O

Following abortive sessions in Air Studios, Damien Rice repaired to his Dublin flat, recruited a small crew of compatible musicians (including waifish co-vocalist Lisa Hannigan) and recorded a bunch of songs on an 8-track home studio. The resulting album, O, was launched on Rice’s DRM imprint in early 2002. It debuted at No.7 in the Irish charts and was released in the UK and America a year later, going on to sell 2 million copies. O was deceptively romantic. Beneath the skin of songs like ‘Cannonball’ and ‘Volcano’ festered a seething anger. The arrangements were by turns bare and baroque, the melodies sweet, the words bitter. Rice’s emotionally volatile vocals were alternately complemented and contradicted by Hannigan’s subtle shadowing. This is an ambivalent record about love, encapsulated by the “Can’t take my eyes off of you” refrain of ‘The Blower’s Daughter’ (featured in the film Closer) chased by the whispered kicker: “...until I find somebody new.”

No 10 in 2009, as voted for by over 200 Irish musicians. Up from No 17 in 2004.