Teenager

by

The Thrills

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The Thrills third release, Teenager, is a compelling listen from a compelling band. The Thrills are sometimes chided for their "California" style , but this is a shallow critique. There is a richness to their unique sound and Teenager is their richest yet. This album will take some time to get into, but soon the nuances and sweet melodies will win you over and merit repeat listens. I don't see this album garnering much radio play, particularly in the States. Maybe "Midnight Choir" will break through. It's a great song. I get the picture that these guys are more interested in making good albums than making singles. However, this band oozes with talent and, with the rare ability to capture joy in their music, I think it is only a matter of time before they have a radio classic...not yet though. Lead singer Conor Deasy uses his voice masterfully, but his thoughtful, scattered lyrics don't always grab the listener. That will be the key, if radio success is what they seek. These guys are full of tunes, they follow a different lineage of rock, and they take risks in their songs and that is why I find them compelling. They are a band to follow for the long haul, not a band that tailors its sound to current and passing tastes in popular music. I don't know if Teenager will be released in the U.S. but it is worth buying the import. You'll get your money's worth.

Something titled like this brings up images of garage rock about cheeseburgers and girls, but actually The Thrills are an Irish band that play accomplished power pop with a Suede like immediacy to it, mixed high and bright, though not with that kind of vocal power. You can hear of lot of influences (and some copying) in their music, right off the top in "Midnight" there are a couple passages from someone else I could nail down with some thought and research. But that's okay, everyone borrows, the point is whether the music works. Mostly yes, there are a fair smattering of hooks in here, although the song structures and transitions are a bit hokey and familiar. They also display the varying tempo disease of young composers seeking to make an impact. And a memo to young bands, harmonica's are dead, okay? Or should be.

"Midnight" pops, so does most of "Nothing Changes" and "Came". "This Year" never finds a central passage to build around, and just flounders around, sounding good, but not getting over the top. "Restaurant", "Forgotten" and "Empty" likewise fail to find compelling hooks. "Known Better" should have been left on the cutting room floor. "Boy" is fun, sounds like a Beach Boys cover, but Brian would have found a better melody.

The problem with this band is that their sound is nothing new and the songwriting is hit and (mostly) miss. So what's to keep you coming back for more, or hoping for the promise to fulfill?