Reviews (page 6 of 8)
Enjoyed this. Not sure it belongs on this list, but nice listen.
I'm bored
Not bad, but for me the vocals are really on the border between listenable and insufferably whiny
I've forgotten what I thought of this album
1. zanta cruz - 0 2. big zur - 0 3. zun - 0 4. cigarettez - 0 5. horze - 0 6. friendz - 0 7. zay - 0 8. kidz - 0 9. travelling - 0 10 vegaz - 0 11. creepz - 0 ZERO , THIZ BAND ZUCKZ BALLZ AT LEAZT THIZ CD
Never heard of the guys before, despite their ‘Beach Boys-meet-Wilco’ sound and vibe. I love the lead singers voice and tone, but everything else is pretty pedestrian. The Thrills is gone for me.
Ihan kelpo rallattelua. Ei hyvä eikä huono.
Ei oikein sopinut kuunteluhetken tilanteeseen. Ei jäänyt käteen muuta kuin basic doable
Fluffy nonsense.
Skilled arrangements, skilled musicians. Nice for a shopping mal. I think, I'll survive, if I diddn't listen to this record......
I knew a couple of the songs so I felt cool for a while. Then they got a bit samey.
Completely unremarkable
I really can't remember whether I listened to this. So, that's telling, right?
Big Sur is nog nice, maar daar stopt het ook. Voor de rest saaie indiepop, meh. 2.4
I have to admit, until about five minutes ago, I had no idea The Thrills were Irish. Years ago, an ex-girlfriend loaded a bunch of their tracks from the first two albums onto my iPod, and despite being familiar with their music, I always assumed they were from the U.S.—likely the West Coast, maybe even California. Can you blame me? Just look at the track titles, listen to the music, or glance at the album cover—they've nailed the look and sound of a California dream. The only clue to their Irish roots is their names. Conor Deasy’s voice is unmistakable—wistful, plaintive, and instantly the focal point. His range isn’t vast, but his vocal tone perfectly complements the themes of longing and escapism that run through So Much for the City. And curiously, there’s hardly a trace of an Irish accent, further adding to the band’s sun-soaked illusion. The guitars shimmer and jangle with clear nods to The Byrds, The Beach Boys, and maybe R.E.M.—bright, clean, and dripping with reverb. The sound is pure nostalgia, drenched in sunshine. The bass playing is tight and subtle, while the drumming is precise, serving the songs without drawing attention to itself. Taken at face value, this is a solid collection of songs—good but not quite stellar. "Santa Cruz (You’re Not That Far)" and "Big Sur" set the tone, offering breezy melodies and a carefree vibe, while tracks like "One Horse Town" and "Hollywood Kids" round out the album’s stronger moments. To the album’s credit, you can breeze through the 11 tracks with ease. But here's the catch—it all feels like an impersonation. The Thrills name-drop Santa Cruz, Big Sur, Hollywood, and Las Vegas in the song titles alone, transporting themselves to a place and era they don’t belong to. It feels like they’re trying on a Californian persona, and while the songs are entertaining, the whole package comes off as a costume—an aesthetic they’ve borrowed rather than lived. Tony Hoffer’s production, known for his work with Beck and Air, is sun-soaked and polished to perfection. But maybe a little too perfect. As the album progresses, it starts to fizzle out—the same polished sheen that works in the beginning contributes to a sense of emotional distance as it goes on. The lack of grit or spontaneity keeps it from leaving a lasting impact. So Much for the City had its moment, but The Thrills couldn’t sustain the success. It’s no surprise the album was eventually dropped from the 1001 Albums list. It’s a pleasant, well-crafted listen, but in the end, it lacks the authenticity and staying power to hold a place in music history. Do I own this release? Most of it on an iPod. Does this release belong on the list? No. Would this release make my personal list? No. Will I be listening to it again? I enjoyed this, but it shouldn’t be anywhere near the list. I won’t mind if it comes on, but I won’t seek it out.
Man, getting Sgt Pepper's, Rumours, Eno's Music For Airports, and Pet Sounds in a row (not to mention Prince's Purple Rain and Nas' Illmatic the previous week) spoilt me and made me forget how mediocre most of the list actually is. This is not totally irredeemable - I enjoyed it for its first two tracks - but the combination of the nasal voice and juvenile love lyrics just sounds stupid after a while, though in a ho-hum rather than offensive way.
Easy-listening folk/indie rock. Nothing that really sticks out on this one for me, but it's a pleasant listen. The vocals and instruments are easy on the ears and the lyrical content matches what one would expect from such a record. Decent.
It's... charming? Competent? Droll? A minor, forgettable Flaming Lips? Okay? But why is it in here? I mean, of course it is (or was, hah), being another minisculely different flavour of British/Irish/US pop rock - collect 'em all! - but seriously? See also: what's wrong with this compilation - and that's a Bingo! The Rule as per #244: ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ "Every time one of these 1001 supposedly world's greatest albums turns out to be just another minute variation on [or channeling] USUK '65-'80s rock the generator has served me many dozens of times before, I will give you a different album you could be listening to today. For instance:" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ☞ Brad - Shame (1993) ☜ A beautiful record from '93, from Seattle with Pearl Jam's Stone Gossard on the guitar but it files under Grunge more by those associations than anything. Late Night Grunge maybe, for smoky, desolate bars and nightly car drives. A not really underrated but severely underknown gem. Go listen.
This isn't a very thrilling record. It's all very nice, but plodding and unmemorable. Doesn't grab my attention. At all.
3.75
Dreaming of West coast pop at its best
There was a point when I was a teenager where if I had heard this music, I probably would have fallen in love with it and staunchly defended it. But in my 30s I think I missed the window and it just sounds like most other melancholy indie music. It’s well produced, and occasionally their accents make it hard to tell what they are singing, but it’s good overall.
Started off slow - it gave Beach Boys. But steadily grew on me.
Last night, my dad asked if I liked this album. I knew I had listened to it but it was so unmemorable I had to fib and say yes. I just realized I didn’t have to fib- I could’ve said I don’t remember. I was blindsided. I relistened to it this morning and I would agree with myself- it’s unmemorable. Not bad though.
It's not that it's necessarily bad, but what makes this list worthy over so many other things? Ugh I've said this same thing very recently haven't I.
Hmmm I’m kinda bored! It’s not bad I’m just not hooked.
Actually enjoyed this more than expected, chill guitar and piano with sunny feelings.
pleasant indie/folk, songs to listen to on a summers evening
Some indie rock bullshit I should like but found just mediocre.
