Damien Rice

Ireland's Damien Rice's quiet debut was the kind of surprise worldwide smash that would cause most artists to try too hard the next time out. Thankfully, Rice is confident enough to just get on with things. His relaxed, off-the-cuff style makes his spare, emotionally violent odes all the more powerful as they float out on subtle or startlingly ornate orchestrations. Just listen to the achingly beautiful "The Animals Were Gone" and discover how success doesn't have to go to your head. Cliches be damned; success seems to have made Rice a deeper artist.

The tortured melancholy bit -- part of it, anyway -- takes a back seat on the follow-up to
this Irish bard's well-loved 2003 debut. Not that Rice is cracking any jokes, except for the
one about sitting on a chimney. But after pulling out three of the love laments whose
loveliness lifted him from the singer-songwriter morass last time, he does let himself get
actively angry and sweetly lyrical on four tracks that culminate in a galvanizing i... More >

The tortured melancholy bit takes a back seat on the tardy follow-up to this Irish bard's well-loved 2003 debut--on part of it, anyway. Not that Rice is cracking any jokes, except for the mean one about sitting on a chimney. But after unveiling three more of the love laments whose loveliness lifted him from the singer-songwriter morass last time--the opener, "Crimes," is unforgettable--he gets actively angry and sweetly lyrical on four tracks that culminate in a galvanizing imitation of Polly Jean Harvey's galvanizing imitation of testosterone-fueled desperation. Then comes the accurately entitled "Grey Room" and the weepies get him. You're an eloquent fellow, Damien. There's sinew and backbone in your voice. So just tuck your heart back under your lapel and the acutely entitled "Accidental Babies" might actually win her back--properly framed, that "Do you brush your teeth before you kiss?" could be a pretty affecting line. In fact, it almost is anyway. (Grade - ***)