So Much For The City The Thrills Rating:  Record Label: (Virgin)
Summer is here. And here to soundtrack it, with their tent pitched firmly on the west coast and in the mythical spirit of mid-sixties Haight-Ashbury, are much-talked-about Dublin quintet The Thrills. Cynicism needs to be left at the door as, metaphorically speaking, their debut wears flowers in its hair, and flicks peace signs rather than 'V' signs. Constant references to the more glamorous parts of The US of A, and titles like 'Don't Steal Our Sun' and 'Deckchairs And Cigarettes' give the game away immediately. To quote another much-hyped individual from last year, it's very much 'free love on the free love freeway'.
This is an album dominated by an obvious love and appreciation of the 'classics'. Recent single 'One Horse Town' is a case in point, plundering almost every trick in the Burt Bacharach handbook, with supersmooth Beach Boys harmonies and an intro fresh out of the Motown stables. It's a perfect cushion for vocalist Conor's soft Neil Young-isms, and his lyrics of dreamy escapism.
That they lack some of their contemporaries' energy and attitude matters very little, as in the jangly Byrds guitars, banjos and lines like 'baby, baby please don't go', there is more than enough conviction throughout this album to silence any doubts that may arise.
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