Albums of the Year 2024: Kneecap - Fine Art

In many ways, 2024 has been a stellar year for New Music. There have certainly been plenty of albums released that could easily have gained “year’s best” status in recent times and would have buried those that actually did receive those plaudits.

Veteran artists like the Very Things, Peter Perrett and Les Amazones d’Afrique all put out career highlights. As did plenty of bands who finally found their feet after making initial tentative steps, such as Aussie pub rockers Amyl and the Sniffers, political punk-rappers Bob Vylan and French-Moroccan psychedelicists Bab L’Bluz. However, the record that dominated my listening in 2024 was Belfast hip-hoppers Kneecap’s debut long-player, Fine Art.

Having already released a handful of fine singles, like “H.O.O.D.”, “Get Your Brits Out” and “Gael-Gigolos” – none of which appeared on the album – Fine Art put Kneecap in front of plenty of people who’d not heard of them previously. Their old school rave, sleazy funk and lively dubstep sounds, accompanied by twisted Irish and English language rapping was the real deal. The 808 State-sampling “Ibh Fiacha Linne”, the punk-hop “I’m Flush” and the blistering “Parful” came on like Check Your Head-era Beastie Boys might have sounded if they’d been brought up in Northern Ireland instead of New York and were more than enough to justify the media attention that they got in spades.

I wasn’t one of those lucky enough to see Kneecap on stage in 2024, but I did see plenty of great performances, including shows by Amyl and the Sniffers, Frank Carter and the Sex Pistols and some epic drum and bass from Dillinja at the Stowaway Festival. The most exhilarating gig of my year, however, came when Bob Vylan visited to Birmingham in November. Digging deep into their Humble as the Sun album, the Bobs totally blew the roof off the O2 Institute in a show that exploded into total mosh pit mayhem, with crowd surfing from both band and audience. No wonder they proclaimed themselves “the most important band in Great Britain”. If they can keep this up, they might just prove themselves to be right on that one.

The tune that took up residence on my stereo for great swathes of the year, however, was the Lambrini Girls’ “God’s Country”. A snarling two-and-a-half-minute riot grrrl-flavoured takedown of the Monarchy, Flag Shaggers and Gammons everywhere. It certainly hit the spot and suggested that Phoebe Lunny and Lily Macieira’s forthcoming debut album will be something special.

Three More Essential Albums of 2024:

The Very Things GXL – Mr Arc-Eye

Bab L’Bluz – Swaken

Amyl & the Sniffers – Cartoon Darkness

Musical Experience of the Year:

Bob Vylan, O2 Institute, Birmingham

Track of the Year:

Lambrini Girls – God’s Country

• More New Music reviews on theartsdesk