Fred Monster from Majestic Magazine writes:

The first album I received from Rewind Records was The Best of Stonebolt, Regeneration.  And I was pleasantly surprised.  New they've sent me Thrills 3, a never before released recording from 1983.  And I'm equally surprised I might say.  I'm not familiar with the first two albums Thrills released but if they're as good as this one, I'm sure as hell going to look for them.

The album consists of ten keyboard driven AOR tracks that have stood the test of time very well.  "The total production of this performance has never been altered and is as it was originally intended," it says on the inlay.  Something that's hardly believable, given the great sound quality of the album.  It sounds like it's been recorded last week, as a matter of speech.

Comparing this band to other ones, Touch and Drive She Said come to mind, because of the keyboards.  But personally I like this album better than any album I've ever heard by those bands (and I mean that!).  Almost every song is smooth as silk with big hooks and perfect vocal harmonies.  Just listen to the sound samples and you'll know what I mean.

At the moment it's still winter over here, but playing this album makes the sun shine and raises the temperature with about 15 degrees (Celsius that is :-) ).  To me this is the perfect album for having a few beers and a good time, while sitting in the sun with some good friends and a couple of nice women.  As a matter of fact I think I'm going to call them right away...

MMMM1/2

Roger Brosel from Spain's AORLAND writes:

Thrills come from Long Island, New York.  They released two albums "First Thrills" (1980) and "Front Page News".  Then they recorded their third album but it never got released.  I have heard this story before you may think.  Yep, our music has many sad chapters but also many happy ones like this one.  In the year 2000 Rewind records has released for the first time Thrills third album and thank god they did because it's wonderful work.  "3" is the name of the album (ok, they were not really original with titles) and features a good dose of pure AOR keyboards everywhere.  From the opener track "Running Away" to the last one "It's too Late" each track is a winner and will please the avid fan of bands like Le Roux, Fortune or Aviator...yes! this is that good!.  I think this needs further comments.  The first must-buy cd of the year and the first clear winner for Rewind records. 81%

Ian McIntosh from AOR Basement writes:

Wow this is a cool album, but it's hard to understand who's been waiting for it with baited breath!  Mind you, Long Island (which is where Thrills are from) seems to be one of those areas where bands can be very popular and earn a decent living without breaking out to be more well known.  If you don't know them, they released two albums in the early 1980s that as far as I knew weren't that well known, but had a lot of great AOR moments.  This is a third album they recorded in 1983 through, inconveniently their label then went bust and the album ended up being buried.

This one is a little more poppy and commercial than their early two vinyl albums (which will be re-released on CD later this year as well), but in a way that brings them closer to much overlooked Australian early 1980s band The Sherbs (for whom solo artist Daryl Braithwaite was the singer).  Great songs, great hooks, lots and lots of keyboards, and guitars that alternately support or prickle.  My only complaint would be that some of the drum tracks lack a little variation between songs.

A lot of the old, semi-forgotten about, sitting on shelves for an eon material that has seen the light of the day over the last five years has been heavily compromised or held back by poor, dated production.  Not so with Thrills, these songs glisten like they were emerging out of the early morning mist with dew on their feet.  And, someone's made the effort to make the album HDCD ( High Definition Compatible Digital) compatible and that lifts the sound quality as well whether you've got a player with that chip (which you really should!) or not.

Very much a product of the early 1980s which in the current contemporary environment makes it stand out a lot.  If it had actually got released when it was first recorded it would have stood out just as prominently and been a vital cog in many listener's musical appreciation development process.  Quite a find, quite a surprise!

STRUTTER writes:

This is the CD I have been waiting for.  Ever since the day I first heard the tape recording of the unreleased third LP of the American AOR/Pomp band THRILLS, I was really waiting for the day it would be released.  And now it is 2000 and the CD has been released through Rewind Records, which is a sub label of Songhaus Music (the record label of SOJOURN leader Dane Spencer).  I think I can easily say that this CD is gonna be THE CD OF 2000 (and beyond?), because of the 10 songs on '3' are from such a high quality, you can't ignore to fall in love with the music performed here.

