AMG Review of Thornhill

Gina Boldman
All Music Guide

Moxy Früvous' fifth album concentrates on its pop sensibilities and offers less silliness -- which may thrill or disappoint their loyal fan base. Perhaps part of this change in direction was due to producer Don Dixon (R.E.M., Smithereens, Marshall Crenshaw, Matthew Sweet), but the band gets credit for trying to create a more mature and satisfying album. It doesn't always work -- on Thornhill, the group sounds more like 54-40 or the Odds than the often-compared Barenaked Ladies or They Might Be Giants -- but Moxy Früvous' harmonies are almost irresistible on songs like "Half as Much," "Sad Girl," "If You Only Knew" and the earnest single "I Will Hold On." Compared to the first half of the album, the latter half is somewhat weighed down with the somber trio of "Independence Day," "Downsizing" and "Hate Letter." Thornhill attempts to take the group's material in a more serious direction -- an admirable task, but the band's endearing personalities and light harmonies are the real attraction.