So Much For The City - Thrills (The) > Reviews > Young Dubliners go country rock hippies

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics	Standard
Quality and consistency of tracks	A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Good
Value for Money

Advantages:	Unfashionable, good songs
Disadvantages:	A touch bland in places

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

So a group of young Dubliners stand revealed as sort-of 70s West Coast country rock hippies with a touch of Burt Bacharach thrown in - American music from three decades ago with an Irish accent - and yours truly, who sometimes finds it difficult to get enthusiastic for anything musical post-1980, finds much to be said for a new CD released in the 21st century. Which of these is the more surprising?

If you didn't catch up with all manner of praise being heaped on the five-piece Thrills, in their early days, you probably heard at least one of the three singles from this album breezing cheerfully out of a radio near you.

Let's dispense with the track-by-track policy and look at those singles first. 'Santa Cruz (You're Not That Far)' and 'Big Sur' are irresistible singalong anthems, pop with effortless vocal harmonies, rolling mellotron and the twang of a country banjo foremost in the backing. The latter wears its influences on its sleeve, by copping a reference to "Hey hey, we're the Monkees" in its second verse. And yes, it's definitely cool to revere the Monkees again

The other single, 'One Horse Town', is the real standout as far as I’m concerned, an ultra-catchy tune with colourful organ, chimes and jangly guitar that's ever so reminiscent of seminal 60s folk-rock stalwarts the Byrds. If you're not singing the chorus to yourself after a couple of listens, then you probably weren't paying enough attention to it in the first place.

As for the rest, more or less in order, it's a likeable if in places slightly bland brew of up-tempo pop numbers and more middle of the road ballads. 'Don't Steal Our Sun' opens with stomping piano and has a kind of Northern soul feel. The melancholy 'Deckchairs and Cigarettes' is pretty, but rather dull to these ears - the introduction suggests it's a kind of second cousin to 'Close To You'. 'Old Friends' continues this schmaltzy mood, but would sound much better if it wasn't for the corny strings.

Things pick u p with the brisk 'Say It Ain't So', in which organ and steel guitar fight it out. Cue memories of early Eagles and of Katrina & the Waves' seasonal favourite 'Walking On Sunshine'. 'Hollywood Kids' gives the steel guitar centre stage again, a rather portentous and ultimately none-too-interesting weepie, like Dr Hook but without the tongue-in-cheek atmosphere. 'Just Travelling' is a pleasant, lightly folksy song that floats easily into one ear and out again, while 'Your Love is like Las Vegas'' harks back in spirit to the heyday of classic balladeers like Gene Pitney and Roy Orbison - these guys obviously adore their 60s influences.

Finally, the gentle 'The Tide Creeps In' sounds even more like Neil Young than the grizzled Canuck himself. With its bittersweet guitar and harmonica, at times it verges on parody but is saved by a good tune.

In conclusion, some of ‘So Much For The City’ might sound a little lightweight, possibly samey, but I'll forgive the band that for the quality of their tunes. Perhaps they pack more of a punch live? Maybe some of those slower songs will grow on you or me, and in time I expect I'll regret having been a tad dismissive of them above.

Even so, I enjoyed this album. Being a bit of a sucker for country rock and for a good catchy song, it certainly made me sit up and pay attention in a way which few other platters from the era have done lately.

Finally, any newish group which dares to sound so unfashionable gets my more or less unqualified vote, and the fact that this lodged comfortably in the upper reaches of the chart for several weeks on release suggests that they connected with a sizeable fan base. They deserve it.

At the time of writing, Amazon are selling the regular release for £7.97 (new/used copies less at Marketplace), a vinyl pressing for £16.99, and if you're a completist, the Japanese import release at £22.99.