Irish LPs celebrating 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 years in 2025

It's something of a tradition at this stage; RTÉ 2fm’s Dan Hegarty looks at some of the Irish albums that will be turning five to 40 years old in 2025...

Denise Chaila - Go Bravely (2020)

Denis Chaila’s debut mixtape was just what music fans needed during those bizarre months of 2020. Some music can become a soundtrack to a particular time, and these songs certainly provided this for many in the year of its release. Featuring the tracks C.H.A.I.L.A, Ri-Ra, and Anseo, it would go on to win Irish Album of the Year 2020 at the RTÉ Choice Music Prize.

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Whipping Boy - Heartworm (1995)

Albums are often measured by sales and streams, but this only tells you part of their story. When you look at the influence that Whipping Boy’s second album Heartworm has had, it solidifies its status as one of the most important Irish albums of the 1990s. Quite simply, it is a masterclass in sound, from singles like Twinkle to album tracks like The Honeymoon Is Over.

Roisin Murphy - Hairless Toys (2015)

By the time Hairless Toys arrived in 2015, it had been eight years since the previous Roisin Murphy album Overpowered. As comebacks go, Hairless Toys is the kind of artistic statement that most musicians would dream about being able to make. It balances style, personality and honesty in a measure that you don’t encounter very often.

Power Of Dreams - Immigrants, Emigrants & Me (1990)

Plagued with the tag of ‘next big thing’, what commentators should have been paying more attention to was the pedigree that Power Of Dreams displayed on their debut album. Stay, 100 Ways To Kill A Love and Never Been To Texas were three of the singles from an album that still has an incredible intensity and energy 35 years on.

Microdisney - The Clock Comes Down The Stairs (1985)

Touted by many as the finest Irish album of all time, there is much about The Clock Comes Down The Stairs to suggest that these claims are true. Often perceived as underdogs, Microdisney brought us songs on this album that are every bit as accomplished as anything that The Go-Betweens or The Blue Nile released during their respective careers.

Bitch Falcon - Staring At Clocks (2020)

If the world events of 2020 hadn’t happened, the story of Bitch Falcon might have been different. The brilliant noise of Turned To Gold and brooding angst of Damp Breath deserved to be heard by a much larger audience. By the time day-to-day life returned to some form of normality, the band were long gone. Vocalist Lizzie Fitzpatrick would go on to make music under the name Coolgirl, and as part of the band Dose.

Gavin Friday - Shag Tobacco (1995)

Shag Tobacco is the sound of the meeting of separate times and different worlds. It takes the influences of Edith Piaf and Jacques Brel and collides them with elegant industrial beats reminiscent of Massive Attack and Tricky. His interpretation of Marc Bolan’s The Slider is sublime, as are the tracks Dolls and Angel.

Fight Like Apes - Fight Like Apes (2015)

Looking back, it seems like Fight Like Apes released their first two albums within nanoseconds of each other. 2015 saw the release of their often overlooked third album. Less heralded doesn’t mean a drop in quality; FLA’s ability to combine piercing pop tunes with some well-placed humour had not deserted them here.

Lir - Nest (1995)

Lir are a band whose talent far outreaches the levels of their success. Somewhere amid mammoth tours of North America, the Dublin band found time to record their second album, Nest. They make the task of balancing the balladry of Skywalker and Wickerman with the big riffs of Railroad and Temple Child sound altogether easy.

Julie Feeney - 13 Songs (2005)

There have been many winners of Irish Album of the Year at the RTÉ Choice Music Prize, but only one can lay claim to being the first. Individual is a word that is often misused, but it fits perfectly in the case of Julie Feeney’s debut. As the title suggests, its 13 songs are filled with imagination and personality.

Jyellowl - 2020 DIVision (2020)

Here is another album that was released in the middle of the global fog of 2020; 2020 DIVision served as much needed distraction to the realities of the day. Much like debuts from Republic Of Loose and Jafaris before him, it captures the energy and urgency of one of the most exciting emerging artists of the time.

