Fontaines D.C. - Dogrel
Critic Score
Based on 26 reviews
2019 Ratings: #10 / 805
Year End Rank: #16
User Score
2019 Rank: #106
Liked by 146 people
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CRITIC REVIEWS

100
musicOMH
Fontaines DC wear their influences close to their sleeve, with nods to The Pogues, The Strokes and Joy Division, but these influences are absorbed into their identity, to create something that instantly familiar and accessible, but also thrillingly compelling.
100
Upset

It’s rare that a debut album from a band as heavily hyped as Fontaines D.C. have been still contains the power to excite and surprise, but ‘Dogrel’ is that record.

100
NME

The Irish troubadours come good on a debut album that offers both a storyteller’s narrative voice and a snarling new vision of youthful disillusionment.

100
Dork

People going into ‘Dogrel’ may well be expecting punk-infused posturing on the state of society, and they certainly won’t be disappointed. But alongside this, there’s genuine heart in Fontaines D.C’s music.

100
God Is in the TV

Fontaines DC are as important as they come.

100
The Guardian

This is the kind of songwriting quality that bands can take years to reach, or never reach at all: brilliant, top to bottom.

100
The Skinny

Dogrel feels both overwhelming and tender, caustic and soothing, a blast of working class rage grown articulate while retaining its primal howl.

90
Clash

Authentic, raw and honest, it is eclectic, original and a work of multifaceted expression.

90
The Young Folks
These rockers from Dublin County (for that’s what the “D.C.” stands for) are sure to make a name for themselves as one of the best post-punk acts to emerge this year.
90
Northern Transmissions

This is an album that brings the Irish city to life, as the plucky five piece take you on a journey through rain-soaked streets, violent encounters and a reassured confidence that comes from struggle.

90
Loud and Quiet

In its madcap polemicist playfulness and sincerity, there’s a record that starts with all the earnestness of Bobby Gillespie pining for a hit and ends with an exquisitely territorial ballad.

90
DIY

On their debut, Fontaines DC have crafted a clear, unedited picture of who they are and what they’re made of. It’s a joy to witness.

85
The Line of Best Fit

Dogrel is evocative, meticulous and rich in a love for the character of Dublin, and all the little things that, past and present, contribute to that.

85
Under the Radar

This is the sound of vitality; of authenticity and ambition; of style, substance, and swagger all packed in to 35 minutes of vulnerable, honest pop music that is weighted with melancholy, yet buoyed by youthful vigor and touched, perhaps, by genius.

83
Paste

Dogrel is an album of tremendous ardor and vivid landscapes, and interspersed with an Irish underdog spirit, Fontaines D.C. are nearly untouchable.

80
Pitchfork

The steely Dublin post-punk band infuse the bitterness and rage of the Fall with punch-drunk romanticism.

80
Mojo
It's all propelled by an energy exclusive to debut albums, the five-piece pulsing with post-punk fervour.
80
No Ripcord
They're smart, clueless, and ready to take the festival circuit by storm.
80
AllMusic

It's a rough-and-ready record, soaked in booze and obscured by a cloud of cigarette smoke, but through the haze lies a love letter to working-class life in the city.

80
Gigwise

Dogrel definitely delivers on the tremendous hype, after their singles have done anything but fall on deaf ears. Watch this space.

80
Q Magazine
By striving to find romance and poetry in grim times, Fontaines D.C. have made a record to fall in love with.
80
The Irish Times
The Dublin-based quintet are breathing new life into guitar-based alternative pop and giving Irish music an almighty shot in the arm while they’re at it.
80
XS Noize
Whilst the upbeat, hyperactive, raw, rough and rugged guitar palpitations unconsciously and indirectly borrow from other indie and punk greats, the ideas, passions and revelations converted into these tracks belong solely to these five Dublin boys.
75
The 405

Dogrel highlights not only why they are being name-dropped by every hipster around these parts, but also the limitations that the post-punk oeuvre has in terms of stretching and challenging the audience.

70
PopMatters

Post-punk has new blood coursing through its veins, transcendently authentic, and boisterously good. You'll want to give Dogrel a listen.

60
Uncut
Musically, it's not exactly mould-shattering, a blend of surf and chirpy indie rock. They're at their most effective when they deliberately fray the edges.
zachthesnack
86

I think that it is relatively unfair to wholly compare these guys to the likes of IDLES and Parquet Courts. If you are expecting something of the nature of either of those bands then you will probably be let down because FDC have a style all their own, and one that I am particularly fond of at that!

The songs on this thing were so catchy, fun and honest, and I definitely just felt like this was the band just having a good time and enjoying themselves. Songs like Sha Sha Sha and Liberty Belle ... read more

MiaWatterson
80

I see this growing on me, I'm quite surprised!
Edit: I got kinda bored of this album quickly but now that I relistened to it I've realized that I truly like it

EdFruscley
90

Well, I hope to make it right this time. First, the first impression in this is the characteristic sound, is like compend of not just a place but an era, a sphere of music that resides in the UK. In a weak comparison, some parts in the production the mix of voice, guitar, and backtrack sounds like The clash, other parts remind me a little to the smiths, and there are guitars that remind me The who, is maybe a simple vision general but the point is not the references maybe nay the result and the ... read more

jlebon
73

The comparison from debut to most recent release is really interesting in the case of Fontaines D.C.. This was certainly sonically more upbeat than the very dark soundscape of 'Skinty Fia' but still harbours Grian's distinctive vocal delivery and gritty lyricism which differentiates this band from all others. I definitely think 'Skinty Fia' is an improvement on this but this still stands up as a great album and fantastic debut from such a quality outfit

100

Their best

Esalmo
60

Pretty derivative overall. The closing track is The Pogues singing Dylan’s A Hard Rain’s A-Gonna Fall in a post punky style. I hear a lot of Clash influences, especially on Sha Sha Sha where the rhythm guitar, drums and vocals remind me very much of London Calling. I’d call it a rip off.

Some songs are really good. I like their style, but there’s too many ideas that have been used before on this album for it to be an interesting listen.

Fav song: The Lotts/Liberty ... read more

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Track List

1Big
1:45
82
2Sha Sha Sha
2:31
79
3Too Real
4:08
86
4Television Screens
3:59
82
5Hurricane Laughter
4:50
83
6Roy's Tune
3:00
80
7The Lotts
4:57
80
8Chequeless Reckless
2:15
79
9Liberty Belle
2:31
79
10Boys In the Better Land
5:00
88
11Dublin City Sky
4:52
81
Total Length: 39 minutes
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Added on: February 9, 2019