Music Review: Rice's new CD uneven

11/13/2006 4:19 PM, AP
Kim Curtis

Damien Rice, "9" (Warner Bros.)

The first voice heard on Damien Rice's new CD, "9" isn't his, but that of Lisa Hannegan, his singing partner. It's not the only odd choice here for a solo artist touted four years ago as the latest, greatest, sensitive-singer-songwriter guy. His sophomore CD is uneven at its best, boring at its worst.

"Dogs," is sunny and sweet sounding, but with lyrics about "a girl that does yoga," it comes off as plain silly.

"Coconut Skins," is energetic, upbeat and features Hannegan's vocals in perfect balance with Rice's craggy voice.

"Me, My Yoke and I" features an angry-sounding Rice repetitively screaming unintelligible lyrics against a wall of noisy guitars.

By far, the best track is "Rootless Tree," but, unfortunately, because its very catchy chorus is loaded with the king of expletives, it's unlikely to get widely heard.