshimi era) Proof that a band of good enough can draw from whatever inspiration they want and make something beautiful and funny and strange 8/10

tão ruim quanto eu lembrava que fosse pqp vsf

mano, pior que tem bastante de flaming lips aqui. mas sem as drogas e a originalidade do flaming lips. enfim. indie rock medíocre, hein. nada demais não.

No conocia a los thrills hasta ahora y de verdad que buena musica hacen, tan solo la voz me cautiva que ademas se acompaña de una buena instrumentalizacion

A pleasing listen

mid city

Santa Cruz - 1st track, interesting song, very interesting like accent/way of singing, but lowkey it's growing on me I feel like it has a very chill like cruising vibes, I would listen to this while driving through the country side in the late afternoon, with the like setting sun and the windows down, slight wind blowing in my face. very chill. nonchalant. did some research...found out they're irish from dublin, lowkey shocked...but also not only on track #4 - so far fav might be this one, I liked the first one though, this one is deckchairs and cigarettes

I feel like I should like this album…the music is good and well done, but there’s something that doesn’t jive for me. Maybe a slowness or softness across many of the tracks that leaves me wanting more.

super fun, rock-ish w great harmonies

This is wet salty garbage.

Did not hate it. Did not love it.

Induces the same kind of rage that Arcade Fire does. Utter bullshit.

Sounds like a lot of other bands from the era. Most of which did it better. The Eels. Super Furry Animals. Wilco.

This type of albums that are so inoffensive, overdramatic and one-dimensional can get so incredibly tedious... The first half of this indie-rock / alt-country is not that bad. Still not good, but the initial bunch of songs at least have a decent energy and melodies. But as the album progresses, it gets more and more corny, tame and boring. The singer can sound pleasant at the beginning, but after some songs, it gets too predictable, as it feels like listening to the same motives in every song. The instruments also do not offer anything interesting, being almost as mellow as the singer if it wasn't because they have some better moments, like the use of some type of metallophone, that always sounds nice. Besides, at least they aren't as monotone as the voice, as there are changes in the instruments used in each song. Overall, an incredibly forgettable experience.

it's adorable and heartwarming, but not great music. Quite the trip to CA

vocals...

After listening I really got no idea why this album got in the book. Very mediocre, nothing new under the sun. A band that exists 25 years but only made 3 albums, the last one almost 20 years ago. This is their debut album. There's an album deleted from the book to make space for this album, I wonder why. I'm not thrilled at all.

What the fuck is this shit? Pure trash.

I enjoy indie stuff enough that even though this sounds like pretty basic generic indie rock I still ended up liking this a fair amount. No clue how it ended up on the list though

Fine, but not in my top 1001

UGH. nare stem, ongeïnspireerde muziek

Best Irish band ever?? 🤣

Very lame and annoying. This is like a tutorial on how to live in the 70s after entering 21st century. I like vintage sounding records, but change something or at least make the songs sound good.

I wouldn't bat an eye if I've if these songs popped up on one of my regular Pandora stations. But the head singer's voice for an entire album is a bit much

Braucht niemand

The most American thing ever made by non Americans. I think i fell asleep but at least I was at the beach. No standouts

Good enough for mega shuffle

This album was fine. Sounded a lot like a modern and young Neil young. Just didn’t grab me.

I'm convinced Dimery was on a massive bender in the 2000s because his choices for the decade are baffling. WHO thinks this is essential???

3.75

I got bored with it , The vocal is horrendous. and the rest is a distinct meh

This is okay. It's nothing more though. The songs aren't anything of note, beyond perhaps Big Sur, and the vocal feels forced. I got a bit bored of it, but nothing especially 'wrong' with it. It's inclusion here is slightly baffling.

Bland, cutesy music for pre-pubescent girls

This is a strange album for me because I actually did like the sounds and chill vibes. I like a bunch of the songs too, like Santa Cruz, Deckchairs and Cigarettes, and Say It Ain't So. But this album felt so long, like I kept watch checking. And it's only 46 mins! 36 if you take out the final song and I still feel I checked it like 5 or 8 times. It's pretty tame yacht rock and largely forgettable at the same time. The background guitars in Say It Ain't So probably make it my favorite here.

