Dogrel
Dogrel makes a strong entrance, but Fontaines D.C. have more to offer than the first few fierce songs suggest. The guitars are sharp, the bass keeps things moving, and Grian Chatten sings with a pronounced Irish accent. He barely needs to polish his voice to attract attention. His words and the driven backing do the work.
Big needs less than two minutes to make that approach clear. The band push hard while the singing immediately gives them a recognisable character. Sha Sha Sha keeps its chords short and restless. Too Real then opens the sound further, with noisy guitars giving the record a much rougher surface.
The quieter moments matter just as much. Roy's Tune and Television Screens leave more room for melody and for the people Chatten sings about. His Dublin stories involve more than confidence. There is uncertainty, everyday worry and a desire for a different life. This gives the city more substance than a familiar backdrop.
Boys in the Better Land combines the energetic and melodic sides especially well. It has enough drive to work immediately and enough character to stay with you. Closing track Dublin City Sky then adopts the feeling of an Irish song sung together. It is a strong way to end the record on a human, intimate note.
Chatten does not have an especially wide vocal range, and the instrumental sound remains clearly defined. Listeners wanting many different musical worlds will hear its limits. Within those limits, however, the band write unusually lively songs. Dogrel sounds direct and cohesive, with enough changes in mood to become more than a strong run of singles. This debut gets its conviction from the songs themselves.
