Reviews (page 5 of 8)
low mid
A very VERY indie 45 minutes.
Added some songs to my favourites
Really didn't enjoy much here. Quite boring and generic for me
Breathy, inoffensive, middle of the road surprised this made a superlative list?
Melancholic with a satiating twang. Easy listening, shimmering vocals, and some pretty picking, though maybe not a daily listen for me
Not unpleasant but conventional and fairly unremarkable. They sound like a lot of stuff that came out across the 2000s. But with a banjo. And an organ. And harmonica and steel guitar and symphonic strings. It was both too much and made every song feel big and unvarying in a way that became kind of dull.
i once spent three weeks in ireland. i'm writing a very precious album about it just to get back at these guys.
I’m catching up here working my way through the thrills before getting jazzy. I want to like the album but it’s missing a mark for me. I don’t know what it is. I like weird voices like his and a lot of the instruments they use or some of my faves love the banjo, love the organ put the songs almost seem a little parody or something also knowing that there are 2000s band kinda also ruins it for me. I guess I can just listen to sparkle horse or any other great band at their emulating. Might listen to this again in a different mood might hit different. Gonna sit with a two for now move on.
What happens with 5 Irish lads and 2 Irish ladies listen to too much Ben Folds and like California a lot (have you heard of it)? The Thrills! This shit sucks. No surprises. Completely edgeless. Never ending oooohhhh waaaasss and ba ba baaas!! Cloying lyrics SANTA CRUZ, BIG SUR, HOLLYWOOD KIDS. Yuck! I'm ready for chocolate cake after this. Why is this on this list? I suppose having some stuff I loathe on it is more fun. Last track is far and away the least appalling song on this album. I think I actually like it. Guitar is more western, nice slide....organ....limited ooooh waaa ba ba baaaas! I'm literally bumping this from a 1 to a 2 because of the last song, which faraway has the least streams on spotify which is hilarious to me. 2
kind of generic and boring - reminded me too much of other bands
This is pleasant indie road trip music. Touches a bit of a country twang with the banjo but doesn't dig too deep into that. Doesn't reach any great heights, but I'd happily put this in the background whilst I research a trip to California.
Reminds me a lot of The Rolling Stones country stuff. Really enjoyed this
first things first… it said this album was UNAVAILABLE in my region which is a LIE (i found it no problem through search). so if this was supposed to be a deluxe version, my apologies. it was lowkey mid. i remember thinking one of the songs was good and that was it. harmonica threw me off perhaps. 2/5.
Surprisingly super amazing
False belle and Sebastian
2.8 1x
I'm glad this is on the list, its probably a slightly underrated time in music and this album feels way different than most of the music in the charts at the time. The 4 singles are all top notch, so it's just up to the 7 album tracks not to screw it up
I wasn’t too thrilled.
From the opening bars, I knew this would be a 3 for me. I had moments of "Oh, maybe it's only a 2" and even a "well it could be a 4" (that one was fleeting). Melodic, decently-constructed songs. Not enough edge or energy to excite me, which is probably why I don't remember this band at all.
Yeah, so you went on holiday.
Too much cute twee in this indie album
Its ok.
Boring as bat shit. I kept listening and hoping something was going to happen. No thrills. Zero stars.
The singers voice got to be annoying after a while. The songs were not particularly interesting and the overall the album was kind of monotonous. 2/5 Won't listen again
Inoffensive Irish indie pop masquerading as some sort of country-lite beer music. It's kinda embarrassing to be honest - it's like being stuck next to the pub bore who won't shut up about 'Merica. It's fine - but it doesn't qualify as an album you need to hear. Best Tracks: Santa Cruz (You're Not That Far); Big Sur; One Horse Town.
Was not my thing. The singer’s voice reminded me of the voice of the singer in Owl City - like nails to a chalkboard.
Somehow feels like several versions of the hit-single "Big Sur" ;) O.K. but a bit too lame and same same. And especially because of the thin vocals there are really no thrills on for me! Weak three stars. 2,5
I’ve never consciously come across The Thrills before. The first two tracks, Santa Cruz and Big Sur were quite strong, I also enjoyed the final track Til The Tide Creeps In. It could become a 4 with some more exposure, but on first listen I’ll settle with a 3.
No. No fucking way. This guy’s voice is absolutely neutered and the cutesy music doesn’t help. Transatlanticism came out the same year as this if you need an indie record with little boy vocals that doesn’t suck the beach boys dick so hard.
Thoroughly enjoyable. Feels bluesy and folksy at times even if most people seem to just label it 'indie' which really means nothing. Meloncholy but doesn't leave you feeling empty. I love a unique voice so that really gets it most of the points. Real emotion comes through and that's important in my opinion
The name must be ironic. They sound rather bored. They sound retro, not fresh and new. However this style of music became big around 5-10 years later, so they were ahead of the curve. They probably influenced bands like Fleet Foxes. I remembered one song, so they probably belong on the list, even though I wouldn't have picked them myself. Favorite song: Your Love is like Las Vegas.
Peruskuvio: b-puoli jumittaa. A-puolella on aurinkoisempi meno ja pidän siitä! Banjosta myös, sori. Voisi kuunnella taustamusiikkina kevätiltapäivänä. Kunnon iskuun kaivattaisiin säröä ja terää, jota tässä ei ole yhtään. Kaks puol.
Tulee mieleen Euroviisujen roots-nostalginen ehdokas, joka ei pääse semifinaalista jatkoon. Bändin pienet onnistumiset kaatuvat imelimpiin lyriikoihin (ja laulusoundiin), mitä on koskaan keksitty. 1+
4.5
Really low-key enjoyed this. The band name is obviously very misleading, though. Would have been a 4, but then I found it's actually from the early 2000s, which is exactly what it sounds like. So not quite as trailblazing as I thought initially, when I was somehow under the impression this was an 80s or 90s record.
3.5 stars. Irish pop indie rock band, easy-listening. No major standouts but no duds either. Best is "Santa Cruz (You're Not That Far)".
Bit of a nostalgia trip for me. I recall it coming out and not long after I visited California myself. I've not listened to it since though and today I find it bland and soporific. Not sure how it made it into this list - was it that influential?
A decent Indie rock album from 2000s. Nothing to say really
4.2
4/10 Painfully average. The 3 singles I remember are still decent slices of jangle pop, but this album is one of those that is sorely out of place on any list of greatest albums. Even 1001 of them.