Is the entire album about someone's vacation or theirs tour? I mean I've heard worse subjects for albums but it's kinda funny when you don't know what to expect. Never heard them before. Kinda fun, I would think they work better live than their studio stuff. Ok this is 100% about their visit California. Like they were on your and said, "Dude! We should write and album about California!" I think they are going to more California tone as well. I kinda want to listen to another album of theirs and see if they sound different.

Too cutesy for my taste. Banjo Beach Boys is a novel idea though. 2.0/5.0: Disappointing

not bad but incredibly prosaic

Irish Brit Pop? Not very Thrilling. The Irish can and have done much better than whatever this crap is...

Very wishy-washy kind of music, the type of indie that I find more annoying than enjoyable. It's basically an Irish band singing about the fact they've been to California, except they're exploring the feelings of the places rather than what they actually saw. Not for me.

yeah quite forgetable

Not much of a thrill

I thought I was out of the "UK pop bands that meant a lot to the author as a teen" phase, but I suppose they will continue to be sprinkled in. I can hear a lot of this band's influences in this album, but I don't see this band influencing anyone else.

Kinda pleasant. Kinda lame. I liked the steel guitar. Won't be listening to this again.

Songs sound fairly similar, but ok to listen to

Okay in small doses, but dragged for me over a while album. High 2.

A bit “meh”

A fun album for a while, but got tedious towards the end.

This is a sweet little album that I thought I knew nothing of but I quickly recognised some radio hits from my childhood. They’re doing something deliberately nostalgic, hugely positive and very out of step with where music was at in 2003. It’s not particularly eventful or exciting though, in fact it’s very faint and left me somewhat surprised that The Thrills were ever a chart topping band.

No thrills on today’s album but a strong start and finish to a totally decent record with some nice harmonies, stylings and a vocal style i’m into. Solid 3

This was fine.

Nice album

Completely unthrilling

2003. Debut album. Iris band. The songs were a way to pick them up as they were dropped by their label and were miserable.

This is a decent album. It's pretty and has some lovely arrangements here and there. The actual song quality is mid — we're talking a range of 3/10 to 6/10 for the whole album — and leaves a lot to be desired. Put a different way, there's not a single melody or movement that's stuck in my head after listening through. The high polish production and creative arrangements carry most of the album's weight. A pleasant listen, but forgettable.

This band and album had some aspects and influences I could appreciate, but not enough there for me to want to dig further or listen to more than a couple times through.

A whiny, poorly sounding album

There's some ok stuff here, but not much.

2.4 A cross between shitty beach boys and shitty wilco. So kinda shitty

it's okay

The fact that one of these songs appeared on GWB’s iPod is not a ringing endorsement. But this is pretty shit all on its own. Cheesy, empty, boring, twangy, harmonicas…. Yeah, I’m not into this. Is this an Irish band singing about California? Oh fuck this sucks.

Good. A high 3, will probably give a 4. A good approach to the style of music, entertaining, enjoyable and fun. Mood lifting. Good arrangements. Liked it more than I expected.

*Cool concept especially for its time, but the songs get long. *Too many slow songs bring the album's momentum to a halt after energetic songs

Really enjoyed 4

Ugh.. another indie pop band singing about someplace in California. So very of-the-era. On some level I want to like it. Though this is the first time I've listened to it, I do feel nostalgic. However, it's also hard to ignore how vapid these songs are. The instrumentation is fine, and the electronic bits are fun and interesting, but the songwriting and lyricism in general seem so desperate to fit a particular mold at the cost of being interesting or good.

Not for me this one

Yeah, this was pretty good. Some weak songs definitely, but it has its moments and ends on a strong note.

a good time, not a stand out though

Just the best album for a holiday road trip. Will always remind of California holiday 2012. So for personal reasons it’s a vibe based 5/5 for me

Alternative rock with a country twang. Kinda boring.

