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From Beach Boys to ‘Bohemia’

February 16, 2011

By Staff Reporter

The Dublin quintet has wasted no time in recording and releasing a sophomore album. The musicians holed themselves away in California studios last spring while they were between touring commitments, and have “Let’s Bottle Bohemia” to show for it.
“Bohemia” is a decidedly richer turn that showcases their growth as musicians as well as their gelling as a live band. It would be safe to guess that “Bohemia” better captures the way the Thrills meant to sound like on their debut, “So Much for the City.”
It is not a total departure from the distinct sound with which they filled “SMFTC,” but rather captures its best parts.
The jangly guitars are still there, as are harmonies and organ swells, but lead singer Conor Deasey has become more comfortable with his unique vocal range, and uses it wisely here. What we now have is a richer mixture of those elements, and a good cross-section of the elements that had critics calling their debut one of the best albums of 2003.
The once overly Beach Boys-inspired sound has mellowed to something a larger audience should be able to appreciate.
Be forewarned, however: there is nothing sunny beneath “Bohemia’s” surface.
Lyrics echo Deasey’s scorn toward what he portrays as the vapid times we live in, and touch on the seedier side of the road that the Thrills have traveled for the last year.
“Bohemia” trades in the sunny beaches of Santa Cruz for the nighttime debauchery of New York City in the disc’s standout track, “Found My Rosebud,” which they debuted on tour this summer.
It is clear that “Bohemia” is inspired by the travels of the Thrills during their exhaustive touring schedule since “SMFTC” was released. The sound has mellowed from solely Californian but remains distinctly American.
While “Bohemia” rarely falters, when it does it is usually due to the songwriting, which at times varies from weak to strong, often in the same song.
Another standout, “Whatever Happened to Cory Haim?” is the first single in Ireland and the UK and would probably fare well on U.S. radio as well.
Its bouncy rhythm and a string arrangement that has not seen the light of day since the disco era make it the charming cornerstone of “Bohemia.”
Their first U.S. single, the near-ballad “Not for All the Love in the World” features a sweetly piano-plucked refrain that reveals the song’s strong points: lyrics and vocals.
In terms of radio play, however, it might miss the boat with today’s fast-paced video-based consumers. In that case, the Thrills are trying to offset any lack of airtime by embarking on a big-city tour of the U.S. this month.
“Bohemia” will be an instant hit with anyone who enjoyed “SMFTC,” both fans and critics alike; its refined sound and musicianship should be able to scoop up many new listeners in the process.
For those left longing for The Thrills’ West Coast inspiration, there is still a touch of the California magic left. Producer Dave Sardy, better known for working with metal acts such as Marilyn Manson, enlisted famed Beach Boys collaborator and legend Van Dyke Parks to create a string arrangement for “Bohemia.”
The result, “The Irish Keep Gate Crashing,” closes “Bohemia” with a string melody that resonates, holding the promise of more Thrills to come.

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