O
by Damien Rice
  • Record Label: Vector
  • Release Date: Jun 10, 2003
User Score
8.9

Universal acclaim- based on 108 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 98 out of 108
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 108
  3. Negative: 5 out of 108

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  1. ImmersedInSound
    Nov 18, 2014
    7
    Not a very diverse album.
    O's songs don't have the emotional connection of an album like For Emma by Bon Iver and in places feels quite repetitive. The lyrics and tone are wonderful though.
  2. MattW
    Apr 20, 2007
    4
    wow... this sure was an experience. shitty cliched lyrics mixed with bad production values, not to mention Damien Rice is an incompetent guitarist (has anyone actually listened to the lyrics of the blowers daughter... eck).
  3. JamieP
    Jun 29, 2005
    1
    An album perfectly suited to people of very little mental stability and far too much emotional hang ups. An album which leaves you in perfect company with wannabe songwriters the world over, go on.. write a song about it.
  4. ralphd
    Jan 28, 2005
    4
    nothing compare to will oldham aka palace brothers aka bonie prince billy
  5. Pepsicolkah
    Jan 4, 2007
    10
    great.
  6. saz
    Feb 5, 2004
    10
    its brilliant
  7. RodrigoM
    Jul 3, 2005
    9
    A gifted talent with some majestic melodies make this album one of the true singer/songwriter's best albums from last years.
  8. miker
    Aug 30, 2005
    10
    if u have ever felt ANYTHING and like noises such as music then listen to this album and thank me later
  9. Rice
    Jan 27, 2004
    10
    Poetic! Perfect interpretation of human's imperfection.
  10. DavidG
    Jan 30, 2004
    10
    You will love this CD... It's amazing.
  11. 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 Buckley + Muse + Elvis Costello + Jacques Brel + a bit of Radiohead + Beth Gibbons & Rustin' Man, all combined with a dash of Irish tradition
  12. michaleq
    May 10, 2004
    10
    haven't heard something THAT good for a long long time... and the b-sides... check them out too!!
  13. ju
    Jun 6, 2004
    10
    the best debut i have ever heard for quite sometime now. i have nothing but praises.
  14. MattJ
    Oct 5, 2005
    10
    Beautiful, yet deep, one of the few great singer songwriters of this generation
  15. MattI
    Jun 10, 2005
    10
    Classic!!! Not one bad track on this album Beautiful album some brilliant backing from a cello The peak of the album is the anger releasing I remember Fantastic!!!!
  16. MarianneW
    Jul 8, 2005
    10
    This is one of the best albums I have EVER heard!
  17. Chris
    Dec 18, 2007
    10
    Well, the blowers daughter was written about his clarinet teachers daughter." The pupil in denial" It's mysterious when listening to the song unknowingly. But once you actually know what he is talking about when he's singing, it's a much different experience. And I know no one who can play and sing with such passion. Guitar isn't about technical skill. IT'S ABOUT PASSION!
  18. AniruddhaB.
    Aug 20, 2007
    10
    O has gotta be the best album i ever listened to... good enough for me to comment on it.
  19. LouiseM
    Dec 4, 2003
    10
    thank you Damo.
  20. GabrielW
    Jan 26, 2004
    10
    Absolutely hilarious
  21. PhilM
    Feb 16, 2004
    10
    My favorite CD to date is O. I've now seen Damine Rice in concert twice and if you ever get the chance, you MUST see his show. Even if you are not particularly fond of his music, seeing him live is a real treat.
  22. Cradduck
    Feb 3, 2004
    10
    Ingenius
  23. lapoe
    Mar 10, 2004
    10
    a masterpiece!
  24. 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 their's any longevity with Rice's initial offering.
  25. chriss
    Aug 13, 2004
    10
    A superb debut album, and this only reaching a conclusion after the first proper listen. A truly beautiful album expressed with sheer emotion throughout the 10 songs contained within this masterpiece. A must buy.
  26. johnr
    Jan 19, 2005
    10
    It'll bring you to tears
  27. RobertD
    Oct 7, 2005
    10
    Sings about love and desire in ways I have never heard before. Beautiful and sad, brilliant and humble. Nothing but the best.
  28. [Anonymous]
    May 25, 2005
    10
    Beautiful.
  29. ScottM
    Jul 15, 2005
    8
    What an upper.....
  30. DeboA
    Jul 25, 2005
    10
    Beautifully stunning masterpiece of Love lost & the despair that erupts!
  31. LV.
