Search - Damien Rice :: B-Sides

If Only there were more artists like Damien...

TruthGraceGroove | Los Angeles | 01/10/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I find myself looking for other albums that make me feel the way I do when I listen to Damien Rice. To me, he's the complete package: great lyrics, hard-won musical chops, and restrained production. The first three songs on B sides are great examples of his work -- they fit right in with "O", which is on near-constant rotation both at home and in my car, and which I often give as a gift to close friends. "Moody Monday" is less typical - it has a more produced, trip hop vibe, minimal lyrics, and Damien singing in a fairly whiny style that doesn't exactly beg for the "repeat" function on your stereo. I also barely listen to the rest of the tracks - between "O" and the Live Album, I already have two versions of "Delicate.: (Though it is nice to hear him introduce the song in his Irish accent. Makes me long to return to Dublin.) It's interesting to hear the original demo of Volcano, to hear how far he's come, but the recording itself is low-quality and incomplete, included more for fan interest than as a real alternative to the fantastic versions of the song on "O" and the live album.



Bottom line: this CD is worth it for the first three songs alone. They're a full-strength dose of artistic honesty, integrity, and experimentation."