The sound of this record hits me in the nostalgia. I kept waiting for the song of my youth to pop up, the song that I've definitely heard before, but it either doesn't exist or wasn't on this album. That smokey almost childish voice has a quality that, *maybe* because I was preexposed at an impressionable age, I find very satisfying. The rest of the record kinda drones. It gets boring, lengthy, I get why the band didn't last 10 years. Must listen? Maybe I'd recommend this to another millennial for that popular early 00s sound. Otherwise I don't feel there's really a 'need' to listen to this. 2.9/5

Thoroughly annoying album. Reminds me a lot of several artists I do like (Grandaddy, Flaming Lips, The Feeling etc) but the songs are uninteresting, the vocals monotone and the bands name a misnomer. Don't see any reason this album could be seen as interesting or inspiring enough to make this list. 1/10

The Thrills sound like the jangly, down-home cousin of The Beach Boys and The Monkees. The lead singer comes across like a strange, country Neil Young. I was disconcerted with his accent at the beginning, but his wistful, lilting Irish twang grew on me. I love all the California references and the music feels as nostalgic as it does new. The musicianship and production are my favorite things about the album. It brings forth such lush layers while remaining melodically sound. Nothing feels overdone; it’s just right. It is refreshing to hear the banjo and pedal steel guitar get so much play. As much as I enjoyed the album, I can’t see myself gravitating toward it in the future. For this reason, it’s a solid 3.

bad, meaningless music. But it's from Great Britain, so naturally the author had to include it.

ok the vocalist is a pretty boy, the album so far is great, fun, cool, 00s vibe! the album as a whole is nice, chill, sweet, charismatic, few nice songs! the vocalist reminds me of someone! lol 4.7/5

Im starting to understand why these playlists didnt get famous

At first I thought this album was from the 1960s, but I was wrong 😊 It’s actually quite nice music, so I’d give it 3 stars…

This could've absolutely gotten a worse review if it wasn't so lovely out when I was listening. Even with that, it still felt pretty one note. Favorite Song: Big Sur

Not unpleasant to the ear, but incredibly boring. Alt rock where all the songs sound the same, the singer has a whispery, weak voice and it also adds elements of country music. It all adds up to an incredibly MID experience. 3/5

Fine, better than the usual UK early 2000s

Generic vanilla indie rock.

Close to 3 but it ended up annoying me a little

3/5 Very solid garage rock.

This has got flow, focus, & fun for a good 20 to 25 min, but their impressive but not too impactful imitation of Pavement, especially Conor Deasy's one-note facsimile of Stephen Malkmus, tho not good for nothing, isn't all that good for many things. Not lacking in talent or good songwriting, what they don't got is creativity, i.e., precisely the thing that makes Pavement the 90s band of laid-back thrills & testimonies to noise, nothings, & experiment. I'd admit to enjoying each track as it plays out to the end more than I figured I would, but these are mostly songs that pass thru one ear & out the other - I can't say I remember much of what they signified. 'Those Hollywood kids, those Hollywood kids got it made.' Ireland a la trademarked Cali: eh, meh.

Yo que sé, está bien. Es un álbum sumamente blando folk-ish indie que no ofrece demasiado. Como leí en otras reviews, son los Flaming Lips nerfeados. A nivel sonido bien, no destaca demasiado, ni la voz del cantante, ni los riffs, ni la batería, nada. Es un dos fuerte fuerte

Que galera na capa. Achei que seria uma banda ali por 2015, mas é de 2003, parece que estavam a frente de seu tempo num estilo que ficaria mais famoso nos anos 2010. Bom som deles. Tranquilinho, aconchegante, um estilo que curto mais do que muito álbum que já apareceu, então vai 4. Olha só, escrevi tudo antes de saber que eram Irlandeses. Então ganham pontinho.

Weak ahh vocals but some pretty good instrumentals. No reason this should be on this list.

They sound like Ben Folds Five, only if Ben Folds wrote like a 15 year old sad Irish kid who loved California. Their name is a misnomer.

I actually liked this quite a lot. The '60s and '70s inspiration combined with modern production techniques made this a really cool experience. Big Sur was a standout, but everything on this album was enjoyable. Reminds me a lot of Broken Social Scene or early Arcade Fire.

Enjoyable. Alt without being whiny. Some decent rock. Worth mixing in to the early 200's playlist.

