“There’s no stopping us now. We’ve got a little plan in our heads that you’re never gonna figure out.”  

If this is your first time listening to Punchline, welcome, but be warned: Thrilled is drastically different than anything they’ve put out before. That being said, I’m all in on their new sound. I’ve been following Punchline since the MySpace days so I was beyond excited when Thrilled was announced. This album comes as a follow up to 2012’s So Nice To Meet You EP and definitely defines the new sound of the band. It took a couple of listens to the first single “Tell Me How You Sleep” for me to get used to not hearing the guitar-driven pop punk sounds that I have become accustomed to, but the new, laid back pop that is Thrilled seems like a logical step for the band.

Thrilled starts off incredibly strong thanks to “Thrilled” and “Tell Me How You Sleep”, but there are some hidden gems on this album buried in the track listing. “No Stopping Us” is lyrically powerful  and it’s awesome to hear bassist Chris Fafalios step up to the microphone to handle the vocals in the chorus. The strongest song on the album could be “Simulation” though, as it has a perfect sing along vibe to it. The sound of “Simulation” is totally different than the rest of the album as it sets the ideal soundtrack for a day on the beach. But where it gets you is in the lyrics; they are catchy and smart. Hearing a robotic overdub in the chorus is unexpected and fun.

All in all, Thrilled is something totally different than anything I’ve come to expect from Punchline, and that’s okay. This is an album that makes you feel good all the way through, because the vibe is infectious and can make you dance just sitting in your seat.

Buy it, stream it, or skip it? Buy it and help these guys get even more exposure, because they are incredibly deserving of it.