If you're coming to THE THRILLS with precious few facts - like that they're from Dublin and have recently supported Morrissey - you're liable to be in for a surprise: especially if you've been lumping them in with the current crop of Anglophile guitar manglers being touted by the NME and their ilk.
Because, put simply, "Santa Cruz (You're Not That Far)" is another kettle of retro-kippers altogether. Breezing in on a waft of stomping piano and heartily plucked banjo straight outta "After The Goldrush", it positively reeks of the sunkissed Californian pop designed to be described as "wistful" or "bittersweet."
OK, it does all get a bit overbearningly Neil Young for its' own boots; Conor Deasy's adenoidal voice, the off-key harmonica puffing and the band's attempts to ape Crazy Horse (hell' y'sure that AIN'T Ralph Molina drumming?) all registering as scarily close for comfort. Rather like, say, Beachwood Sparks, whether this writer could take an album of this is debatable.
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Nonetheless, "Santa Cruz" has enough modern day punch and a glorious way with harmony to suggest THE THRILLS may have more staying power to survive than you'd imagine at a glance. Let's give them the benefit of the doubt for now.
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