I am not a suicidal person. Never really occurred to me before.

Listening to "9" is an experience for me. I can't just listen to one track. There's a journey for me from start to finish.

From the first time I got home with "9" (I was studying in abroad when "O" was released and got it there, hadn't heard anything about 9 until I saw it in a store later) I was crushed by its power. Yes the lyrics are simple and often repetitive during a song, but combined with the music, they are powerful.

I've never though about suicide before, but somehow "9 Crimes" is erie enough to make me want to sit at my kitchen table with a handgun, my best bottle of whiskey and a glass, wearing an undershirt and hiding my head in the shadows. And then the misery passes and "The Animals Were Gone" and it's the recovery from the misery, a chance for something.

I've listened to this album in the dark with the whiskey and I've listened to it on an ipod riding through the midwest after an ice storm watching the dead ground as I was mesmerized by the torture of the music. The natural world, in my living room or the barren fields is emphasized by "Elephant" with it's chilling opening of "this has got to die."

The opening of the album crescendos to the cathartic "Rootless Tree", which may be the most poignant break up song of all time, before the salvation of "Dogs."

Although the album weakens some in the last half, it is still a terrific feat in my opinion.

If you ever needed a voice in the back of your head, buy this and listen to it enough...then it will be there.

I'm just as happy with this CD as I am with his first one. I play both
of them all of the time. It's very easy and enjoyable to sing along with it.

I adored O. Absolutely adored it. Beautiful, sweeping melodies that brought me to my knees they were so amazing.

This release is insanely disappointing. He's trying to reach the same emotional heights he did during O but he's trying too hard. Simply singing softly and strumming the guitar don't make the emotions real. These songs lack the depth and brutal honesty of O's songs. And, worse yet, he doesn't venture out into new territory to at least give him high marks for trying something a bit different.

What's aboslutely maddening about this album, too, is that you have to be sure that when you listen to it, you are able to be w/in reach of the volume button at all times. The album goes from a maddening "was that silence or was there a soft voice there" to "CAN YOU TURN THAT DOWN, I'M GOING DEAF" in the span of about 20 seconds.

And what is EVEN MORE ANNOYING is all that hidden space/hidden track at the end. For the love of God, can artists QUIT DOING THIS????? It's got to be the most annoying aspect of CDs.

Hugely, hugely disappointing release. He's become a very bad cover version of himself.

Damien Rice is, in my humble opinion, the greatest musical artist of our generation. That opinion was formulated after experiencing the brilliance that was his debut album `O'. When `9' was released I rushed to purchase it and listened to it probably three or four times straight through that same day. My opinion has not changed, but I will say that to anyone who swears by `O' as much as I do `9' can come off as a bit of a disappointment. This is hard for me to admit since Rice truly is an inspiration to me and is someone I consider not just a musician, not even just an `artist' but I truly feel he is one of music's only geniuses. His music is inventive, exciting, well thought out and creative and transcends the boundaries of primitive musicianship and conveys feelings and emotions that most artists can seem to comprehend. I was really expecting `9' to take what he delivered in `O' and blow it out of the water. Instead it hands us a group of tracks that are impressive, I won't deny that, but that can't seem to rise above the brilliance that was its predecessor.

You wouldn't guess that right off the bat though. `9' opens with the powerfully haunting `9 Crimes', a song about infidelity and the disturbing realizations it casts upon the couple in question. Set to a tragically delicate piano riff and featuring the beautiful addition of Lisa Hannigan, `9 Crimes' proves to be one of Damien's most beautiful and all around powerful tracks ever recorded. Not a bad way to begin. In fact there are a few tracks here that compare to the weight of `O', I just wish they all did. `Rootless Tree' is another flawless track (although live he played this on the piano and it was even better). The song is a bitter breakup song that, rumor has it, he wrote about ex-girlfriend Renee Zellweger.

`The Animals Were Gone' as well as `Grey Room' and the closing `Sleep Don't Weep' all sound like tracks that could have been on `O' arrangement wise at least. They are your basic acoustic Rice and they work very well. `Grey Room' is probably my favorite of the three. It's a very well done track. `The Animals Were Gone' has such a beautifully orchestrated climax that I wish he had used that throughout the song, but overall I really can't complain. It's classic Rice. `Sleep Don't Weep' is the perfect way to close out this album. It's beautiful, haunting and memorable. It reminds the listener why Damien Rice is so special and compels them to listen to the album once again.

