★★★★★
Treading similar terrain stylistically, 9 offers a more vibrant and vigorous attempt at lyricism which-in the long run-may in fact be to the records detriment. Abandoning his downplayed melancholy, has injected a tension and anxiety with even a touch of fury to compliment his underscore of resentment. When taken as a whole, this is an unfortunate discombobulating force. Such changes may attest to a new, overtly meta-cognizant approach toward songwriting for Rice...
- www.americansongwriter.com
2013-04-25
★★★★★
Sound: It's one of the best CD's I have ever heard. The sound is smooth and relaxing. Damien and his band are obviously trying to leave their mark in the world's music using elements from classical rock, opera and even country music and connecting them in a unique way. I find this experiment completely successful and ear-soothing. The instrumental part is nothing less than magical...
- www.ultimate-guitar.com
2012-04-12
★★★★★
Sound: I was absolutely thrilled to hear Damien Rice was coming out with a new CD. I thought O was the sleeper hit of 2002, and was probably my favorite album of that year. 9 did not disappoint. From the first soft piano chords of the track, 9 Crimes, I was absolutely smitten. His backup vocal partner, Lisa Hannigan is once again in top form. The album takes you on an emotional roller coaster as only Damien can. The album is pretty standard fare for Damien, but that is not a bad thing...
- www.ultimate-guitar.com
2012-04-12
★★★★★
The tortured melancholy bit takes a back seat on the tardy follow-up to this Irish bard's well-loved 2003 debut--on part of it, anyway. Not that Rice is cracking any jokes, except for the mean one about sitting on a chimney...
- www.robertchristgau.com
2011-03-14
★★★★★
Quiet and introspective, Damien Rice had a mild hit on his hands in 2003 with "Cannonball," off his critically praised debut, "O." Then as now, the imagery and tone of Rice's music recalls David Gray, or even Ryan Adams-lite. But Rice's melodies and subject matter--not to mention his fellow performers--prove that, on "9" as on "O," the singer is much more in touch with his feminine side than most of his contemporaries...
- www.soundspike.com
2010-12-07
★★★★★
Easy-going Irish folkster Damien Rice glides gently through an undeniable batch of slow-pop anthems, each one more dependably pretty and clean than the previous. Most closely situated to the pure and friendly contemporary folk category of singer/songwriters Ryan Adams and David Gray, the newly unveiled Rice adds little sparkle to the genre's already well-polished shine, though his contribution is nonetheless worthy...
- www.hour.ca
2010-11-09
★★★★★
The astounding success of Damien Rice's debut album 'O' looks to be eclipsed by the beauty and potency of his second album, '9'. 'O' flooded the high water mark with sales of 1 million in the U.K. and 10 times platinum in Ireland, the Dublin-born artist providing a narrative stage-lighting for many a relationship with songs such as 'Blower's Daughter', 'Volcano' and 'Cold Water'...
- www.gigwise.com
2010-11-09
★★★★★
James Blunt has got a lot to answer for that is, apart from the obvious not giving the likes of Damien Rice a fair trial by spurious musical association. Live albums are notoriously nostalgic and somewhat lacking unless you were actually at the gig in question. The thing with BRIT nominee Damien Rice is that he's a storyteller of the highest calibre and one who best functions live on stage and if you haven't seen him perform in the flesh, 'Live From The Union Chapel' is the next best thing...
- www.gigwise.com
2010-11-09
★★★★★
'9'is heart wrenching second album from the best export to come out of Dublin recently, Damien Rice. Its melancholy tone is held back from becoming cut-your-wrists miserable through the stunning delicacy of Rice's song writing talent. Opener '9 Crimes' is the haunting first single off the album, featuring the mesmerising vocals of Rice's backing singer Lisa Hannigan. A tale of shattered love, it sets the tone for the subsequent nine tracks beautifully...
- www.music-news.com
2010-11-02
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