I remember that I wasn’t much of a fan of this band when they came out and the passing of time has not changed my mind.
This was actually a huge surprise! While there are things I don't really care for about this (song structure and lead vocal performance), this was a refreshingly dynamic record that is both well produced and well-crafted from an arranging standpoint.
Not terrible. One good track in the middle I saved.
A pleasant album that comes off as positive and bouncy. Nice sounds, nice vocals, nice lyrics. Easy.
This is flagrant deceptive advertising. Calling your band 'The Thrills' and playing music like this is mean-spirited and hateful. I'm sure you're sitting in a corner laughing at all of us who were expecting something exciting and raucous. Shame on you!
The opener, “Santa Cruz,” is a 3 min song stretched to 4 min. But it gave me more time to wonder what was up with this singer’s voice? It was weird… I couldn’t place quite what it was. Then I looked the band up and found that they’re Irish. With the first two tracks on the album about California. An Irishman trying to sing with an American accent and sound like the Beach Boys? A breathier Beach Boys. I remember “Big Sur.” I think it was used on the show “The O.C.” “Deckchairs” is about California too!? I don’t know what the rest was about. I wasn’t thrilled.
I'm actually kind of surprised I didn't hear this in college when I was deep in the middle of my early-naughts indie-folk-rock rebound from what passed for alternative music radio. It is pleasant enough, like a twangier Travis.
Interesting as I’d never heard of The Thrills even though this album debuted when I was in a heavy music phase. I like their country influenced songs the best with Say It Ain’t So being my favorite. I wish more of the album built on this foundation.
First listen. Ok meh.
Great album.
another "ok" album
I really liked the singles from this record when they were released and I remember the CD doing the rounds in the family but listening to it now, I can definitely see why the singles were the singles. All the other songs are very samey and a bit bland. Still nice to have a more modern(!) record on this list.
Never heard them before, just the name, but this one is brilliant
4/5
I get why people start to lower scores after a while, plenty of them start to get very unremarkable after a while lol
Sehr langweilig, die Stimme des Sängers ist auch ungeil
sounds like sunshine, dreamy wistful West Coast pop, with strong harmonies, jangling guitars, big arrangements - but, sadly, largely insubstantial and forgettable
i remembered liking this when it came out but not any more
liked this much more than I expected to. Some good tunes on here
On a run of relaxing-to-listen-to albums lately. I'll be honest it's an enjoyable listen but I don't see exactly why it's "one of the most important and influential in popular music".
not a mind blowing 00s indie rock album, but a fun one nevertheless. very referential to a lot of 60s and 70s pop rock. the songs here are upbeat and catchy. in a lot of respects, it feels in the same vein as the flaming lips, neutral milk hotel, stuff akin to that, but i think those contemporaries have more compelling and essential music. the album comes off as a little bland but this is not anywhere near bad. pleasant.
Irischer Pop Ein paar Schulfreunde fahren nach ihrem Abschluss nach Kalifornien, und kommen mit ein paar Ideen für ein Album zurück. Und haben sogar Erfolg damit. Aber nach ein paar Jahren wars das dann und die Gruppe löst sich wieder auf ... Trotzdem ganz nett anzuhören
Noughties “The…” bands appear here like a goal with posts moved to corner flags, the keeper kicked in the balls. Seeing this pop up, I was ready to put another notch in my cricket bat. But I couldn’t do it, those big wide eyes looking up at me. This falls beyond the point where simple naivety transforms into fantasy, and I found its helpless cheer sweet.
Outside of their immediate family, who is this album for?! Did youse go on a little trip to America and write a few wee songs about it? I am commencing legal action under under the Truth In Advertising act forthwith
An interesting album, it was a relaxing listen.
Rock, Pop, Country, 2003 -> 3
It's ok, not terrible. Like a boring Flaming lips
I liked the premise of the album, but the vocal harmony and music didn't really connect with me after 1.5 listens. Run of the mill 3/5.
I am a fan of indie-rock, so this album intrigued me. An Irish indie band singing about America sung in a sorta faux American accent is interesting, and if you set aside the criticism about this, it's actually an enjoyable album. It has an Americana feel to it and it's more chill than in your face rock. As far as the tune, Say It Isn't So, included on G. W. Bush's iPod, the title is my exact response to the song and I deduct 1 full point for the association with that evil bastard (Not their fault, but hey, this coulda been 4 stars). It's too bad, it's a decent song, but there are other gems on this record that should keep you listening to the end. This album isn't anything special, nor is it even close to being essential, but at least I can listen to a complete record that isn't a woman beating rapper or anti-Christ devil worshipper screaming in my face.
Wash your hair and stop with all the whining already.
meh
mid.
Alright enough. Don't care to listen to again.
The CW's wet dream. Jesus Christ.
Pleasant though vapid, this band is more interested in referencing the Golden State than they are in living up to their namesake.
holy shit what a fucking find. This is unskippable, beautiful voice beautiful arrangements. Fan for life
I’ve lived in California all my life (50 years) and was wondering why I haven’t heard of this band before with tunes like Bug Sur and Santa Cruz. Turns out they’re from Ireland. Well, that probably explains it. A good listen. I can see where where the novelty might have worn off given the inauthenticity, as well as not working here in the US.
weird country blink-182 midwest emo vibes and i can’t stand the breathiness
it wouldn't be until Hey There Delilah that this level of cloying, twee irritation would be surpassed
Has a real 2003 air to it. If I grew up with it I'd probably look back on it fondly. Sounds a lot like Grandaddy etc
This album proves that the only way to be excited about the environment of California is if you are comparing it to literal Ireland. I like having seasons thank you very much. Anyway, the music is not for me; I find the original California rock sound pretty empty, and the modern alternative spin they put on it also doesn't stick. My favorite track is "Hollywood Kids" since it has more of a Blues or Southern rock inspiration, and the piano bits add to the nostalgic vibe.
I liked the music but the vocals were too whispery for me
Great value Wilco.
I was promised thrills and there were none, not cool
This was listenable as anything I guess.
mid. A lot of records sounded like this at the time.
Uninteresting. Boring. After listening to 3 tracks, I didn't feel like wasting any more time with the album. 2/5
2.5 music was alright but couldn’t stand the guys voice
1 star in 2003 1 star in 2024
It starts off reasonably but turns out to be an uneventful affair.
