Irish alt-rock band Fontaines D.C. are one of the most exciting and interesting acts making music today, and I love their always arresting sound, thanks in part to charismatic lead vocalist Grian Chatten’s distinctive baritone Irish brogue. Formed in Dublin in 2017 and now based in London, in addition to Chatten, the band is comprised of Carlos O’Connell (guitar), Conor Curley (guitar), Conor Deegan III (bass), and Tom Coll (drums). They’ve released three critically acclaimed albums since 2018 (none of which have charted on the Billboard 200 Album chart, which is a travesty), with a fourth, Romance, due for release on August 23.

“Starburster”, the bombastic lead single from Romance, rises to the pinnacle of my Top 30 chart this week. It’s one of the most sonically thrilling and complex songs I’ve heard in a while, and I could listen to it on an endless loop. It’s become their highest-charting single in the U.S. thus far and, shockingly, their first to ever make the UK and Canadian singles charts.

The song was inspired by a panic attack that Chatten suffered in London’s St Pancras tube station, and the jarring gasps heard at the end of each line suggest the gasps or quick breaths of someone experiencing a panic attack. To drive home their message, Fontaines D.C. start with a foreboding Mellotron string loop quickly followed by an elegant piano riff before the music explodes into a bombastic soundscape of stomping trip hop beats, sharp percussion and reverb-soaked twangy guitars. Chatten does a fine job with his commanding rapid-fire rapping of the lyrics, which he’d previously done on the collaborative single “Better Way To Live” with Irish hip-hop trio Kneecap. The song transitions to a calm interlude in the bridge with a majestic string arrangement and Chatten’s vocals now a warm and soothing croon, then finishes with a return of the stomping beats and jarring music. I love it!

The song’s rather unsettling video, directed by Aube Pierre, features Chatten performing a variety of daily activities in differing personas ranging from angelic to demonic, sometimes wounded and other times wearing a mask or wig. It’s as ambiguous and scattered as the song’s lyrics.

In other notable chart developments, Billie Eilish‘s “LUNCH” enters the top 10 at #9, and The Decemberists‘ “Oh No!” leaps nine spots to #19, making it the biggest upward mover this week. Three newish songs make their debut this week, starting with “Stargazing” by English singer-songwriter Myles Smith, entering at #28. He wrote the song along with Jesse Fink and Peter Fenn after being inspired while watching a sunset together in Malibu. The song has become his biggest hit yet, and first to chart in the U.S. Next up is “Baby Blue Movie” by Texas dream pop band Cigarettes After Sex. Released on June 4th, the captivating ethereal song was the third single from their recently-released third studio album X’s. The third new entry is the sensuous “Honey” by Welsh art pop artist Mr Bewlay, which I reviewed in late June. This is the first appearance on my chart for all three acts.

1. STARBURSTER – Fontaines D.C. (3)
2. HIGH IN LOW PLACES – Beach Weather (1)
3. THE CRAVING – twenty one pilots (4)
4. WRECKAGE – Pearl Jam (2)
5. PANORAMIC VIEW – AWOLNATION (5)
6. END OF BEGINNING – Djo (7)
7. A FORETOLD ECSTASY – Mayflower Madame (9)
8. CREATURES IN HEAVEN – Glass Animals (6)
9. LUNCH – Billie Eilish (11)
10. TOO SWEET – Hozier (8)
11. LIKE YOU DO – The Frontier (14)
12. LOST IN SPACE – Foster the People (15)
13. ON THE GAME – The Black Keys (10)
14. I HAD SOME HELP – Post Malone feat. Morgan Wallen (16)
15. VICES – 5ilas & Shimmer Johnson (17)
16. RUN YOUR MOUTH – The Marías (18)
17. WHAT IF I FEEL LIKE THIS MY WHOLE LIFE? – HULLAH (19)
18. PAYBACK – Aaron Frazer (20)
19. OH NO! – The Decemberists (28)
20. ESPRESSO – Sabrina Carpenter (23)
21. RAINBOW – Cage the Elephant (25)
22. THE BREAK – Blame My Youth (12)
23. TOO MUCH – girl in red (13)
24. WAKING LIFE – Nicholas a. Milillo feat. Dee Wolf, Bobby Jasso, Gabrielle Marella and the voice of Tony Milillo (27)
25. JUST WANNA SLEEP – Halfloves (26)
26. YOU JUST PLAYED MY MIND – Oli Barton (29)
27. WAR – Healer (30)
28. STARGAZING – Myles Smith (N)
29. BABY BLUE MOVIE – Cigarettes After Sex (N)
30. HONEY – Mr Bewlay (N)