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Album Details

• Artist: Damien Rice
• Album: O
• Label: Vector
• Year of Release: 2003
• ME Rating:
• Reviewed by: dscanland on 2003-07-26

I really haven't been as dumbfounded by an album in a long time but that quickly changed the first time I heard O, the debut album from the soft spoken Irishman, Damien Rice. O is one of the most personal and heart wrenching albums to come out in a long, long time. It's not surprising that Damien has a lot in common with David Gray, at one time, an underexposed artist who just couldn't seem to get any recognition. I predict that O should follow the same path as White Ladder did for David Gray. When a singer is as talented and honest as Damien Rice people will end up relating to it and following him around. Rice got his start with a band called Juniper who had a short-lived contract with Polygram. With the decimation of the band, Damien travelled around Europe busking and figuring out what really meant the most to him. Producer David Arnold caught wind of David and offered the use of his London-based studio but Rice was more akin to using his bedroom. He did use the studio time for production of the final product which really makes a big difference. The songs are up close and personal with the arrangements being superbly unique. The package is super clean and professional too with a book style binding with some of his artwork spattered throughout. This is up for the top 10 of the year list.

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