For a band with the name "The Thrills," I expected the band to be more... thrilling. More... hard-rocking. Instead, they sound a bit more like Gram Parsons, I guess? There's a bit of country I hear there, but a little more... dreamy. I can see where the influence comes from, though. I guess I wasn't expecting it to be as "poppy" as it was. Still, I liked some of the songs on there (and then there's that hidden track thing, which was cool in the 90s and early 2000s, now it seems... weird.) It was just... ok. Top tracks: "Santa Cruz (You're Not That Far," "Plans"
I've never heard of these guys but meh. It's indie pop or power pop revival from the early 2000's that was led by a bunch of artists from the UK, Ireland, etc. Keane and Snow Patrol did it better. Put them on this list.
Day242 - this was hard to listen to. it’s like the american version of whiny brit-pop
This is the craziest western country album to come out of Ireland.
A lukewarm pop rock record. Not much going on for me (2.5/5)
So Much for the City is the debut album of the Irish indie/pop band The Thrills, originally released in 2003. I needed this album. Summer is winding down over here on the East Coast, and this album fit the vibe perfectly. They lean super hard into the California identity on here, even harder than the Beach Boys in some moments (lol). I was so surprised to hear these guys were from Ireland. They sound pretty damn American. This record reminds me a lot of that 70s Laurel Canyon sound, with a bit of jangle pop/garage/2000s indie sprinkled in. Kinda like Beachwood Sparks. Great discovery from this list.
Many memories of when this was first released and driving around listening to it over a sunny summer
#327. These songs all sound like songs from every 2000s teen movie soundtrack. 3/5: all that Song added to playlist: Say It Ain't So I've created a playlist on Spotify that consists of the best and/or my favorite song from each of the albums in this book. This list can be found here if you are interested: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7MAXDGLWlwLkFLb8veGfkA?si=FqkQQPgZTFWG0jAUJXLFZA&utm_source=copy-link
Never listened to The Thrills before as I hated that Big Sur when it came out. Expected an indie landfill record, but found a quite pleasant 60s US rock record. Kinda reminded me of magbe Beach Boys at times. There’s someone far more obvious but I cannot remember. Anyway, thought it was canny, doubt I’d return but way better than anticipated
Only found out that The Thrills are from Dublin a couple of years ago, couldn't believe it. They lean into the Californian schtick harder than the beach boys. Wanting to make this sort of music is fair enough, singing in an affected American accent is a bit silly but fine, but constantly singing about Santa Cruz, Big Sur, San Diego, ridiculous. Fake tales of San Francisco is spot on for the Thrills. Taking the album at face value, I like the singles enough, a nice addition to a summer barbecue playlist I'd say. A whole albums worth of it is bit testing though, another band that should be an EP I think. I'd say 2.5 but closer to a 2.
I don't mind the US inspiration - would have sworn they were American - but it is all just a bit dull. One of George W. Bush's favourite songs is Say It Ain't So; potentially the best song on the album. Completely passed me by first time around, no interest in listening to it again.
Completely forgot these guys existed, remember my parents playing this a lot when it came out, so was quite looking forward to listening to it...... I've actually been to Santa Cruz and big sur..... It didn't live up to my memories, feels really dated, even though it is pretending to be dated I guess. Quite dull in parts too unfortunately. One horse town is probably the best track. Big sur and Santa Cruz aren't bad either. 2.5 but 3 for nostalgia sake
They've listened to some Crosby Stills and Nash and read some Kerouac and they want you to know it! CSN did nothing for me first time round. Even less reheated here. It sounds expensive , but for the cost it could've been much more interesting. Nice harmonies though...
Good enough.
I got kind of sick of hearing the exact same song structure three songs in a row. Luckily, the fourth song was the exact same song structure, just slowed down a little bit. Then they blew my mind a little later by having the exact same song structure, just sped up a little bit! What a ride. 2.5 stars
Not bad, but not my vibe.
Enjoyed this, 3.9
Ma! Sean forgot to flush the toilet again. etc
Awful
I enjoyed this a decent amount, which surprised me. There's a tendency on the 1001 to include too many UK bands, and this particular album is on some editions of the 1001 and not on others, which tends to be a red flag. It's fairly light and quite approachable.
Landfill indie. Sorry lads.
As generic as generic gets. Bang average.
Sweet ear candy. Sometimes the California city references were too corny. Still good tho
No está mal, pero tampoco mata.
A mi me ha gustado pero no es un disco del que me acordaré
This is completely new to me. I hear the 90s indie vibe, and I'm digging it. 3 stars
I had heard one song by this band before, enjoyed listening to more.
oh god...this isn't a good album to listen to in my current state of mind. It is amazing. I love it. I just want to be hanging out in The O.C. and enjoying life instead of whatever I'm doing now. Some times I think I failed at life. The above was before I exercised for the day. I feel okay now. But I wonder who the real me is. The one who nostalgically yearns for something else or the one that feels okay. Do I have a 'Thrill'ing life? What has this review turned into?
I would rate this 2.5 if I could. It's not bad, but it doesn't quite meet the expectations of an above average album for me
This is no doubt the most overtold joke in rating this group, but I was NOT thrilled. In their best songs they sound a little like they're trying to be the Beach Boys . . . if the Beach Boys had been boring and predictable.
okayish
I had never heard of The Thrills, and within 2 seconds of this playing I knew I was not going to like it. It's just pretty standard early 2000s sunny So-Cal Indie Pop but made by Irish folks. Could not be any less interesting.
vervelend van eerste tot waarschijnlijk laatste noot ... maar zover ben ik niet geraakt... ik raakte in een muzikale coma
Not sure why there are so many low reviews for these guys. If I had heard them right at release, it would probably be a 5 instead of a 4, since I would have had more time to appreciate the album. In any case, a good mix of Beach Boys, Wilco, Polyphonic Spree, Flaming Lips, Pete Yorn, and probably a few dozen other artists. Was nice enough to hear a little bit of each of those in the song style and composition. Some just prefer to just listen to those artists instead, which is fine, but it is nice every once in awhile to just hear something a little different. 4/5
Liked it in the day. Lead singer’s voice lets it down a lot.
I understand their intention with this record – music that could lift them out of their mundane reality. however, I can't say it fully comes through in the album, as a lot of the songs just are whiny, filled with banal lyrics and superficial nostalgia. so all in all, it actually ends up being a bit of a downer
This is better country than 90% of the crap coming out of the US in the past 20 years. It's good. But I didn't like it.
