The Frames

Members

• Colm Mac Con Iomaire
• Glen Hansard

Studio Albums

1. 1991 Another Love Song
2. 1995 Fitzcarraldo
3. 1995 Fitzcarraldo
4. 1996 Fitzcarraldo
5. 1999 Dance the Devil
6. 2001 For the Birds
7. 2004 Burn the Maps
8. 2006 The Cost
9. 2015 Longitude

Source: MusicBrainz

Deep Dive

Overview

The Frames are an Irish rock band formed in Dublin in 1990, led by founding member Glen Hansard. Over three decades, they have remained central to the Dublin rock music scene, blending indie rock with folk and alternative sensibilities. The band’s longevity and consistent creative output—six studio albums spanning from 1991 to 2015—places them among Ireland’s most durable independent acts, one that prioritized artistic integrity over commercial acceleration.

Formation Story

The Frames emerged from Dublin in 1990, founded by Glen Hansard during a period when Ireland’s capital was developing a distinctive independent rock culture. Hansard assembled the band with Colm Mac Con Iomaire, who remains an original member through to the present day. The partnership between Hansard and Mac Con Iomaire formed the creative core around which the band would build its identity. This foundational lineup would prove remarkably stable, establishing a creative continuity that shaped the band’s musical evolution across two decades.

Breakthrough Moment

The Frames’ initial breakthrough came with their debut album, Another Love Song, released in 1991. This record introduced their brand of indie rock with folk inflections to Dublin audiences and helped establish the band as serious songwriters within the emerging Irish independent music scene. The early 1990s were formative years; by 1995, they had released Fitzcarraldo, an album that expanded their sonic palette and marked a consolidation of their artistic direction. The mid-1990s saw the band gain traction beyond Dublin’s immediate circles, though steady rather than explosive growth characterized their trajectory.

Peak Era

The band’s most creatively vital period arrived in the early 2000s. Dance the Devil (1999) signaled a maturation of their songwriting craft, while For the Birds (2001) and especially Burn the Maps (2004) represented the apex of their creative ambition and critical recognition. During this span, The Frames consolidated their reputation as thoughtful, uncompromising indie-rock craftspeople. The Cost, released in 2006, maintained that standard and cemented their place as a mainstay of the Dublin rock landscape. This era demonstrated that the band could sustain artistic relevance without chasing trends or commercial pressures.

Musical Style

The Frames’ sound combines the emotional expressiveness of folk music with the sonic textures and rhythmic energy of indie rock. Hansard’s vocal delivery—direct and often intimate—sits at the center of their arrangements, while Mac Con Iomaire’s contributions as a musician and arranger add harmonic sophistication and textural depth. The band favors organic instrumentation—guitar, bass, drums, and often strings or keyboards—rather than electronic effects, grounding their work in a tangible, human-scaled aesthetic. Over their career, the band gradually evolved from straightforward indie rock toward a more expansive approach that incorporated folk-derived melodies and arrangements. This stylistic trajectory reflected both the members’ growing confidence as musicians and a broader shift in alternative rock toward genre-blending in the 2000s.

Major Albums

Another Love Song (1991)

The Frames’ debut introduced their founding sound: indie rock with melodic sensibility and emotional directness, establishing the template that would define their subsequent work.

Fitzcarraldo (1995)

A key early statement that expanded the band’s sonic range and demonstrated their capacity to grow beyond their debut, solidifying their standing in the Dublin music scene.

Dance the Devil (1999)

An album that showed the band maturing as songwriters and musicians, moving toward greater emotional and musical complexity while maintaining their indie-rock foundation.

Burn the Maps (2004)

Often considered the band’s most fully realized effort, combining sophisticated songwriting, careful production, and the full expressive range of the band’s instrumental capabilities.

The Cost (2006)

A continuation of the creative trajectory established by Burn the Maps, demonstrating the band’s sustained ability to craft compelling indie-rock songs with folk sensibilities.

Longitude (2015)

Released after a lengthy gap, this album proved the band’s staying power and willingness to revisit and refresh their sound nearly 25 years into their career.

Signature Songs

• “Fake Plastic Trees” — A centerpiece of their live repertoire, showcasing Hansard’s emotional vocal delivery and the band’s knack for turning introspection into compelling indie-rock arrangements.
• “Benefit of the Doubt” — Demonstrates the band’s ability to construct emotionally resonant songs with strong melodic hooks grounded in folk-derived sensibilities.
• “Evil” — One of their most memorable tracks, capturing the band’s capacity to blend intensity with vulnerability.
• “Going Slow” — A track that exemplifies the band’s approach to pacing and emotional build, characteristic of their approach to song structure.

Influence on Rock

The Frames contributed to a broader movement in Irish and European indie rock that valued artistic independence and emotional authenticity over commercial calculation. As consistent practitioners of thoughtfully crafted indie-folk-rock throughout the 1990s and 2000s, they helped establish a model for sustainable artistic careers outside the mainstream. Their influence radiates primarily through Dublin’s music community, where they remain respected figures whose career longevity and creative consistency provide a template for younger bands. The band’s emphasis on organic instrumentation and emotionally direct songwriting aligned with broader indie-rock trends toward acoustic elements and vulnerability, even as they maintained the energy and structure of rock music.

Legacy

The Frames’ legacy rests on their sustained commitment to independent artistry across more than three decades. Without pursuing major-label acceleration or commercial compromise, they built a catalog of six studio albums that reflect genuine artistic growth and consistency. Their resilience through multiple eras of rock music—from 1990s Britpop adjacent alternatives through 2000s indie-folk currents and beyond—underscores their ability to remain creatively vital without reinventing themselves for trend cycles. Hansard’s international profile grew through other projects, yet the band maintained its Dublin-centered identity, becoming an institution within the Irish capital’s music ecology. The 2015 release of Longitude after a nine-year gap demonstrated continued artistic intent, affirming that The Frames remained an active concern rather than a legacy act resting on past achievements.

Fun Facts

• Colm Mac Con Iomaire has remained a continuous member since the band’s 1990 founding, making him the longest-serving member alongside Hansard and anchoring the band’s creative continuity.
• The band’s official website, theframes.ie, has served as their primary direct connection to fans throughout their career, reflecting their independent approach to artist-audience communication.
• The gap between The Cost (2006) and Longitude (2015) represents the longest recording hiatus of the band’s career, followed by a renewed commitment to active touring and creative work.