Damien Rice - B-Sides [EP] (CD)

All Music Guide

After wooing critics with his stunning debut album, O, in 2003, Damien Rice builds upon his growing success with this quaint bsides collection. This EP features seven previously unreleased songs that are soulstirringly classic of the Irish singer/songwriter. On record, Rice is a convincing poet with a wild imagination of love and wonder, but in a live setting, Rice is much more provocative and passionate. On stage is where he truly shines. Songs such as the thorny relationship account of "The Professor la Fille Danse" and the acoustic guitar waltz of "Delicate" are evident of Rice's rich talent as a singer, but also as a storyteller. BSides is exactly streamlined in production, so much so that a listener can be left in their own world when listening to Rice's music. Demo versions of "Lonelily" and "Volcano" add to that particular dynamic, however the layered and dark falsettodriven "Moody Mooday" is what makes BSides a must have. Diehard fans and completists will most likely have this track in their collection, for it's originally featured on the "Cannonball, Pt. 1" single. But with that aside, Rice and Lisa Hannigan's vocals weave around each other like magic, and electric guitars and Vyvienne Long's brooding cello arrangements find their place in this amazing chantlike number. If you enjoyed Rice's unflinching honesty on O, BSides is will take you there once again.

- MacKenzie Wilson , All Music Guide