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The Chills were formed in Dunedin, New Zealand as part of the “Dunedin Sound” movement that emerged in the early 1980s. Formed by singer-songwriter Martin Phillipps in 1980, The Chills are known for their jangly guitar sound, complex lyrics, and lush production. The band’s lineup saw numerous changes over the years, with Phillipps as the constant member, guiding the group through its musical explorations.
The Chills released their first full-length studio album, Brave Words, in 1987. The band ultimately released eight studio albums, including critically acclaimed works such as Submarine Bells in 1990, which featured the hit single “Heavenly Pop Hit.” This track brought them international fame and peaked at number 2 on the New Zealand singles chart. Their follow-up albums like Soft Bomb in 1992 and Silver Bullets in 2015 continued to receive positive reviews, though they did not achieve the same level of commercial success as Submarine Bells. The band also released a number of live albums, compilations, and EPs, contributing to their status as a cult favorite.
The Chills’ influence extends beyond their immediate success, with their music impacting various artists across genres. Despite experiencing setbacks, including health issues for Phillipps and numerous changes in the band’s lineup, The Chills maintained a consistent presence in the music scene. Phillipps died unexpectedly on July 28, 2024, at age 61. The posthumously completed Spring Board: The Early Unrecorded Songs was released in 2025 as the final Chills album, bringing the band’s studio-album catalog to eight releases.
THE CHILLS STUDIO ALBUMS
Brave Words (1987)
Released: 1987
Brave Words is the first proper studio album by The Chills, released in 1987. This album marks a significant point in the band’s career, capturing their jangle pop sound with a more polished production. It includes some of the band’s most beloved tracks, such as “Night of Chill Blue” and “16 Heart-Throbs,” and showcases the songwriting prowess of frontman Martin Phillipps.
Produced by Mayo Thompson and recorded at Point Studios in London, Brave Words helped solidify The Chills’ reputation in the indie rock scene both in New Zealand and internationally. The album is noted for its lyrical depth and the cohesive sound that blends melancholic themes with upbeat pop melodies.
CD Track Listings:
- “Push”
- “Rain”
- “Speak for Yourself”
- “Look for the Good in Others and They’ll See the Good in You”
- “Wet Blanket”
- “Ghosts”
- “Dan Destiny and the Silver Dawn”
- “Night of Chill Blue”
- “16 Heart-Throbs”
- “Brave Words”
- “Dark Carnival”
- “Creep”
Submarine Bells (1990)
Released: 1990
Submarine Bells is perhaps the most acclaimed album by The Chills, released in 1990. The album features the hit single “Heavenly Pop Hit,” which brought the band significant attention and success, including a number 2 peak on the New Zealand singles chart and an appearance on the U.S. alternative chart. The lush production and catchy melodies exemplify The Chills’ unique blend of indie pop and dream pop elements.
Produced by Gary Smith and recorded at Jacob’s Studios in Farnham, England, Submarine Bells captures the ethereal quality of The Chills’ sound, with intricate arrangements and Phillipps’ introspective lyrics. This album remains a high point in the band’s discography, celebrated for its artistic depth and emotional resonance.
CD Track Listings:
- “Heavenly Pop Hit”
- “Tied Up in Chain”
- “The Oncoming Day”
- “Part Past Part Fiction”
- “Singing in My Sleep”
- “I SOAR”
- “Dead Web”
- “Familiarity Breeds Contempt”
- “Don’t Be – Memory”
- “Effloresce and Deliquesce”
- “Sweet Times”
- “Submarine Bells”
Soft Bomb (1992)
Released: 1992
Soft Bomb, released in 1992, represents one of The Chills’ more ambitious projects, with a variety of musical influences and a somewhat turbulent recording process due to lineup changes. The album includes tracks like “The Male Monster from the Id” and “Double Summer,” which delve into complex emotional and philosophical themes.
