Review: Fontaines D.C. - Starburster
Haunting Atmosphere and Introspection
Fontaines D.C. explodes back onto the scene with "Starburster," a mesmerizing blend of introspective angst, pulsating rhythms, and sonic experimentation. The track expertly builds an uneasy atmosphere with its opening blend of haunting strings, sparse piano, and Grian Chatten's reflective, almost drawling vocals. The lingering reverb on "baaaad" casts an immediate spell, foreshadowing the lyrical and musical turmoil to come.
Trip-Hop Rhythms and Raw Energy
As trip-hop beats rise, "Starburster" transitions into a captivating headbanger. The rhythm section, boosted by a clear, powerful bass tone, forms the song's driving force. Chatten shifts his delivery into a near-rap, spitting out lyrics with urgency and bite. This rhythmic switch is a hallmark of the band's maturing sound – showcasing both their unrelenting energy and their willingness to explore new textures.
Grunge, Experimentation, and Emotion
The refrain is pure brilliance. Chatten's grungy exhales on "blissness" and the layered "it may feel bad" highlight a compelling duality: raw emotion and nuanced vocal effects intertwine. It's here that Fontaines D.C.'s experimentation shines; they expand their sound without compromising its emotional gut-punch.
A Testament to Evolution
"Starburster" masterfully balances introspection and aggression, with clever sonic surprises along the way. This single paints a promising picture of the upcoming album "Romance": the band is embracing sonic risk-taking and refining their intensity into a complex and engaging musical experience. As a standalone release, "Starburster" is an exciting reaffirmation of Fontaines D.C.'s evolution and a testament to their status as one of the most compelling bands in contemporary rock.
Listen to Fontaines D.C Starburster
Fontaines D.C Starburster Lyrics Meaning
The meaning of Fontaines D.C. can be found in the lyrics, where the band dissects the complexities of modern life with a raw, poetic intensity. Their songs pulsate with restless energy, exploring themes of longing, alienation, and the desire for connection in a world that often feels fractured and chaotic. The band's willingness to confront both the darkness and the fleeting glimpses of beauty within the human experience is what makes their music resonate so deeply.
Intro
The repeated "It may feel bad" sets a tone of uncertainty, a possible warning that the pursuit of this unknown desire might bring discomfort or even pain.
Verse 1
A whirlwind of conflicting desires surfaces. There's violence ("I wanna sharp the stone"), hedonism ("I wanna bounce the bone"), and even a touch of the absurd with religious imagery and A-class drug references. This section ends with an intense hunger for isolation ("alone, alone, alone-lone").
Refrain
This is where the central conflict manifests. The speaker will disrupt anything ("hit your business") that stands in the way of "momentary blissness." There's a hint of self-destructiveness, a willingness to sabotage even fleeting happiness.
Verse 2
The desire for external validation appears ("I wanna talk with a gag...strike with the SAG"). There's a desperate longing to leave a lasting mark ("make the mark...live the arc"). The speaker's "God-given insanity" fuels this pursuit, followed by a series of visceral images and questions that highlight the intensity of the inner struggle.
Instrumental Break
This instrumental pause could offer a moment of reflection, a quiet space in the chaos of desire.
Interlude
This section introduces vulnerability and longing. The speaker asks for suffering, light, and offers a sense of wonder. There's imagery of family ("sloping family") and following in the footsteps of someone/something else, suggesting a desire for something unattained.
Final Refrain
The same refrain with its threat of disruption reinforces the speaker's obsessive determination, despite potential negative consequences.
Fontaines DC Starburster Meaning
"Starburster" depicts a chaotic inner struggle with unquenchable desires. The speaker craves intensity, meaning, and perhaps even transformation at any cost. There's violence, longing, self-sabotage, and a relentless search for a fulfillment that remains undefined. The religious undertones and animalistic imagery further emphasize the raw conflict between seeking and self-destruction.
Fontaines D.C Starburster Lyrics
[Intro]
It may feel bad
It may feel bad
It may feel bad
[Verse 1]
I wanna see you alone, I wanna sharp the stone
I wanna bounce the bone, I wanna mess with it
I wanna lay the deville, the whole crew on the sill
I want the preacher and pill, I wanna bless with it
I wanna head to a mass and get cast in it
That shit's funnier than any A-class, in' it?
I wanna talk with the clown who has apologies down
Pay him 300 pound to take a class in it
I wanna bite the phone, I wanna bleed the tone
I wanna see you alone, alone, alone-lone
I wanna strait the shark and find me somewhere to park
Like the light when it's dark, it's dark, it's dark-dark
A few stars about make it feel like peace in a way
A complimentary round
Constellation got a twist in it
For a GPO and all the hits in it
[Refrain]
I'm gon' hit your business if it's momentary blissness
I'm gon' hit your business if it's momentary blissness
I'm gon' hit your business if it's momentary blissness
I'm gon' hit your business if it's momentary—
(It may feel bad)
[Verse 2]
I wanna talk with a gag if it's a bottle or bag
I wanna strike with the SAG, I need the friends from it
I want a shot in the dark, I wanna make the mark
I want to live the arc, I call the ends on it
I wanna take the truth without a lens on it
My God given insanity, it depends on it
How I feel? How I feel? How I feel? I wanna keel
Over harder than a turned up challenger
I wanna keep all of your charm in a canister
Do you inspire like the same did Salinger?
I'm the pig on the Chinese calendar
I got a shadow like a .58 Caliber
I wanna move like a new Salamander
I love the carrion who's a real Scavenger
It's moral tyranny keeping me from thee
[Instrumental Break]
[Interlude]
Hit me for the day
For the light
That you suffered
To come by
Take to my sky
Never wanting
Only wonder
To live out of reach
Sloping family
Short to tall
One to three
Swallow the key
In their footprints
I will follow
[Refrain]
I'm gon' hit your business if it's momentary blissness
I'm gon' hit your business if it's momentary blissness
I'm gon' hit your business if it's momentary blissness
I'm gon' hit your business if it's momentary blissness