The Thrills

  • Dublin, Ireland
    hometown
  • Rock
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  • 2001
    started
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About The Thrills


When the Thrills made their international debut in 2003, the Dublin-based quintet's sound was described variously as "sun-drenched," "sun-soaked," or just downright "sunny." Inspired by classic American pop of the late '60s and early '70s, the group's debut record was largely crafted amid successive summer jaunts to San Diego and San Francisco, CA, and perfected during the wet Irish winters during which the members worked to fund the trips. Name-checking Phil Spector, the Beach Boys, and Neil Young -- and boasting the likes of Morrissey, Oasis, and U2 among their highest-profile fans -- the Thrills were an anomaly as the garage rock revival swept across the Atlantic in both directions, yet their effortless pop sensibilities were enough to earn the group two Top Ten albums in as many years.

The Thrills' story begins in the Dublin suburb of Blackrock in the mid-'90s, when neighbors Conor Deasy and Daniel Ryan (singer and bass guitarist, respectively) formed the Cheating Housewives with Gonzaga College classmates Ben Carrigan (drums), Kevin Horan (keyboards), and Pádraic McMahon (guitar). In 2001, they changed tack and became the Thrills. The band began writing and demoing material with a view to securing a record deal, which they soon did with local label Supremo Recordings, home of Chicks. For a time, the Thrills decided to eschew the bustling local live music scene that had spawned many young bands -- but few that shared the West Coast pop flavor that pervades their own music. However, through the first half of 2002, the group's sporadic gigs became battlefields for major-label executives to lobby for their signature.

Later in 2002, the Thrills signed with Virgin Records, attracted by the promise of artistic freedom and the label's decision to allow them to record their debut record in Hollywood with producer Tony Hoffer (Beck, Air). In September, they were invited by Morrissey to open his show at the Royal Albert Hall in London, their first U.K. show, and in November they released their debut EP, Santa Cruz (You're Not That Far). December saw the Thrills heading to L.A. to record what would become their first album. Returning to Dublin in 2003, the Thrills released their first single, "One Horse Town," in March, debuting at number seven in the Irish charts and number 18 in the U.K. So Much for the City was released in May, going straight to number one in Ireland and number three in the U.K., achieving platinum status several times over in both countries. Three more hit singles followed: "Big Sur" in March; "Santa Cruz (You're Not That Far)" in August; and "Don't Steal Our Sun" in December.

Released in September 2004, Let's Bottle Bohemia was again recorded in L.A., this time with D. Sardy and featuring orchestration by Van Dyke Parks and a guest mandolin performance by R.E.M.'s Peter Buck. Though it debuted at number one in Ireland, it peaked at a disappointing number nine in the U.K., and barely registered overseas. Nevertheless, lead single "Whatever Happened to Corey Haim?" closed out 2004 as BBC Radio 1's most requested track, and the album achieved platinum status in Ireland in 2005. An extended break followed, as the Thrills aimed to evolve their sound. Their third album was originally recorded in New York in 2006, but didn't meet the band's standards. New material was written, including the single and opening track "Midnight Choir," and at R.E.M.'s suggestion, the five relocated to a renovated morgue in inner-city Vancouver to re-record the album with Tony Hoffer. Teenager was released in June of 2007. Less polished and more aggressive than either of its predecessors, it failed to light up the British and Irish charts, selling just 600 copies in Ireland its first week and barely grazing the Top 50 in the U.K. In October of 2007, Teenager was released in the U.S. ~ Dave Donnelly, Rovi

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Music

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  • Midnight Choir (Live)
    the-thrills
    Video
    Midnight Choir (Live)
  • Santa Cruz (You're Not That Far) (MTV.com LIVE)
    the-thrills
    Video
    Santa Cruz (You're Not That Far) (MTV.com LIVE)
  • Big Sur
    the-thrills
    Video
    Big Sur
  • Big Sur (Live)
    the-thrills
    Video
    Big Sur (Live)
  • Big Sur (MTV.com LIVE)
    the-thrills
    Video
    Big Sur (MTV.com LIVE)
  • Santa Cruz (You're Not That Far) (Unplugged)
    the-thrills
    Video
    Santa Cruz (You're Not That Far) (Unplugged)
  • 67396
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    • Big Sur
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g2/2/4/2/2/3/930332242.mp3
    • Santa Cruz (You're Not That Far)
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g2/0/5/2/2/3/930332250.mp3
    • The Midnight Choir
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/0/6/8/0/5/105750860.mp3
    • Say It Ain't So
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g2/1/1/2/2/3/930332211.mp3
    • One Horse Town
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g2/3/4/2/2/3/930332243.mp3
    • Deckchairs and Cigarettes
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g2/4/7/9/1/3/930331974.mp3

Interviews & Exclusives

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  • The Thrills on being long-time friends
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    The Thrills on being long-time friends
  • The Thrills on Irish boy bands
    the-thrills
    video
    The Thrills on Irish boy bands
  • The Thrills on Belle & Sebastian
    the-thrills
    video
    The Thrills on Belle & Sebastian
  • The Thrills on the Beach Boys
    the-thrills
    video
    The Thrills on the Beach Boys
  • The Thrills on playing for Morrissey
    the-thrills
    video
    The Thrills on playing for Morrissey
  • The Thrills on sounding like they're from California
    the-thrills
    video
    The Thrills on sounding like they're from California
  • The Thrills on the video for "One Horse Town"
    the-thrills
    video
    The Thrills on the video for "One Horse Town"

Photos

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  • The Thrills
    Courtesy of Virgin Records
  • The Thrills
    The Thrills
    The Thrills
    MTV.com
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    The Thrills
    The Thrills
    MTV.com
  • The Thrills
    The Thrills
    The Thrills
    MTV.com
  • The Thrills
    The Thrills
    The Thrills
    MTV.com
  • The Thrills
    Candice Lawler
  • The Thrills

News

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  • The Thrills
    Korea's 'Killer Toon' Might Be The First Horror Movie About A Webcomic
    MTV Geek
    May 20, 2013
    Hey, it's not weird for horror movies about or featuring comics to be a thing, it's just interesting that a filmmaker has caught up to webcomics as a ...
    Read More
  • The Thrills
    Barbara Walters, Daft Punk or Amy of Amy's Baking Company: Who's Having The Best Week Ever?
    VH1 Celebrity
    May 16, 2013
    Well guys, it's been another week filled with thrills and chills and hilarity, which means it's time to crown another person with the honor of having ...
    Read More
  • The Thrills
    Star Spotting: Miley Cyrus Gets All 'VOGUE' In The Studio (PHOTO)
    MTV Buzzworthy
    May 15, 2013
    If Miley Cyrus is gonna record, she's gonna do it in STYLE. First off, Miley Cyrus  is back in the studio with Pharrell ! And hey, it's not like ...
    Read More

Discography

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  • Teenager (2007)
    The Thrills
    Teenager (2007)
    EMI Music Distribution
  • Let's Bottle Bohemia (2004)
    The Thrills
    Let's Bottle Bohemia (2004)
    Virgin
  • So Much for the City (2003)
    The Thrills
    So Much for the City (2003)
    Virgin
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