New Damien Rice - "9 Crimes"
Emotional sad sack Damien Rice is back with O follow-up 9 (out 11/14), another collection of Braff-rock ballads for the indie yuppie set. The lugubrious opening cut "9 Crimes" features a simple repeating piano line and Lisa Hannigan's irresistable breathy vocals. Think Tori Amos light. But we're sure it'll be a big hit on Grey's Anatomy.
Posted at 6:20 PM
Tags: Damien Rice
Uh...if you're so dismissive of the song, why are you even posting it?
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indeed
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Seems like Damien Rice's got your knickers in a knot. Why bother, then? I like stereogum better when you actually have something nice to say about an artist or their work.
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Woa, don't mock the scene. What about the music?
Okay, this is not his best work, but Damien Rice kicks all kinds of deprissive folkie ass.
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hey, look here!
Another music blog that spends as much time talking about who the music is supposed to be for, or where in popular culture it'll be embraced (as if it's the artists fault or strategy) as they do about the music. Here's a novel thought... if you don't like something, you're not getting it to go away any faster by enabling it like you do when posting about it. And if you think you're just serving your loving public (in spite of your own feelings), you're not doing us any favors by bashing it at the same time. How about you spend some time legitimately and insightfully talking about THE WORKs merits or shortcomings. Maybe then you'll be worth something to the world.
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Braff-rock...I LOL'd. That's pretty perfect.
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Yeah, Stereogum how dare you? How dare you hurt these people by declaring your feelings towards an artist on your blog. I mean, on your fucking blog. Why don't you just jam a knife in each of their chests and twist.
You bastard.
Don't you realise how much your approval means to them and their tastes.
"If Stereogum doesn't like the same bands as me, what do I have left?"
Even though you are correct. How dare you? On your blog. That we can choose to read or not. Your own opinion. In America. How. You. Dare? Gawd.
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Snarky dicks. Go back to kissing Lindsey Buckingham's (???) ass. And "Go Insane" is one of the worst pop songs ever written. So there.
Actually, yeah, that Rice song IS repetitive and depressing. IS THAT ALL RIGHT, IS THAT ALL RIGHT WITH YOU?
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This was in SF's Mixtape #38
...
your slow.
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um, I liked "The Blower's Daughter", am I allowed to say that? Is it the same woman singing with him on this new one? I think she helps.
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i like damien rice enough but find it hard to not fall flat on my face for lisa hannigan...her voice is amazing and she's plenty easy on the eyes.
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the first few commentors are half-wits...i don't think this post is even knocking damien. i love his music, but do concede that it is perfect for Grey's Anatomy!!
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thank god, elvin, someone who "gets it." you people that are knee-jerk defending damien, re-read the post. it's just descriptive, and true. and i love damien. and even if stereogum didn't, it's still totally awesome of them to let us hear the song! and if stereogum *didn't* like mr rice, then guess what, i'd still get some sleep tonight (and have fun defnding him in the comments). :)
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For the record: we like Damien a lot! Just not overwhelmingly impressed with this single. Sorry if we were too snarky for y'all.
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i like damien rice quite a bit, but that chorus sounds like it's from a nickelback song or something.
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I saw Damian Rice w/ Fiona Apple this summer... it was pretty good.. until he started singing about his 'rod' and how god gave it to him or something... then he lost me...
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robert, you weren't that cool growing up, were you? no, i didn't think so... hyperdramatic, reactionary twats usually aren't...
thanks for the link 'gummer. i like the song. i'm dying for this new album to come out, and hopefully a north america tour will follow. it seems like forever since 'o' was released.
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tastes like iron in here. yeah, pretty irony.
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braff-rock.
hilarious.
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personally, i dig it. lisa's vocals are amazing. damien's vocals aren't so awesome on this one...but the lyrics are pretty bittersweet.
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I think Damiens performance is close to perfect on this song. And whats up with stereogum lately?
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I saw Damo perform this song twice on his tour with Fiona... it's better live...
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you people are all fucking retarded get a fuckin life. bunch of assholes. stupid fuckin cunt rags
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Damien Rice is absolutely INCREDIBLE.
To whoever it was that said about him singing about his 'rod' - go and actually listen to the lyrics of that song properly - it's from the perspective of him and his thoughts as a young boy, and the guilt that some religions teach you to feel for things surrounding sex - like masturbation.
Seriously, he's amazing. And live he's just beyond words. Lisa too has an incredble voice, and again, 1000 times better live. But, she doesn't write the songs. Damien is a genious.
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I love Damein, I love Lisa and I love this song. But I don't love stereogums snarky slurs. Jesus christ it makes you sound incredibly shallow.
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Great song, Great people, Great voices, just... great!
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Personally, I love the new single. It may be a bit repetative, but we can't hold that against Damien. I mean, quite a few of his songs are repetative, but we still love the man. And Lisa's voice just adds to the song, the same as it has for the others. Also, I'm going to agree with the Grey's Anatomy statement, and I can't wait for it to happen.
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people just need to grow up, and lose their childish negativity.
