User ratings in Music are temporarily disabled. More info
  • Record Label:
  • Release Date:
O Image
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.9

Universal acclaim- based on 108 Ratings

  • Summary: This full-length debut for the Irish singer/songwriter has moved beyond his home country (where it was a massive hit) to attract critical praise and strong sales worldwide. Mostly self-produced and recorded, the disc also comes in specially-designed packaging including text, artwork and photographs.

Top Track

Enter The Ninja
I, I, I I am your butterfly I need your protection Be my samurai I, I, I I am your butterfly I need your protection Need your protection I'm a... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 16
  2. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. 100
    Minimalist folk rock in its purest form.
  2. Blender
    80
    This free-wheeling debut has the potential to run and run, carried aloft on the shoulders of the overly emotional. [#18, p.131]
  3. With O, Rice has brought something new to the singer/songwriter genre: an accomplished sense of dramatics that keeps his music from ever becoming earthbound.
  4. Uncut
    70
    His folky, cello-soaked songs will appeal to David Gray devotees. [Oct 2003, p.116]
  5. Spin
    67
    His single, "Cannonball," will be there for you after your next breakup. [Nov 2003, p.117]
  6. The big, inescapable problem with O is that, aside from being derivative, Rice's songwriting is also unbearably repetitive-- he stubbornly relies upon time-tested singer/songwriter formulas (quiet acoustic strumming and sober, wavering vocals), and repeats them almost exactly the same way, every time.

See all 16 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 43 out of 48
  2. Negative: 2 out of 48
  1. Cradduck
    Feb 3, 2004
    10
    Ingenius
  2. LouiseM
    Dec 4, 2003
    10
    thank you Damo.
  3. May 30, 2017
    10
    Spectacular debut from the Irish troubadour. A songwriting masterclass drenched in beautiful string arrangements. Tracks 1-4 are beautifullySpectacular debut from the Irish troubadour. A songwriting masterclass drenched in beautiful string arrangements. Tracks 1-4 are beautifully delicate love songs inspired by blind love. Things turn bitter and dark on "Cheers Darling", a highlight of the album for me. "I Remember" is a good snapshot of what this album is all about - soft, gentle and adoring on one side, angry, bitter and jilted on the other. Lisa Hannigan's vocals compliment Rice fantastically throughout and their harmonies and arrangements are the soul of the record. I don't believe either Rice or Hannigan have produced anything as good as "O" since they went their separate ways. "Eskimo" brings things to an operatic end - indulgent yes but absolute genius so completely justified. If you take that to be the end of the album then it's perfect. I'm not sure how much value the hidden tracks "Prague" and "Silent Night" add to the record. "Prague" gives a taste of what was to come on his follow up 9 and Silent Night is just a showcase of Hanigans solo vocals. "O" is flawless, a thing of rare beauty from the over-mined singer songwriter genre. Expand
  4. John
    Mar 30, 2004
    10
    11/10 By far the best album of 2003 (and the best live performance) Original yet 'instant classic' Makes you think of : Jeff 11/10 By far the best album of 2003 (and the best live performance) Original yet 'instant classic' Makes you think of : Jeff Buckley + Muse + Elvis Costello + Jacques Brel + a bit of Radiohead + Beth Gibbons & Rustin' Man, all combined with a dash of Irish tradition Expand
  5. MattJ
    Oct 5, 2005
    10
    Beautiful, yet deep, one of the few great singer songwriters of this generation
  6. Pepsicolkah
    Jan 4, 2007
    10
    great.
  7. JamesC
    Jul 31, 2004
    1
    An admirable effort, but this album is clearly geared towards middle aged, liberal, corduroy wearing Drama teachers. I'd be amazed if An admirable effort, but this album is clearly geared towards middle aged, liberal, corduroy wearing Drama teachers. I'd be amazed if their's any longevity with Rice's initial offering. Collapse

See all 48 User Reviews