Produced by Gavin MacKillop and recorded in Los Angeles, California, Soft Bomb showcases a diverse range of sounds from orchestral pop to harder rock elements. Despite facing mixed reviews initially due to its eclectic nature, it has been reevaluated as a deeply layered and richly textured work in The Chills’ catalog.
CD Track Listings:
- “The Male Monster from the Id”
- “Background Affair”
- “Ocean Ocean”
- “Soft Bomb”
- “There Is No Harm in Trying”
- “Strange Case”
- “Soft Bomb II”
- “So Long”
- “Song for Randy Newman Etc.”
- “Sleeping Giants”
- “Double Summer”
- “Sanctuary”
- “Halo Fading”
- “There Is No Point in Trying”
- “Entertainer”
- “Water Wolves”
- “Soft Bomb III”
Sunburnt (1996)
Released: 1996
Sunburnt, released under the Martin Phillipps & The Chills name in 1996, moved further toward a more mainstream rock sound while retaining Phillipps’ characteristic lyrical wit and melodic complexity. Songs like “Lost in Future Ruins” and “Come Home” demonstrate a maturing sound and more refined production compared to earlier works.
Produced by Craig Leon, Sunburnt was recorded at Doghouse Studios in Oxfordshire after the New Zealand rhythm section was denied entry to the United Kingdom. Phillipps completed the album with session musicians Dave Gregory of XTC and Dave Mattacks of Fairport Convention, with mixing and mastering work completed at Rockfield Studios and Townhouse Studios.
CD Track Listings:
- “As Far as I Can See”
- “Premonition”
- “Surrounded”
- “Come Home”
- “Sunburnt”
- “The Big Assessment”
- “Swimming in the Rain”
- “Dreams Are Free”
- “You Can Understand Me”
- “Lost in Future Ruins”
- “New Millennium”
- “Walk on the Beach”
- “Secret Garden”
Silver Bullets (2015)
Released: October 30, 2015
Silver Bullets marked a significant return for The Chills, coming nearly two decades after their last studio album. The album received acclaim for its sharp songwriting and thoughtful production. Featuring tracks like the politically charged “America Says Hello” and the reflective “Aurora Corona,” Silver Bullets was seen as a triumphant return, capturing the essence of The Chills’ classic sound while addressing contemporary issues.
Recorded at Albany Street Studios in Dunedin, New Zealand, this album reestablished The Chills as a relevant force in the indie rock scene, praised for its artistic vitality and lyrical relevance in the modern age.
CD Track Listings:
- “Father Time”
- “Warm Waveform”
- “Silver Bullets”
- “Underwater Wasteland”
- “America Says Hello”
- “Liquid Situation”
- “Pyramid / When the Poor Can Reach the Moon”
- “Aurora Corona”
- “I Can’t Help You”
- “Tomboy”
- “Molten Gold”
Snow Bound (2018)
Released: September 14, 2018
Snow Bound continued the revitalized output of The Chills, offering a concise collection of pop-rock songs that blend melodic hooks with introspective lyrics. Released in 2018, the album includes tracks such as “Complex” and “Lord of All I Survey,” showcasing the band’s ability to craft catchy yet meaningful songs. The album was well-received, with critics noting its energetic approach and mature songwriting.
Produced by Greg Haver and recorded at Roundhead Studios in Auckland, New Zealand, Snow Bound shows a band comfortable in its own skin, delivering pop anthems that resonate with both old fans and new listeners.
CD Track Listings:
- “Bad Sugar”
- “Time to Atone”
- “The Greatest Guide”
- “Scarred”
- “Complex”
- “Deep Belief”
- “Lord of All I Survey”
- “Snow Bound”
- “Eazy Peazy”
- “In Harmony”
Read More: Classic Rock Bands List And Directory
Scatterbrain (2021)
Released: May 14, 2021
Scatterbrain is a reflective yet vibrant album from The Chills, showcasing Martin Phillipps’ songwriting at its most introspective. The album explores themes of life, death, and personal history, with tracks like “Monolith” and “Little Alien” drawing on a rich tapestry of influences to create a deeply personal narrative.