When you have played the 10 songs, you want to hear more and then just simply start all over again from track 1 on.  Anyone who wants to know how 80s AOR/Pomprock sounded, will find it here on '3'.  This record basically contains everything which made AOR so popular in the 80s.  The recording took place in 1983 and the fantastic production was done by Mike Frenchik and Tom Ingegno who both were not part of the band, although Tom Ingegno also co-wrote all the songs on the album.

The first two albums of THRILLS were two good AOR rock albums, but definitely not as sensational as this third album which finally has seen the light of day after being on the shelves for about 17 years.  A big shame, because it this record was indeed released back in 1983 it could have set the AOR scene on fire.  Backed with some good promotion, it could have easily been one of the top selling records in the USA back then.  Unfortunately problems with the record company resulted in an unreleased classic LP, but now it's justice for all, because in front of me is the official CD release of '3'.

The 10 songs on the CD are all winners for the fans of Classic early 80s AOR.  I would describe the sound of '3' as a mixture between the first SPYS album, LEROUX, TOUCH and SURVIVOR.  I think the SPYS reference is very clear, because the Pompous AOR on '3' is very close to that band.  Interesting detail is the fact that lead vocalist/keyboardist could have joined SPYS before the recording of '3' for THRILLS, but it never got serious enough that it indeed happened.  I am glad he stayed with THRILLS back then, otherwise there would not have been '3'.

Anyway, the CD opens with "Running Away" and while listening to the first few seconds you know you're in AOR heaven!  The music totally blows you away and it really grabs you from the moment the CD starts.  "Running Away" is just the beginning.  This is a superb early 80s AOR/Radiorocker like SPYS, LE ROUX, SHELTER, STEEPLECHASE... While listening to this song, you can clearly hear the pure 80s AOR sound with it's big harmonyvocals and cheerful keyboards/synthesisers.

The whole CD captures this sound and features brilliant vocal, keyboard, but also very impressive guitarwork from Dave Fullerton.  The Pomp Rock really shines through in the song "The Feeling's Gone", which sounds like ROADMASTER meets TOUCH.  Very cheerful is the following tune "Best of Everything", uptempo classic early 80s Radiorock with references to STEEL BREEZE and 707.

Next rack "Let me Love Your" is a lovely semi AOR ballad that moves into FRANKE AND THE KNOCKOUTS/THE ALLIANCE territory.  "You'll Be Back" follows and is uptempo classic AOR/Pomp which is very sounding very close to the first SPYS record.  In fact, this album should have been the follow-up to the legendary debut album of SPYS instead of their poppier/new wave oriented 'Behind Enemy Lines' LP.  Back to the THRILLS classic '3', "Too Many First Times" is totally AOR HEAVEN!  This uptempo rocker is the ultimate mix between AOR, Radiorock and Pomprock and definite the 80s sound all the way!  The hooklines all over the place on every single song, especially the next track "Falling Out of Love".

My favourite songs on the CD are "Give It a Chance" and "Make it Easy".  The first one is a classic midtempo AOR song with really wonderful piano-keys.  This song reminds me of a mix between SURVIVOR, LE ROUX and SHELTER.  And "Make it Easy" is also in this style.  You just can't get any closer to classic 80s AOR than this.  The closing track "It's Too Late" is again classic AOR/Pomp a la first SPYS.

This record is more than a must to have in the collection of every AOR fan.  THRILLS '3' can easily be added to the list of bands such as TOUCH, SHELTER ('First Stop'), ROADMASTER, STEEL BREEZE ('Heart on the Line'), LE ROUX ('Up' and 'So Fired Up') and of course the first SPYS record.  If you own those classics, then this classic record of THRILLS can not be missed.  Get a copy today if you want to hear the perfect 80s sound all over again with it's hooklines, keyboards and harmonyvocals on every song.

To me this THRILLS '3' is the perfect mixture between AOR, Radiorock and Pomprock.  This is from the highest quality you can get and so I dare everyone to buy a copy of the CD asap, we we all can talk about it together instead of keeping it a secret for so many years.  It's been a long time ago, but this CD totally deserves the highest possible rating available.

Rating:  10/10

Thrills bio