Wikipedia

Skinty Fia

Skinty Fia is the third studio album by Irish rock band Fontaines D.C. It was released on 22 April 2022 via Partisan Records. Like the band's two previous albums – 2019's Dogrel and 2020's A Hero's Death – Skinty Fia was produced by Dan Carey.[2] Its title refers to an old Irish saying that drummer Tom Coll's great-aunt used to say; the phrase "Skinty Fia" translates to "the damnation of the deer". Both the title and the cover art allude to the extinct Irish elk, also known as the "giant deer".[3][4]

Skinty Fia
Studio album by
Fontaines D.C.
Released22 April 2022 (2022-04-22)
Recorded2021
Genre
Length44:52
LabelPartisan
ProducerDan Carey
Fontaines D.C. chronology
A Hero's Death
(2020) 		Skinty Fia
(2022) 		Romance
(2024)
Singles from Skinty Fia
  1. "Jackie Down the Line"
    Released: 12 January 2022
  2. "I Love You"
    Released: 17 February 2022
  3. "Skinty Fia"
    Released: 21 March 2022
  4. "Roman Holiday"
    Released: 19 April 2022

Skinty Fia became the band's first number-one album in both Ireland and the UK.[5][6] It reached number two in the Netherlands, and also placed in the top 10 of Belgium, France, Germany and Switzerland.

The album garnered the band a win for the Brit Award for International Group at the 2023 Brit Awards and a nomination for Album of the Year at the Choice Music Prize for the year 2022.[7][8]

Background and recording

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The band released their second album A Hero's Death in July 2020 and embarked on a tour, which had been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, to support it. Plans for the third album began in the band's hometown of Dublin during the COVID-19 lockdowns, where they began sharing and recording demos.[9] Chatten was inspired by an accordion gifted to him by his mother for Christmas, realising "that that was an interesting place for me to go on the next record" despite his lack of experience with the instrument.[3] They were also inspired by the Primal Scream album XTRMNTR (2000) and the drum and bass artist Roni Size, wanting to "[recreate] electronic sounds with guitars", according to guitarist Carlos O'Connell.[10]

Recording for Skinty Fia took place in 2021 in London with regular producer Dan Carey. The songs were written during the day, which Chatten deemed a healthy and structured process, and recorded at night to create a level of uncertainty.[3]

Composition

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The opening track "In ár gCroíthe go deo" features a refrain sung in Irish which translates to "in our hearts forever".[11] The band had read of a recently deceased Irish woman living in England whose family had wished to engrave the phrase on her gravestone. However, the Church of England ruled that the use of the Gaelic phrase could be deemed "political" or "provocative". After much criticism from the Irish community, the decision was eventually overturned and, on that day, the band recorded vocals for the song.[11]

"Big Shot" is the only song on the album written by O'Connell.[3] Lyrically, it depicts "fame, stardom, and the guilt which surrounds them" and his battles with his own ego due to the band's success.[12][3]

Promotion

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The album was announced on 12 January 2022, to coincide with the release of its lead single "Jackie Down the Line".[13] A second single, "I Love You", was released just over a month later on 17 February 2022,[14] a song which the band described as “the first overtly political song we've written”[15]

Critical reception

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The album was met with critical acclaim upon release. The Line of Best Fit awarded the album a perfect score of 10/10 calling Skinty Fia "a cascading third album that reveals as much as it continues to hide."[16] NME called Fontaine's D.C. a "generational band [that] grapples with heritage." They gave the record five stars calling it a "a breathtaking collection that’s like nothing they’ve ever done before."[17]

Writing in The Guardian, Alexis Petridis praised the band for constantly inverting expectations of them, saying: "there’s something cheering about Fontaines DC’s bold refusal to join in, to deal instead in shades of grey and equivocation. There’s also something bold about their disinclination to rely on the most immediate aspect of their sound." He called Skinty Fia "more measured and reflective" than previous records, with it boasting "few examples of their punky full-pelt approach." Ultimately, he thought the album was another leap forward for the band and gave it four stars out of five.[18] Pitchfork awarded the album an 8.0. They praised the band's ability to tap into alienation and isolation, saying: "By burrowing into Fontaines D.C.’s particular experiences as strangers in a strange land, Skinty Fia ultimately homes in on the eternal fears—of growing old, bored, bitter, and unloved—that unite us all."[19]

