Damien Rice

The haunting musical stylings of singer/songwriter Damien Rice creep into your psyche and stay there. Rice, a 31-year-old Irishman, has earned praise from the likes of Julia Roberts, Renee Zellweger and David Letterman. Although I firmly believe he stands alone, he has been compared to David Gray, Neil Young, Radiohead and Jeff Buckley. Despite widespread praise and stellar reviews, I am continually amazed that Rice is not a household name.

Rice’s insightful and poetic lyrics are perfectly matched with his strikingly eerie, yet beautiful, voice. He is backed by a band of five, the most notable of which is Lisa Hannigan, who is featured vocally in a number of songs.

His first album, “O,” was released in Ireland in 2002 and went platinum. It debuted in the U.S. in June 2003. Perhaps the most well-known song off the album is “The Blower’s Daughter,” which served as the title track of 2004’s “Closer,” starring Natalie Portman, Jude Law and Julia Roberts. Since the movie, there has been a surge in Rice’s popularity, but it has not been as dramatic as his acclaim would indicate he deserves.

Judging from recent interviews, Rice seems quite content with remaining somewhat lesser-known in the states. The self-proclaimed “troubled anti-celebrity” has said in interviews that he could do without the fame or the money, because they make him “out of touch with his friends.” He claims that he would be better served performing behind a mask so that he could get his music out there for people to identify with without making him into an idol.

His album “O” is groundbreaking. From the soulful and understated opening track “Delicate,” to the lyrically beautiful “The Blower’s Daughter,” to the troubling and brilliantly arranged “Eskimo,” “O” never disappoints and every track is a winner. The album defines melancholy and takes the listener on an emotional journey that seems to touch the core of human emotion in its purest state.

Rice’s lyrics reminisce on past loves and failures over an eloquent guitar, cello and bass arrangement that sounds, at times, like a full orchestra. His music is as intuitive as it is desperate, as romantic as it is vengeful, as lovely as it is haunting, and as understated as it is memorable. All in all, the listener is left needing more of the emotional high Rice provides.

Though currently at work on his second album, there is not yet a scheduled release date, but there is speculation that it will arrive in early summer of this year.

If you want to hear what Damien Rice has to offer I suggest downloading “The Blower’s Daughter,” “Cannonball” or “Amie,” or better yet, go get yourself a copy of “O.”