Idk if it's cuz I haven't listened to much music lately but I don't get why nobody likes
Don’t care for this right now.
meio chatinho né
Annoying Twee, boring, and repetitive. On top of that, California is an overused theme from an album, and the artist not being from California doesn’t make it any more interesting
I see a lot of reviews comparing this to Pavement so that has me excited, but I also see a lot of people saying it is too country, so I guess it is closer to the Silver Jews or something. Anyways let's give it a spin. Ok, I can see the Pavement comparison, his voice is almost a 1-to-1 with Stephen Malkmus. This is another album that I almost really like, it is right on the edge of being something I enjoy, but just falls short. Overall, this album is fine. Mid 3.
While I was listening to the album I had moment I enjoyed and a few I didn’t enjoy, but the whole time I was really blown away by their sound as a whole. I wasn’t sure how I was going to describe it cause it does very from song to song but for the most part they are truly original sonically. However, by the time I got to the end of “One Horse Town” I think I came up with a good comparison or explanation as to what they sound like. Imagine if the bands Pavement and Jet had an Irish baby… that’s The Thrills. The guy kinda sounds like the singer of Pavement but sonically they sound like a softer more artsy version of a pop rock band from the early 2000s (like Jet). Seriously though, despite my silly analogy, I highly recommend this album if you are looking for something truly original. They even squeeze in a rockabilly song, yes an Irish easy rockabilly track, that’s guaranteed to be something you haven’t heard before.
I liked this. Nice sound. Cool discovery
I dont think this was one of the albums to listen to before you die of 2003, let alone of all time.
The hits are there and catchy. But the slower songs are too dreary and unmemorable. Stand out song - One horse town
Didn’t love it didn’t hate it
Hipster folk americana with an irish accent that really can only be described as cute. Somehow I missed this when it came out. It's fine.
I had a hard time getting into this one. Not bad of course, just not my style. For me, 2 stars. My 7 month old felt similarly
Chill alternative pop/rock album. Easy to listen to.
3-4
No es aburrido ni sobreestimado como los discos de country, pero no entiendo qué está haciendo aquí.
2/10. Not my style. Too posh and Dublin for me
It's sticky sweet indie pop. Like I need to check my blood sugar sweet. I'm getting a lot of Ben Folds and Flaming Lips, but without any edge. Honestly I'm not enjoying it. It's not anything exciting or anything that hasn't been done before. There are so many better versions of this band out there.
It’s got a nice sound but a bit dull for the full album 3/5
Really just sounded like a more country version of Pavement. Not a big fan.
I know it's not for everyone but I love the 2000's indie sound so much that I enjoyed this. 7/10
I didn't find any thrills in this album. The music was like wall paper. You know it's there because you can see it on the wall but once you leave the room, you immediately forget about it and would be hard pressed to be able to describe it beyond something like, "Uh...... it was beige." The breathy lead vocals were kind of annoying at times. "Unremarkable" would be a good descriptor for this album. 2.5/5
I;ve heard of these guys definitely have never listened to any of their stuff, that I know of. Little americana. A little soft to my liking.
I liked the big hits but the rest of the album became a bit samey and a chore to listen to, especially with the breathless delivery. I appreciate the influences but it just doesn't seem very authentic.
I'd forgotten about this band but memories soon came flooding back on listening to this album. I can remember the big hits, santa cruz, big sur etc being all over the radio/festivals early 2000s. Quite pleasing melodies but always found them a bit soulless and/or lacking in the sophistication that made contemporaries such as Flaming Lips so vibrant/exciting. Despite good intentions seems a bit lack lustre. Lead singers voice grates after awhile too. Solid 3 stars.
Aldrig hört förut men jag gillar det här.
Decent lil pop album. Had a bit of pavement in there which I liked.
Jesus Christ if this had come out in 1968 I could have appreciated how it was progressive for the time. 2003?
Unmemorable with no stand out tracks. It just washes over you.
Loved this. Enjoyed its upbeat songs, but it also has good range. At times it can feel a bit slight compared to other albums on this list, but I hope to return to it in the future. And I'm also interested in checking out other Thrills albums.
Bleh
So dull
Sounds like an Irish Monkeys.
I expected this to be some euro garbage this list writer fell in love with in 7th grade, and I was right, but it’s a notch above garbage.
Not so thrilling.
I feel like the makers of this list stuck a couple of their personal favorites onto it and labeled it important, because that’s the only reason why an album like this is even here. I can’t fathom for the life of me what about this album is “must hear” material. I will say that for the first few songs, I was getting a bit into it. It had the vibe of wandering around a Hallmark greeting card store in the year 2008, but I was kind of digging it. However, as it progressed, it started to lean more into country territory. The lead singer became grating and the presence of the banjo and harmonica was getting on my nerves. It was at the song “Hollywood Kids”, that my brain wandered off, never to return any attention to this album. The Thrills, ironically, provided me with almost no thrills. But hey, at least George W. Bush likes them apparently. Yay? Favorite track: Big Sur Other hits: Santa Cruz (You’re Not That Far), Don’t Steal Our Sun, Deckchairs and Cigarettes
Está guay, pero lo veo bastante genérico. No sé si lo volveré a escuchar.
Okay background music
So much for insomnia... Not my favorite pick me up at work
Forget how many decent tunes there are here even if the album is top heavy
Possibly the most grating singing voice I've ever heard
I completely agree with the review: "What if The Flaming Lips never, ever, ever did drugs even one time and frankly is offended that you even asked about it?"
There's something here, they certainly have a specific vibe. Wish there was a little more depth in song writing.
I liked some of it. The last few tracks got way too twangy for my liking however.
Enjoyed this mostly. Felt like it could have been even better though.
2000's album that was very clearly inspired by the 60's. The 60's influence bring a nice tone to the album but the 2000's aesthetical choices and production ruins it for me. I don't really care for the songs here and the entire album has this sort of heavy orchestral noisyness to it that doesn't really fit. I don't really see a reason to listen to this one, its too boring for even the Indie crowd and wasn't popular enough to be remembered fondly.
