Damien Rice's second album, 9, evokes many memories. Occasionally, it makes one cry. More often, however, it makes one love life. Here are some other things that you will think of during or after listening to 9-other than life and tears:
Nouns: Love, deception, anger, clothing, countryside, heart.
Adjectives: Spacious, curious, elven, watery, sage (color), sage (knowledge).
Gerunds: Waiting, lovemaking, spitting, jumping (i.e. into water), circumnavigating (as in Magellan).
Commercial Brands: J.Crew, Fresca, Saab, ask.com.
Consumer Goods: Chili's "Awesome Blossom" Onion.
Countries (excluding Rep. of Ireland): N. Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England.
Celebrities: Damien Rice.
Albums are rarely released that contain this type of pure Irish spirit-and that is a shame. U2's oeuvre of bubbling boyishness becomes irrelevant when faced with songs like the heartbreaking "9 Crimes." In the end, 9 manages to transcend Ireland, and deliver a truly moving experience. Oftentimes, when art transcends all, the only way to describe it is abstractly.
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