    Apr 3, 2006
    10
    no doubt
  32. JennaH
    Feb 25, 2007
    10
    This album is deep. Listening to the lyrics and the Damien's voice really bring everything together.
  33. rubye.
    Aug 25, 2009
    10
    A stunning and seductive album, the most beautiful I own.
  34. Pepsicolkah
    Oct 13, 2003
    10
    great.
  35. irishrover
    Nov 7, 2004
    10
    He really is amazing. I have never heard anyting like it. From start to finish its....indescribeable. How anyone could dislike this album is astonishing. Absolutely brilliant.
  36. Sarah
    Dec 11, 2004
    9
    Damien Rice is now a personal favorite of mine, and this album is just, for lack of a better word, amazing. Although some tracks get slightly repetitive, The overall effect is a calming, somewhat laidback cd. My favorites are definatly Volcano, and Blowers daughter.
  37. MikeM
    Dec 14, 2004
    10
    If you aren't amazed by this album by the end of it, you might want to get your ears evaluted right away. Damien Rice's & Lisa Hannigan's musical chemistry on tracks like "I Remember" and "Blower's Daughter" is mind blowing. "Eskimo" is a personal favorite of mine. The creative juices were really flowing when they went into the studio. The only troubling thing about If you aren't amazed by this album by the end of it, you might want to get your ears evaluted right away. Damien Rice's & Lisa Hannigan's musical chemistry on tracks like "I Remember" and "Blower's Daughter" is mind blowing. "Eskimo" is a personal favorite of mine. The creative juices were really flowing when they went into the studio. The only troubling thing about this album is Rice will never probably never be able to live up to this debute masterpiece. But we will see. … Expand
  38. LesterD
    Dec 23, 2004
    6
    I agree with the Pitchfork review. While this album is certainly pleasant enough, it's nothing special, just typical coffeehouse fare. I can think of a handful of local folk musicians whose music is up to par with the songs on O. Next year, some new folk troubadour will be introduced with all the same hoopla.
  39. AaronB
    Jan 23, 2004
    10
    Beautiful and passionate. Great album. Hear me on this.
  40. Spamlet
    Feb 14, 2004
    10
    The best singer/songwriter debut of at least the last 10 years. Solo album of the year. I'm now completelyobsessed and luckily he's got about 30 more brilliant non album tracks out there.
  41. Laurie
    Mar 28, 2004
    10
    Rarely do I truly love the first 7 songs in a row on a CD ... Cannonball is the standout for me... mesmerizing, both lyrically and vocally.
  42. JoeS
    Nov 15, 2005
    10
    An amazing album, beautiful and poetic!!!
  43. IngridP
    Jan 14, 2006
    10
    wow! I bought this album solely because of one song (The Blowers Daughter) and I absolutely adore it. Seeing Damien and Lisa perform live would be incredible. Favorite song? " I remember", and also "Cold Water", even if the chanting bits are a tad strange.
  44. [Anonymous]
    Dec 22, 2003
    10
    Beautiful.
  45. JoeB
    Nov 29, 2005
    10
    Love it!
  46. TheDaveHimself
    Aug 6, 2011
    10
    One of the greatest debuts (and albums) to come around in a very long time. Any positive word directed towards this won't do it a bit of justice. I saw Damien and the Frames in Kansas City on this tour. I was speechless.
  47. Ricko
    May 30, 2017
    10
    Spectacular 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 andSpectacular 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
  48. Tombenelli
    Sep 21, 2014
    9
    This is totally heartbraking, one of the greatest debuts ever. Amazing album, from the soft ''Delicate'' to the magnificent ''Eskimo''. Damien Rice is one of the best living songwriters. Minimal but great sound. Best tracks: ''The blower's daughter'', ''Cannonbal'', ''Older Chests'', "I Rembemer"..... no! All the tracks are amazing, I can't choose the best ones. Awesome.

Awards & Rankings

99
#99 Best Album of 2003
29
#29 Most Discussed Album of 2003
40
#40 Most Shared Album of 2003

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 13 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. E! Online
    100
    Minimalist folk rock in its purest form.
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  2. Stylus Magazine
    60
    You can actually hear the moment when the album turns sour.
    Read full review
  3. Amazon.com
    90
    Lush, impossibly mature.
    Read full review
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