Pleasant enough indie record that doesn't really try too much to sound authentic. Although I can't find much to fault, any memory of the album is vanished as soon as the last track finished. Best Tracks: - Santa Cruz (You're Not That Far) - One Horse Town Worst Tracks: - Say It Ain't So Rating: 3.5/10
Honestly i think its cool as shit. Buddies from Ireland cruisin the cali coast writing songs about santa cruz while couch surfing in san francisco and san diego, right up my alley.
Hey guys what if we tried sounding like Pavement! Oh you mean like great instrumentals and rocking production and lyrics that are fun and interesting? No I mean we should sound like a terrible Pavement cover band that sings about other parts of California. And we should sound really cheap. And bad. Okay. I think a good idea is if an album from the early 2000s is on this list that you’ve never heard of it’s a good bet you can just skip it they all sound the fucking same
good album for a sunny day, but i’m always a sucker for this kind of vibe. as a side note, it’s hard to believe it came out in 2003 AND that they’re irish, i would have genuinely thought it was from a 70s/80s west coast band (think phish & that whole scene). i had to go back and check it wasn’t like a rerelease or remaster or something because they have that vibe down so convincingly.
I really liked the sound of this album but found it a little cheesy
Not very thrilling
Perfect for today. The album's described as "sunny" and it was a great warm sunny day today. Good vibes for a good vibes day. Hit the spot Also: “The song "Say It Ain't So" appeared on US President George W. Bush's iPod in 2005.” - weird flex but ok. Jokes aside that's neat little trivia, I dig it 😃👍
Eh
Santa Cruz is a strong start. One Horse Town is great, too. Pretty enjoyable album overall.
More UK nonsense that doesn’t belong here.
A little too slow and a little too sing-songy
It was fine.
Nice album, I enjoyed it. 3/5
Jason lytle if he wasn't cool. I feel like two is too harsh but they definitely aren't a three. Fuck it I'll be nice.
this sucked
3.5/5. This band walked so… Yeah nah it’s pretty forgettable and I’m rather fond of this genre too.
Americana for big fans of The OC. It's a swagless Byrds and Beach Boys California tribute that they sometimes pull off. The best bits are the slow spacious parts with loping melodic bass, big reverby atmosphere, gentle piano, soaring slides and clean echoey guitars (Deckchairs & Cigarettes, Hollywood Kids), very pretty, if ultimately empty. But then as soon as they try to high energy and that constant annoying banjo sounding arpeggio kicks in it becomes unbearably cloying. "It's such a shame when old friends fall out" - and actual lyric they repeat multiple times! good lord that's embarrassing.
This may be only my second 1 star review, 713 albums in... Ugh, I knew I was going to hate this after the first song. Just saying "Santa Cruz" over and over and over is not a song. Everything is just so contrived. They took all the worst lessons from 40 years of pop rock. This absolutely should not be on this list.
Melodías ricas, un estilo indie pero del rock de antes. No se como describirlo. Alguna que otra letra ingeniosa pero en general la palabra seria pretenciosa. Nota: 2.9
Liked Big Sur Rating: 2.4
Worse than I remember somehow
Okay album. Nothing remarkable.
This was not terribly exciting for me. Kind of just blank, somewhat alt-country, somewhat retro pop. I didn’t hate it, but didn’t like it much, either.
Take indie, but make it boring with lyrics that come from people that may only know about California from TV shows. Nothing outstanding, why is this here, etc. 2* Highlight: til the tide creeps in (the harmonica got me)
This really could go down a star depending on the voice, not sure howni feel about the singer but I'm being generous today.
Reminds me of LCD Soundsystem, especially vocally. 3.5
Conor Deasy sounds like a 10 year old boy who's never left the city of London attempting to mimic an American accent
Imagine if The Beach Boys wanted to be Snow Patrol and they also really sucked
Thrilling
I really enjoyed that album, good vibes
I do not love this guys voice. A little whiny. The music is just fine but a little meh. It feels like a lame indie blend to me. Like if the Cardigans were bad? Or if lumineers/mumford/of monsters and men tried some bullshit 00's alt rock. It doesn't lean enough into either it's folk inspirations or it's weird 2000's indie pop rock leanings. Blah/bad
Felt older than it was - shades of 60’s/70’s
Soft low-key rock
Um...the music is pretty. The lyrics were boring.
Alright, but I could have done without the country influenced songs.
Brits go to California and write an album about it. Next please.
Not bad. Maybe a bit "background music'y" 3/5
To paraphrase an Irish noughties indie band: ‘whatever happened my friends, The Thrills??’ Well, they were never really my friends, but I did enjoy listening to Big Sur on a compilation CD back in the day. They’ve hardly crossed my mind in the intervening two decades though. I guess their moment came and went, and their impact on music history was not a seismic one. The first few tracks are enjoyably breezy and melodic, but the back end of the album is a bit of a snooze fest, and I should probably dock a star for the very low ‘must-hear’ status of this album, derivative as it is.
March 2, 2025 “Oh, to be a "The" band in the early 2000s...“- me, for the Zutons’ entry last month Something I noticed during my time in Ireland were grocery items decked out in American flags, even though they weren’t American exports. - biscuits, frozen pizzas et al. There’s a more positive connotation with USA there that doesn’t really exist here in Canada, where (now especially but also then) stars n’ stripes aren’t particularly appealing. I guess I bring that all up because here’s a Dublin band yearning for the beaches of Cali?… This is actually a really nice listen. Like I get that it isn’t very essential or groundbreaking, and the lead singer has a kind of whitebread affectation a la Death Cab or Bright Eyes that I don’t LOVE, but it’s agreeable enough with the lush, throwback folky songs. There’s an infectiousness to tracks like “Big Sur”, “Don’t Steal Our Sun” and the ”Til the Tide Creeps In” that I cannot dismiss. And the ballads “Old Friends” and “Deckchairs” are strong as well!
It’s okay - nothing memorable. Although, I might have heard Big Sur back when it came out, but it was not something that made me want to go listen this. I actually wanted to skip most of the songs towards the end
Well. This is indie but not very remarkable. I liked the music OK and thought it was creative. But the lead vocals had a whine-y quality to them that didn't endear me to The Thrills. And there was a little bit too much harmonica (read: I think it was only in one song). As a side note, how many songs can you have about specific locations on your album? Overkill, and unimpressed.
A very sleepy album. There wasn't really anything downright bad about it, but it wasn't remarkable, either. This slow folky indie music is okay for background music at best.