The album though is not without its faults, and that's where it differs from `O', an album I consider to be arguably perfect in every facet. `Elephant' is my first complaint. I enjoy the song but it's no `Blowers Daughter' and the fact that it tries to be (the more sexually charged version albeit) upsets me. It's set to the same chord structure, same vocal patterns, which in it of itself is not a horrible concept, but in order for that to pay off the song should be better than the original, and `Elephant' isn't even in the same league as `Blowers Daughter'. `Me, My Yoke, and I' is the worst track here. It's practically inaudible and he keeps repeating the same things over and over. I think the reviewer hit it on the head when he/she said that it sounds as though it was written on the spot. Sadly, that is the case. It's a song about self-pleasuring that fails to please anyone but Rice.

The final three songs, or the three that I have yet to mention, are not bad songs but I can't bring myself to say they are good either. Both `Dogs' and `Coconut Skins' are fun, I will admit that, but they add nothing new to the man we know as Damien. When you listen to the magnificence that is `9 Crimes' or `Sleep Don't Weep' you become almost embarrassed for tracks like `Dogs'. Damien said that `Dogs' was his happy song amidst a slew of depressing ones but personally I prefer him depressed (ouch). `Accidental Babies' is one I'm on the fence with. Overall it is a beautiful song, one that is touching and emotional and it works, I just wish it had a little more range. It's the same repeated piano chords and the same vocal patterns and it just feels like one long verse, even when the chorus rolls in.

`9' is no `O' that is for certain, but what also is for certain is that Damien Rice is one of music's finest artists, no, what did I say earlier...geniuses, and I truly mean that. Sure, he hit somewhat of a sophomore slump, but really, how do you follow up the brilliance that was `O'? If only the release dates on these albums had been swapped, then it would see right. Even with its faults the album still rises above most of what's released these days. I'm confident that his third full-length album will be a major improvement and until that day comes I sit and I wait and I enjoy every second I can get with this man and his music.

I was singing Dogs in the shower the other day after watching an episode of Miami Ink. I'd always toyed with the idea of getting a tattoo, but I never honestly thought of anything to put on myself permanently.

Then it hit me: "the girl that does yoga".

A girl doing yoga, dressed all in white with angel wings, with a rootless tree (heh heh) with an orange hanging off it, and below it a banner saying "learn to let go".

Yes, I really love Damien enough to have a part of my body devoted to him.

The first I'd ever heard by him was 9 Crimes. It was Grey's Anatomy season 2, and I was in the deepest throes of obsession with the show. The song perfectly fit the scene, and it got to the point where I stopped paying attention to the show and got lost in the beauty of the music. At that instant, I knew I had to have the song. I looked it up online, downloaded it, and listened to nothing but 9 Crimes for an entire week.

During that time I bought both of his albums, and after 9 Crimes got old (well, not old, but I wanted to branch out), I listened to the rest. O was first; I sank into the utter beauty of classics like The Blower's Daughter, Delicate, Volcano, Cannonball, and above all, Amie.

9 came next.

At first I couldn't get nearly as much into the album as I could with O, but two songs still stood out in my mind: 9 Crimes and Rootless Tree. The latter grabbed my attention and still hasn't let go, nearly a year later. Rootless Tree remains one of the best songs I have ever heard; such despair, beauty, absolute craftsmanship in a field of music that has been overly stagnated by talentless artists.

ANYWAY. Yes. I really, really, REALLY love Rootless Tree.

Dogs remains my favorite right now; delicate, beautiful, quaint, and yet the flowering chorus section gets me every.single.time. The lyrics are amazing; they convey a story, yet manage to fit perfectly in with the rhythm and feel of the song. It's truly just a work of absolute beauty.

Elephant is... indescribable. I had a very long period of obsession with this song; I fell in love with its minimalist charm and blossoming into the somewhat disturbing yet incredibly beautiful climax. Adoration.

I've had my fair share of obsession with this album; almost every song has been a favorite at one point or another, and there are several that I'm sure will stick with me for years to come. Not just any artist is tattoo-worthy, but Damien Rice certainly is.