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i think the songs pretty good. the repetitive lines are effective in my opinion. chill it everyone - you love it, you hate it - express your opinion and then yknow, do something you actually care about.
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this man is very biased. not a good critic.
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Damien Rice is great and "9 crimes" is one of the most beautiful songs've ever heard.
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i absolutly love this song. i think the album is amazing and he shows his musicality by branching off from the style of "O". i listen to it over and over...
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Well damien's music has always been about the emotion. It shouldn't matter what instruments, rifts, voices, lyrics or anything that you choose to get that across. Why do you think (some) pop music is so overplayed and mass produced? Damien is thinking outside the box and creating what HE likes and expressing what HE feels. And it just so happens that raw, soul bearing, depressing at times (but cerainly not always) music is what I like. I'm not saying it's better but there's no reason to put it down. Besides, music does what it wants, how you take it is up to you.
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what makes it beautiful is that it's honest... and that's one quality that translates from "o" to this album. his other works (b-sides, etc) are incredibly honest as well. he speaks from the heart and it touches you personally - that's one of the qualities i love about damien.
i can indeed understand how some see it as repetitive, but it's all just a matter of opinion. eh. the point is that we're all listening to great music and, likewise, giving new music a shot.
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WOW. I didn't even know who Damien Rice was until I heard this song. So fantasic!!!! He played the Tonight Show *yes, I'm over 30*.... I wasn't even paying attention until he and Lisa started singing 9 Crimes. I'm hooked. If this is one of his more underwhelming songs, I cannot wait to listen to the rest....
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What's braff-rock? Sorry I'm Canadian...
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whoever wrote that is an idiot. just because youre not a fan of this style there is no jusification to just slag it off. Personally i love the new album and would recommend it to anyone.
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Can someone explain what the song 9 Crimes by Damien Rice is about? I'm sorry...I've listened to it several times but can't figure it out.
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so, anyone got the answer to what exactly the song is about, the actual meaning behind the lyrics. Personally i find it a pretty good song, and the contrast between the voices gives it justice. just would like to know what it is actually about.
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so, anyone got the answer to what exactly the song is about, the actual meaning behind the lyrics. Personally i find it a pretty good song, and the contrast between the voices gives it justice. just would like to know what it is actually about.
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so, anyone got the answer to what exactly the song is about, the actual meaning behind the lyrics. Personally i find it a pretty good song, and the contrast between the voices gives it justice. just would like to know what it is actually about.
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I think the song is about suicide. I don't know if it's true, but I heard somebody say it. I think it could be true?
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I think it is about cheating in a relationship - regret, followed by attempts to rationalize.
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Hey people, I'm from Belgium (Europe lol) and coincidentally read all of this. Sorry for the english (which is not THAT bad). If you ask me, you can interpret this song in 2 ways (assuming you're asking me).
1)
About love. The first few lyrics are pretty obvious, like "It's the wrong time to be thinking of you" etc etc 'cause the person who's cheating is with his/her secret lover...
Next lines explained:
"Give my gun away when it's loaded"
(this symbolizes the love he/she already has, "the loaded gun". And him falling for someone else is his "giving the gun away")
"Is that alright with you?
If you don't shoot it how am I supposed to hold it"
(if the person who initially holds the gun doesn't use it, then what's the point of him still being in the relationship and trying to hold on to it?)
"It's the wrong time
but she's pulling me through"
(it's a bad time to be cheating, but this other girl is pulling him to make this decision)
and at the end when they say 'no..' its like knowing that both of them know that it's not alright.. and it's not going to be alright. But this is how it already is, and they can't do much about it...
2)
You can also interpret this song in a slightly sexual way:
"I give my gun away when it's loaded"
(When I want to have sex, I get it somewhere away from you, from someone whom I'm cheating you with)
"If you don't shoot it how am I supposed to hold it?"
(Because there's no (enjoyable)sexual intercourse between us, how am i supposed to hold my physical need to make love?)
--> "But she's pulling me through"
(maybe a little farfetched but.. "getting him off"?)
Anyway; I think Damien Rice wrote this, great songwriter as he is, open for interpretation. There's no way it's coincidence that you could interpret this song in both ways while every line fits in the interpretation... Or maybe you've just got to bring these 2 interpretations together? Let me know what you think :)
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Hey people, I'm from Belgium (Europe lol) and coincidentally read all of this. Sorry for the english (which is not THAT bad). If you ask me, you can interpret this song in 2 ways (assuming you're asking me).
1)
About love. The first few lyrics are pretty obvious, like "It's the wrong time to be thinking of you" etc etc 'cause the person who's cheating is with his/her secret lover...
Next lines explained:
"Give my gun away when it's loaded"
(this symbolizes the love he/she already has, "the loaded gun". And him falling for someone else is his "giving the gun away")
"Is that alright with you?
If you don't shoot it how am I supposed to hold it"
(if the person who initially holds the gun doesn't use it, then what's the point of him still being in the relationship and trying to hold on to it?)
"It's the wrong time
but she's pulling me through"
(it's a bad time to be cheating, but this other girl is pulling him to make this decision)
and at the end when they say 'no..' its like knowing that both of them know that it's not alright.. and it's not going to be alright. But this is how it already is, and they can't do much about it...
