Fine Art (Kneecap album)

Fine Art is the second studio album by Irish Hip-hop trio Kneecap, released on 14 June 2024 through Heavenly Recordings.^[3] It is produced by Toddla T and includes guest appearances by Radie Peat, Grian Chatten, Nino, and Jelani Blackman. The album received positive reviews from critics and debuted at number two in Ireland.^[4]

Fine Art received a score of 79 out of 100 on review aggregator Metacritic based on eight critics' reviews, which the website categorised as "generally favourable" reception.^[5] Mojo opined that "the wild times end on a poignant, giddy high with 'Parful' – a house-y banger raving about everyday hedonism transcending sectarian violence – an irresistible distillation of Kneecap's peacetime party music".^[9] Uncut called it "overly indebted to its inspirations – among them Ghetts, Stormzy and the Streets – it may be, but the stroppy 'I Bhfiacha Linne' and 'Rhino Ket', a moody techno/dancehall hybrid, are hard to deny".^[12]

DIY's Lisa Wright described the album as "in its own warped way, as its title suggests: a fully-immersive, conceptual production that, much like their recent Sundance award-winning biopic, is far, far too clever to just be the work of three miscreants".^[7] Chris Sneddon of The Skinny found that it "has its ups and downs, it can be deep, it can be controversial, but in the long run, it's a good laugh and a thumping good time" as well as "a banging collision of rap and rave music".^[2]

Notes

• On physical editions, the interludes do not include "Interlude" in the title and are listed as unnumbered tracks.
• "3CAG" contains a sample of "Caravan" by Joe O'Donnell.
• "I bhFiacha Linne" contains a sample of "Cübik" by 808 State.
• "Harrow Road" contains elements from "Creeper" by Nick Detnon.
• "Parful" contains excerpts from the film Dancing on Narrow Ground written and directed by Des Bell.
• A demo of "Glue Man" was included as a bonus track on digital downloads of the album during its first week of release.^[23]

Kneecap

• Móglaí Bap – vocals
• Mo Chara – vocals
• DJ Próvaí – vocals

Additional contributors

• Toddla T – production, mixing
• James Eager – engineering
• Tom Coll – drums ("I'm Flush", "Better Way to Live")
• Adrian McLeod – synthesizer, keyboards ("I'm Flush", "Way Too Much"); piano ("Better Way to Live", "Way Too Much"), synth bass, synth pad ("Better Way to Live"), bass ("Way Too Much")
• Grian Chatten – vocals ("Better Way to Live")
• Andy Nicholson – bass ("Better Way to Live")
• Steven Loughrin – flute ("Drug Dealin Pagans")
• Manchán Magan – guest vocals ("Drug Dealin Pagans")
• Lisa Canny – choir ("Way Too Much")
• Saara Kaldma – choir ("Way Too Much")
• Gertrud Aasaroht – choir ("Way Too Much")
• Tony McHugh – choir ("Way Too Much")
• Colin Andrews – choir ("Way Too Much")
• Aoife O'Dea – choir ("Way Too Much")