Bobs along in a jolly way with some fine singles then kind of runs out of steam. I think if I listened to it more than once I'd find it quite annoying.
Pleasant enough songs, but not a lot to go back for.
Sounds good but it was all pretty much the same thing
Reminiscent of The Band
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.
Cheesy noughties indie pop. Country/Americana knock off. The singers voice irks me. I wish this album was that far.
I wasn’t familiar with the Thrills at all but was pleasantly surprised. A nice pop rock album.
Hard to put into words just how boring this album is. If this is their definition of Thrills, then the Blue Plate Special and Bingo Night must be highlights of the month. Please, no more.
Pleasant to a fault. It just seems so trite and inconsequential. After a long day I just wanted to listen to something good and this just somehow made it worse.
A band explicitly identified as paying homage to another era better be fucking good to be on this list. Otherwise why not just take an album from the era worth homage? There are some kind of proto hypnagogic pop but these are buried under contemporary pop sensibilities and don't result in any good hauntological vibes. Santa Cruz (You're Not That Far) starts with a kind of Beatlesy pop number with uninspired lyrics. Big Sur continues the Calinfornia themin' and banjo parts as well as generic lyrics. There's a kind of fun doo-wop link between verses but that's all they have. Don't Steal Our Sun has a nice steel guitar bit against a kind of Franz Ferdinand rythym track. Probably one of the better tracks. Deckchairs and Cigarettes is a lament rendered meaningless by all-too-smooth vocals. One Horse Town is again a surf-country number with a fun rythym let down by boring lyrics. There really isn't much more to say about the album, it continues down the line of mediocre slow songs and fun up-beat songs let down by tepid songwriting. The only song worth calling out is Say It Ain't So for being a favourite of George W. Bush. The only redeeming quality of this album is the beautiful production, mixing and arrangement which give the album the feeling of a Beach Boys HD remaster. If the authors were really intent on something 60s inspired for this decade they could have chosen an Ariel Pink's Huanted Graffiti album, at least then there would have been some good lyrics.
this should be all me but it feels sooo forced
Liked this one, some really good tunes in here.. and I’d never heard of them until now. Crazy
2.5 didn’t like it but wasn’t as bad as I first thought
Big Sur is a standout. The rest is decent. A shade under a 3, but I've given it one.
Vaguely recognised the cover … checked my collection and found that I own it. Have no recollection of buying it. It was OK but not very inspiring.
Blast from the past! Pleasant but not really something I would listen to often
Sehr langweilig, die Stimme des Sängers ist auch ungeil
It’s ok
instrumentit osittain kuulostaa musiikilta. valitettavasti joku alieni, joku ufopoika käyttää jotain äänijänteitä jota koskaan nähty maapallolla, koska niin uskomattoman kamala ihmiskorvalle. ihmiskorvaa hyökkäävä/raiskaava hirvitysääni. varmaan kuulostaa hyvältä planeetalla glorpsex, mutta maapalllossa, telluksella tämmöinen on rikos. tappaa ihmisiä äänellä. pelkästään äänellä.. jahas irlantilaisia.. noh selittää ehkä vähän paremmin.. mutta nyt alkaa vähän hävettään tämän ihmiskunnan puolesta. tollasia päästetään käveleen. oma kauhunsa sekin... santa cruz
Wilco on the sunny side of life. It’s palatable enough, but nothing really groundbreaking here for me. The whole album kind of washed over me. It did make me want to go to California though.
4/10
3/4
Unfortunately I really was irritated by the voice. It didn’t blend with any of the music in my opinion and it made it really hard to listen positively. The voice was mellow, boring, and monotone and the music couldn’t make up for its lack of interesting aspects.
The Thrills were completely new to me (...would never have pegged this band as Irish - infinitely more a southwest American VW bus vibe...) and after the first song I'm already intrigued by the melodies/harmonies - definitely venturing into the slightly-unpredictable melodic pop rock that I enjoy (I'm hearing elements of Jellyfish, Flaming Lips, Elliot Smith). Although how many times one needs to actually say "Santa Cruz" within a song is certainly up for debate. "One Horse Town" definitely has a little Pete Townshend guitar influence in there ok. Overall I love the music - the lead vocals really do start to approach preciously fey self-reflective annoyance. For the most part I've gotten good (better) at tuning out vocals where I need to and a few times it was necessary here. Wasn't entirely sure about how much I liked it but after giving it a 2nd listen today...yes it's inoffensive but it's just kinda nice and I feel like something nice right now is a good thing to have. I think I would listen to this again. 7/10 4 stars.
Nice little early 2000s indie pop music - in general I like indie but on this album, after a few songs all the others sounded the same, the last few ones even more boring than the first ones. I'm certain this album was only included in the first edition of the 1001 Albums book in the mid-2000s, and then it was dropped afterwards. 5/10, or 2.5 stars.
3.5 Deeper than your average The OC Soundtrack indie pop of the time. A bit lightweight but that might be the point.
The Thrills - So Much For The City Album Review There are some albums that just feel like a perfect way to start the day, and So Much For The City is one of them. Warm, breezy, and effortlessly melodic, it’s a record that rolls along like a lazy drive down the coast, with jangly guitars, rich harmonies, and just the right amount of nostalgia. From the sun-drenched bliss of Big Sur to the laid-back charm of Santa Cruz (You’re Not That Far), it’s an album that captures a wide-eyed, dreamlike version of California—made all the more amusing by the fact that The Thrills are actually from Ireland. What makes this album work so well is its consistency—there are no wild shifts in tone or sudden detours, just a smooth, easy ride from start to finish. Even on the more melancholy tracks, there’s a comforting warmth that never fades, like a golden haze over the whole record. The mix of indie rock, folk, and vintage West Coast pop influences gives it a timeless quality, making it an album you can throw on in the morning and just let it carry you wherever it wants to go. I actually saw these guys at Glastonbury, and the memory that sticks with me most—aside from how effortlessly fun their set was—is them throwing a mic into the crowd at the end of the gig. Still not sure if they got in trouble for that, but it felt fitting for a band whose music sounds so free-spirited and untamed. So Much For The City might not be groundbreaking, but it’s the kind of album that makes you feel good every time you put it on, and sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.
County Leitrim (You’re Not That Far). An album of chemically pure mediocrity.
Kind of went in one hear and out the other honestly
Little soft, little boring
Travis does Beach Boys.