After Santa Cruz and Big Sur, the rest is mostly forgettable.

A couple great songs on this one.

Never heard of this before. It was alright. Sometimes a bit too country for me but was on the line.

Not heard this before and it is quite nice. Ultimately though, it sounds like an awful lot of indie albums: I'd struggle to remember it.

Feels very dated. Fine music for this era but really rode the line between enjoyable and annoying.

I don't know what it is, but I lothed every second of this album

7 - GOOD

How can you call yourself the thrills and then write music that couldn't possibly thrill anyone?

all of those "The [Word]" bands from the early 00's didn't really age well (except The Shins)

Another one that baffles the mind. In no way is this a record anyone needs to hear

It’s okay, if a little bland, but how is this on this list? Did it start a genre or contribute to the collective zeitgeist? Was it groundbreaking or made by virtuosos? No on all accounts. I can think of 1001 albums exactly like this one, and I bet I can come up with half as many that belong on the list ahead of this one.

Maybe I would like this if it weren’t for it being on the list…. bc it’s not worthy of any top 1000 compilation. Bland and forgettable beach boy rip off

I was surprised that this is an Irish band. I was even more surprised it made it on the list.

I was surprised that this had such a low rating on this project. It’s solid indie rock, it’s not offensive, it’s got a decent sound to it. I don’t know how others rate albums, but this is very listenable and I could see it in my playlist rotation. 4 stars

Det var inget för mig.. visste inte att irländare som sjöng med en amerikansk dialekt mer lät som en grov west country dialekt på amerikansk engelska. Samtidigt hans hesa röst irriterar mig

The two hits are so good. It’s crazy.

Not a fan of the vocalist. But I like me some indie music.

Nothing thrilling about the music. I thought this was way older and was shocked at a secret song. And then shocked that they aren’t from California like the songs would suggest. Not as fun as coconut records but a pretty good listen.

There is zero reason for this album to be on the list. It's not terrible, it just has no original thought.

Big at the time but vocals dated now

Sounds to me like a generic college indie band that shouldn't be on this list.

low 3. Álbum muito repetitivo, principalmente vocalmente, e dura mais do que deveria.

- Yet another "Why?" record ..... perfectly competent playing, weak writing. Another review used the word "droll" .... spot on. 2.5 rounded down due to the weak writing and ultimately boring overall arrangements. -

When I worked at a Suburban plaza pub in my early 20s I used to stay well after close to help the bartender close the place. She’d fill me with half pints as I wandered through the jukebox looking for music to accompany us. This was one of the albums I found and I was obsessed with the song Deckchairs and Cigarettes. I played that song multiple times every night (along with Ooooh Child by the 5 stairsteps and Hey Mama by Tupac). As time went on I forgot the name of this band and the song but I remembered the feeling I had and how important a part this song was in this part of my life. Imagine my surprise when the album came up on this list and imagine my utter horror at how much this album sucks. More British boys I’m America face. Ugh.

oh però a dublino sono bravi a fare musica comunque bello bello tutto l’album quindi 4 pieno

Grande sorpresa. Gli do addirittura 5 perché veramente mi è piaciuto tanto

As an Irish person, I can tell you that we all collectively cringe when we hear Conor Deasy’s American twang. I couldn’t get past it back in 2003, and I can’t get past it now. Which is a pity, because The Thrills have some decent songs. I very much enjoy “Santa Cruz (You’re Not That Far)”, “Big Sur”, “Don’t Steal Our Sun” and “One Horse Town”. They’re soaked in Beach Boys inspired harmonies and impressive, bright, folky instrumentation. Shout out to the banjo and bass in particular. But they have a lot of boring songs too. Most of what fills the gaps between the aforementioned tunes could easily be interchangeable without much notice. The whole sunny laid-back low-tempo vibe, mixed with breathy California/Oklahoma lilt, gets a little repetitive after a while. “Santa Cruz” is the song I really like here. The changing tempo between the verse and bridge/chorus got my attention. And what I really loved was how the bass line seems to go off on its own path. It’s a great song. Come on though Conor. You’re from Dublin, lad.

