The Thrills

The Thrills formed in Dublin in 1998, Conor Deasy, Daniel Ryan, Kevin Horan, Ben Carrigan, and Padraic McMahon developing a sound rooted in indie pop and soft rock that was immediately sun-drenched and California-influenced. Their music drew on the Beach Boys, Neil Young, and the Californian rock tradition in ways that were immediately joyful and melodically generous — a sound that was deliberately at odds with the prevailing post-Britpop mood.

They were signed to Virgin Records and released 'So Much for the City' (2003) to strong reviews and commercial success — a melodically generous indie pop record that produced 'Santa Cruz (You're Not That Far)' and 'One Horse Town' and established them as one of the most distinctive new Irish acts. The album's combination of California sunshine and Dublin melancholy made it one of the most enjoyable Irish debut albums of the decade.

The Thrills dissolved in 2007 following the commercial disappointment of their later albums. They are remembered as one of the most distinctive and enjoyable acts of the early-2000s Irish indie scene — a band whose combination of sun-drenched melodic pop, California influences, and Deasy's warm vocals produced music of genuine charm.