Sinéad O'Connor - I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got (1990)

There were few bigger artists and albums than Sinéad O’Connor and I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got in 1990. The release of the single Nothing Compares 2 U catapulted her career into another dimension. There is so much more to this album than one worldwide hit; The Emperor’s New Clothes and Jump In The River are exceptional pop songs with a twist, while I am Stretched on Your Grave has beautifully sparse vocals alongside a hip-hop backdrop.

Soak - Before We Forgot How To Dream (2015)

This album would go on to win Soak an RTÉ Choice Music Prize, a Music Moves Europe award and a Mercury Music Prize nomination. If that’s not enough to excite you, one listen from start to finish certainly should. Reckless Behaviour is a beautiful piece of youthful expression, while 24 Windowed House and the singles Blud and Sea Creatures seem to have grown more potent as the years pass.

The Chalets - Check In (2005)

The most disappointing thing about The Chalets’ career is that they didn’t get the release more material. Quirky is a word that always comes up when describing this band, but they had a lot more in their artistic arsenal than that. Three Chord Song, No Style, and Theme From Chalets are three of the standouts on the album. It would have been fascinating to see where they could have travelled to next.

Hinterland - Kissing The Roof Of Heaven (1990)

What does an underexposed classic album sound like? Some might point you in the direction of Hinterland’s only studio album, Kissing The Roof Of Heaven. Released in 1990, it brings together a folk undertone with a wonderful otherworldly sound. There’s something undeniably Irish about the album; the songs Galway Bay and Dark Hill have brought a bang of yearning for home for the Irish living abroad when listening to this album in years past. In the years after the band split up, guitarist Gerry Leonard would go on to work with David Bowie and Suzanne Vega.

And So I Watch You From Afar - Heirs (2015)

Here is a band that has released more great music than most people realise. By the time that ASIWYFA got to their fourth album Heirs, they had clocked up some serious mileage touring just about anywhere you could imagine. Tracks like A Beacon, A Compass, An Anchor and Wasps help make Heirs an intensely beautiful listening experience.

No Sweat - No Sweat (1990)

If this album had been released two years earlier, it probably would have brought No Sweat the worldwide audience that they deserved. The singles Heart & Soul and Tear Down The Walls have all the components that the big songs of the day have - listen to them here. The problem was the seeds of what we would refer to as Grunge had been planted; soon bands like Nirvana, Alice In Chains, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden were to explode internationally, and bring people’s attention to a different sound in rock music.

Pillow Queens - In Waiting (2020)

Released during those pandemic months that we would like to forget, there’s nothing forgettable about Pillow Queens' debut album - like other bands, they would have to wait to tour. Tracks such as Donaghmede and Gay Girls still rank as some of their finest creations, and as debut albums go, it’s one of the best from the year 2020.

U2 - All That You Can't Leave Behind (2000)

It’s hard to think of All That You Can’t Leave Behind as an album that’s 25 years old this year. For a band to release one of their defining albums at this stage of their career was (and is) an incredible achievement. Winning multiple Grammys and spawning the Elevation tour, it would go one to be one of the band’s most successful albums.

The Stunning - Paradise In The Picturehouse (1990)

The Stunning’s Paradise In The Picturehouse holds the distinction of having at least two tracks that have become part of the Irish cultural fabric: Half Past Two and Brewing Up A Storm turn up on polls and playlists with alarming regularity. It’s not all about those two songs; the album has so much diversity, from singalong favourite Romeo’s On Fire to beautiful ballads like Town For Sale.

Young Wonder - Birth (2015)

Far too few people know about this duo and their only album to date. Alt-pop is how it has often been described, but that does not really encompass what vocalist Rachel Koeman and producer Ian Ring created. There is a beautiful sense of space throughout. Tracks like Moonlight, To You and Intergalactic are some of the finest moments, but there are plenty of others.