Skinty Fia featured in many end of year lists. As well as awarding the band their 'Best Band in the World' award in 2022, NME also ranked Skinty Fia at #4 in their '50 Best Albums of 2022.'[20] The Guardian ranked it at #9 in their 50 best albums of the year.[21] Skinty Fia was also nominated for an Ivor Novello award in the 'Best Album' category.[22]

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic85/100[23]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [24]
The A.V. ClubC+[25]
Clash8/10[26]
DIY     [27]
The Guardian     [28]
The Line of Best Fit10/10[29]
musicOMH     [30]
NME     [31]
Pitchfork8.0/10[1]
The Skinny     [32]

Track listing

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All music by Grian Chatten, Tom Coll, Conor Curley, Conor Deegan III and Carlos O'Connell - All lyrics by Grian Chatten, except "Big Shot" lyrics by Carlos O'Connell.

Skinty Fia track listing
No.TitleLength
1."In ár gCroíthe go deo"5:59
2."Big Shot"4:13
3."How Cold Love Is"3:24
4."Jackie Down the Line"4:01
5."Bloomsday"4:30
6."Roman Holiday"4:28
7."The Couple Across the Way"3:56
8."Skinty Fia"3:55
9."I Love You"5:05
10."Nabokov"5:21
Total length:44:52
Japanese edition bonus track[33]
No.TitleLength
11."I Love You" (live at Alexandra Palace)4:52
Total length:49:52
Skinty Fia go deo disc 2 additional track listing
No.TitleLength
1."Big Shot" (live at Glastonbury)3:39
2."Jackie Down the Line" (Skinty Fia sessions)4:38
3."Roman Holiday" (Skinty Fia sessions)3:52
4."I Love You" (Skinty Fia sessions)4:34
5."One" (Skinty Fia sessions)3:34
6."Twinkle" (Skinty Fia sessions)4:45
7."The Couple Across the Way" (Skinty Fia sessions)3:48
8."In ár gCroíthe go deo" (Orbital remix)5:57

Personnel

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Adapted from Discogs.[34]

Fontaines D.C.

  • Grian Chatten – vocals, accordion, 12-string acoustic guitar, tambourine
  • Carlos O'Connell – guitar, 12-string acoustic guitar, backing vocals, celeste, Clavioline, xylophone, art direction
  • Conor Curley – guitar, 12-string acoustic guitar, backing vocals
  • Tom Coll – drums, percussion
  • Conor Deegan III – bass guitar, Bass VI, backing vocals, bouzouki, piano, whistling

Additional personnel

  • Dan Carey – production, mixing, sonic manipulation, synthesizer, swarmatron, effects
  • Christian Wright – mastering
  • Alexis Smith – engineering
  • Aidan Cochrane – art direction, design
  • Rory Dewar – design
  • Ashley Willerton – lettering

Charts

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Certifications

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Region Certification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI)[53] Silver 60,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

