A lot has happened to Damien Rice since he released O, his debut album. His music appeared on the ""Closer"" soundtrack, he dated RenAce Zellweger and he embraced his popular success. Rice seemed to disappear after his whirlwind in the spotlight, but now he is back to where he belongs with 9, his stunning, long-awaited comeback.
For those who have seen him play live, a different Rice emerges, one that stays in a similar vein to the folk-rock sound on his debut album, but incorporates an amazing experimental, wicked edge. On 9, Rice is still a folk musician, but he adds more musical depth, and his inherently edgy nature surfaces on a few tracks, illustrating his musical dynamism. Overall, the album does not stray too far from O—it builds upon what he has previously created.
The record opens with ""9 Crimes,"" with Rice's voice accompanied by the expressive vocals of Lisa Hannigan. Throughout the album, Hannigan has a greater presence than on O, and her vocals add another dimension to the music here and complement Rice's voice.
Additionally, his use of piano is more present on 9, as is the cello, violin and viola. His lush and elaborate instrumentation comes through in ""The Animals Are Gone,"" which is reminiscent of ""Aimee"" and shows that Rice is not afraid to be vibrant and play on a variety of emotions.
""Elephant"" is beautifully orchestrated, incorporating Hannigan's vocals as well as a plethora of instruments, including layers of strings and electric guitar. The instruments used in the track show how deep his sound is, and that he can create immense layers based on a simple melody.
Rice's experimental side creeps into the mix in ""Rootless Tree"" and ""Me, My Yoke and I."" In ""Rootless Tree,"" Rice starts the track with acoustic guitar and soft drum, but he slowly builds up intensity until his explosive energy comes through. ""Me, My Yoke and I"" is surprising: Rice starts with a simple, distorted guitar riff and slowly builds up to a loud, explosive climax that is the opposite of the beginning of the record. His experimental songs offer a glimpse into the mind of Rice and how far his reach is in terms of music, as well as the multitude of emotions he experiences throughout the creation of an album.
As the album closes, Rice pours on his passionate energy in two slow, moving songs. His voice sounds majestic and he perfectly combines it with minimal instruments in ""Accidental Babies"" and ""Sleep Don't Weep,"" both of which bring the album full circle, with Rice maintaining his fragile energy and contemplative lyrics.
It is no wonder why Rice has taken such a long time to release his sophomore record: It is packed with emotion and driven by passionate and insightful instrumentation and lyrics, which are most likely an expression of what he experienced from his two years behind the scenes. It is almost like Rice has nine lives, since he can endure so much and come back on top again with an incredibly solid, expressive and dynamic record.