Kinda folky, but very mid. 3/5
Fairly tepid 60s throwback. Another album to ponder why is it on this list? 2.5*
Well the streak had to end sometime. I don't care if Say It Ain't So was on George W Bush's iPod, this album didn't need to be on this list.
Love following an epic Joan Baez debut with some humdrum boring rock. Were this released like 20-30 years earlier I could see the appeal, but it's just not pushing anything in any direction. So middle of the road that it's off the road and on the median. Replace this immediately. Favorite tracks: Don't Steal Our Sun. Album art: Just a bunch of people sitting in a field, filled with ennui. Framing is fine, everything is just fine. I'm unmoved. 2.5/5
Not impressed.
High 2. Not bad but but I’d never listen again. A little repetitive
2.5 stars. A lot of Cali regencies that made me do the Leo meme but it wasn’t great
Man, that is a tough singing voice to sit through for an entire album
Indie rock. Lento. Rollo. Un 2.
Noise indie folk. Qué bonito sonido.
I already know I'm not going to like this... Yup, hot garbage, every track sounded the same, took me about 30 seconds to skip through the whole album. People who like this.... I don't like you.
My first thought when I heard this was that it sounded very early 2000s California pop, and felt like something that you might've heard on the 'O.C' series. Not very surprising considering the opening tracks are called 'Santa Cruz' and 'Big Sur'. I was correct in the early 2000s part, but was surprised when I found out they are from Ireland. This spoke to teenager me in a good way. The only real complaint I have is that the lyrics felt quite... childish? As in a toddler could've actually wrote it. At least that's how I felt with 'Santa Cruz' and the first few songs, and then I lost track a bit because I was out running. Overall I liked the singers voice and the "instrumental" part, but got hung up on the lyrics that I didn't like. Weak 4, can definitely see myself revisiting this.
Sometimes it sounds like a cheap ripoff of "The Beach Boys". Sometimes like bad country and sometimes like bland indie. I just couldn't get over the style of the lead singer. Probably a 2 but I really didn't like it so 1 it is.
I'm sure it was intentional, but this sounds like an album from the 60's, so...no thank you. This was hard for me to get through. I don't think it's objectively bad, so it probably doesn't deserve a 1, but it's darn close. 1.5
I am so sorry for this, it pains me to make a pun here, it does, but, the thrill is gone my friend. The Thrill is gone.
Fantastic melodies. A dynamic sound. Great arrangements and cohesion between band mates. This is a perfectly well-rounded album
Perfectly middle of the road. Not my genre, but not offensive. Not captivating, but not boring. Not great, but not bad.
Light indie, with occasional bouts of interesting.
This album was really good, and a little mysterious. I am still a little confused by the premise, but they really nailed the sound. Never would have learned about this one without the albums generator.
Very little joy here
That’s a bit disappointing. I really like the single Big Sur but nothing else on here seems to live up to that standard. I do really like Big Sur though.
While I’ve never heard this album before, there’s nothing particularly unique about them. Sorta standard indie rock infused with Britpop that was released just as that style was starting to fade from popularity.
Well, it was something I'd never heard before, but I can't say it made a tremendous impression in the sea of albums on this list.
Pourquoi tant d'albums indie avec des chanteurs qui sonnent comme s'ils baillaient tout le long ? Quoiqu'il en soit je ne comprends aucunement l'inclusion de cet album. Je ne trouve pas que ça vient rien révolutionner dans aucun des styles que ça incorpore dans son son. Y a-t-il tant de monde qui a écouté ça en dehors du UK et de l'Irlande ? 4/10
I liked this, I definitely have similar albums on my phone. However, I found it a little repetitive and the singing style got on my nerves after awhile, so I don’t think I’ll be keeping this. But this was a breath of fresh air for this rock heavy list.
Allt í lagi dót, svona kósíkrúttlegt.
Really pretty. I enjoyed this record quite a bit. Not 100% sure how it got on the list, but I'm not complaining.
Only fell short of thrilling by a little
An interesting British reinterpretation of Cali Slacker Indie and some Decemberist twinge. Nothing jumped out and enjoyable album. I like how it's not about experience as much as it is escape
Totally forgot about this album, having listened to it a lot when it came out. Really enjoyed coming back to it.
Was unfamiliar, quirky fun britpop that evokes sun drenched California through a Wayne Coyne filter.
mid but sorta nice,
Had pretty high expectations.
It's okay, they achieved the sound they were trying to get but it's nothing overly special.
First nothing really wrong with this album, perhaps a little too much sugariness. The real issue is why is it on the list? Not really anything special per se.
I was surprised that I knew several songs. But not surprised that I had forgotten this band.
Took a while to get used to the singer. Some of the songs were ok but I got tired of it by the end. A hard rate for me.
I didn't hate this one, but didn't really like it a ton either. Perfectly fine pop for background music, but not sure that I would be putting it on any best of lists or anything like that.
When it started I thought it sound quite listenable but after a while the vocals made all the tracks sound the same. 2*
Zzzzzzzzzz
I kind of like Big Sur, Don’t Steal Our Sun, One Horse Town, Say It Ain’t So, Your Love Is Like Las Vegas
I have an explanation for why their song “appeared on George W. Bush’s iPod in 2005” (truly an honor among honors for any artist, I’m sure). Dubya, clearly distraught by Pavement’s breakup in 1999, used his power as president to have Pavement kidnapped, taken to a CIA black site, injected daily with Herculean combo-doses of Ritalin and SSRI’s and told them they could only leave if they made a late 60’s West Coast Pop record. This record is the result of that unlawful deed, a suspension of habeas corpus.
Pretty average and his voice really grated on me. I don’t think anyone really *needs* to hear this one.
Nice easy listening indie. Never heard it before, but a good listen. Will definitely check out more stuff by the Thrills
Ok
"The song "Say It Ain't So" appeared on US President George W. Bush's iPod in 2005." Is the funniest possible thing to have in your Legacy section on Wikipedia. Singer's doing his best Flaming Lips impression, while the rest of the band are doing their worst Beach Boys impression. Wouldn't even belong on a 10001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die list, but I guess it's not bad or anything. Just incredibly, incredibly average.
lizards living in my bed, lizards laying purple eggs let them run along my legs, let them chew on my tossed dregs this one is insidious, this one is facetious their faces like angels, sheets like soggy papers but their eyes are filled with dread, drooling beasts like drunken men screaming like a broken tape, make them go or make me dead yesterday i climbed away, to the rooftop where ill stay til the lizards die or fade, maybe im just tempting fate
Sehr netter Säusel-Fun!
