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spotlight! emo teeters on the edge of its 9th life
By Cassie Hood
hoodc@mscd.edu

Damien Rice 9 (Warner Bros., 2006)

The emo scene must have been founded as a conspiracy between the tycoons at Kleenex and hair-dye companies.

Fashion and music have fused into a single idea of “coolness.” The reality, though, is that the sound lacks substance, and the look lacks individuality. Unfortunately, the scene has bled into other genres of music, infiltrating the minds of alternative country and folk fans alike. It is cool to be emo, and Damien Rice, at first listen, appears to be the quintessential emo god.

It would be simple to pass Rice off as another sad bastard that needs to cheer up, but his overpowering voice commands more attention than that. With most emo music, the lyrics sound like they come from a teenager’s journal, dripping angst and shallowness, but Rice’s are poetic and full of imagery. His newest release, 9, explores the entire spectrum of human emotion.

Opening with “9 Crimes,” a journey through cheating minds, the album captivates from the beginning. The melancholy piano music drags and falters at points, but when Lisa Hannigan sheepishly declares her pain, and Rice pours out his regret, the song pulls the heartstrings in every direction, and on some level everyone can relate. Instead of nasally, whiny vocals, Hannigan and Rice have majestic, full voices.

“Rootless Tree,” however, is chock-full of hatred and indignation. A relationship has ended, and all the anger that has built up finally slipped out of Rice’s mouth and onto this album. A playful violin sings muffled in the background, bringing awkwardness and tension to the song. Rice’s tone rises along with the violin until both near their breaking points. The drums, simple as they are, provide a solid tempo that encourages one’s head to bounce along.

The album’s weakness, “Sleep Don’t Weep,” is 21 minutes of noise accompanied occasionally by Rice’s gentle voice. It has a promising start that matches the caliber of the rest of the album, but when Rice stops singing there is nothing but mind-numbing, high-pitched noise. Compared to the rest of 9, the song is a disappointing end.

As a whole, the album is a fantastic journey from heartbreak and happiness to disdain and uncertainty, resulting in Damien Rice and his accompaniment releasing a glimmer of hope into the otherwise drab, macabre world of emo.