I loved his first cd, especially Volcano. The lady who does the backing vocal stole my heart. The strings are simple and powerful. This cd seems to follow on the same path. It reminds me of a secret treasure not many folks know about. I am not sure why this man is not a major star, perhaps marketing, perhaps timing. His voice and talent are hard to deny. I will listen and continue to be a fan. As for the lyrics advisory, don't sweat it. You hear worse on CNN.

worth getting it indeed but the best experience from this artist I believe are the live performances. So if its possible, go to one of his shows.

This album is nothing short of genius, and its even better than O. Listen carefully and play it the whole way through and you will realise that. Its more heart-felt, more intense, its stronger, its sexier, its angrier, its darker and its more varied. There are some tracks on O where I feel he drones on a bit. Not on 9. I am grabbed by virtually all of the songs. For me, the stand out tracks are Rootless Tree and Accidental Babies. I saw Damien Rice play most of this album live at Radio City in New York and he was simply unbelievable. If you get the chance, do not hesitate to see this man live. The emotion was pouring out of him. Go buy this album.

Damien has continued to keep me intrigued, with his intense singing and moving lyrics, I can't stop listening. This latest cd isnt as firey as the first, a bit sobering, but it still packs a punch. Especially like "The Animals were gone".

I don't envy Damien Rice having to follow his first CD and "Unplayed Piano." He's one of the best singer-songwriters to come out of this era--so far--and I'm looking forward to hearing a lot more from this poetic Irish bard.

But, there's still a lot to like about Damien Rice's second release. The title track "Nine Crimes" is probably my favorite of this collection, but I wouldn't skip any either. Even "Coconuts" which I felt was kind of off the cuff, is still good music.

Never heard of Damien Rice before, but I read an interesting review of "9" while waiting around in an airport, and decided to check it out. Great album. As good as the reviews here claim it to be.

Damien Rice came out a few years ago and blew everyone away. He has always been more popular in America than the UK for some reason. Damien Rice sort of started this thing that others like James Blunt and Keane have continued. I wasn't such a big fan before. I saw him play for a long time at the KCRW year-end show. I got to meet him too. But a new Damien Rice record seems like a breath of fresh air compared to the thought of another James Blunt offering. Damien Rice said that he wasn't going to tour this album, but he has already toured with Fiona Apple. I think he is playing a few more shows. "9 Crimes" is a wonderful opener. There are more strings on songs like "The Animals Were Gone." The song "Elephant" reminds me of stuff on the previous album. Over the years, Damien Rice has formed a band around him. Lisa Hannigan is very important to the sound of this record. The whole record sounds like a band effort and not just a solo artist. This is not really my thing, but it's pretty good anyway and despite of me.

How can Damien Rice have the audacity to present a show (and charge "fans" for it) without Lisa Hannigan on vocal and Vyvienne Long on cello? What an ego- / male-centric attitude! I just attended the Wash., DC DAR Constitution Hall show, and I want my money back. Furhter, I encourage anyone who has tickets to future shows to dump them now. He's missing the boat if he thinks his music is that good without them.

A wonderful album and worthy follow-up to "O". In some respects, better than "O" although a tad blunt at times in the lyrical department. The only true dud here is the lousy "Me, My Yoke, & I". The rest of it is great, in my opinion.

I loved "O" but "9" is a poor follow-up. Not one track lives up to the standard of his first album. Damien seems to have run out of melodies and the lyrics are often pretentious and immature. If you are discovering Damien Rice for the first time, I recommend starting elsewhere.

I stumbled upon Damien Rice's debut "O" after hearing the completely in your face "The Blower's Daughter," which was very effectively used in the Mike Nichols movie "Closer." It's one of those songs that you can't get out of your head. "O" also included the catchy "Volcano" but what made it earn 5 stars for me was the complete confidence in which Rice just lets his musings come out. None of the other songs were as catchy, but no less enjoyable as he commanded attention even when he was almost silent.

"9" starts off with the gorgeous "9 Crimes," which even more than "The Blower's Daughter" had the fortune of getting some serious airtime as it was prominently used in a November sweeps episode of "Grey's Anatomy." That song has an otherwordly feel that I don't remember feeling since hearing Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill" in the mid 1980's.

