SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: FONTAINES D.C. – ROMANCE

FONTAINES D.C.
ROMANCE
XL RECORDINGS

Since their highly acclaimed 2019 debut album, Dogrel, Fontaines D.C. has been one of the most hyped bands in rock and post-punk. Their second and third albums, A Hero’s Death and Skinty Fia, continued to garner rave reviews, with the former garnering a Grammy nomination for Best Rock Album. With their latest release, Romance, Fontaines D.C. continues their streak as it is yet another successful and exciting album.  

The instrumentation and production of Romance is the strongest quality of the album. This is not to say the other things are bad. Vocally, the album is outstanding with lead singer Grian Chatten having some great range. However, it does not quite match the heights of the instrumentation and production. It is ambitious, weird, dynamic, occasionally surreal, and always intriguing. Not everything works out, but seeing the band continue to evolve their style is fascinating. Highlights include the quite creepy and unsettling instrumentation of “Romance”, the dreamy mixture of electronica and shoegaze with a beautiful and immersive atmosphere that any Deftones fan will fall in love with “Sundowner”, and the warm and breezy Smashing Pumpkinsesque acoustic guitar in “Motorcycle Boy”.

Influences can be heard throughout Romance, but none fall victim to sounding too alike to their inspirations or like a blatant rip-off. For example, “In The Modern World” is indebted to Lana Del Rey, especially during the soaring chorus, which is gorgeous. Despite taking inspiration from Del Rey, the song still feels like a Fontaines D.C. track.

“Starburster” is absolutely electric and is among the best songs from this decade. Full of kinetic and fierce energy, awe-inspiring creativity, intricate production, and entrancing instrumentation, “Starburster” packs a heavy punch. It is one of a few songs released this year that I have been playing repeatedly. Everything about it is brilliant and infectious. Grian Chatten’s vocals are completely unreal, whether it be when he is spitting bars or showing off his sensational voice. Those gasps for air (or inhales) sound dope and add so much to the song. The track is a perfect culmination of many different sounds and styles: hip-hop drumbeats, aggressive punk attitude, dance vibes, rap-like vocal delivery from Chatten in the verses, and a trip-hop atmosphere. In terms of production and instrumentation, no song from 2024 has it beat. Hopefully, Fontaines D.C., will continue to create transcendent compositions like this in the future. Lastly, the song pushes the boundaries for Fontaines D.C., sort of like what Radiohead did with OK Computer, or The Beatles did with Revolver.

Romance is a phenomenal release from Fontaines D.C. Led by “Starburster,” the best song from 2024, the album features truly excellent craftsmanship and innovation. Romance is an album you certainly do not want to miss out on.

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