First song i thing: uah its a very happy cool indie band. Second sound: WTF annoying is this?
mid crossover of the Flaming Lips and Neil Young
"So Much for the City" is the debut album by Irish indie/pop band the Thrills. The album was produced by Tony Hoffer. Lead singer and guitarist Conor Deasy said that they created songs to pick them up after they were dropped by their label and used towns as an escapism. A decent description of their music by Pitchfork is "competent satisfying, pop spread, packed with impeccable vocal harmonies, happy keyboards, jangly guitar and plenty of fades." Other core bandmembers included Daniel Ryan (guitar, vocals), Patrick McMahon (bass, guitar, vocals), Kevin Horan (piano, vocals) and Ben Carrigan (drums). Commercially, the album reached #3 in the UK. "Santa Cruz (You're Not That Far)" opens the album. Piano, a slow drum beat and Deasy's tenor voice come in. The pace quickens up with vocal harmonies. This is happy, poppy and sounds a lot like Granddaddy. They do the slow-fast-slow time shifts multiple times. There's a harmonica solo. They keep the happy and poppy going in "Big Sur." Electronic sounds, a melodic guitar and "do-do-do" backing vocals. This band loves California. A piano intro begins their last single "Don't Steal Our Sun." A high piercing guitar. A more rockin' beat. I think it's about a breakup. "Our Horse Town" is also a rockin' song. For some reason the Gin Blossoms come to mind. Horns and a jangly R.E.M guitar. Deasy wants to travel but is tied down. The band takes it in a country-esque even Americana direction in "Your Love Is Like Las Vegas." Deasy even sings in a US Southern accent. He actually does it much better than Mick Jagger. This might be the least Irish-sounding Irish band that I've ever heard. There's pedal steel guitars, US Southern accents, songs about California and Las Vegas and two waltzes (that might actually be Irish). Most of the songs are happy and poppy. There are a few melancholic ones. The lyrics are minimal and simplistic. The drums are in the forefront and I liked the prominent piano. You hear influences of the Beach Boys, the Gin Blossoms and especially Grandaddy. This is an OK album, nothing offensive, but if you want similar music at a higher level check out Granddaddy.
Country-ish, less-weird version of Grandaddy? Not bad.
They knew what aesthetic they were going for and then just beat it into you
I'm pretty not for this one. Will I listen to again: 0%
Hipster nonsense.
Fav: One Horse Town Least Fav: Just Travelling Through
Unfortunately the sound of the lead singer's voice is unappealing to me. Very breathy whiny and "forced?". It's like the Crank yankers guys are in his ear telling him hey sing like this everyone will love it. Some of the music is good, and I thought the best vocal and song was the little rockabilly tune "Say it Ain't so". More of that please. I was watching the video for One Horse Town and saw Topanga Ranch motel. I couldn't place it but knew the name sounded familiar. It's between Malibu and Santa Monica. Unfortunately it was destroyed earlier this month by the wildfires. So this video does have some awesome historical value! Bumping them up to a 3 for that alone might be controversial, but I'm pushing the boundaries today.
Don’t Steal Our Sun is an ok track. The rest of the songs are boring. The band is decent but the album is bland and unoriginal. They tried way too hard to be commercial.
Its not BAD music , but it sort of pissed me off.
++: Don't Steal Our Sun, 'Til the Tide Creeps In / Plans +: Deckchairs and Cigarettes, One Horse Town, Say It Ain't So +-: Santa Cruz (You're Not That Far), Old Friends, New Lovers, Hollywood Kids, Just Travelling Through, Your Love Is Like Las Vegas -: Big Sur 5,0/10
Yeah very solid album, enjoyed it! Actually got into it more as the songs went on :)) one horse town was quite a bop!
Seems like it would be an album I enjoy but just didn’t really. It’s like it was trying to be something it wasn’t. Pee also poo
A pretty good album in my opinion, albeit pretty unremarkable. Probably deserves a second listen as the songs did tend to blur into one when I had this on whilst working. Would really give it a 3.5 if possible. All the songs were pretty good, maybe slightly repetitive lyrics in some. Fav song: say it ain't so.
This is definitely an early to mid 2000’s indie record. I like it, it’s possibly the least abrasive album we’ve heard so far, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. It’s the sort of band you’d expect to be heavily featured in an episode of the OC(upon further research, this is correct) It’s got moments of dreamy brevity, some really catchy basslines, and some beautiful melodies. Not a band I’d ever paid attention to before, but it’s an enjoyable record. 3.5*
This is fine. It's very 2003 indie. I did vaguely enjoy it, but once you've heard 3 or 4 songs you've heard them all. The guy's voice kinda reminds me of Ben Gibbard at times. Lots of talk about California which is neither here nor there. 5/10
We get it you live in California
It's not often I react badly to an album but this is so generic and devoid of originality I'm staggered. It sounds like a hundred other bands in the same genre. This won awards too!! Wow! There must have been a real lack of talent that year.
Not bad just not my type of music
really liked this one esp big sur, got minotinous by the end
32/1001 So Much For The City seems like a fine indierock/pop record, but without much character or charm to it. Honestly, just a bit too lo-fi and underbaked. The best track was ‘Til The Tide Creeps In, giving of a bit of the same vibe as Izzy Stradlin’s Shuffle It All, just wildly inferior. Sadly, there really isn’t much else going on here. 2,5/5
Lovely, gentle indie album. I enjoyed the second half more than the first. Favorites: Old Friends, New Lovers, Say It Ain't So
Isn’t is great when you rediscover music that had fallen out of your mind. The name The Thrills didn’t trigger anything in my memory, but I definitely recognised Santa Cruz (You’re Not That Far) and Big Sur, and I bloody love those songs. The rest of the album is in a very similar style, conjuring images of sitting on a beach with piña coladas. This is such a relaxed, sunny feeling album. I haven’t even touched on how perfect the vocals are! So soft but so nice and melodic, with harmonies that are as soft as a lamb. I like this very much. Very much indeed.
3/5
Was not expecting to see this album on the list, the least sounding Irish band from Ireland, if you didn't know better you would assume they are from California. The big hits definitely carry the album, not a bad listen overall. Pretty good indie pop. Vocals do grate a little after a bit.
Generic and forgettable
Did not "thrill" me.
