This review discusses Damien Rice's debut album, O, noting its categorization within the often-overused 'folky singer-songwriter' genre. Despite this, the reviewer praises Rice's ability to elevate his work above the average with his strong songwriting and personality.
While acknowledging that the song 'Cold Water' might overemphasize a 'tortured troubadour' image, the review largely praises the album's gorgeous, understated quality. The intimacy of the songs is highlighted, along with the flat production style which enhances this effect.
The review specifically points to 'Canonball' and 'Amie' as examples of the album's drowsy, melancholic atmosphere, suggesting a late summer recording setting.
High on the list of Things Music Needs No More Of, just below chill-out compilations and anything endorsed by Simon Cowell, lurk folky singer-songwriters. On the surface, this self-produced debut by Dublin's Damien Rice is standard stuff - acoustic lamentations, swirling string arrangements - but, like Kathryn Williams, Rice's personality and deft songwriting hoist him above the mass of bedsit mumblers. Cold Water's wracked vocal overeggs the tortured troubadour pudding, but at its best, O is gorgeous and understated, never too introverted to include a lovely melody. The songs' intimacy is heightened by the flat production. Canonball and Amie perfectly fix a drowsy, end-of-the-season melancholy. Whatever the actual circumstances, O sounds as if it was recorded in the sweltering early hours at the end of summer.
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