Skinty Fia
by Fontaines D.C.

When I first listened to this band, I found the vocals annoying and thought they were nothing special instrumentally. But on further listens this album has grown on me massively. A very moody and emotional album, but at the same time really fucking cool. The last two tracks, I Love You and Nabokov, are my favourites. The lyrics on I Love You are very deep although not being Irish I can't pretend to understand the meaning of them - "I'll love you till the grass around my gravestone is deceased" is lovely. Jackie Down The Line is great too, as is Roman Holiday which is a bit different to the rest of the album as it could pass as a cool stoner rock summer anthem. Absolutely love it, think this might be the most excited I've been about a new band this decade. (Edited)

“Skinty Fia” benefits from the explicit irishness of the lyricism. It is explored from a variety of angles and gives the record a sense of identity. I particularly like the incorporation of regional slang to represent post-colonial relations on “Jackie Down The Line”. The vocals are a bit droning. They felt like they were attempting the feeling of disassociating but landing in flat instead. The instrumentals are competent if unexciting post-punk. They are never bad, but never great either. Overall, an interesting concept if stale in delivery. (Edited)

Lo que pudo haber sido un gran album, termina siendo opacado por la insípida voz de Grian Chatten, parece como si lo obligaran a cantar, cantando todas las canciones de la misma forma, lo que se siente como si estuvieras escuchando la misma canción.
Instrumentalmente, su sonido post-punk con un tono oscuro es interesante y realmente muy bueno.

English review:
What could have been a great album ends up being overshadowed by Grian Chatten's flat voice, it seems like he's being forced to sing, singing all the songs the same way, which feels like you are listening to the same song.
Instrumentally, their post-punk sound with a dark undertone is interesting and very good indeed. (Edited)

For me, this is the best 2022 album. So catchy and emotional.
Highlights: Roman Holiday, Jack Down the Line, I Love You. (Edited)

This is their best record so far, less derivative than their first two albums. In ár gCroíthe go deo, Bloomsday, and all the side B of the album are very very remarkable. (Edited)