The talk from critics over the past decade or so may be that rock is dead, but one Irish act continue to spectacularly buck the trend. With their fourth album Romance, Fontaines D.C. confirmed themselves as one of the foremost acts of their generation. The album was a masterclass in state-of-the-art rock, exploring – as per the title – the nuances of love and relationships, while also reflecting the fraught nature of the times.

It was heady stuff indeed, and there’s plenty more on the way from the Fontaines in 2025.

In what was an exceptionally strong year for Irish artists, hitting number two are Belfast hip-hop tear-aways Kneecap with Fine Art. Along with the album being a hit, Kneecap also enjoyed an international box office smash with their self-titled movie, and found themselves at the centre of much controversy into the bargain.

It was all testament to the boys’ anarchic punk spirit – and they’re only just getting started. Elsewhere on the homefront, there are also strong showings from the likes of Damien Dempsey, Sprints, Orla Gartland and Conchur White among many others, once again demonstrating that the domestic scene is in rude health.

Internationally, female pop stars were very much to the fore, occupying a whopping seven of the Top 10 places, with Charli XCX going supernova courtesy of Brat, Billie Eilish delivering another vintage effort in Hit Me Hard And Soft, and Sabrina Carpenter delighting audiences with the pop gem Short n Sweet.

Elsewhere in a fiercely eclectic Top 50, The Cure and Nick Cave produced late career classics; hip-hop superstar Tyler The Creator again enthralled and provoked with Chromakopia; and the mega-talented Childish Gambino somehow found time to craft the stunning Atavista in between working on his hit TV shows.

It was another brilliant and memorable year in music – here’s to more of the same in 2025.

Top Albums of 2024

1. Fontaines D.C. - Romance

2. Kneecap - Fine Art

3. Charli XCX - Brat

4. Billie Eilish - Hit Me Hard and Soft

5. Adrianne Lenker - Bright Future

6. English Teacher - This Could Be Texas

7. St. Vincent - All Born Screaming

8. The Last Dinner Party - Prelude To Ecstasy

9. Damien Dempsey - Hold Your Joy

10. Clairo - Charm

11. SPRINTS - Letter To Self

The Sprints at RDS Dublin. Copyright Jason Doherty.

12. Orla Gartland - Everyone Needs A Hero

13. Wunderhorse - Midas

14. Sabrina Carpenter - Short n’ Sweet

15. Tyler The Creator - Chromakopia

16. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds- Wild God

17. Vampire Weekend - Only God Was Above Us

Vampire Weekend at 3Arena. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

18. Conchur White - Swirling Violets

19. Gemma Hayes - Blind Faith

20. Villagers - That Golden Time

21. The Cure - Songs Of A Lost World

22. James Vincent McMorrow - Wide Open Heroes

23. The Smile - Wall of Eyes

24. The Libertines - All Quiet On The Eastern Esplanade

The Libertines at 3Olympia Theatre. Copyright Jason Doherty.

25. Childish Gambino - Atavista

26. Rejjie Snow - Peace 2 Da World

27. The Coronas - Thoughts And Observations

28. a lazarus soul - No Flowers Grow In Cement Gardens

29. Niamh Regan - Come As You Are

30. Meryl Streek - Songs For The Deceased

Meryl Streek. Copyright Miguel Ruiz.

31. Taylor Swift - Tortured Poets Department

32. Kacey Musgraves - Deeper Well: Deeper Into The Well

33. Susan O’Neill - Now In A Minute

34. Lyra - Lyra

35. Aurora - What Happened To The Heart

36. Curtisy – What Was The Question

Curtisy at Workman's Main Room. Copyright Maya Solanki.

37. The Marias - Submarine

38. Amyl and The Sniffers - Cartoon Darkness

39. DIIV - Frog In Boiling Water

40. Waxahatchee- Tigers Blood

41. Rachel Chinouriri - What A Devastating Turn Of Events

42. Lizzy McAlpine - Older

43. Ride - Interplay

44. Jack White - No Name

Jack White

45. Fabiana Palladino - Fabiana Palladino

46. Bleachers – Bleachers

47. Fred Again- Ten Days

48. Gracie Abrams - The Secret Of Us

49. NewDad- Madra

50. Pillow Queens - Name Your Sorrow

Pillow Queens at Iveagh Gardens. Copyright Jason Doherty.