Fontaines D.C., “Romance.” Romance, the fourth album by Irish rock quintet Fontaines D.C., is a captivating departure from its earlier work. More accessible and urbane than its predecessors, the band’s Dublin City roots remain intact, even as it explores new sonic spaces. Romance Fontaines D.C. XL Recordings, Aug. 23…

Arctic Monkeys perform at Chase Center in San Francisco, Calif. on Sept. 26, 2023. Chloe Catajan/STAFF. SAN FRANCISCO — Over their nearly two-decade reign, the Arctic Monkeys have gained a reputation as one of the biggest rock bands of the new millennium. The reasons why were still apparent at…

Rachel Goodman’s top alt-rock and alt-pop songs of 2022. L to R; Row 1: Fontaines D.C., Hot Chip, LCD Soundsystem, Julia Jacklin, GIFT, The Linda Lindas. Row 2: Automatic, The Eaves, The National Parks, Ron Gallo, Love’n’Joy, Blitz Vega. Row 3: Bellows, Heart Racer, Oliver Marson, CVC, The Steens,…

Fontaines D.C., “Skinty Fia.” Skinty Fia, the third album from Fontaines D.C., is a dark, expansive concoction of dissonant chords and searing lyrics. Building on 2019’s Mercury-Prize-shortlisted Dogrel and 2020’s Grammy-nominated A Hero’s Death, Skinty Fia explores themes of inevitable transformation and fate. Skinty Fia Fontaines D.C. Partisan, April 22 7/10…

Kyle J. Kohner checks in with his own list of the best albums of the year. The second part includes Thom Yorke, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard, Sharon Van Etten, Lana Del Rey, A.A. Bondy, Injury Reserve, TEEN, Nilüfer Yanya, Field Medic, Kate Tempest, FONTAINES D.C., TR/ST, Boy…