Pugwash - Jollity (2005)

Released in 2005, Jollity is the album that gave us one of Pugwash’s best loved songs: It’s Nice To Be Nice took to the airwaves and placed a smile on the face of many who had the good fortune to hear it. Of the album’s other tracks, A Rose In A Garden Of Weeds and Something New stand out, but in truth there is nothing close to an average song on this classic.

Engine Alley - Shot In The Light (1995)

Following on from their brilliant debut album A Sonic Holiday, the Kilkenny band’s second album has a more pensive sound to it. The opening track Machine still sounds as enthralling as it did 30 years ago, as do the singles I Can’t Help You and Innocent. It’s on streaming platforms but has yet to appear on vinyl; 2025 could be the year!

God Is An Astronaut - Age Of The Fifth Sun (2010)

Releasing five albums over eight years is a huge achievement. Age Of The Fifth Sun is album number five from God Is An Astronaut, and it continued the sonic course that the Wicklow act had been plotting since forming in the early 2000s. Opening with the mammoth Worlds In Collision, it features the excellent tracks Golden Sky, Parallel Highway and single In The Distance Fading.

Blue In Heaven - All The God's Men (1985)

The first thing that might strike you if you were to listen to All The God’s Men is how current it sounds 40 years on from its release. Perhaps it’s that things have come back around to that sound, but the fact that the songs sound so well alongside tracks of today tells not just the quality of the songwriting, but to the recording of the album itself - listen to it here.

Two Door Cinema Club - Tourist History (2010)

Tourist History was one of the biggest albums from an artist from the island of Ireland in 2010. The subsequent tour culminated in a main stage appearance at Glastonbury. To witness the crowd reaction to songs like This Is The Life and Something Good Can Work was something to behold.

Cane 141 - Moon Pool (2005)

A true forgotten treasure in every sense of the words. The Galway band always managed to maintain a sense of mystery around them. Shortlisted for Irish Album of the Year at the first RTÉ Choice Music Prize, it’s a near-flawless record. In the pre-streaming age, the single The Hot Is Too Hot should have been all over alternative music TV and radio at the time.

JJ72 - JJ72 (2000)

JJ72’s eponymous debut album saw them become the first relatively new Irish band to make an international breakthrough in what felt like an exceptionally long time. With the kind of primal angst and emotion of early Smashing Pumpkins, tracks like Long Way South, Snow, and October Swimmer broke out into a much greater expanse. They followed this record with I To Sky, which albeit a very fine album, did not have the same impact.

The Blades - The Last Man In Europe (1985)

A lot of the time when you read about The Blades, you will hear about how things should have been. What you hear less about is how strong this album is. For a time during those pre-streaming years of the 1990s and early 2000s, this album was largely lost to those who weren’t there during the time of its release. With the combination of the band reforming and streaming, tracks like Downmarket, Got Soul and That’s Not Love have been embraced by younger generations.

First Class & Coach - The Truth About Honey (2020)

This album is so good it was released twice! You can often tell which albums have had a load of money invested in them. However, there are those that you can be completely wrong about; The Truth About Honey would be one of those. Sounding like a relative of PJ Harvey’s To Bring You My Love and The Strokes Is This It?, it’s a searing alt-rock beauty. Detroit is one of the standout moments, as are 2014 and Lullabye.

An Emotional Fish - An Emotional Fish (1990)

Few Irish debut albums have been more anticipated than An Emotional Fish’s first offering. The band had become renowned for their captivating live shows, and this energy certainly transferred to the studio for this album. You could point to Celebrate as a key track, but there were plenty of other highlights like Change, Julian and the beautiful Blue.

Ann Scott - Flo (2010)

After releasing an excellent debut album (Poor Horse in 2003) and a suitably impressive follow up (We’re Smiling in 2006), you would have been justified to have high hopes for Ann Scott’s third. Flo is an album that would surpass the loftiest of expectations. Her progress as a songwriter and vocalist is evident throughout this fine outing.

