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Stars indicate the most critically-acclaimed albums.

So Much For The City
by The Thrills


8.1

based on 21 reviews
Read critic reviews
How did we calculate this?

based on 17 votes
Read user comments
Rate this album

Hailing from Dublin, Ireland, The Thrills incorporate the sounds of California rock from the 1960s and 70s (the Byrds, Beach Boys) as well as a bit of Beatles thrown in for good measure on this debut album, already a hit in the UK (and a nominee for the Mercury Music Prize).

LABEL:	Virgin
RELEASE DATE:	04 November 2003
DISCS:	1 disc
GENRE(S):	Alternative, Pop, Rock

NOTES: Original UK release 30 June 2003.

All critic scores are converted to a 100-point scale. If a critic does not indicate a score, we assign a score based on the general impression given by the text of the review. Learn more...

Uncut

This is the best childhood summer holiday you ever had, condensed into 45 minutes of delicately arranged, beautifully performed, big, bright, cheery music. [Jul 2003, p.118]

Junkmedia

The smart pop hook chops displayed on So Much For the City make it clear that this is one retro-minded band that may just make it to the future.

Filter

A modern day West Coast classic. [#7, p.90]

ShakingThrough.net

Gentle harmonies and twinkling keys dot most every track, and Conor Deasy's relaxed vocals never get in the way of the band's engaging melodies.

Entertainment Weekly

It's hard to take them too seriously, but their convincing tribute to Neil Young and the Byrds is still quite lovely. [15 Aug 2003, p.74]

E! Online

Sure, the lyrics are a bit weak at times, but when a band's having this much fun, you can't help but want to join in.

Spin

High grade West Coast guitar pop. [Dec 2003, p.131]

Q Magazine

Genuinely and heart-stoppingly bittersweet. [jul 2003, p.112]

All Music Guide

At times a beautifully rendered album with surprisingly solid songwriting; it's an unashamedly nostalgic musical postcard from the American West Coast.

Rolling Stone

So Much for the City is dragged down by a handful of meandering slow songs, but a group of Cali-bred beach bums with an armload of Neil Young records couldn't have done much better -- and that's a compliment.

Dot Music

This is a great album, choc-a-bloc with great hooks, melodies and harmonies that evoke the great songwriting of the 70s.

Mojo

Top-down pop that sparkles like a lifeguard's teeth. [Jul 2003, p.109]

Under The Radar

Sometimes, the cheesy Americana is spread on too thick.... But turn the music up a bit louder, and all is forgiven. [#5, p.103]

PopMatters

The Thrills' sound is a marvel of kaleidoscopic ambition and fervor, as enthralled with production intricacies as it is with the pleasures of simple melody.

Pitchfork

The Thrills' external, sometime vaccuous pinching is clearly self-conscious, a carefully premeditated breach of expectation that causes more of a wince than a flash of pleasant surprise.

The Onion (A.V. Club)

The second half largely sounds like a lesser reprise of the first, as The Thrills' appropriation of older styles starts to feel less like inventive borrowing than a lack of imagination.

Blender

It's nicely done, but the relentless cheerfulness grates. [Nov 2003, p.122]

Stylus Magazine

Sure, this is a very *accomplished* album by a band who can play their instruments: organs, pianos and strings sit gracefully beside each other, and there are some deft vocal harmonies, but The Thrills simply don’t have the songwriting skill or the sheer personality to make this anything more than a passable debut.

Village Voice (Consumer Guide)

[A] sentimental cutesification of surf and country.

Playlouder

The choice, folks, is all yours. Would you like The Thrills? Or would you prefer some excitement instead?

Austin Chronicle

A deadly naivete infects the songs, wonderful if the concept was to bring sleep, but otherwise limp.

The average user rating for this album is 8.1 (out of 10) based on 17 User Votes
Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

Liam M gave it a 10:
Feel good music....which we all need from time to time.

Sanne gave it a 10:
Great album!!! When I was in Italy this summer I played it alot.. it really helped me trough some bad times.. its music that makes you from sad to happy :-)

Aleaka C gave it a 0:
sucked so bad! really just bad!!!!!!!! i mean that too he he he just laugh at this one and laugh with me otay ! bye bye

Chris H gave it a 10:
First listen did nothing. This isn't the kind of music that I usually enjoy. After the second listen I started whistling it to myself. By the third, I was (reluctantly) hooked. Nearly every track is a potential single. They've accomplished originality (although with obvious reference!) with great composition and arrangement. I urge anybody to give this album time. Don't let the happy retro sound put you off. The best thing since 'Is this it?' as far as I'm concerned.

Tom I gave it a 10:
Easily one of the best albums of he year. These guys hav mixed the California 80's sounds of the Beach Boys with their own British influenced mix. The album makes great listening with 'Don't Steal Our Sun' and 'Hollywood Kids' being my favourites. The words and the music fuse together to produce something totally unique but identifiable. No wonder they were nominees for the Mercury Music Prize. Sensational!!

Vera * gave it a 10:
It is a great album. I live in Holland, and had never heard of this band. But I saw their video 'Santa Cruz' on tv and directly ran to the cdshop to buy the cd. And I'm not sorry I buyed it! This music is exactly the music I like. Too bad there are not many other bands playing as good as The Trills....

Machu P gave it a 10:
I think that my rate atributed to this amazing disc album says it all... But The Thrills debut album deserves at least a explanation about my grade: It's by far the best sound that passed by my earing channels this year and, who knows, of all years. It's useless to refer a most relevant music of the album, because they are all «rate 10» songs. My advice is to biy right away this album and to consume it with no reservations at all...

So Much For The City by The Thrills

So Much For The City
by The Thrills