Irish Times Article On 9

Bumpman · 10-06-2006, 04:30 PM

Rice: The Sour Smell Of Success
by Jim Carroll

It was the late, great Bill Graham who nailed this one. Commenting on one or other of U2's homecoming shows back in the day, the best music writer this country has ever produced noted how U2's Irish gigs had become completely overshadowed by the offstage rattle and hum. No one bothered with the music when there was so much else at hand with which to damn the band. There are many Irish acts who would concur with Graham's observations, particularly those who have enjoyed healthy record and ticket sales abroad. These musicians know all about that strange paradox inherent in how Irish audiences treat a homegrown act.

Anyone who dares to question an Irish band's musical bona-fides can expect a fairly hostile reaction from the stalls including some rotton tomatoes and large chunks of broccoli. Yet foreign success by that act usually leads to a huge degree of begrudgery from those still stuck at home. You could get a great thesis out of such sozzled insecurity and self-loathing.

Someone who could probably contribute greatly to such an academic work is Damien Rice. He has, after all, been on the recieving end of this treatment again and again over the course of his career. A couple of weeks ago, Rice announced the release date and track listing for his new album, 9. That's all the information which was available: a date, and album title and 10 song titles. But it was enough to unleash the hysterical hounds of online hell, who jumped in with boots and fists flying on the basis of such paltry information. At least when music writers give an act or an album a good kicking, we've taken the time to listen to the record first.

But it's highly unlikely that Rice has given this matter much thought; he has too many other things to do. Unlike the majority of the Irish singer-songwriter cabal who are too lazy to get their fat arses off the barstools, too afraid of failure to have a go elsewhere, and wholly unable to write tunes which will get played on the radio, Rice has done what everyone else just muttered into their pint glasses about doing.

He released O in Ireland in February 2002, in the UK in July 2002 and in the US in June 2003. Every step of the O story has been a masterclass in how to do things right. As O shows, hit albums are down to a plethora of happy coincidences and alignments. The combination of Rice's determined attention to detail, a brilliant manager and an album which people actually wanted to hear meant more then two million sales and many thousands happily served at live shows.

Since the release of O, Rice has hopefully had a whale of a time. Wile some are using the four-and-a-half year gap between albums as yet another stick with which to beat the Kildareman, Rice has toured, gigged and taken his music all around the world. I'm sure he has even hugged some trees along the way, but we've all done things we'd prefer not to talk to in the cold light of day.

When you look back now on the reviews which Rice's debut album recieved here and elsewhere, the overwhelming positivity is striking. Here was an album which reviewers universally warmed to. At various conferences and festivals, I talked to tough-skinned, hard-chaw American critics who were gushing their praise. As the acclaim rose so did album sales, punters and pundits in unusually close harmony for once.

Comparing and contrasting the reviews this time out will provide some idle amusement. Of course, the presence or otherwise of purple prose depends on whether 9 is actually as good or as alluring as Rice's debut. Naturally there will be some reviewers who will probably play the man rather then the ball; that will happen in Ireland especially. But given that less then 5 per cent of O's sales were Irish one's, the local picture is no longer one which should bother Rice too much.

Timeé · 10-06-2006, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bumpman

a brilliant manager .

who is this manager he speaks of?

Miss Pink · 10-06-2006, 04:43 PM

im too hung over to understand it to be quite honest with you sean

Fool · 10-06-2006, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timeé

who is this manager he speaks of?

He meant Damien himself, didn't he?

Wheels · 10-06-2006, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fool

He meant Damien himself, didn't he?

Why would you not think he meant Damien's manager?

Bumpman · 10-06-2006, 11:54 PM

His manager is Bernadette, she's a good manager. She manages.

Cordelia · 10-11-2006, 04:26 AM

"You could get a great thesis out of such sozzled insecurity and self-loathing."

Ouch. There's one way of criticizing the (homegrown) critics.

Gatsby · 10-11-2006, 11:16 AM

Quote:

At least when music writers give an act or an album a good kicking, we've taken the time to listen to the record first.

and...?

Cordelia · 10-12-2006, 03:55 AM

^^^I think, and: this justifies their criticism.

I'm not saying it does, I'm saying I think this is what he means.

I don't know, I have some problems with this article. But is what he says true? Do Irish musicians that make it abroad get ripped on back home by Irish musicians who have not enjoyed similar success? This article not only says that is the case, but that its been the case with Damien, and that the limited information supplied about 9 has been enough to "unleash the hysterical hounds of online hell." Um, have I missed the hounds?

