The Thrills

Teenager

(Virgin)

Record Review by Amber Henson

Teenager is a return to form for The Thrills.  This album is for anyone who felt that Let’s Bottle Bohemia was too ‘70s twang, and missed the ‘60s Beach Boys fun of So Much For The City.

The Thrills have followed the classic formula of albums: their first was something the common person could relate to, with simple songs about love, and growing up, and anxiety.  Their second is about coping with their newfound fame, and the nightlife that it comes with.  For lucky bands, something will come along and remind them of - not to be corny here - their love of the music.  And then their third album is amazing.

Teenager has eleven tracks, not including their requisite hidden track, which they went ahead and just named this time (“The Boy Who Caught All The Breaks”).  Within those eleven tracks, there is a track that could be off the first album, one that could be off the second, and one that represents the third album pretty well.

Track three, “Nothing Changes Around Here” (although singer Conor Deasy sings it “Nothin’ Changes ‘Round Here”) sounds like a song that simply got left off the second album.  Deasy even talks through some of the lyrics, something that happens quite often on Let’s Bottle Bohemia.  The song is also about going back to one’s old town, and saying “famous last words”.

“Restaurant” is about working in one, and the way the song’s structure is similar to tracks from So Much For The City.  Deasy also sings in that breathy way that makes ‘teenagers’ swoon (and maybe me, too, a little bit).

But the most thrilling song on the album is its driving, hopeful first track “The Midnight Choir”.  Another song worth mentioning is the last track.  For being such big fans of The Beach Boys, The Thrills have not yet produced a song that sounds as much like that seminal band than this track.  “There’s Joy To Be Found” not only has a Beach Boys like title, it starts out with the band members singing a capella, and there’s an organ shortly afterwards.