Damien Rice

[IndependentClauses]

I've heard varying things. Some people love him to death, and others say that he's just okay, and others think that he has the entire western world tricked into liking the same thing over and over and over again.

I like his stuff a lot. It's not the best in the world, but it's sad and pretty and good to chill to. Opinions?

[JW]

I started listening to him about a month ago and I'm hooked. 9 Crimes is probably one of my favorite songs of the year.

[IndependentClauses]

yeah, that's one of the songs I've heard a lot this year. So sad sounding, though.

[blaksun]

i haven't heard 9 crimes yet, but o is fucken amazing.

it's such nice, soft music. n_n

[The Emperor Of Ice Cream]

The quality of the music is pretty consistently strong, but his voice drives me up a a wall. I can't listen to it for very long, because it sounds to me like he's constantly whining.

[The Emperor Of Ice Cream]

P.S. I know I'm a month late on this, but it's true. His voice really annoys me.

[tobohobo]

I think O is a great album. I still have yet to hear 9. I have heard many negative things about it, though. Most of them coming from Pitchfork, who really bashed him.

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/39752/Damien_Rice_9

[blaksun]

pitchfork is dumb and aren't to be trusted or listened to.

[Cartoon9]

i agree

[IndependentClauses]

Despite the stuff they bash, the stuff they praise is usually very praiseworthy.

[dk again]

I have never heard any of these bands its nice to come to a place and be turned on to new music <HEART>

[IndependentClauses]

well, Damien Rice is a good place to start. For sure.

[The Emperor Of Ice Cream]

Hmmm... typically I'd agree on most music issues with you, IC, but da'gum, I can't here. Damien reminds me too much of the dark side of Scott Stapp -- read: whiny, emo, and only decent music.

If you have no choice, then sure, he's okay. I just don't think I could give a vote of confidence and buy his album. So as not to be a complete downer, if you like that type of vocals, take a look at Over The Rhine. They're actually fronted by a female vocalist, and sound great :-)

Or if you're just looking for something to chill to, try Sufjan Stevens or Jose Gonzalez. Good stuff.

[IndependentClauses]

others think that he has the entire western world tricked into liking the same thing over and over and over again.


I'm tellin' ya, everyone's got an opinion on Damien Rice.

And yes, Jose Gonzalez is great, but if you've never heard any indie at all, Jose and even Sufjan are difficult places to start. Sufjan a little easier than Jose, but seriously....I worked my way up to indieness. I didn't just jump in head first.

[The Emperor Of Ice Cream]

Having reviewed what I wrote, I'm realizing how scatterbrained I was at the moment. My apologies. Over The Rhine is not an acoustic band -- they are, at heart, a folk-rock band. They're relatively easy to listen to, but they aren't acoustic. Of course, neither is Sufjan -- so, I apologize for going off topic there.

As far as "jumping right into indie-ness" is concerned, I believe that everyone is different there. If you're used to a pop-culture type of sound, then adjusting to indie music is going to take some time. I tend to forget that, since I did go straight to an eclectic taste (the rhythms and harmonies, in addition to the instrumental richness, drew me into it).

That being said, Damien is a good start to the indie feel. I am trying to not be so negative... I promise...

[IndependentClauses]

hey, no worries. I'm not out to witch-hunt here.

And I think Over the Rhine fits fine in this forum.

Yeah, some people do jump straight into being indie....I was definitely not one of them I came straight out of the most mainstream scenes you can imagine: Contemporary Christian Music (CCM) and pop-punk.

It's a wonder I still had ears when I left. Not that I don't still retain some of my earliest loves from those years (Relient K and Audio Adrenaline's "Underdog", especially). But the majority of that stuff is so recycled....geez.

[Patmurphy]

very nice

[bigmark35]

I love him. I think his music is so good. One of the girls I intern with at umgd said he was so good live. I hope I get to see him live.

[priji]

I agree, I like his stuff a lot. It's not the best in the world, but it's sad and pretty and good to chill to.