So much for interesting music. It's OK, but it didn’t move me.
Decent if not generic indie 2.6 stars
Decided to give it a listen after all pretty good indie offering
This album is soooooo goooood!!!
Great discovery, never heard these guys, a lovely mix of harmonic country and surf pop and Irish hugs. Love that 1001 is still throwing me curve balls at #993.
Chill album, enjoyable throughout but doesn't do anything to really grab your attention. Scrapes a 3.
I'm happy to hear a female lead singer here for a min. Nice mix of bluegrass/banjo and girlpop. Easy 4. By the end got a little samey, so I think 4 feels right. Also I realize it's just a high pitched dude, not a lady, so shame on me.
Another one for my list of "not sure why this is on the 1,001". It's fine in areas and consistent enough but I don't see anything special here.
The stereo mixing is really good. I kind of wish the tracks stuck to being just under 3:00 minutes.I say this because Deckchairs and Cigarettes got tired for me. The formula that's been mentioned of Phil Spector, Beech Boys Neil Young seems apt. This album probably would have got it's hooks into me had I listened to it in my younger days. But nothing really popped for me, or felt special. I'm going to name drop a couple canadians here: Thrush Hermit, Joel Plaskett, Sloan, The Inbreds
wooshy steely dan
According to 23andme I am 93% irish and yet this is not my jam
Not my kind of music
I enjoyed this. I was surprised to read this is an Irish band because the sound is very much Americana to my ears. It's a pleasant listen. In some ways reminds me of Wilco. Would listen again.
3
An Irish band from 2003 that sounds like a folk/rock album from 1971. Decent tunes but not sure why it would be included on this list
Not sure why this is in the list.
Uplifting melodies for tested lyrics
Not great. Not a lot interesting overall and no real individual songs to redeem it.
Remarkably unremarkable
Jeez, the opening song “Santa Cruz (You’re Not That Far)” is so repetitive. A lot of these songs repeat themselves without introducing new ideas. The hooks and choruses aren’t that great to begin with and definitely don’t justify the endless refrains. I don’t like the lead singer’s voice. Soft-spoken, high-pitched and raspy? A lot of his singing sounds flat.
Track 1 started on a whimper and I was admittedly a little bored but thankfully it only lasted about 30 seconds and then it started to go somewhere after. From there on I expected a little more and ultimately had the hardest time with the singer's voice. It's just so soft and hard to sit and enjoy without hearing how much it stands out from the rest of the band. 2.4/5
Not familiar with this group at all. It is funny to listen to an Irish-based group sing about American cities & locations though. It seems they took a lot of inspiration from visiting the American West Coast. Early on, their sound is pretty catchy with elements of jangle rock/pop. Some country & western creeps in more towards the later half. Honestly, the vocals and overall sound remind me a bit of Ben Gibbard & Death Cab for Cutie in that they are subdued and a bit calming/lo-fi. There's a sense of longing and escapism all throughout the album, but it starts to feel a bit clumped together at a certain point and never really ventures out past that. An alright indie album, but nothing special. Just makes me want to pop on some Death Cab for Cutie to be honest. A high 2.
Good album
The last track has a decidedly blues feel initially, with the organ music. But at over 10 minutes long, it's really long. Big Sur is interesting. I guess the Monkees are still something of a thing?
Interesting for an Irish alt-pop band to have so many references to California. Very approachable, but nothing too remarkable or catchy.
This was an easy listen. I liked the jangly sound of a few, others droned on a bit long. Only saved one, “Say it aint so” (no pun intended). Average or slightly above. 2.5/5
This was an ok listen. I always thought of these lads as being the Irish Jayhawks just not near as good. The songs are quite pleasant yet strangely forgettable other than “Say It Ain’t So”, which was a nice standout due to its upbeat tempo. So much for thinking this album should be on this list.
Pretty cool album, but vocals kind of wore on me. I dug the at times vintage feel, both in terms of the music and in terms of glorifying the state of California.
I almost bailed after the dude repeated Santa Cruz a thousand times. Apparently they felt the same way as someone shouted “End it!” At the end of the song. This kind of sounded like not-as-good Death Cab (maybe just the dudes voice). Man, don’t steal our Sun also annoyed me. Maybe it was the doo-wap sounding harmonies. Sounded like a mentos commercial. Man, I really did not enjoy this.
This is a totally fine album. An easy listen but nothing stands out. 2.75/5
60s-esque pop, kinda surfy feeling
жизнь клевая! нет, ты не понял, жизнь клевая! погоди, ну просто послушай, жизнь клевая!
плохого вроде нет хорошего особо тоже Прям супер проходной альбом Алкоальбом: 1 euro beer
this wasnt horrible but i didnt love it. like a weird irish elliot smith indie rock band? i dunno. not my cup of tea.
4-5 One Horse Town!
2/5 - whiny and uninspired
This album is just awful. So Naff.
I tend to like this kind of music and I do enjoy this. But there's something about the way that the singer sings that makes the songs bleed together. The actual music behind it is really good. Reminds me of a lot of music from this time. I especially liked the last track "'Til the Tide Creeps In" and loved that, because it's an early aughts album, it has a hidden track on it
Jag gillar Counting Crows. Det här låter lika. Jag gillar det. Fin och trevlig surfpop bra på sommaren. De är tydligen från Irland! Hade aldrig gissat på det. Helt säker på västkusten USA. Kul att irländare kan göra annat än folkmusik. Mycket stark 3 eller kanske en 4a.
Big sur känner jag igen. Småputtrigt. Mellanmjölk.
Lyssnade rätt mycket på denna back in the days eftersom jag såg dem som förband (till REM tror jag) i samband med att den släpptes. Big sur är riktigt bra och 3-4 låtar till är bra, resten okej. Trevlig och lättsam lyssning rakt igenom. Stark trea.
I really enjoyed this album. It was a smooth listen and this subject matter is always gonna speak to me because of where I’m at in life. It wasn’t remarkable by any stretch of the term but most of the albums on this list aren’t so maybe that’s not the point. It was beautiful music nonetheless! Also, what happened to the concept of the hidden track? I like that, we should bring that back.
very basic american pop band sound.
