Fontaines D.C. - Skinty Fia

On their third record in almost as many years, Fontaines D.C. have settled into their sound, if not their surroundings. The band are clearly adept at reflecting their environment, simultaneously able to give voice to their inner thoughts and convey specific observations. On their debut, this manifested as a love letter to Dublin, while on A Hero's Death they captured the disassociation that comes with success and international touring. Here, they are contemplating their residence in London and the distance, both literal and figurative, between themselves and their roots. Skinty Fia may feature some of their most self-assured songwriting to date, but thematically this is a band seeking reconciliation between their Irish identity and their status in the U.K. music scene, a relationship fraught with inherent contradictory emotions.The opening track, "In ár gCroíthe go deo," is a strong statement in that regard, as it lays out an example of how certain pockets of English society still dist