2007-01-06
Fortunately, I had the chance to discover Damien Rice's music long before it became the soundtrack of countless radio stations. But still, it was the moment I saw the movie "Closer", the movie that throughout "the blower's daughter" got famous for, that I really felt the essence of the song was really brought out to daylight. And from that moment on, a lot like the vibe I got from that wonderful movie, a magical bittersweet love fills my relationship with Rice's music.
Now, after 4 years of expectation, the new album simply titled "9" is released. Like Rice himself, it is shrouded in humbleness, the artwork is a beautiful minimalist painting, so as the feather musical blanket that Rice slips into; Acoustic guitars, cello, drums to decorate what is already beautiful and Lisa Hannigan's voice to make it all better, man she can make your hurt tremble.
The opening track "9 crimes" sets off with a piano melody drowning in Lisa's velvet voice, for me she can easily compete with Martha Wainwright's version to Leonard Cohen's "Tower of song", in both cases, it's all about the sentiment, and Lisa got waterfalls of it. After the first chorus Damien joins her, as they dance slowly together into the emotional concept of the album, both pondering out loud
"is that alright, to give my gun away when it's loaded?" and summon the question and the song, saying
"No".
"Elephant" was previously called "The blowers daughter part 2", and rightfully was. In oppose to the song everyone dedicated to their girlfriends at the time serenading
"I can’t take my mind off of you", this one carries a post-love theme on it, with phrases such as
"but you can't paint an elephant, as quite as good as she", or
"if you're already gone, why am I clinging?" and that voice… it shivers down my spine all over again.
"Rootless tree" is the obvious single, sails to a more stormy side of Rice's feelings, with the raging course:
"fuck you, and all we've been through,
I said leave it, it's nothing to you, and if you hate me,
then hate me so good that you can let me out".
Though I'm sure the "F word" will be replaced for the radio edit, I personally think that changing this word will make the song lose from its raw anger, which we can all identify with, from his heart to our ears.
Another lovely track is "Dogs"; the ballade for the girl who does yoga, with a great feeling of pure childish love. "Accidental babies" which holds a reference to his previous album's ("O") opening track "Delicate", takes us to the point of view of a guy, who's loved one is off with another man, leaving him aching and wondering for her (
"is he dark enough, enough to see your light?") and the all so Leonard Cohen phrase
"I held you like a lover, happy hands, your elbow in the appropriate place". The track sealing the album "Sleep don't weep" is slow, emotional and brings an end to this emotional rollercoaster which is "9", and sends us off with the lines
"don't weep my sweet love, my face is all wet, 'cause my days were rough". Now we are all left in our bed waiting for the rain drops to knock on our windows.
Damien Rice's "9" is a collection of 10 beautiful songs. There is no doubt, that in our days, when singer songwriters can be found everywhere, and are multiplying in even greater rate Damien Rice is an elation. The name Leonard Cohen was mentioned a few times regarding Damien, and when names as big as Cohen are related to your music you can be sure that you are doing something right. Rice and Lisa's vocals are a combination for every bleeding heart and their songs are the kind words we all need to hear. Rice is probably the greatest thing that happened in the singer songwriter department in this decade. Let's just hope that he will stay away from the Mississippi river so we could enjoy him for years to come.
Roy Povarchik
