The Thrills

When young, pasty Irish musicians fantasize about the peaceful West Coast canyon rock scene of yesteryear, we call it magic. Like Teenage Fanclub, Whiteout, Superstar and 18 Wheeler, the Thrills exaggerate the California sound beautifully, with Byrds-ian walls of cascading vocal harmonies and twangy, toneful guitars.

The Thrills are five young dubliners with an affinity for American culture -- specifically
Seventies country folk and the easygoing tunefulness of classic California pop. So Much for
the City, their debut, was recorded during a four-month sojourn in San Diego, and besides
introducing them to the Golden State's coastline (Hollywood, Big Sur and Santa Cruz all
figure in song titles), their stay seems to have helped the Thrills create the perfe... More >

If an American--a disaffected suburban boy from the professional class, say--were to concoct this sentimental cutesification of surf and country-rock, drawl and harmony and whisper and mewl, it would be even harder to forgive. Americans have an obligation to comprehend their own culture. But there's something in Conor Deasy's timbre that renders his Dublin version even more saccharine in its artifice. The cure for what ails him? I dunno. A quick chop to the Adam's apple? (Grade - C)