The Thrills – 'Nothing Changes Around Here'

The Thrills first rode to fame on the back of a few Beach Boys-esque tunes that kind of all sounded the same (and all seemed to namecheck Californian coastal towns). Then there was that disappointing second album and it seemed as if The Thrills’ one trick show was over. So who could have predicted they’d come back with this? That they’d pour their ultra-lite surf pop into a dramatic tale melancholy full of heart-ache and melancholy? The jangly guitars are still there but are closer to The Smiths than Brian Wilson. ‘Nothing Changes Around Here’ doesn’t leap out on you, but rather sneakily follows you around until you’re finally forced to realise that perhaps The Thrills will be around for a lot longer than we originally gave them credit for.

Released 16/07/07 on Virgin Records