Summer evenings indie

I didn't think I knew this album, but was surprised to find I recognised most of the songs on it. They're agreeable enough in a sunny melancholy kind of way - but it says a lot that I had completely forgotten about them since last hearing it...

Oof - an album from the years I’d discovered my own taste in music, somehow ‘So Much For The City’ has been completely wiped from my memory. Seeing the album cover instantly brought back the chorus from Big Sur & Santa Cruz, delivering a wave of nostalgia. As the first track started, the rose tinted spectacles quickly crashed to the floor. In my mind this album had come before the downfall of indie; this was going to be on a parallel with The Coral, in reality it was much closer to The Kooks; perhaps proto-landfill-indie. How this obtained a place amongst the 1001 albums is a mystery.

Man! It's been a minute since I've heard Big Sur. This is definitely a very specific subgenre of Indie Pop (e.g., Phantom Planet and Rooney). While the music isn't bad, I don't love the lead singer's voice.

Did Phantom Planet rip them off or the other way around? I can think of at least 50 albums that won’t me on this list that are 4-5 star worthy that could easily take the place of this album. Wonderful music, don’t get me wrong, very poppy, listenable, easy to enjoy, but I can’t stand the voice and none of the songs are memorable at all. Never heard of it contemporaneously, don’t feel I missed out at all.

Eh. If Death Cab and Range Life Pavement had a disappointing baby. I kinda liked it at first, but the vocals got pretty annoying after a few tracks. Was rooting for this to be good, but man.

Full of references to the USA in the titles alone: Santa Cruz, Big Sur, One Horse Town, Hollywood Kids, Your Love is Like Las Vegas, not to mention the faux country and western-style guitar on Don't Steal Our Sun and the faux-Southern US "I heard yer datin' Sue", etc., erc., but these guys are from Dublin, apparently, just cosplaying as Americans, and they sound like Owl City wannabes. Uninteresting music, soft preppy singing. I enjoyed the other 2-star review: "This whole album is about their trip to California". Although I disliked it, I can't work up the energy to really hate it. Besides, I have a Van Morrison album upcoming so I have to hold on to the one-star rating for that so I can differentiate between the merely bad from the truly awful. Finally, this is about the biggest false advertising I can remember in a band's name. This tepid offering is anything but thrilling.

2.5

Heard Before? Nope. Notes: - Slick production would work better if the arrangements weren't so crowded. So many instrumental parts that add nothing to the songs, it feels claustrophobic. - the ballads kill what little momentum the album has, but I did like the beach sounds hidden deep in the mix of "Deckchairs and Cigarettes". - Breathy, nasal lead vocals sound out of place. - only Mumford and Sons could make the banjo sound less earthy. - the lyrics are California-postcard, but the song structures are tight and well-considered. - performances are so competent as to be unnoticeable. Verdict: Overproduced ersatz Americana. For the person in your life who pretends to enjoy things they don't understand. Listen Again? No, thank you.

Trying to sound like The Killers, with guitars that sound like early Who, and somehow they made it not work.

Favorite track(s): I'm convinced this album was included on the list to slander the good name of the people of Ireland.

I did not hear something original , very familiar americana sound

The felt kind of "meh"

If this band had a different lead singer, this might not have been such a controversial one for me to rate. I absolutely hate that this album is on the list because it is not special. But at the same time, it’s sad sack songs resonated with me. But my god I wish they had a different singer. Might have been able to truly embrace liking this instead of this love/hate feeling I have about it. “Old Friends, New Lovers” and “Til The Tide Creeps In/Plans” were my favorite songs off of this. In terms of deserving a place on the list, it’s like a 2. In terms of personal enjoyment, it’s a 3.5. Ultimately rating this a 3 but with conviction.

Kind of a throwback 60's/70's sound (A little Beach Boys), but with a kinda 2000's Flaming Lips vibe? Feel like it's generally fine, but nothing that's wowing me.

