Rolling Stone Song of the Year 2020: “WAP” by Cardi B featuring Megan Thee Stallion. RS Album of the Year 2020: Folklore by Taylor Swift. Both lists contain Dua Lipa, Bad Bunny, Lady Gaga, Miley Cyrus, and Korean boy band BTS.
How about a longer look back? RS song of the 2010s decade: Robyn, “Dancing on My Own,” followed by Kendrick Lamar, Adele, Beyonce, and Taylor Swift. RS Album of the Decade: Kanye West, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, followed by Beyonce, Kendrick Lamar, Taylor Swift, and thank you, #5 David Bowie Blackstar.
If you want another beacon for rock, compare the classic and alternative rock dominated Coachella line-ups of the early 2000s and the more recent hip-hop, R&B, and pop acts at the California desert festival.
So, what’s a rocker to do in the 2020s? Well, there are some bands – both new and old – that still play guitar and bring that rock n’ roll rhythm and spirit.
I’ll focus this post on recent releases by Fontaines D.C and The Districts. First, The Districts and their 2020 release, You Know I’m Not Going Anywhere. High School friends formed the band in 2009 in Pennsylvania. After several EPs and full-lengths, this new release is their fourth. This album is my first introduction to the band after hearing the single “Cheap Regrets” on Sirius XMU radio. It was one of those songs that immediately got me going, and indeed, after giving the album a few listens is still my favorite. It’s a very catchy song (in a good way). They’re a guitar band, but broaden the sounds with synths, mellotron, and a little sax and violin. The album opens and closes mellow with “My Only Ghost” and “4th of July,” respectively. In between, are some swirling, rousing songs (“Hey Jo” and “Changing”), as well as the rollicking “Sidecar.”
You Know I’m Not Going Anywhere is a good introduction to The Districts and should be a worthy addition to their body of work. It’s not exciting necessarily, but more of a solid rock album with vocals by Rob Grote that sound like an older soul than his 25 years, driving guitar, varied song pace, and a variety of instrumentation.
D² Rating ◼◼◼ ☐ ☐
And, it’s always nice when an album has at least one great tune and this one has “Cheap Regrets.” Take a listen to it:
My first exposure to A Hero’s Death by the Fontaines D.C. was also thanks to Sirius XMU radio. I had heard of them, but “Televised Mind” was the first song I really listened to. Fontaines D.C. formed in Dublin, Ireland in 2017 and A Hero’s Death is their second album. It starts of with “I Don’t Belong” and “Love is the Main Thing” and the repetitive nature of their songs is immediately apparent. “Televised Mind” is the third song and again chants the song title over and over, this time in a more upbeat rhythm. Sometimes repeating the song title numerous times is annoying to me and seems like a lazy way to avoid writing more lyrics. But not this time. The Dublin accent of lead singer, Grian Chatten is hypnotic and in conjunction with the guitar creates an ominous listening experience. The title song is the standout and this time the mantra is “life ain’t always empty,” and reminds us to “tell your mother you love her and go out of your way for others.”
A Hero’s Death grabs a hold of you and puts you in its trance. I’m not sure there really is such a thing as the sophomore slump, but if there is, this is not it. It’s a statement from a band who continues to define and expand its sound in a unique way.
D² Rating ◼◼◼ ◩ ☐
Trivia ? – Where did the band name Fontaines, D.C come from?
Answer: A character in The Godfather, Johnny Fontane. The band was originally the Fontaines, but added the D.C for Dublin City to differentiate themselves from another group of the same name.
Next Up: Look for an upcoming post on Wolf Parade and the new Pearl Jam as our search for rock in the 2020s continues…