Pretty standard run-of-the-mill 00s indie. Could have gotten rid of a few tracks, since many of them sounded quite similar.
I mean … It’s pretty good. Is it extraordinary? No. Is it unique? No. Should it really be on this list? No. I’ll cut it some slack due to the great nature of the quieter tracks though.
Was nice, I kept on listening to the s[otify suggestions during the entire day
This band is interesting. They’ve got a 60s sound, the early 2000s OC feel, but also random steel guitar and harmonica? The old school country undercurrent is throwing me. I don’t love it, but I like it.
so much for this album. indie music has always been my thing and i was excited for this and then realised i’ve heard a couple songs before but it’s so insignificant. the actual music is quite nice, but this was so boring.
Meh. Not bad but def not gonna be a repeat listen for me, pretty forgettable
Este disco lo habría disfrutado hace 20 años cuando salió, pero me ha parecido un peñazo incluso su hit: Big Sur.
3.5
Santa Cruz is a good song musically but the vocals are a bit off. Don't Steal Our Sun is an interesting mix of alt/rock with country influences. Deckchairs and Cigarettes is a good chill song. Old Friends, New Lovers has a great guitar solo. Say it Ain't So is a great country-inspired song. Pretty good album but the second half slowed down.
The Good: Finally an album which is all about camping… The Bad: Oh, wait, it’s not about camping… The Ugly: So why are they sitting outside, with an RV? Guilty pleasure… that’s what comes to mind. Never really heard of The Thrills before, and when the first tune started playing I was wondering what all the real cowboys would think about their musical style being redone in falsetto… I mean, seriously? Then you read about the band, and find out that they are Irish, which explains a ton, because I seriously doubt an American group would have the balls to do what The Thrills have done, which is to gentrify the country… All of a sudden you find yourself starting to hum “Everybody’s Got To Have Plans…” and you curse those thrill-seeking bastards, sitting all glum outside of their RV, hiding songs in a 10-minute track which we’ll never listen to again... On my second listen, I realized that if the singer would have been Jakob Dylan, this would have been an awesome album, easily 4*... So, hitting this straight down the middle of a guilty-pleasure that I don’t want to admit to… 3* - 1* for the annoyance factor...
I definitely remember "Big Sur" and "One Horse Town" from some Paste Magazine sampler CDs back in the day.
Interesting album and story behind its making. Feels like it was ahead of its time and has a handful of really good songs, but it’s not an album that really kept my attention. I like his voice
Meh
what is even going on here i hate the singer and i'm just confused
Not very thrilling. Not my cup of tea - the guys singing style is pretty irritating.
Second rate Americana and surf rock from some lads who’ve only lived it second hand.
Am I disappointed in this album or in this site?
Beach Boys played at half speed, and it's nice in the background.
At first I thought this seemed vaguely like a slightly more sophisticated Rooney-type project. It has a similar vibe of California-flavored nostalgia from the Beach Boys era (was it ever really *like* that though?) And I still think it has a certain Avett Brothers meet the Lemon Twigs sound; it grew on me though. Easy listening without being too dull.
Irish band whose music was described as 'sunny' - because they moved to San Diego in the early 2000s and made this album there :) I didn't really know this band before - they sound tight, solid. This guy's voice immediately reminded me of the Flaming Lips and J.Mascis / Dinosaur Jr., who were both incidentally significant and influential bands at the time (funny that!) at times too pop and too whispery for me but not a bad listen - just not something I will go back to
This one feels bland—a safe album. I had to listen to it three times because it faded into the background after Santa Cruz.
I mean. Lots of good influences are apparent. Nicely played arrangements, tasteful arrangements. A little bit of fun. Decent enough. There's nothing inherently wrong. But what heck is it doing on this list. Seriously?
This guy has a terrible voice and the lyrics are all a bit trite. The ideas are not there to sustain songs longer than like three minutes.
Starts off with two great tracks but then sadly dwindles out from there
I was not thrilled. Couldn't even pick a best song cause the guys vocals were so boring. I guess it's competently made and inoffensive so I'll give it a 2. Disappointed because they're Irish.
I mean it is totally fine. It’s pop rock for elevators or something. 3/5
Some pretty good songs on here.
Another non-de-script indie band, not from UK, but from Ireland this time! Whoop di fucking whoo!
00s indie is very much my bag and I know this album from when it came out, although was a bit surprised that it made it into the book. Fun and jangly indie pop with nice vocal melodies. The harmonies evoke the Beach Boys / Byrds. There's nothing to really dislike here. Doesn't stand out massively so I can't give it more than 3
Ei ihan huono. Jotenkin tällainen modernihko versio jostain eteläisemmästä rokista. Miten tätä nyt sitten fiskusti kuvailisi. 3/5
Ihan ok indie-levy, jonka voi helposti kuvitella voivan soida iPod Touch-mainoksessa joskus 2000-luvun alkupuolella.
I remember this being quite popular when I was in Uni (one of my uni housemates had the CD). It's OK, mainly because it's got a jangly retro style. There's a couple of decent singles I would happily stick on playlist but it's not particularly exciting as a whole album.
Not so much thrills
Never heard this before, wrote a review when I was pissed. Apart from the typos my sober review concurs; jingly-jangly nonsense
Instantly forgettable. Modern sop in 4-4.
Just another ex-1001 album!™ http://1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie.wikidot.com/album-artists-a-z-ex I laughed at the "END IT!" soundbite in the closing of the opening track. I was thinking the same thing, just end the song already. The album itself is okay, the retro 60s indie pop inspired style is nice enough, but it's largely forgettable.
This is, ironically, some of the least thrilling music I've ever heard. It doesn't sound awful, but it's far from good.
Liked it more than I expected, but it eventually got boring. Just not enough variation. I’d probably listen to a song or two again but can’t see listening to more than that.
A vibrant guitar And a little twang tries to But can’t save this band
In a nutshell: really bad 2000's indie movie soundtrack. It combines elements of The Shins, The Polyphonic Spree, Granddaddy and Badly Drawn Boy...yet it sounds completely bland. Ugh. What a let down for a Mercury nominated album. Overall: 1/10
Mooie nummers, niet geweldig origineel, maar wel goed gezongen en gearrangeerd
Twee, dull, annoying.
