With The Thrills now gone, or at least on indefinite hiatus, it comes as little surprise that the individual band members would pursue their own solo careers or musical projects. What is surprising is that the drummer should be first out of the traps.
Though perhaps not. Born in Dublin in 1979, Ben Carrigan had some serious musical credentials – including winning various prestigious musical scholarships in Europe and America, and earning a diploma in ‘Advanced Jazz Studies’ from London’s Guildhall School of Music – before becoming a founder member of the band. As The Thrills’ star began to wane, he worked on various film and TV scores.
The eight songs on The Greatest Narrators were written between 2007 and 2010. With cited influences ranging from Brad Mehldau and Carole King to Yann Tiersen and Scott Walker, it’s light years away from the sun-drenched pop of The Thrills. Instead, with strong melodies and soaring string and brass arrangements, a strong classical cinematic influence shines through.
Carrigan’s vocals aren’t the strongest at times, but there’s no doubting the power of the musicianship. The lyrics are also intelligent and well crafted: “This gilded ambition, I took it to the floor/ And with a pocket full of miles/ That ran out at your door/ A jilted tradition that burned me to the core/ And my wardrobe full of styles/ Not in fashion any more.”
For some reason, the Bruno character from Fame keeps coming to mind, which not a bad thing at all. Songs like ‘You Knew It All Along’ and ‘Hey Carrie Anne’ are truly superb. Carrigan’s sometimes mournful vocal delivery may be an aquired taste but the music brooks no arguments.
This is a record worth hearing.