Jacknife Lee - The Jacknife Lee (2020)

Outside of his hectic producing schedule, Garett ‘Jacknife’ Lee put together this superb album. Collaborating with vocalists like Beth Ditto, Earl St. Clair, and Open Mike Eagle, Lee brought us a true montage of sounds. The Jacknife Lee works well to listen to as both a start-to-finish album, or as randomly selected tracks (which streaming has made all-too easy).

Bell X1 - Flock (2005)

Here’s another third album that really hit all the notes that you could have hoped for. The singles Flame, Rocky Took A Lover and Bad Skin Day all should have gone global, and the rest of the album doesn’t strike anything close to a missed beat. It saw the band reach new heights of popularity, and they’ve continued to make fine albums ever since.

Fontaines D.C. - A Hero's Death (2020)

Some artists seem to defy time and find a space to write and record an album in the middle of a hectic touring schedule. In Fontaines D.C’s case, A Hero's Death is a very different album to their debut, but it managed to connect with their existing audience, while drawing them an even bigger fanbase - one which continues to expand to this day.

Villagers - Becoming A Jackal (2010)

After leaving his longtime band The Immediate, Conor O’Brien went on to join Cathy Davey’s band, before forming Villagers. Becoming A Jackal landed in 2010; the album would be nominated for the Mercury Music Prize and RTÉ Choice Music Prize. The following year, Conor received an Ivor Novello award for Becoming A Jackal.

A House - I Want Too Much (1990)

A House are one of the true treasures of Irish music. While a lot of focus often goes towards the band’s most successful album, I Am The Greatest, you’d be unwise to discount this, their second. Packed with wit (The Patron Saint Of Mediocrity is one of the greatest song titles) and charm, the single I Think I’m Going Mad remains one of their greatest moments.

Cathy Davey - The Nameless (2010)

The Nameless is another album that would be fantastic to see on vinyl one day, and seeing that 2025 is its 15th anniversary, why not now? It’s an record that has a wonderfully soulful sound from it; with its upbeat tempo and elegant vocals, Army Of Tears is a film sync agent’s dream. From start to finish, it's a beautifully crafted album.

Damien Dempsey - Shots (2005)

The catalogue of music that Damo Dempsey has brought us is quite staggering. He’s grown from a young singer that you couldn’t wait to see what he does next, to an artist that continuously inspires the younger generations. Shots was a steady step on from his previous album Seize The Day (2003), illustrating his growth as a songwriter. The pinnacle of this at this point in his career were the tracks Patience and Not On Your Own Tonight.

Aoife Nessa Frances - Land Of No Junction (2020)

Similarly to Go Bravely by Denise Chaila, Aoife Nessa Frances’ album Land Of No Junction arrived during the pandemic year of 2020. There are certain artists that have such distinctive vocals that’s in near-to-impossible to confuse them with anyone else. Combined with the strength of the songs on this album, Aoife’s vocals are as distinctive as they are engaging.

The Redneck Manifesto - Friendship (2010)

How many albums can you think of that open with a better track than Black Apple? From the funky meanderings of Hex to the frenetic pace of Rubber Up, if you were to listen to Friendship without any prior knowledge, you might struggle to place a date as to when it was made. The best way to sum up this album is by saying that it’s a total joy to listen to.

David Holmes - Bow Down To The Exit Sign (2000)

By the time David Holmes arrived at making Bow Down To The Exit Sign, he was in the process of becoming one of the globe’s most sought-after composers of film scores. Arriving in June of 2000, Bow Down To The Exit Sign certainly has some cinematic moments, but it also has the kind of edge that Holmes had illustrated on his previous two solo albums. Guest vocalists on the album include Martina Topley-Bird, Primal Scream’s Bobby Gillespie and Jon Spencer.

Dan Hegarty hosts The Alternative on RTÉ 2FM, Mon-Thu @ 11 pm - listen back here.

Irish LPs celebrating 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 years in 2025

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