The rest of the release is by no means disappointing, but there has been such an influx of singer/songwriters in the past few years that it is difficult to stand out. Here Rice seems less concerned about letting you in on his thoughts as he did in "0", than in telling his tale and giving you the option of listening in if you want to. He does not project with the same force and it makes for a less showy record. To me that is not a bad thing as he could have easily made a sequel to "0", but here the stories are more dense, confusing, but ultimately quite universal.

If you liked "0" as a whole and not just the better know songs, it's a safe bet that you'll like "9." On the other hand if you don't like this type of confessional music, nothing here will change your mind about this artist.

No sophomore slump for Rice and here is to many more releases of this caliber. They can't all earn 5 stars, but there is a significant number of singer-songwriters who are proving that they too can hold their own in world where pre-packaged and overly produced releases seemed to be the only options in the horizon.

I have nothing as profound to say as other reviewers. But this CD is even better than "9"...Rootless Tree is phenomenal and Accidental Babies may well be one one of the most honest and devastating songs ever written, let alone the best Damien Rice song ever... As a fan of Leonard Cohen, Nick Drake and Steve Earle, I recommend this with "0" reservations...

I fully agree with amazon's review. He had so much things to say in his debut album, one of the most powerful album ever but 9 doesn't live up to that standard. May be my disappointment is because of my high expectations from him. Some of the tracks still conveys the rawness that was present in his first album but somewhere he slips. It seemed like he made it in a real haste although he had all his time. His debut album is the best album I have ever listened to but I sadly have to rate him 3 stars if I compare 9 with O.

I LOVE Damien Rice... Can u hear me?!! Can u hear me now? I LOVE U!!! I love this CD not as much as I love "O" but I like it... I can say that he did it again...

If you want only one Damien Rice CD, this shouldn't be it.

Damien has his heart broken yet again and in this latest installment his music is like whoa; I can actually feel your pain, ouch, musta been some girl. This album is like the perfect blend of piano, violin and belief.

At least a few of us carry broken hearts, some broken a little bit more often than others, some not at all or perhaps we've just gotten better at hiding it... perhaps not. Albeit it's good to know that Damien Rice is out there, sadder than us all.

May I suggest downloading 9 crimes and accidental babies.

Yeh I loved "O." But then the more I heard it, the less it stood up to the rest of the CDs on the rack at home - the careers

of people like Dylan, Cohen, Bowie, Bob Mould. Even artists with much fewer albums than these luminaries, such as Cat Powers

or Ani Di Franco, demonstrate far more ability as singer-songwriters, lyricists, players, and frankly, people to whom you can

say "Yeh you suffer but you also achieve and succeed, you help me through the tough times but you also help me into great

times, too."

So by the time "9" came out, I had already been cured of my initial reaction to Damien Rice. In fact, as I write this, I

can't recall much about a single song from "9" despite repeated listenings. It's that forgettable, formulaic, and

predictable.

Why is Damien so hurt he can't just sing, without this hurt scarred whisper and the sharp intake of breath as if he's just

burned his hand on a zippo? What's this idea that a whisper to shout is some new technique? It can really be ridden into

the ground like an old eastern European car, if it's not used carefully. Damien sure has burnt out the clutch on this one.

I read someone gabble on about the 20+ minute "opus" called 'Sleep don't weep.' Eh? Hang on a second, there, lads, the song

is only actually about five and a half minutes long. The other 15 minutes is mainly one note strung out. Here was I

expecting a hidden track or a real twenty minute masterpiece like something off a late Dylan album. Ha! What is this? Did

he get his neighbours' kids to run wet fingertips around a bunch of half-filled wine glasses? Please....

I like the melody of this album.. but the lyrics are really awful. I thought O was a great album, but this one is just not that good. Remember, this is just my opinion of his album. Some people may find his lyrics in his album powerful, but i didn't feel that way for most of the songs.

I have fallen in Love with Damian Rice's CD called 9 and have recorded it for many of my family members as gifts!

The album is made by songs beautifully linked together. Even if used to Damien Rice's exceptional voice and way of making music, it took me a while to really appreciate the beauty of some of the songs. 'Elephant' is a pearl and 'Accidental babies' is, for now, definitely one of the most poignant songs I ever heard. Pure poetry.