Is that Bill Hader? Dude's got a Rockmount Ranchwear shirt it appears. The cover DEFINITELY does not sell this - the posturing is strong in this one. The guy on the far right - ew. I bet they from Ireland or something. This better be good. (Not feeling generous today). Not going to break my rule and read about them before I listen, though. BRB! Is this a prank? They ARE from feckin’ Ireland!!!! I just heard Willie Nelson and now here come these poseurs. Yikes. Bad ideas poorly executed. Why not do your own stuff and leave the Americana to someone who knows how to do it? Awful. Couldn’t get through it.
Good songs, although not very unique
4/5. A super uplifting album made by sad people, these songs are so catchy and makes a great road trip album. It starts off with three great songs and then definitely doesn't keep the same quality, but not bad at all. To be fair, there are sad songs here but there is a hopefulness still, like the future is still ahead of us despite what is happening now. Best Song: Santa Cruz, Old Friends, Till The Tide Creeps In
California bland. I was not impressed. These are Irishmen obsessed with SoCal. Been there. Am there.
Fine album. California sound mixed between the Eagles and whiny emo.
Gentle indie of its era.
They're Irish? I would have guessed from California! Well, it was pretty good. Some catchy tracks. I'd definitely listen to this again. 3.75
Really nice 1960s-esque pop dreaming of escapism to a variety of locations. When this came up I had no idea who this Irish 5 piece were, but the massive radio singles 'Big Sur' and 'One Horse Town' were very familiar and elevate this bigly. Rating: 4/5 Playlist track: Big Sur Date listened: 26/05/24
Why. Are. You. Here? I think that even in 2003, sitting on the porch roof of our student house and listening to this album, we knew that this was not going to be an important artefact. Still, it's always nice to hear what four Irish lads who've been on holiday precisely once to California have to say. To be fair, it's inoffensive and quite sing-a-long, so it's crept into the lowest possible three star mark.
Wasn’t sure at first but quickly grew to love it
Ick.
What are these Dubliners doing singing about the US West Coast like this? They must have had an enjoyable long vacation to SoCal. The Beach Boys fingerprints all over this album are undeniable, and I'm not picking up on any Irish accents here. It's fine, I guess, but it feels a little strange to me. Is this how the English or Irish feel when we sing with their accents? I wish I'd skipped the Wikipedia entry before my listen so I could be really surprised. When the album started and I heard the vocal delivery I said "Oh, no" softly, out loud, to myself--there be precious 2000s indie ahead. I wasn't wrong. I'll give them props for the varied instrumentals and sweet melodies, but the 60s pastiche is difficult to ignore. The Monkees reference in the second track made me roll my eyes, especially when they doubled down with "People said you monkeyed around." Yuck. I'm sure I'm not the first person to make this joke, but they could've used a different band name. Highlights: One Horse Town, Hollywood Kids
So bland and so beige. Complete lack of soul.
Whiney and difficult to listen to. Most of the songs on here sound the same - boring, whiney, and generic.
entertaining. 3 stars.
Decent indie with some pretty sick instrumentation
5/10
So Much For The City is relatively endearing at its best but quite average for the most part; when it's good, like the first four tracks or so, it reminds me a little of a less good Lightning Seeds, but it's nice and warm and a good listen. Doesn't keep that quality or feel throughout so a high 2 or a low 3.
I quite enjoyed this at the beginning - a tribute act to the Beach Boys with the harmonies and the constant California references, but with a bit more of a rocky sound. I knew Big Sur and Don't Steal Our Sun before, but the first few tracks are pretty good. Once you get past One Horse Town, it completely fades away, which is a bit of a shame. Nothing worth listening to really after that, which drags this album down to yet another 2. Highest 2 in a while, but that's not saying much.
Quite boring actually. Big Sur is a good song
This was a blast from the past. It landed in my ears as part of the 'landfill' indie scene of the early 2010's. The name wasn't inaccurate but it seems a bit harsh. This stands the test of time well, strong indie with a dreamy west coast vibe. There isn't much depth but perfectly passable.
Liked it at the time, seems a bit derivative in retrospect
Big Sur was such a great summer hit in 2003, a superb song for cruising, and most of the singles of this album still hold up. The whole of it is certainly ok. Uncomplicated, with a nice retro sound and a great background sound album
Tough to pigeon-hole this genre -- Rock? Indie rock? Alternative Country? Whatever it is, it sounds good with a… confident air.
“Hey mum, can we get the band?” “We have the band at home” The band at home
This is really "pop" for me, but there's a few very good tracks and I generally liked it. Good listen!
Truly dreadful, boring, uninspiring. Offensive in its mediocrity. Notable for its lack of notability.
It’s as close as good as you can get while still being bad and boring
It’s not offensive but it didn’t give me the Thrills. This album seemed like a love letter to Americana with an Irish accent. I liked it better when it was called The Joshua Tree.
The accompaniment is great, the production is wonderful, the harmonies emmaculate. But the lead singer makes me want to strangle someone. So breathy and pitch-for-shit, such weird pronunciation. It sucks, he sucks, and I can't listen to this album even though I want to. 2.0
Jeg er måske lidt harsh her, for jeg syntes egentlig at melodierne og instrumentationerne var rigtig fine, men sangeren har simpelthen en af de hæsligste stemmer, jeg nogensinde har hørt. Negle på en tavle for mig
Der var et par sange her jeg synes var rigtig gode, og jeg kunne ret godt lide vokalerne, de gav Wayne Coyne vibes (sorry Sandra!). Instrumentationen var en lidt akavet blanding af folksy og indie som jeg ikke synes helt virkede. Sååhh ja, det var fint, men helt uklart for mig hvad faen det laver på den her liste
Fin nok plade og kender andet der også lyder lidt henad mod det her, men godt nok ikke essentielt..
Big Grandaddy vibes.
Irish
Nice bit of jingly-jangly melodic guitar pop. Could have been even better if they’d not resisted the temptation to get their freak on just a little bit more and break through the constraints of their well worn formula.
Amused myself by wondering who this band was, excited to hear something relatively contemporary. Then it turns out I knew half of the album from their ‘hits’. It’s nice enough folk tinged pop indie rock stuff (with the oddest sounding Irish accents ever) but not massively memorable it would appear!
Completely forgotten about the Thrills but memories of listening to them on my river, looking over the south china sea and it still works for me.
This manages to be utterly uninteresting, even when compared to the rest of the mid-2000s dross. It's like somebody took The Supernaturals and made them twee. Guff.
Another on I'm not sure how it got on the list. I liked the singles when they were released but after they're out the way the album is very one note
Last song is the best song.
