I would say Damien Rice has not, with his two successive albums, topped O (2003, Ireland, Contemporary Folk, Singer/Songwriter).
O is a perfect expression of regret borne of indecision. Boy meets girl. Boy promises girl everything. Boy has a wandering eye, and boy fritters away girl's time. Girl marries man who won't waste her time. Boy crashes her wedding, regretting having wasted so much time. Girl still loves boy but moves on with her life. Boy snorts a lot of cocaine and follows her to Prague. The whole story is told in beautiful, ethereal folk songs featuring the lovely Lisa Hannigan.
|