Metascore
72

Generally favorable reviews - based on 11 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 11
  2. Negative: 0 out of 11
  1. Slice Thrills up into its individual pieces, and Ellen Allien's third studio record is flawless.
  2. Thrills hits upon a unique and confident path that doesn’t seem forced or contrived.
  3. Urb
    70
    She's made some excellent and creative dancefloor techno here, but like so much great techno of the past, it fails to gel into a definitive album. [Jul/Aug 2005, p.99]
  4. Alternative Press
    70
    Provides enough thrilling moments to make sense on or off the dancefloor. [Sep 2005, p.168]
  5. Berlinette seemed more pointed, pulled with precision and grace into the pop idiom. When you think you've got this one nailed down to a black and white electro-aesthetic, the splayed strands of its hair start pollocking acidic paint all over the place.
  6. She's onto some good shit here, but there's too much learning on the job.
  7. Ellen Allien's Thrills supports the truism, not always easy to hear from the outside, that not all beat-driven techno works primarily as dance music.
  8. Thrills is technical to a “T” and plenty competent, but its lack of stylistic push or spread marks its void of hunger or ambition, a space that the mechanized heart of Berlinette nearly pumped blood into.
  9. Much of the sharp rhythm programming and quick dynamic changes that marked her previous effort is replaced with more straightforward 4/4 beats and relentless dirty basslines that unfortunately repeat themselves to the point of annoyance.
  10. The music here feels not so much modern as refurbished.
  11. In a genre that’s desperate for new ideas, Allien’s lack of advancement on Thrills makes for a little less enjoyment.
User Score
tbd

No user score yet- Awaiting 2 more ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 2
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 2
  3. Negative: 0 out of 2
  1. edouardp
    Aug 19, 2005
    9
    I think this record is her strongest and it definitely is geared towards the dance floor. it reminds me of the darker, moody, techno that I think this record is her strongest and it definitely is geared towards the dance floor. it reminds me of the darker, moody, techno that tresor label acts do so well. this record is total class. Full Review »