Irish bands seem forever doomed to recreate those sounds made popular by groups such as The Cranberries, U2 and even The Pogues, those sounds that immediately mark them as Irish. That’s not to say Irish music isn’t beautiful and diverse, but sometimes it becomes a gimmick, an obstacle some groups can’t get past. That’s not the case with The Thrills. Their first full-length album, So Much for the City, is packed with sunshine and sandy beaches, rather than crooning accents and wailing vocals. Influenced by ‘60s musicians like the Beach Boys and Burt Bacharach, So Much for the City is the musical equivalent of a summer vacation. Songs like “Santa Cruz (You’re not that far),” “Big Sur” and “Hollywood Kids” bring to mind images of road trips and hammocks and the frivolity of youth. Why is California the album’s epicenter? The band spent four months in San Diego writing the material. Laced with country-western riffs and lulling piano tunes, So Much for the City is a melting pot of Americana. Conor Deasy’s easy falsetto sets the tone and ties the whole package together. If the music were in print form, it could be the backdrop to an Abercrombie and Fitch or Hollister photo shoot. So, if you’re tired of obscene windchills and snowbanks, this album will give you sweet dreams of things to come.