O
by Damien Rice
So, I heard a few tracks off of O (thanks, Brina). I liked them so well that I actually went out and bought the album that night. When, I got home, I excitedly fed the cd to my stereo and curled up under a blanket to listen. It’s been awhile since I found a cd that deserved the full absorption of a movie.
I wasn’t disappointed. O offers unusual sounds without being offensive. The first track, “Delicate”, sparked my interest, and the duet “Volcano” (featuring a talented Lisa Hannigan) blew me away. The songs are alternative rock-ish with strange, Celtic harmonies and some jazzy percussion. I’ve never heard strings sound so sexy.
I was so impressed that I wondered if O was a 5 star album--the kind of cd you listen to all the way through every time, instead of skipping to a handful of tracks. Then I ran into tracks 9 (I Remember) and 10 (Eskimo). I burst out laughing when an opera singer belted, “I look to my Eskimo friend.” Luckily, track 10 lasts 16 minutes and includes 2 hidden songs, which almost redeem 9 and 10. Almost.
O came out in 2003 as Rice’s debut album, and, overall, it really is fantastic. But it struggles a bit between 2 directions: poppy and daringly edgy. I recommend you find the album today and judge for yourself. Just keep your thumb near the volume control, cause several tracks feature violent (and perhaps unjustified) leaps in volume.
In short:
You’ll love (most) of it.
Best track:
Worst tracks:
Track you may have heard:
Song material:
Unrequited love, with a cynical twist of angst
Bonuses:
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Colorful album art
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Not 1, but 2 hidden tracks
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Great variety
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Melodies linger in head
Minuses:
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Rice likes to surprise you by whispering in the microphone and then screaming
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Mixed a bit poorly—some abrupt weak transitions between songs
4 out of 5
Reviewed by Laurel
More music? Try a cup of tea.
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