Produced by Tom Healy and recorded at Roundhead Studios in Auckland, Scatterbrain captures a band that had grown and evolved, yet retained the melodic charm and lyrical depth that always defined their music. It was The Chills’ seventh studio album.
CD Track Listings:
- “Monolith”
- “Hourglass”
- “Destiny”
- “Caught in My Eye”
- “You’re Immortal”
- “Little Alien”
- “Safe and Sound”
- “Worlds Within Worlds”
- “Scatterbrain”
- “The Walls Beyond Abandon”
Spring Board: The Early Unrecorded Songs (2025)
Released: February 28, 2025
Spring Board: The Early Unrecorded Songs is The Chills’ final album and Martin Phillipps’ artistic farewell. The project revisited early songs that had never been properly recorded, with Phillipps rewriting and completing material from his youth during the final period of his life. The album was finalized for release with the support of his band, family, and friends after his death in 2024.
The Chills lineup on the album includes Martin Phillipps, Oli Wilson, Erica Scally, Callum Hampton, and Todd Knudson. The record also features guest contributions from New Zealand artists including Julia Deans, Elroy Finn, Neil Finn, Hollie Fullbrook, Greg Haver, Troy Kingi, Shona Laing, Tami Neilson, Dianne Swann, and Clementine Valentine.
CD Track Listings:
- “Dolphins”
- “Learn to Try Again”
- “If This World Was Made for Me”
- “Juicy Creaming Soda”
- “I’ll Protect You”
- “And When You’re There”
- “Declaration”
- “Stay Longer”
- “Slime”
- “Steel Skies”
- “Jellyhead”
- “Such Self Pity”
- “Meet My Eyes”
- “Bad Eggs”
- “Lion Tamer”
- “The Other”
- “Since You Left Me”
- “Watching Old Home Movies”
- “I Saw Your Silhouette”
- “I Don’t Want to Live Forever”
THE CHILLS EXPANDED AND REMASTERED RELEASES
Brave Words (Spoken Bravely: The Remix) (2023)
Released: October 13, 2023
Brave Words (Spoken Bravely: The Remix) is an expanded, remixed, and remastered reissue of The Chills’ 1987 debut album Brave Words. Released by Fire Records and Flying Nun Records, the new mix was created under Martin Phillipps’ supervision and adds rarities and previously unreleased material from the same era.
The original album was produced by Mayo Thompson. For the 2023 edition, Phillipps worked with producer Greg Haver on a new mix made from the surviving multitrack tapes, bringing greater clarity to the performances while retaining the character of the original recordings.
Vinyl Track Listings:
Side A
- “Push”
- “Rain”
- “Speak for Yourself”
- “Look for the Good in Others and They’ll See the Good in You”
- “Wet Blanket”
- “Ghosts”
Side B
- “Dan Destiny and the Silver Dawn”
- “Night of Chill Blue”
- “16 Heart-Throbs”
- “Brave Words”
- “Dark Carnival”
- “Creep”
Side C
- “The Oncoming Day”
- “I Think I’d Thought I’d Nothing Else to Think About”
- “House with a Hundred Rooms”
Side D
- “Party in My Heart”
- “Living in a Jungle”
- “Rain (Alternate Instrumental Version)”
Read More: Artists’ Interviews Directory At ClassicRockHistory.com
Updated September 1, 2026.
Complete List Of The Chills Albums And Songs article published on ClassicRockHistory.com © 2026
Just to clarify a few things in the Chills albums article. Snowbound was produced by myself, but Scatterbrain was produced by Tom Healey. I did however remix Brave Words : Spoken Bravely with Scott Seabright in 2023.
Sorry about that Greg,somtimes acess to information can be tricky. We will fix it.