This album was fine, though I also found it boring much of the time. It just didn't really do anything to challenge me, whether it was lyrics or the music. It felt like the type of modern indie music that has all edges sanded off. I'd maybe give it 2.5 stars, but I don't think it is fair to give it 2, because it's not bad, and I could see how some people would really like it.
Really liked this BUT really wish it didn’t sound so much like a laid back Pavement album.
Nothing like a bunch of Irish kids singing about California, with the western instrumentation (frequent banjo/acoustic guitar twang), and a vocal affect to really set the mood. Getting over the outrageous inauthenticity, the music is chill and catchy, capturing the sunny, indie, California vibe that was big in 2003. The vocals "accent" sometimes veers towards parody, but there are many classic european bands (cough, the Rolling Stones, cough) that have similarly ripped a silly accent and managed to pull it off.
Didn't do much for me. Kind of reminded me of a much less interesting version of Grandaddy. Nothing on here I'd really want to revisit.
There's parts of this I like that sorta remind me of Flaming Lips or something. But overall it feels like it's trying to ply on nostalgia and I'm not a big fan of that. Ultimately forgettable. 2.49/5
Sorry, haven’t had mucn time for this series. When your music time is limited, it’s easier to just want to stick with what you know, y’no? Anyway, wasn’t feeling this. It sounded like it’d soundtrack an episode of How I Met Your Mother, and even when I was a big fan of the show, the music choices were not why. Ultimately harmless but not my thing. D+, but I’ll be nice and give it a third stae
I definitely enjoyed this. At times, it reminded me of The Unicorns, just not even close to as good or interesting
I didn't enjoy this
we have had to listen to a lot of forgettable music on this list but this 1 might take the cake
Not too keen on this. Nothing wrong with it but just instantly forgettable
Favorite Track: Santa Cruz (You’re Not That Far)
Discovering a new artist that fits is the biggest perk of this wonderful initiative. One can say that The Thrills sound derivative, but who cares when the songs are this good. Melodies, hooks and harmonies abound in this well crafted mature album. The influences are abundant...The beach Boys, Big Star, The Beatles The Buffalo Springfield, CSNY to name a few. But I also hear more modern touches from bands like Granddaddy and Badly Drawn Boy. But forget all that this is a fine album from a band that writes wonderful pop songs. 4 stars
forgettable
Don’t really get this.
I really don't like this. To me it sounds over produced and I don't like the vocals. Getting through this is a slog, I see why they removed it from the book lol sorry not sorry Least favourite BY FAR so far
It’s a nice album but eventually it grated on me. Might be the lead singers voice.
Annoying over the top fake American accents in songs that sound like theme tunes for twee US teen sitcoms. No thanks
Bought this on CD back in the day, and listened to it quite a bit. Through modern ears it doesn’t sound great, and, when you think about it, the whole thing is pretty ridiculous. These cunts are from Dublin ffs 😂 The Wikipedia entry is full of facts that make you shake your head in disbelief “ It was released on 27 May 2003 and quickly achieved success in Ireland, spending 61 weeks in the top 75 of the Irish Albums Chart.[12] The album also won 'Album of the Year' at the national music awards” 🤦🏽 “ The album was nominated for the 2003 Mercury Prize but lost to Dizzee Rascal's Boy in da Corner.” “ The song "Santa Cruz (You're Not That Far)" was ranked by Q Magazine at number 550 on their list of the 1001 best songs ever made” “ The song "Say It Ain't So" appeared on US President George W. Bush's iPod in 2005” 😂 Nostalgic 3 stars as they were quite good when I saw them open for the Stones in Dublin, but it’s really a 2
Surprising and fun
Nice jangles.
On my personal enjoyment scale it’s a solid 3/5 On the jangle scale it’s a whopping 5/5
I have owned this album digitally since it came out, but have not listened to it in years. It is a good album with a splattering of really good songs, but I feel like it fades after Hollywood kids. Its not an album I really want to own, but one I will gladly listen to again and again
Good for a bit, but ultimately boring. Why does he sing like that?
Like a city tour, but the bus broke down halfway.
I’ll give this one a solid 3. I don’t know if I would want to listen to it again but it was decent enough as a first listen through.
This band had a moment and that moment has past. Now this album has been rolled into an early 00 indie sound-alike Katamari that's receding in a hazy memory. Not quite old enough, or stand out enough, to get a lift from nostalgia for the era we have to take it on its merits alone. And you know what? It's fine. A little too twee and a little too nasally for me, but not so bad as to be stuck with a one or two star rating but only just barely a three.
Nothing noteworthy here apart from the horrible forced American accent.
Never heard of these guys and This is not what I was expecting. 60s-70s sometimes beach boys-y vibe. Great vocal harmonies and really well done. All I kept thinking was they put time and effort into this record. I like it a lot. I’ll actually listen again. Kind of record if you play in the background people will ask who is this. Great record.
Deckchairs and Cigarettes was an absolutely beautiful song, but it definitely stuck out as the best song, all the while the rest of the album isn't as amazing. There's nothing wrong with it at all, but it just lacks coherence and can often be quite boring.
Overall a really good album, don't think it's all quite for me but definitely a good listen. Chill vibes and laid back music. Close to 5 but not quite there for me.
If 90s Wilco, Pavement and Ben Folds Five merged and was lesser than the sum of its parts.
Good
Where are they now
Why?
Enjoyed listening to The Thrills. Fun countryesqe indie rock vibes. Groovy and bopping from the start to the end.
I mostly enjoyed this and it’s definitely not terrible but roughly half way through this I started to feel pretty bored. It’s just the same thing over and over to me. It’s good but same-y same all the way through.
2.5 rounded to 3 It sounds fine, but it doesn’t sound like a band with its own identity. Every choice sounds like the choice of a better band, done worse. Feels extremely untrue
Вайб присутствует
Ironically named because this is perhaps one of the least thrilling albums I've ever listened too. Ponderous, repetitive, and almost offensively bland. At one point one of them tuned down their guitar and I thought something might happen, but then the harmonica came out and the vocalist repeated the same innane lyrics 15 times on the trot.
A collection of semi-surfpop, semi-garage-rock songs about California - an overall pleasant and a general good listen throughout it's runtime, but not much stands out from this album. I'd struggle to remember a specific song, but that doesn't mean I wouldn't like to get back to it.