Not bad not great
Cool songs with a somewhat annoying voice
Very distinct sound... To the point that I can't tell one song from another.
Wow. What an album! I was not expecting to get such a nice 69th record! Jokes aside, this is such a great album. I loved every song and the unique feel this album has. I have never heard a record like this one. The opening track, Santa Cruz (You're not that far) is a great track, as well as the closer and the hidden track that comes along with it. However, my favourite track has to be One Horse Town, I love the instruments, the vocals and the lyrics. Such a wonderful album. This album appears to not have much international praise but has won multiple awards within the home country of The Thrills, Ireland. I think it deserves more credit than it has, and in my opinion deserves a 9/10 rating.
I enjoyed this a lot because I love this sort of detached Americana vibe. Something about it also reminds me of Ween's 12 Golden Country Greats and I can't quite place why
Is this what started the mid 2000s folks ensemble indie rock trend
"Who the hell is this, now?" I thought to myself, seeing the "post punk revival" category on the Wikipedia article. "Here we go again. *sigh*" As soon as I listened I liked them very much and they sounded very familiar (and not at all what I'd consider post punk). Turns out I had saved two of their songs from this album in my Apple library from a Las Vegas-themed mix CD a dear friend gave me 20 years ago. I really enjoyed the folky, jangly, piano-y goodness of this one, and getting to hear the whole delightful album. Yay!
For my first listen, I didn't overly excite me, but it was good. On the second, I found a charm that was quite endearing.
It's like someone flew some California sunshine to Ireland and The Thrills put it in a blender with some 70s pop radio and this is what we got. I heard similarities to The Carpenters, Pinball Wizard, the theme from Midnight Cowboy (not "Everybody's Talkin'" but the instrumental that was in all the John Brimhall piano books that is still one of only four songs I am able to play), and East Bound and Down (from Smokey and the Bandit). Some fun instrumentation and an overall uplifting sound made for a great listen today.
I heard the song “One Horse Town” and fell in love with it while shopping somewhere in New York in the early 2000s. Shortly after I bought this album and loved it. I hadn’t looked much into the band, so I was surprised today to learn that they aren’t from California but instead from Ireland… now I hear that lead singers’ voice differently. The group creates some catchy tunes with interesting hooks and nice banjo. I still love this album!
Perfectly delightful if completely derivative. What's not to like here? The homage is well targeted – laid-back West Coast pop – and extremely well executed. There's nary a wrong or unplesant note. A new generation of fans can be forgiven for falling for this. Fleet Foxes did roughly the same with vegn-y earnestness and less cheekiness. There are a few standouts – "Santa Cruz," of course, "Deckchairs and Cigarettes" (half-silly, fully gorgeous, and rides the finest line between marvelous and maudlin, with the noodling exit being the difference maker), "Your Love is Like Las Vegas" indeed!). Even the least effective cuts ("Old Friends, New Lovers") offer charm. But with a perfectly sustained mood, it's the whole effective which is most impressive, a whole that is perhaps even more than the sum of its excellent parts, and it holds us wonderfully, way better than one would have suspected upon first hearing 20 years ago. One likes (and remembers) the hidden track, a fitting end to a record that sounds like good clean fun.
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Santa Cruz, Big Sur, Your love is like Las Vegas
It's ok ... but definitely not more ...
It's 2003. You've just picked up a copy of New Music Express. They're looking for the 'new sound'. The buzz from the new Coldplay album is wearing off, and they've banged on about Doves for a while now. In a flurry of Badly Drawn Boys and Magic Numbers, a new band falls in their lap to save us from the US rock revival. The Thrills will slay The Strokes. The battle lines are drawn. The initiative is anyone's to take. Little did the authors know that just as they were collating and publishing this book that emo and indie rock were about to take over and wash away the softcockrock of the early 2000s, consigning them to obscurity (unless they happened to be called Radiohead). This is fine, but entirely forgettable.
Niin 2000-luvun alkua, niin 2000-luvun alkua. Eihän tässä mitään erityistä ole, mutta vie kuitenkin aikamatkalle huolettomiin lukiovuosiin ja aikaan ennen musertavaa depistä.
Funcionou bem como música agradável como sendo som de fundo. Só que não tem nada de relevante na minha percepção.
I feel like in theory I should’ve really liked this, but I just really really cannot stand this guys voice. It’s soooo annoying
Weird vocals but I like it
I rather liked this album. I thought it was pretty unremarkable at first, but I really got into it by the end and will add it to my rotation at work probably. It has a early 200s feel at times or maybe like 70s britpop. I liked the harmonica and bah-bah-bahs. Kind of sounds like Ben Folds Five led by the singer from Cloud Cult.
Pretty meh. Songs weren't necessarily bad and for the most part, the instrumentals are generally good. But holy hell I could not get past the singer's voice. Extremely whiney.
Having a hard time putting into words why I don't like this album. It sounded kind of like a less interesting Plain White Tees or Relient K. The breathy vocals put me off as well.
Just so indie bleagh 1.7
Good news: The 2018 version of the book no longer contains this album, so it must've been eliminated somwhere along the way. This record is proof of a problem with some post-2000s inclusions in these 1001 albums. Maybe it was added for being culturally relevant at the time, for being a light, summery indie record fit for the early 00s, but what about it? Twenty-one years later and it has barely made a ripple in the grander scheme of 2000s records, much less in the entirety of post-Y2K music. I don't mean to say that every record included here should have some immense impact on pop culture, but I can think of other titles from the early 2000s that deserve a place on this list over this. That's more of commentary for this entire collection though, so to go back to my thoughts on this album, I'll just say this: it's light and sweet but ultimately very meh.
Sehr entspannte Akustikmelodien, die sich nach deutlich älterem Indie-Rock anhören als sie eigentlich sind.
Great energetic poppy songwriting. Brilliant production. A gem.
could i write poetry to this? n
Nothing thrilling here. Pretty middle-of-the-road Adult-Oriented-Rock. Not sure what could be so essential about it. I wonder if they ever toured with The Waterboys. That would be a double-bill I'd be happy to skip. Loses a half-star for having more references to California than an average Red Hot Chili Peppers album.
Not offensively bad, just boring
Very good.3.5
I wouldn't necessarily call this a bad album — it was a decent enough listen — but I have no idea why it's on this list. It seems pretty typical of its time. Ben Folds, Phantom Planet, Something Corporate ... there were a million bands doing the singer songwriter/ acoustic/mid-tempo, vaguely surf rock thing. Basically any band that ended up featured in The O.C. or any other CW show. It's very mid as the kids would say. 3/5
It's . . . fine. I just got bored and forgot it was on. Which is more of a 'me' thing, but still.