Damien let us wait a few years for his sophomore effort and followup to O and it is worth the wait. Mellow yet distorted this may seem uneven, but the CD actually flows like water. Angelic singer Lisa Hannigan hooks up again with Rice and they form a great tandem. The track "9 Crimes", with Hannigan is an emotional and great composition. Look for many of these tracks to appear in dramatic scenes in movies and TV. Elsewhere, the CD continues to bounce between Amos lee like tempos to Sigur Rios influenced noise. Easily, one of the best CDs of the year.

Key Tracks:

9 Crimes
Rootless Tree
Me, My Yoke, and I

As much as I liked "O" (The movie "Closer" and Natalie Portman will always be associated with "The Blowers Daughter"), I think this album built and improved upon his debut. The opening song "9 Crimes" is wonderful and eerie and the melody has a haunting effect that frames the album perfectly. I also loved the songs "Dogs" and "Coconut Skins." What I think makes this album so refreshing is the way that Rice has made the chorus matter again. I've found that music in recent years has suffered from a long-standing want for choruses that aren't nonsense and superficial gunk. I wish I could say more about why this album is so good, but you'll have to listen for yourself. It's well worth the money, especially for fans of Alexi Murdoch, Badly Drawn Boy, and David Grey.

The world waited a long time for Damien Rice's follow up to 2002's fantastically accomplished 'O'. However all of that waiting has not been in vain. Indeed it is almost certain that an album of the depth and maturity of a Damien Rice offering would need that long to be completed.

The equally briefly titled '9' finds Damien Rice in a more sombre mood than before. He at times allows for a bitter anger in his lyrics that was not really present before. In 'Me, My Yoke, and I' and 'Rootless Tree' there is an outward bitterness that was not allowed for previously. However this is not to say that '9' is not full of the more affectionate, tender songs that have always been Rice's forte. Indeed the opening song and single, '9 Crimes' is a delicate and intimate confession between 2 lovers that will captivate anyone with even the slightest affection for Damien Rice's music. Added to this we have the affectionate 'The Animals Were Gone' and the tragically beautiful 'Accidental Babies'.

Damien Rice's already huge fanbase is only likely to expand with this fantastic second offering. His long time fans may have grown somewhat frustrated during the 4 year wait for a follow up. However if the next album is anything like this, they will not mind waiting another 4 years.

on first listen i was actually pretty disappointed because i compared this CD to O. but the more and more i listened, the more damien rice's haunting voice and smart, simple lyrics really stuck in my head. that never changed since the first cd. this guy still embodies good folk music, in terms of honesty, simplicity, and storytelling ability.

after a few listens you really get a feel of rice's style and how this cd, although not on first impression, is very similar to O. for example:

"elephant" is much like "blower's daughter" in pace and even the chord choices. it was even titled blower's daughter part II before it was released onto the CD.

"sleep don't weep" is much like "cold water" in terms of its mellow pace and also some chord choices. even the theme is the intimate interplay between a relationship, one part sung by rice and another by hannigan (which by the way is beautiful). it also ends with a sort of calming sound. cold water ends with the chants, sleep don't weep ends with some water bowl or something.

"me, my yoke, and i" uses almost the same chords as "volcano" (a VI and IV progression), although it is much different in pacing.

stylistically, there is a lot of mic red-lining that i think is done on purpose by rice when he sings loud, much like the first CD's "i remember" when the vocals get very intense. also, the recordings all have a charming home-recorded feel to them as there are noises of squeaking chairs and the echoing of a room.

but of course this cd has its differences. there is more piano (which i like), and a lot more about sexuality. i guess it's like an evolution of rice's honest lyrics - he sings candidly about the vulnerability and animal passion of sex.

and who could forget these crazy lyrics

"do what you must do to fill that hole. wear another shoe to comfort the sole." - sleep don't weep

"my cave is deep now yet your light is shining through." - the animals were gone

"does he drive you wild or just mildly free?" - accidental babies

and much more.

yeah. good listen. although you may not like the songs the first time through, i guarantee at least a few songs will really stick to you.

Let me get this out of the way: I loved "O", I loved "Live at Union Chapel." Both were beautifully crafted albums that could evoke joy on one track and tears on the next.

"9" is, well, no where near that level. I think it is an 'okay' album. It is sad, angry, and generally kind of morose. There are a couple of beautiful tracks/melodies, but by in large it has an angrier tone than "O." Why you might ask - from the lyrics it seems like Damien got dumped by a girl and is ticked off about it and wants everyone to know. Not really what I wanted to hear when I bought the album, but everyone needs to express their anger (I guess). A couple of songs are good to really good, but overall the album suffers from mediocre songs that aren't really bad, per se, but aren't what I was hoping for after "O."

