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 MinnickJOAN OSBORNE
Breakfast in Bed
BOOKA AND THE FLAMING GECKOS
The Not So Meaningful Songs in the Life of Jeremy Fink
BOCA CHICA
Transform Into Beasts
BLITZEN TRAPPER
Furr
Bruce Robinson
- The New World
Song of the Lakes
Poets Say
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.