Absolutely no idea why this album was on the list. Definitely not a band I would dive into
Not a lot of 'thrills' here, but certainly a lot a lot of supersoft charm.
Sunshiney 🌞 3
Meh
So Much for the City First thing that struck me was his singing accent, the weirdly exaggerated rotic sounds. Actually quite off putting. Santa Cruz is a pretty nice bit of west coast countrified pop with nice harmonies. Big Sur is a superior version of the same thing. One Horse Town is very good, a nice melody with some great little hooks and moments. The highlight for me. I liked Say it ain’t So too. However the 3 or so good songs, and the harmonies and country touches can’t quite cover up that this is a bit boring. Plenty of MOR is great, well written and well structured pop music and some MOR is dull, where you feel the only ambition was to write something inoffensive and nice. This definitely feels too much in the latter camp to me. Songs like Big Sur and One Horse Town are clearly superior, but the rest never quite lifts off or gets out of the ‘nice’ zone, mainly as the melodies aren’t that strong, and I get a sense of them cosplaying being west coast country pop band, which is probably why the playing lacks a bit of swing and dynamism for me. It’s somewhere between a 2 and 3 but the more I listened the more shallow and ersatz this started to feel. Perhaps it’s the earnestness in recreating a type of music so faithfully that it becomes a bit insipid. I don’t have any issue with anyone from anywhere playing any type of music from anywhere, but there just seems something a bit unreal about a lot of this, almost like it’s AI. All the elements have been inputted but the output is slightly off in an undefinable way. ⭐️⭐️
decent album, reminded me of Rod Stewart
It was odd to read the band is from Ireland. I was expecting CA natives. Good but each song has the same vibe which get a bit tiresome
The most shocking thing I learnt today is The Thrills are not from beautiful Sunny place, they are from Dublin. Nothing about So Much For The City is revolutionary but it’s a great summer album, so bright and poppy from start to finish. 7.5/10
Good, not great!
Cheerful.
Irish indie-rock with callbacks to "classic" American pop (more specifically *Californian*), with occasional forays or arrangements pointing at C&W, rhythm'n blues, garage rock and surf-rock. There's a timeless feel to some of those songs, I'm gonna give them that. Like they could have been written any time between the late sixties and today. The production values are pristine enough to attach those tunes to the early naughts, though. Not that it's a bad thing in this particular case. Some of the faster cuts make The Thrills come off as a clean version of The Libertines, and the slower ones to what Pavement could have sounded like had the latter been more polished and "professional". The band rarely reach the intensity and/or likability of their models, though, whether the latter came from the sixties/seventies, or from the more recent nineties / early naughts. And Conor Deasy's vocal performance sometimes leans on a few unnecessary twee affectations. Yet I would lie if I said I didn't find most of those songs well-crafted, pretty catchy or at least endearing on a first listen. Might revisit at a later time. Who knows? My grade for this record could even go higher than the one I currently give to it during those subsequent attempts to love this band? 3/5 for the purposes of this list of "essential albums". Which translates to a 8/10 grade for more general purposes (5+3) Number of albums left to review: more than 200, approximately - I've temporarily lost count here. Number of albums I'll include in my own list: half so far, approximately Number of albums I *might* include: a quarter, approximately (including this one) Number of albums I'll never include: another quarter, or just a little more (many other albums are more important to me)
It's a bit too radio-friendly vanilla for me
This whole album feels like a cheap, imitation, gas-station knockoff of real Americana. I get that they loved their time in Cali but it all just comes off so fake. I can only imagine that Irish listeners ate it up for the same reasons Americans love an "authentic Irish pub" here in the US. They haven't experienced the real thing and don't know better.
I have not heard of this album or band before. I was surprised I actually liked ‘Irish indie pop’ music but it had a lot of rock elements to it which may have contributed to my enjoyment. I liked the songs: Santa Cruz, and Big Sur. I will listen again!
Good but gets samey
Grandaddy wants their sound back.
What in God’s name made these Irish people decide to try make a west coast USA sound album? It’s so derivative, and so not successful. I have no idea how this album made the list. I never heard of this group and was really excited to give them a listen! I tend to like Irish music. The Cranberries, Sinead, early U2, all great. Instead we get…MY FIRST ONE STAR ALBUM! I really didn’t know what it would take for me to do it. I have listened to numerous albums I didn’t enjoy (metal, prog rock, some jazz) where I could acknowledge the talent or creativity. Nobody deserves a one star review just for not being to my taste. But THIS album showed neither creativity nor particular talent. This one TRULY bothers me. It is pablum. Now I know what will drive me to really pan an album. Sorry not sorry.
I loved this album when it came out. I hadn’t listened to it in years, but glad it held up. It is such sunny indie pop that makes me want to take a road trip
Listening to this album, in a lot of spots I was reminded of Owl City. And The Beach Boys. And Barenaked Ladies. And Ben Folds. And The Flaming Lips. And "You're So True" from SHREK 2. And, like, in another person's eyes that'd be harsh criticism, but me, I'm just like, "Heck, I like all those bands; I'm down for this 100%."
An overall nice package, reminiscent of the California music scene of the 60s and 70s.
It’s a 2.5 that I’m incredibly tempted to round down to a 2, but I’ll be nice and keep it at a 3. When this album hits, it hits pretty well; instrumentally, I think the very best songs on this album click together perfectly, carried pretty handily by the steel guitar and the percussion keeping everything melodically stable. The fast-paced tracks on this are really fun and enjoyable to listen to. Vocally, I don’t think there’s enough emotion or variance in his voice; the soft-spoken thing works on a few tracks, but when you do it for almost every track, it makes everything blend together in a bad and unmemorable way. That’s the problem with this album: there are too many tracks that blend together in a bad and unmemorable way, and that’s not good for an album experience. The amount of times that the album just gets annoyingly repetitive from both a lyrical and vocal standpoint is so often that it’s just too hard to ignore for me. The crazy part is that I think I liked about 7 of the 12 tracks here, but for 4 of them to be some of the most boring tracks I’ve heard in a way that they quite literally dragged no emotion out of me but pure disappointment is not good. Still though, those 7 are good to listen to, but not great, and that’s where I’m stuck on a 3 for this.