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  1. ^ a b Berman, Stuart (22 April 2022). "Fontaines D.C.: Skinty Fia Album Review". Pitchfork. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  2. ^ "Fontaines D.C. Announce New Album 'Skinty Fia' Alongside Brand New Track". Milky. 12 January 2022. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d e Ehrlich, Brenna (11 January 2022). "Fontaines D.C. – Fontaines D.C. on the Mutated Irishness of Their New Record 'Skinty Fia'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 22 April 2022.
  4. ^ Leas, Ryan (11 January 2022). "Fontaines D.C. – "Jackie Down The Line"". Stereogum. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  5. ^ "Discography Fontaines D.C." irish-charts.com. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  6. ^ "Fontaines DC | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  7. ^ "Wet Leg, Fontaines DC land nominations at BRIT Awards 2023". live4ever. 13 January 2023. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  8. ^ "RTÉ Choice Prize Irish Album of the Year shortlist announced – featuring CMAT, Fontaines D.C., Pillow Queens and more". Hot Press. Retrieved 16 January 2023.
  9. ^ Walker, Gary (25 April 2022). "Fontaines D.C. – Skinty Fia review: a band brimming with ideas and a boundless horizon before them". Guitar.com. BandLab Technologies. Archived from the original on 11 July 2023. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  10. ^ Trendell, Andrew (28 August 2022). "Fontaines D.C. talk "lighter" new material and Sam Fender's epic McDonald's order". NME. Archived from the original on 29 August 2022. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  11. ^ a b Aubrey, Elizabeth (31 May 2022). "Fontaines D.C. meet family of the late Margaret Keane, who inspired song 'In ár gCroíthe go deo'". NME. Archived from the original on 13 December 2022. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  12. ^ Grover, Aran (23 April 2022). "Album Review: Fontaines D.C. – Skinty Fia". Exeposé. Archived from the original on 29 May 2023. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  13. ^ Condon, Dan (25 January 2022). "Fontaines D.C. remain in brilliant touch on 'Jackie Down The Line'". Double J. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  14. ^ Kreps, Daniel (17 February 2022). "Fontaines D.C. Pen Conflicted Ode to Ireland on New Song 'I Love You'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  15. ^ Kreps, Daniel (17 February 2022). "Fontaines D.C. Pen Conflicted Ode to Ireland on New Song 'I Love You'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
  16. ^ "Fontaines DC "Skinty Fia"". The Line of Best Fit. The Line of Best Fit. 18 April 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  17. ^ "Fontaines D.C. – 'Skinty Fia' review: generational band grapples with heritage". NME. NME. 22 April 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  18. ^ "Fontaines DC: Skinty Fia review – boldly embracing a state of confusion". The Guardian. 21 April 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  19. ^ "Skinty Fia". Pitchfork. Pitchfork. 22 April 2022. Retrieved 15 August 2024.
  20. ^ "The 50 best albums of 2022". NME. NME. 9 December 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  21. ^ "The 50 best albums of 2022". Guardian. Guardian. 23 December 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  22. ^ "Fontaines D.C. nominated for Ivor Novello Award". RTE. RTE. 18 April 2023. Retrieved 16 August 2024.
  23. ^ "Skinty Fia by Fontaines D.C. Reviews and Tracks". Metacritic. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  24. ^ Martin, Liam. "Skinty Fia – Fontaines D.C. | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  25. ^ Moayeri, Lily (21 April 2022). "Fontaines D.C. can't deliver on the promise of more with Skinty Fia". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  26. ^ Murray, Robin (19 April 2022). "Fontaines D.C. – Skinty Fia | Review". Clash. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  27. ^ Williams, Jenessa (20 April 2022). "Fontaines DC – Skinty Fia review". DIY. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  28. ^ Petridis, Alexis (21 April 2022). "Fontaines DC: Skinty Fia review – boldly embracing a state of confusion". The Guardian. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  29. ^ Loftin, Steven (18 April 2022). "Fontaines DC – Skinty Fia | Album Review". The Line of Best Fit. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  30. ^ Murphy, John (19 April 2022). "Fontaines DC – Skinty Fia | Album Reviews". musicOMH. Retrieved 21 April 2022.
  31. ^ Williams, Sophie (22 April 2022). "Fontaines D.C. – 'Skinty Fia' review: generational band grapples with heritage | Album Reviews". NME. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  32. ^ O'Hare, Alan (18 April 2022). "Fontaines D.C. – Skinty Fia". The Skinny. Retrieved 25 April 2022.
  33. ^ "Fontaines D.C. | Big Nothing / SKINTY FIA". ビッグ・ナッシング / スキンティ・フィア (in Japanese). Retrieved 2 February 2023.
  34. ^ "Fontaines D.C. - Skinty Fia | Releases | Discogs". Archived from the original on 27 July 2022. Retrieved 27 December 2024.
  35. ^ "Australiancharts.com – Fontaines D.C. – Skinty Fia". Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  36. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Fontaines D.C. – Skinty Fia" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  37. ^ "Ultratop.be – Fontaines D.C. – Skinty Fia" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  38. ^ "Ultratop.be – Fontaines D.C. – Skinty Fia" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  39. ^ "Hitlisten.NU – Album Top-40 Uge 17, 2022". Hitlisten. Retrieved 4 May 2022.
  40. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Fontaines D.C. – Skinty Fia" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  41. ^ "Top Albums (Week 17, 2022)". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Retrieved 2 May 2022.
  42. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Fontaines D.C. – Skinty Fia" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  43. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Fontaines D.C.". Hung Medien. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  44. ^ "Album – Classifica settimanale WK 17 (dal 22.04.2022 al 28.04.2022)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  45. ^ "NZ Top 40 Albums Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 2 May 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  46. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  47. ^ "Top 100 Albums Weekly". Promusicae. Retrieved 8 May 2022.
  48. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Fontaines D.C. – Skinty Fia". Hung Medien. Retrieved 1 May 2022.
  49. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 29 April 2022.
  50. ^ "Official Independent Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  51. ^ "Fontaines D.C. Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 3 May 2022.
  52. ^ "Jaaroverzichten 2022" (in Dutch). Ultratop. Retrieved 14 January 2023.
  53. ^ "British album certifications – Fontaines Dc – Skinty Fia". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
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