Review 1 of 4

SubversiveReaction writes:

5of 5 Stars

Masterpiece. Like 0, this album is raw. It's not that the songs themselves are necessarily amazing. It's his performance, which borders on shamanism. I never thought I would say the most emotional singer songwriter since Tori Amos is a guy, but it is, and it's this guy. We're talking seriously bipolar. As in "Astral Weeks" or "The Final Cut." This guy really opens a vein, not many are willing to except maybe Arcade Fire or Five For Fighting. Forget reverb, overdubs, effects. I first heard him on "The Blower's Daughter" and was a bit shocked at the way the music died and the singing continued. Then there's "Cold Water," "Eskimo," the louder songs. He could have called this "Let It Bleed" because that's what it seems like. An exorcism or sorts. Ignore the critics. This guy is for real, and I'm excited to see what he's going to do next. Off himself onstage? Screw his piano? Only time will tell?

Aug 1, 2007 22:08:50

Review 2 of 4

MattHannah writes:

5of 5 Stars

Glad to see Rolling Stone is keeping up with the best reviewer in
the game. This review is idiosyncratic and spot-on, as always.
Hope to see more Christgau than usual in future issues.

Nov 24, 2006 15:36:02

Review 3 of 4

Audreyyorke writes:

4of 5 Stars

I completely agree with the previous rating of this heartbreaking and heartbroken new Damien Rice album. With the exception of tracks "rootless tree" and "me, my yoke and i", which I find too abrasive, all the other songs are mesmerizing and raw. Damien Rice is genius at combining clear, starkling melodies and emotionally acute lyrics that go deeper into the human heart than most artists. The songs are haunting and powerful and I find the new album more mature and more dense than the first one, which was a stunner. I give it four stars because I'm hoping Damien Rice will only get better with time and that his 5-star masterpiece is still to come.

Nov 16, 2006 11:36:45

Review 4 of 4

bcant writes:

5of 5 Stars

Speaking as a loyal, passionate fan of O, I did not take to 9 at first. The two albums are quite distinct to the honed ear of a Rice fan. While O crashes with crescendos, weaves weeping strings and prays with the chants of Gregorian monks, 9 is largely more uniform--more acoustic. And though at first listen this more simple acoustic sound seems to offer less, 9 not only lives up to O, but often surpasses it in intimacy and depth; if O is deep, 9 is gut-wrenching--the bottom of the well.
At the same time, though, this description is not adequate because it characterizes 9 inaccurately as a pity-party. Rather, 9 is at times a love song (Sleep Don't Weep), often a fit of rage (Rootless Tree), and most prominently a glance at the past with eyes for both nostalgia and pain (Accidental Babies, Elephant, 9 Crimes). 9 is all at once intimate and quiet, loud and bold--Damien is at his most raw here in both his confident vocals and universally identifiable lyrics.

Nov 14, 2006 23:00:36