10-06-2006, 04:30 PM	#1
Bumpman ... Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 2,801	Irish Times Article On 9 Rice: The Sour Smell Of Success by Jim Carroll It was the late, great Bill Graham who nailed this one. Commenting on one or other of U2's homecoming shows back in the day, the best music writer this country has ever produced noted how U2's Irish gigs had become completely overshadowed by the offstage rattle and hum. No one bothered with the music when there was so much else at hand with which to damn the band. There are many Irish acts who would concur with Graham's observations, particularly those who have enjoyed healthy record and ticket sales abroad. These musicians know all about that strange paradox inherent in how Irish audiences treat a homegrown act. Anyone who dares to question an Irish band's musical bona-fides can expect a fairly hostile reaction from the stalls including some rotton tomatoes and large chunks of broccoli. Yet foreign success by that act usually leads to a huge degree of begrudgery from those still stuck at home. You could get a great thesis out of such sozzled insecurity and self-loathing. Someone who could probably contribute greatly to such an academic work is Damien Rice. He has, after all, been on the recieving end of this treatment again and again over the course of his career. A couple of weeks ago, Rice announced the release date and track listing for his new album, 9. That's all the information which was available: a date, and album title and 10 song titles. But it was enough to unleash the hysterical hounds of online hell, who jumped in with boots and fists flying on the basis of such paltry information. At least when music writers give an act or an album a good kicking, we've taken the time to listen to the record first. But it's highly unlikely that Rice has given this matter much thought; he has too many other things to do. Unlike the majority of the Irish singer-songwriter cabal who are too lazy to get their fat arses off the barstools, too afraid of failure to have a go elsewhere, and wholly unable to write tunes which will get played on the radio, Rice has done what everyone else just muttered into their pint glasses about doing. He released O in Ireland in February 2002, in the UK in July 2002 and in the US in June 2003. Every step of the O story has been a masterclass in how to do things right. As O shows, hit albums are down to a plethora of happy coincidences and alignments. The combination of Rice's determined attention to detail, a brilliant manager and an album which people actually wanted to hear meant more then two million sales and many thousands happily served at live shows. Since the release of O, Rice has hopefully had a whale of a time. Wile some are using the four-and-a-half year gap between albums as yet another stick with which to beat the Kildareman, Rice has toured, gigged and taken his music all around the world. I'm sure he has even hugged some trees along the way, but we've all done things we'd prefer not to talk to in the cold light of day. When you look back now on the reviews which Rice's debut album recieved here and elsewhere, the overwhelming positivity is striking. Here was an album which reviewers universally warmed to. At various conferences and festivals, I talked to tough-skinned, hard-chaw American critics who were gushing their praise. As the acclaim rose so did album sales, punters and pundits in unusually close harmony for once. Comparing and contrasting the reviews this time out will provide some idle amusement. Of course, the presence or otherwise of purple prose depends on whether 9 is actually as good or as alluring as Rice's debut. Naturally there will be some reviewers who will probably play the man rather then the ball; that will happen in Ireland especially. But given that less then 5 per cent of O's sales were Irish one's, the local picture is no longer one which should bother Rice too much. __________________ Mic Christopher Is Great

10-06-2006, 04:43 PM	#3
Miss Pink Eskimo Regular Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 5,327	im too hung over to understand it to be quite honest with you sean __________________ We don't crave what hurts... we hurt when we hope for something and it turns out to not be what we wanted...the pain is often our hope breaking... not our hearts. Last edited by Miss Pink; 10-06-2006 at 10:31 PM.

10-06-2006, 11:54 PM	#6
Bumpman ... Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 2,801	His manager is Bernadette, she's a good manager. She manages. __________________ Mic Christopher Is Great

10-11-2006, 04:26 AM	#7
Cordelia Eskimo Friend Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: At my desk in Toronto Posts: 44	"You could get a great thesis out of such sozzled insecurity and self-loathing." Ouch. There's one way of criticizing the (homegrown) critics. __________________ We are not the first Who with best meaning have incurred the worst

10-12-2006, 03:55 AM	#9
Cordelia Eskimo Friend Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: At my desk in Toronto Posts: 44	^^^I think, and: this justifies their criticism. I'm not saying it does, I'm saying I think this is what he means. I don't know, I have some problems with this article. But is what he says true? Do Irish musicians that make it abroad get ripped on back home by Irish musicians who have not enjoyed similar success? This article not only says that is the case, but that its been the case with Damien, and that the limited information supplied about 9 has been enough to "unleash the hysterical hounds of online hell." Um, have I missed the hounds? __________________ We are not the first Who with best meaning have incurred the worst