A nice, pretty indie pop album. A nice listen but nothing leapt out at me that would stick in the memory. Three stars. 1. "Santa Cruz (You're Not That Far)" (4/5) 2. "Big Sur" (3/5) 3. "Don't Steal Our Sun" (3/5) 4. "Deckchairs and Cigarettes" (3/5) 5. "One Horse Town" (3/5) 6. "Old Friends, New Lovers" (3/5) 7. "Say It Ain't So" (3/5) 8. "Hollywood Kids" (3/5) 9. "Just Travelling Through" (3/5) 10. "Your Love Is Like Las Vegas" (3/5) 11. "'Til the Tide Creeps In" / "Plans" (3/5) Total - 34 Average - 3.09 306/1001 167/306 albums reviewed were new to me

There's nothing thrilling about this. They should have called themselves The Sucks.

Pop rokkia jossa indie folk ja kantri fiilistä. Eli kesäistä ja hyväntuulista, mutta ei muuten herättänyt erikoisempia tunteita. Ihan perus. Parhaat: Santa Cruz (You're Not That Far), Don't Steal Our Sun

Keypti þessa á sínum tíma því ég fílaði smáskífurnar. Þær eru enn ágætar og dómur minn frá 2003 hefur ekki breyst að öðru leyti heldur. Fín lög, slatti af ljúfum en lítt spennandi filler og það vantar eitthvað úmf.

Fun

it’s definitely not a bad album

I wish I would listen to some albums for a living because I'd ask for a big raise after listening to this one.

California-vibe-type of music.

I actually liked it. I would turn this on for a longer drive in the summer out of the city (heh, heh).

It's like country indie. I don't like country.

Sounds like The Thrills need a visit to Cali (Santa Cruz, Big Sur, Don’t Steal Our Sun, San Diego, Hollywood, LA.) They’ve put out a worthy debut with ringing guitars, triangle, banjo, harmonica, and the usual behind unique vocals. Loved the variety. The A Side is excellent, Side B fades a bit. Best song is Big Sur followed by Say It Ain’t So. Secret song / hidden track Plans sets up a nice finish. (3.4*s) Things seldom go according to plan…

The band needs to change their name cause this debut was anything but thrilling. Pretty much everything about this album was dull. I compare it to a room temperature plate of buttered spaghetti. Conor Deasy has a voice that makes you cringe...so wimpy and off-putting. I'm happy the team is uplifted by the content they created on a trip to the west but they should have stayed in old Eire. This was a complete flop from the list for me from beginning to end...even all the way to the secret song. These jabronies should be pumping gas. A song from this record even showed up on Dubya's playlist...is that cool? So much for the shitty...1.07 stars.

Not sure why a bunch of Irish indie-pop boys are singing about California towns but to each their own I guess. Maybe someone else can draw some inspiration from the subject matter but I was mostly annoyed by the whole thing. Despite the softer approach something about the vocal style was really grating and irritating. Almost like if someone was intentionally doing a bad impression of someone to get a rise out of them or something. When said and done this album came off as a bunch of lame sappy ballads. At only 45 minutes this was a surprising struggle. Not thrilled in any way. 1.27 stars

Somehow, I had expected more from this.

Don't remember anything but that it was innocuous the next day.

It's an Irish band gloating about their trip to California, and for some reason, I like it. Maybe it's because it has the quintessential 2000s alternative rock sound to it. Favorite Track: "Santa Cruz(You're Not That Far)".

Irish fellas chasing the feel of a california that once was (if ever). Chill, cozy, poppy rock, but rather bland, even annoying at times.

2000s Coming of Age Movie Credits Music

Wow where have these guys been hiding? A bunch of depressed Irish kids traveling around California and crafting upbeat, catchy escapist fantasies to try to cheer themselves up. There's something oddly charming about that idea. The music is sweet, fun, with an undercurrent of melancholy to keep it grounded. I could definitely keep listening to this one.

Very mediocre don’t know why it’s on this list as it is so damm ordinary. 2/5 8/4/26

Very mid, I liked it but its nothing to go back to

Inoffensive to the point of being a bit bland. I only had a few notes to write so I didn't bother including them. Don't get me wrong, it was refreshing after 2 albums I found borderline unlistenable so at least this has that going for it, but not likely to be one I'll be revisiting.

It's proto-Mumford and Sons.