The Frames/The Swell Season

As huge in their native Ireland as they are ripe for widespread discovery in the States, alt-rockers the Frames make music marked by fire-and-ice dynamics that swing from intimate whispers to roaring proclamations at the stroke of a power chord. On tunes like "Fake," frontman Glen Hansard's fierce delivery and soul-baring lyrics offer up a picture of pure rock dedication, while lovely live tunes, like a medley of "Lay Me Down/Ring of Fire," reveal why the Frames are renowned for their unforgettable concerts.

Head into Next Steps for a bigger picture of the Frames.

Compare the raw rock "Monument", from the Frames' 1996 sophomore album, Fitzcarraldo, to the downy rhythms and lilting harmonies of the gorgeous "Lay Me Down," and you might not believe it's the same band. But whether the Frames are layering heavy electric melancholy into a track like "The Cost" or leading legions of fans in a live, Lollapalooza sing-along on "People Get Ready," Glen Hansard and company pack a devastating punch with intimacy and truth. Deep is second nature for the Frames — find out more in Deep Cuts.

Deep is second nature for the Frames — find out more in Deep Cuts.

Glen Hansard does Justin on a scorching acoustic cover of the Timberlake rebuker "Cry Me a River," then goes from the work of a pop superstar to an indie fave as the Frames make a laid-back beauty out of alt-country bard Will Oldham's "New Partner." Throw in a from-the-heart take on "40" by their countrymen U2, and you have to ask, Who do The Frames do the best? The answer's gotta be the Frames, of course, as they cast a spell with a live version of their miniature epic "Santa Maria."

Glen Hansard was all of 13 when he decided to leave school and become a busker on the streets of his native Dublin, and music's been his life ever since. As frontman of the Frames, he's guided the band through more than a decade of stops and starts, and shifts in personnel, delivering songs that swerve from subtle to stormy while still staying true to his intimate impulses. The result is not only beauties like the shimmering "Falling Slowly," and all-out rockers like "Pavement Tune," but also an army of loyal followers in their home country, and a growing legion of fans abroad. Whether you're already devoted or just finding your way into the Frames, our playlist takes you from sonic snapshots to the band's bigger picture.