O

Average Rating:	(See all 7 reviews)
Label:	Vector Recordings
Quantity Available:	31

• Personnel: Damien Rice (vocals, guitar, clarinet, piano, bass, drums, percussion); Lisa Hannigan (vocals); Nicolas Dodd (conductor); Mark Kelly (electric guitar); Vivienne Long (cello); Jen Meunier (piano); Shane Fitzsimons (bass); Tomo (drums, percussion); Conor Donovan (timpani, percussion).
  
• This release includes a bonus DVD featuring video performances of "Cannonball," "The Blower's Daughter," and "Volcano."
  
• Personnel: Damien Rice (vocals, guitar, clarinet, piano, bass, drums, percussion); Lisa Hannigan (vocals); Nicolas Dodd (conductor); Mark Kelly (electric guitar); Vivienne Long (cello); Jen Meunier (piano); Shane Fitzsimons (bass); Tomo (drums, percussion); Conor Donovan (timpani, percussion).
  
• Composer: Damien Rice.
  
• The beginning of the 21st century found the UK offering a host of new Nick Drakes like Ed Harcourt, Badly Drawn Boy, Tom McRae, etc. On the surface, Damien Rice is not too far removed from them with his intense vocal style, confessional songs, and sparse, acoustic guitar-based arrangements. Upon closer inspection of his debut album O, however, he seems to be more aligned with the likes of David Gray; that's not to say that he mixes folk and electronica, but just that he incorporates old-school singer-songwriter influences in the service of something original. There's a hushed, intimate feel to O, and most of the songs are delivered in a delicate, fragile tone that's perfectly accompanied by the bare-bones production. Tasteful strings and other touches are added here and there, but strictly on an as-needed basis. The closer "Eskimo" erupts into a (literally) operatic climax, and there's a bonus cut touching on an anomalous rock feel, but otherwise this is prime late-night music for your next Leonard Cohen costume party.
  
• The beginning of the 21st century found the UK offering a host of new Nick Drakes like Ed Harcourt, Badly Drawn Boy, Tom McRae, etc. On the surface, Damien Rice is not too far removed from them with his intense vocal style, confessional songs, and sparse, acoustic guitar-based arrangements. Upon closer inspection of his debut album O, however, he seems to be more aligned with the likes of David Gray; that's not to say that he mixes folk and electronica, but just that he incorporates old-school singer-songwriter influences in the service of something original. There's a hushed, intimate feel to O, and most of the songs are delivered in a delicate, fragile tone that's perfectly accompanied by the bare-bones production. Tasteful strings and other touches are added here and there, but strictly on an as-needed basis. The closer "Eskimo" erupts into a (literally) operatic climax, and there's a bonus cut touching on an anomalous rock feel, but otherwise this is prime late-night music for your next Leonard Cohen costume party.
  

Rolling Stone (12/25/03, p.110) - Included in Rolling Stone's "50 Best Albums of 2003" - "...Delicate at times and then explosive, O is one of the most gorgeous first albums in recent memory..."

Entertainment Weekly (12/26/03-1/2/04, p.142) - Ranked #11 in Entertainment Weekly's 2003 "Records of the Year"

Entertainment Weekly (07/18/03, p.76) - "...On his evocative debut, O, the Irish singer-songwriter shift from opera-infused ballads to delicate folk compositions with aplomb..." - Rating: A

Entertainment Weekly (12/26/03-1/2/04, p.142) - Ranked #11 in Entertainment Weekly's 2003 "Records of the Year"

Entertainment Weekly (07/18/03, p.76) - "...On his evocative debut, O, the Irish singer-songwriter shift from opera-infused ballads to delicate folk compositions with aplomb..." - Rating: A

Mojo (Publisher) (01/01/04, p.57) - Ranked #31 in Mojo's "The Best of 2003"

Mojo (Publisher) (10/03, p.107) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...Rice establishes an extraordinary intimacy here....This is gorgeous stuff and, one suspects, that the Irishman can only get better..."

Mojo (Publisher) (01/01/04, p.57) - Ranked #31 in Mojo's "The Best of 2003"

Mojo (Publisher) (10/03, p.107) - 4 stars out of 5 - "...Rice establishes an extraordinary intimacy here....This is gorgeous stuff and, one suspects, that the Irishman can only get better..."

Format:	CD (1 Disc); Stereo
Country:	USA
Quantity Available:	31
UPC:	093624850724
Studio/Live:	Studio
Release Date:	10 June 2003