♥ Forever and Always. ♥ x Thank you for your RRC's. Always Appreciated lots & lots! :)
♥ Forever and Always. ♥ x Thank you for your RRC's. Always Appreciated lots & lots! :)
Member since:24.02.2006
Reviews:136
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--- DAMIEN RICE 9 ---
Following the phenomenal success of his first album '0' in 2002, Damien Rice astounded us yet again in 2006 with his follow up album '9'. Having waited four years for this album to appear seemed like a lifetime and in a way I was in trepidation, fearing it couldn't possibly live up his breathtakingly beautiful album '0'.
Damien Rice is an Irish folk singer from County Kildare, Ireland. His poetical lyrics and troubadour style have earned him his own unique niche in the music world. After only one album he is already a force to be reckoned with, with his dedication and commitment to his music, he is considered a lyrical genius, and a poet of our time.-
--- 9 by Damien Rice--- I received 9 as a Birthday gift; it was all that I had been on about since I learned of its release. I already owned '0' and found each and every track truly stunning. There wasn't a weak track within the whole album and I found the beauty of the melodies and lyrics deeply profound. I didn't want '9' to fall short and I certainly didn't want to compare the two. I was hoping '9' would stand on its own as yet another unique and individual musical masterpiece from this great singer/songwriter. '9 Crimes' is 9 individual parts of a story each containing a crime against love. -
---9 Crimes by Damien Rice--- (contains explicit Lyrics throughout). The album opens with '9 Crimes'. It is a gentle, haunting, deeply moving song of infidelity. The track starts with
slow, quiet, mournful notes on the piano, accompanied by the ethereal voice of Lisa Hannigan singing softly with plaintive vocals. "Is that alright babe?"Rice comes in to join her, and his voice is barely audible with emotional breaks in it as he quietly asks. "Give my gun away when it is loaded, is that alright babe?" This is almost a round, as they ask each other the same question over and over, cutting in vocally one over the other. Rice's voice dueting perfectly with Lisa's as the vocals meld and intertwine with ease. As the emotion peaks in his vocals the beautiful strings of the cello steal slowly in, then build and swell, and cascade, as the song winds down to a whisper and fades out to the mournful minimalist notes of the piano with nothing resolved.-
---The Animals Were Gone--- This is a stunning song rich in metaphor. The 'animals' representing his happiness, and his other senses and feelings; 'the house is empty'. Meaning there is nothing inside him, he is an empty shell of a man. The track opens to the gentle, slow strumming of the guitar using minor chords to denote his melancholy. His voice is crushed, broken and as the gentleness gives way to the chorus and the warmth of the strings come in when he sings of seeing his love that has left him, in his dreams, his memory. The violins and cello swell to a wonderful cloak of warmth that wraps Rice's voice in pure beauty as the happy chorus tells that in dreams they are together. It is a simple and beautiful tune, with the great lines: "I love your depression and I love your double chin". "I love most everything that you bring to this offering"- The music increases in volume to a fantastic symphony of sound as the strings warp and clash and bring a brilliant magical quality to the closing of this song.-
---Elephant--- Elephant is such a private track. Rice is so introspective on this one, that as a listener you feel you are intruding upon a very painful moment that really shouldn't be shared. He is delicate and sad. The track is incredibly drawn out accompanied by his slow gentle guitar strumming. The vocals are hushed and broken with emotion. Originally entitled 'The Blowers Daughter -Part 11, he sings of being with someone else to try and get over his great love, and he asks "Do you still forget the breeze?" - Another line that is quite poignant is: "You can't paint an elephant... quite as good as she". His songs contain much metaphor and it isn't hard to figure out what it means. His vocals increase in strength towards the end and the drums come crashing in as Rice transcends into a little rock vocalisation which actually sounds pretty good, then it goes quiet again and the song closes. -
---Accidental Babies--- Well if there is one track that will stick in my mind forever, it is this one. Accompanied by gentle piano, 'Accidental babies' has to be one of the most breathtaking tracks ever. The poignancy in the track is heartbreaking and beautiful and the lyrics will rip your heart out. Every word is a study in heartbreak and every chord on the piano will fill you with emotion. Here Rice sings of comparison. He directs this at his lost love who had found another man. With questions you really shouldn't ask: "Does he drive you wild or just mildy free?" "Is he bold enough to take you on"?..."What about me"? And it is sung in the quietest, resigned tone, it's one last shot really and he is going for it. It is honest, raw, pure emotion and it is stunningly conveyed by Rice. "So feel free...Leave him for me!"? He is a broken man and his hurt and anguish is painfully clear in his voice. "Is he dark enough to see your light"? "Do you come together with him"?..."What about me"? "If not...What about me"? - This is a song that will stay with you, it is real and full of pain and overflowing with atmosphere which is bleak and totally haunting...
This is another album of rare beauty. It's overwhelming. To listen to this all the way through you will run the gamut of emotions from despair, to the depths of despair. I don't know of any other singer who evokes quite like this. Yet the mood is not depressing. It is uplifting, in a strange way; it draws the emotions out to an extent that you are filled with raw, honest feeling. The kind of emotions that we normally keep well hidden. His music heightens your senses. It makes your hairs stand on end. Each track from the 9 album is full of truth. Beautifully conveyed by Rice, with the added magnificance of the amazing cello and violin work. As ever, the angelic voice of Lisa Hannigan lends calm and complimenting vocals to the lonely, broken quality of the vocals of Rice.
It's not often we release our feelings and unless it is to poetry or song I think it is a very rare moment that we can experience this. I think Damien Rice proved this very fact in the film 'Closer' when people heard 'The Blowers Daughter'. It had a profound effect upon them. Well I have to say that I feel 'Accidental Babies' is a better song. This is another truly great album from Damien Rice, and if I have to wait another four years to hear an album as equal in brilliance to this; I can honestly say: "I don't mind the wait". -
Thank you for reading Electra 2008
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Four years is a dreadfully long time to wait for an album from anyone, let alone a man ... more
renowned for his fierce independence, who could no doubt make an acoustic guitar weep merely by stepping into an adjoining room. But finally, the long-awaited follow...
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