Whoa, these Flaming Lips-adjacent vocals are like nails on a chalkboard. The songs themselves are well-played, but somewhat boring. Also, why don’t these guys just move to California already instead of writing ten songs-worth of straight fomo? Cringy.
Not bad
I had a enjoyable time hearing this. The melodies are so lovely and the lyrics bring some hope to a lost soul. Allows us to dream and be happy. But i have to be brutally honest here: if you wait for innovation of the genre, this is not the right album for you. The Thrills didn't reinvented the wheel on this album or brought something new to a genre so widely explored like rock. But still, it's a good album if you want something to spend the time, it's unoffensive. The Thrills get almost there, maybe next time. P.S: I'm tired of these fuckin' repetitive rock albums. Bring me something fresh!
Whoever told him that he could sing deserves to be shot Other than that it's pretty sub-par indie rock
I'll be giving this another listen to see what I think, but my initial thought is a 3.5/5.
This band sounds like the Flaming Lips if they were sad all the time 3/5
Cool idea, moderate execution.
Well, I'm going to forget about this album as soon as I finish this review. Why is this here? What does this album accomplish that other early 2000s indie albums don't already have? This inclusion is pointless when better bands like the Flaming Lips and Wilco already have multiple albums on the list. Let's talk about the album now. The sound is alright, I guess. The fact that I'm even thinking about bands like the Flaming Lips is a good thing I guess considering how much I loved those albums. This album just isn't as interesting though. The writing is kind of weak and pretty repetitive. Seriously. This album has more singing about California than a Red Hot Chili Peppers album. Also it might just be me, but this album felt a bit long. Like, it's only 46 minutes, but something about this album just made it seem longer than it is. In conclusion, this is truly one of the indie albums of all time. Low 3/5. I'm talking 5/10 territory.
This albums inclusion is laughable. This was rubbish and overplayed/over-promoted at the time of release. Cannot believe there aren’t better albums than this to be included. Twee rubbish.
Good album with rock sound, and if flows really well
kveið fyrir að hlusta á þetta aftur. reyndist ágætt en algerlega ófrumleg stæling á kaliforníu köntrípoppi sjöunda og áttunda áratugarins.
It was good but also forgettable.
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
Huh, this was a surprise. When I started doing this project in 2021 I downloaded as many versions of the list as I could and merged them together so I could track things in a spreadsheet. 🤓 This wasn't on any of them. All the reviews start from mid 2023 so I guess this was added to the latest version of the book? 🤷 Well, I didn't think I'd heard anything by them, but when "Santa Cruz (You're Not That Far)" kicked off it was familiar, though I'm pretty sure I'd assumed it was a Flaming Lips song when I heard it. These folks do an excellent job of nailing a particular sound, it's pretty baffling to learn they're Irish! Somewhere between The Flaming Lips and Grandaddy, but lacking any of the experimental weirdness. That makes them more accessible, I suppose, though a bit less interesting. I can't go 5 stars on this because it's a little bit one note, but 4.5, sure. Fave tracks - "Santa Cruz (You're Not That Far)" and then let's say "Hollywood Kids" for all the lap steel guitar.
Gelungenes Album aus Irland mit einer Mischung aus Folk, Country & Rock. Es ist schön das Album zu hören mit angenehmen Tracks. Um das Album zu verstehen sollte es ruhig mehrfach gehört werden z.B um die Klasse von „Santa Cruz“ und „One Horse Town“ zu erkennen.
Another soundtrack to Friends
Blind album and artist. It's well rounded and a decent album, some songs fall short and others are good. Piano is underrated and I loved the utilization and other parts.
I guess the only good thing that came out of listening to this album was that now I finally know who was responsible for that annoying song that got a lot of airplay in the early 2000s. Utter trash, this is a nasty album in every regard. It sounds like some sort of weird amalgam of christian rock, retro american, and bluegrass. Like a squeaky clean version of the Flaming Lips, with everything interesting sucked out and drowned in a bath of blandness. I was astounded and saddened to learn the band are actually Irish. The singer deserves a jail sentence for crimes against humanity for this drivel.
Early 2000s pop that feels inoffensive, but overall fun and very listenable. Very middle of the road. Getting the ever-so-slightest suggestion of Phoenix with that vocal sound.. take that as you will. I find it amusing that they list the last track on Spotify as "Contains Hidden Track 'Plans'". Lol, it's not hidden if you outright call it out, ya dinguses.
Don’t remember them by name but recognised almost every other track. Decent enough
Best Song: Big Sur. Short and punchy, and occurred early enough in the album that the vocals hadn't yet worn me down. Worst Song: Til The Tide Creeps In. Hiding stuff at the end of an album is mostly annoying. Here is is annoying. Overall: It feels like this album might have gone on to influence more modern indie groups that I do like, but I didn't really enjoy this. Lyrically it was that kind of played-out earnest honesty, but it was really difficult to get past the severely nasally vocals.
This was fine, but nothing that I'd want to listen to again.
ett riktigt nostalgialbum! skitkul att det är med i boken men det har kanske inte åldrats såpass väl att det blir en femma. med det sagt så gillar jag musiken mycket.
This was good. I liked the vibe, but I couldn't help but feel like some songs were incredibly repetitive. I also quite liked the use of Banjo, but it got super oldschool Country feeling at the end (not a bad thing, just felt weird to transition to?) I could see myself revisiting this one. 'Deckchairs and Cigarettes' was my fave takeaway here.
Twee, cute, but not really mind blowing. I'm a bit torn on this one. 2 feels too harsh, 3 feels too kind.
Played through twice while working but again, I don’t feel like I got a great “listen”… really liked the style, this is a brand new artist for me. Indie feel, reminded me a bit like Guster. 3.5/5
Irish Indie
Erm. What? Hey. This isn't bad at all. The singles were overplayed to hell then, but I haven't heard them for 20 years and they're lovely. Bouncing Supertramp basslines. Notes of Teenage Fanclub, High Llamas. Possibly the injection of sunshine I needed on the day America elected to crap itself publicly once again. I never cared enough to find out that the band isn't actually American, which means that excessively hokey Wayne Coyne ish accent and singing voice is put on. Which definitely becomes annoying long before the end of this short album. It's front-loaded for sure and pretty much all the second half of it it is below average.
Listened to these guys in uni. Def of its time but holds up
Neil Young vibes
Another one of those albums where i question why it is in the list. It’s ok but boringly early 2000s indie