Romance: An Album Review

Romance: An Album Review 

By: Emily Eade

Fontaines D.C. was founded in 2014 in Dublin, Ireland, by members Grain Chatten (vocals), Conor Curley (guitar), Conor Deegan III (bass), Tom Coll (drums), and Carlos O’Connell (guitar). On August 23, 2024, this Irish alternative indie group released their fourth studio album, Romance. This album brought the group international fame and success. 

The album starts with a two-minute and thirty-second song, “Romance,” which gives a dark, slow-paced, distorted sound. This creates a haunting feel for the start of the album and a perfect draw to what the band explored. Immediately after, the band gave us their lead single, “Starburster.” The song starts with a simple beat, quite different from other songs written by the group. It was originally written as a joke about a panic attack Chatten had at St Pancras Station in London, eventually becoming more serious. This can be heard through the repeated lyrics, “It may feel bad,” and the gasps of air heard throughout the song.

“In the Modern World” is the fifth track of the album. This track is an emotional ballad that holds elements of the glitz and glamour of old Hollywood. This song conveys the idea of faded glamour of modern-day Hollywood. The next track, “Bug” marks a daring transformation in the band’s sound, showing them growing in musical diversity. The song reflects on Chatten’s insecurities in relationships.

“Favourite” is the closing track of the album. This is the band's favorite song they have written together. Chatten described the track as “this never-ending sound to it, a continuous cycle from euphoria to sadness, two worlds spinning forever.” This is a perfect way to describe the emotion, and power this track gives off. 

Romance by Fontaines D.C. had common themes of love and the sorrow that can come along with it. Each song has its unique style and sound indicating a sense of musical maturity. This helps shift the band toward a more dynamic and varied sound that fits for them.