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10.0
143878
10.0 |
The Irish Times
Kneecap’s second record captures the glee and giddiness of their live performances
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9.0
144358
9.0 |
musicOMH
After their Glastonbury fracas and legal troubles, political friction provides the backbone to this dense, musically adventurous third album
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9.0
144462
9.0 |
NME
The Belfast rappers blast through all the noise with the energy of The Prodigy, Massive Attack and Burial on Dan Carey-produced second album to cement their place and reclaim their identity
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8.0
144517
8.0 |
Dork
Kneecap reassert themselves as a musical force to be reckoned with
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8.0
144535
8.0 |
Exclaim
The irony of Kneecap's urgent political potency is that FENIAN is fun as hell, with the group shout-rapping over bumping club beats, leading my colleague Sydney Brasil to point out that it sounds a bit like the Black Eyed Peas at points. Where is the love, indeed
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8.0
144577
8.0 |
The Guardian
With strong words for Keir Starmer, the Irish rave-rap trio remain unbowed by the controversy around them – and yet this is a more ruminative record than you might expect
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8.0
144599
8.0 |
Under The Radar
NEW
Kneecap double down on a lyrical outlook that sees no stove as being too hot to touch, and FENIAN brings the beats and delivery to pull their listeners closer
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8.0
144438
8.0 |
The Skinny
Kneecap return with super-producer Dan Carey in tow on new album FENIAN – a tetchy, raw and uncompromising record
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8.0
144439
8.0 |
The Arts Desk
Not once does Kneecap’s new album slip into vacuous, soulless nonsense and still has plenty to say even when it’s not tackling contentious issues
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8.0
144452
8.0 |
Record Collector
If all Kneecap offered was the spectacle of someone stirring shit up, like the Pistols, PE and early Manics in previous generations, they would still be worth having around. But Fenian offers far more. Their day has come
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8.0
144453
8.0 |
Mojo
They back that shrewdness with songs of depth and substance
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8.0
144454
8.0 |
Uncut
They're still loud and angry - exploring themes around national identity, solidarity and challenging political establishments - but there is greater musical depth and breadth. Print edition only
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8.0
144455
8.0 |
The Observer
Fresh off the back of a highly publicised legal battle, the outspoken hip-hop group return with a record that delivers on all fronts
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8.0
144458
8.0 |
All Music
For all the hype and controversy Kneecap has received, it feels like the group is simply getting back to basics and doing what they do best on Fenian, resulting in their most accomplished effort to date
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8.0
144459
8.0 |
Hot Press
An album that is sonically and thematically very similar to Fine Art, but with wider scope and more bite
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7.7
144476
7.7 |
Pitchfork
The Irish rap trio capitalizes on its notoriety with a savage second album that offers more sophisticated songcraft, a wider range of beats, and a sharpened political bent
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7.0
144477
7.0 |
Clash
Ultimately the best way to absorb Kneecap’s music is in a field, with thousands upon thousands of fans – and that’s exactly the place the Northern Irish group find themselves in. ‘Fine Art’ took them from the funny pages to the front pages. For all its flaws, ‘Fenian’ could be the point Kneecap truly crossover
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7.0
144472
7.0 |
Rolling Stone
After a year spent mired in political controversies, the Irish rap trio are back with more provocative, artistically daring music
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7.0
144473
7.0 |
The Line Of Best Fit
The shockingly personal look at every contour of this lofty title FENIAN – all the happiness, empowerment, community, successes, sacrifices, disenchantment, confliction, grief – makes for a far more interesting, humanising record. Kneecap’s fire understandably dimmed, but it never sizzled out
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5.3
144510
5.3 |
Spectrum Culture
The Irish hip-hop trio fall victim to the sophomore slump, but don't give up hope yet
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