DAMIEN RICE

9

2006-11-27

Folkie Damien Rice is back with his signature blunt, often raw lyrics on his sophomore release, 9. His sharp tongue saves the down-tempo offerings of love and desperation from bordering on the cliché as he wonders aloud about the new life of a former lover on the track Accidental Babies and plays true confession with the first single, 9 Crimes. These elements lend a voyeuristic feel to an album that may or may not be autobiographical. In fact, 9 can be summarized as an extension of the debut “O” until you realize the familiar sound of the bitter lyrics found in Rootless Tree and Me, My Yoke and I are full-blown rock songs. Rice strikes a delicate balance between two and sometimes three genres on 9. The one exception is track five, Dogs. For some reason lyrics about yoga girls and dogs seem too simple and thoughtless on an otherwise emotion-laden and masterful album. Co-vocalist Lisa Hannigan returns to open and close the album. – Sarah Minnick

More reviews tagged #Folk

  • reviewed 07/2016

    Dolly Shine
    Walkabout

  • reviewed 05/2009

    WAYNE “THE TRAIN” HANCOCK
    Viper of Melody

  • reviewed 04/2009

    LEONARD COHEN
    Selections From Live In London

  • reviewed 10/2009

    HOPE SANDOVAL & THE WARM INVENTIONS
    Through the Devil Softly

  • reviewed 01/2011

    ABIGAIL WASHBURN
    City of Refuge

  • reviewed 05/2011

    DAVID OLNEY
    Film Noir

Compiled by the WYCE Journalism Club

The opinions expressed in these reviews are those of the individual volunteers that submitted the article and do not necessarily reflect the views of WYCE or GRCMC; nor its staff, donors, or affiliates.