Of course, it is hard to follow up an album as wonderful as "O" was.

I also wanted to note an issue I have with DR albums in general - they are mixed very quietly. If every other album I listen to in my car is a 5, I have to turn the volume up to 7 or 8 to hear DR. Why is this an issue? I feel like having it so loud loses some of the nuances of the song - I have to blare it, so when the song crescendo's I either have to turn it down or plug my ears. He should take a lesson from Ray LaMontagne who keeps the mix at an appropriate level and doesn't lose any of the dynamics.

Misery. It's an international language. So while the lyrics to "The Animals Were Gone" are delivered up in Damien Rice's soft Dublin tones, the plangent strings, hesitant melody and descending chords could just as easily accompany some French chanson in which the message is "je regrette".
Melancholy is smeared liberally over this follow-up to Rice's spectacularly successful album "O".
You would think that we would have had our fill of down-in-the-dumps singer-songwriters making semi-orchestral productions out of songs which would once have been strummed in the back rooms of pubs, but Rice has done pretty much what David Gray did with "Life In Slow Motion" - he has produced a work of such sincerity and quality that it transcends its genre.
Best moment here is "Elephant", which begins with quiet voice and almost inaudible guitar, building in intensity to heartfelt keening and a rush of orchestra and percussion before dying back to a mumbling conclusion.
Emotionally, it is as if Rice has climbed a mountain and fallen down the other side.

I must say that I miss some of Damien Rice's hissing anger that burst forth from a whisper that was featured prominently on the album O. This album replaces that calous anger with a dark bleakness. Where O was put together beautifully and carefully, some songs on 9 seem as though they were put together in a dash, which is odd for an album which took so long to come out. I have been very satisfied with the album as a whole and for a sophomore effort Rice has produced a solid album.

As usual AMazon and venders have done a splendid job, received a head of time, gave as a gift, person was very happy. Love the Price, not crazy about the shipping costs, but I realize that is not in your hands.

When I feel really bad -- I mean really, really bad -- I reach for a pint of Rocky Road ice cream.

I think Damien reached for his guitar.

While I loved "0", I found "9" dark to the point of soperific. Even after repeated listenings, I didn't really find any track that caught my attention and swept me in or made me laugh or cry.

I'm all for making space for artists to explore all sides of their art, but I think we all have to be honest in recognizing when the dessert was a little under-cooked.

Damien Rice's follow-up to the phenomental "O" sees him going in slightly different directions. This one has a much darker, rawer, edgier feel, and experiments a bit more, as opposed to the huge grandiosity of the previous release. As such, it's a bit slower to grab your attention (well, mine, anyway), but after a couple of listens, it really started to click.

There are a couple of tracks here that may surprise some people. The first, of course, being "Rootless Tree", which features repeated use of the f-word. However, surprising though it may be, I think that it's done in a way so as not to sound crude or gratuitous, and it doesn't detract from the beauty of the song at all. Rather, it enhances the emotional impact. This isn't an easy thing to accomplish, but it's done very well here. The second curve ball is "Me, My Yoke, and I", a very intense, indie-rockish, generally very un-Damien Rice sounding song. This one had to grow on me a bit, but it's an excellent and really bizarre song.

Elsewhere, there's plenty of more familiar territory. Some nice acoustic ballads, like "Grey Room", "Dogs", and "Coconut Skins", as well as some excellent piano-driven pieces, like "Accidental Babies" and the single "9 Crimes", the latter of which features some stunning vocals from the ever-amazing Lisa Hannigan (when the heck is she gonna make a solo album????). There's a sort of hidden track, but it's just 10 minutes of ambient noise, so not much to get excited about there (unless of course you're into that kind of thing...).

Overall, a pretty solid album. Not as mind-blowing as "O", but then, did you really expect it to be that good? Well either way, don't expect the two albums to sound too much alike. This is great stuff, but it may take some time to grow on you. My only real complaint is, well, not enough Lisa (you have no idea how much I freakin' love her voice), otherwise, this is more than worth checking out.

(But get "O" first if you're new to his stuff.)