2)
You can also interpret this song in a slightly sexual way:
"I give my gun away when it's loaded"
(When I want to have sex, I get it somewhere away from you, from someone whom I'm cheating you with)
"If you don't shoot it how am I supposed to hold it?"
(Because there's no (enjoyable)sexual intercourse between us, how am i supposed to hold my physical need to make love?)
--> "But she's pulling me through"
(maybe a little farfetched but.. "getting him off"?)
Anyway; I think Damien Rice wrote this, great songwriter as he is, open for interpretation. There's no way it's coincidence that you could interpret this song in both ways while every line fits in the interpretation... Or maybe you've just got to bring these 2 interpretations together? Let me know what you think :)
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Hey people, I'm from Belgium (Europe lol) and coincidentally read all of this. Sorry for the english (which is not THAT bad). If you ask me, you can interpret this song in 2 ways (assuming you're asking me).
1)
About love. The first few lyrics are pretty obvious, like "It's the wrong time to be thinking of you" etc etc 'cause the person who's cheating is with his/her secret lover...
Next lines explained:
"Give my gun away when it's loaded"
(this symbolizes the love he/she already has, "the loaded gun". And him falling for someone else is his "giving the gun away")
"Is that alright with you?
If you don't shoot it how am I supposed to hold it"
(if the person who initially holds the gun doesn't use it, then what's the point of him still being in the relationship and trying to hold on to it?)
"It's the wrong time
but she's pulling me through"
(it's a bad time to be cheating, but this other girl is pulling him to make this decision)
and at the end when they say 'no..' its like knowing that both of them know that it's not alright.. and it's not going to be alright. But this is how it already is, and they can't do much about it...
2)
You can also interpret this song in a slightly sexual way:
"I give my gun away when it's loaded"
(When I want to have sex, I get it somewhere away from you, from someone whom I'm cheating you with)
"If you don't shoot it how am I supposed to hold it?"
(Because there's no (enjoyable)sexual intercourse between us, how am i supposed to hold my physical need to make love?)
--> "But she's pulling me through"
(maybe a little farfetched but.. "getting him off"?)
Anyway; I think Damien Rice wrote this, great songwriter as he is, open for interpretation. There's no way it's coincidence that you could interpret this song in both ways while every line fits in the interpretation... Or maybe you've just got to bring these 2 interpretations together? Let me know what you think :)
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Hey people, I'm from Belgium (Europe lol) and coincidentally read all of this. Sorry for the english (which is not THAT bad). If you ask me, you can interpret this song in 2 ways (assuming you're asking me).
1)
About love. The first few lyrics are pretty obvious, like "It's the wrong time to be thinking of you" etc etc 'cause the person who's cheating is with his/her secret lover...
Next lines explained:
"Give my gun away when it's loaded"
(this symbolizes the love he/she already has, "the loaded gun". And him falling for someone else is his "giving the gun away")
"Is that alright with you?
If you don't shoot it how am I supposed to hold it"
(if the person who initially holds the gun doesn't use it, then what's the point of him still being in the relationship and trying to hold on to it?)
"It's the wrong time
but she's pulling me through"
(it's a bad time to be cheating, but this other girl is pulling him to make this decision)
and at the end when they say 'no..' its like knowing that both of them know that it's not alright.. and it's not going to be alright. But this is how it already is, and they can't do much about it...
2)
You can also interpret this song in a slightly sexual way:
"I give my gun away when it's loaded"
(When I want to have sex, I get it somewhere away from you, from someone whom I'm cheating you with)
"If you don't shoot it how am I supposed to hold it?"
(Because there's no (enjoyable)sexual intercourse between us, how am i supposed to hold my physical need to make love?)
--> "But she's pulling me through"
(maybe a little farfetched but.. "getting him off"?)
Anyway; I think Damien Rice wrote this, great songwriter as he is, open for interpretation. There's no way it's coincidence that you could interpret this song in both ways while every line fits in the interpretation... Or maybe you've just got to bring these 2 interpretations together? Let me know what you think :)
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Wow...I loved those interpretations...even though I didn't quite understand the part about the gun not being shot and whatnot but the other one was funny, although I don't like to associate those words with that pretty song...I'm not sure that's the real meaning.
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I feel like this is a drop in an already overwhelmed ocean... at this stage you've probably all stopped reading... The song's OK - bit dreary, simple and safe, but then that's Mr Rice for you :)
Good on you stereogum, think your intial diagnosis was spot on, but then that's my opinion - don't shoot me for it. what happened to tolerance of other people's views?
Earnest Folk freaks, the lot of ya ;p
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I feel like this is a drop in an already overwhelmed ocean... at this stage you've probably all stopped reading... The song's all right - bit dreary, simple and safe - dare I use the word "contrived?!" But then that's Mr Rice for you :) and the inevitability of a second album. We have enough of this kind of thing in the UK...
Good on you stereogum, think your intial diagnosis was spot on, but then that's my opinion - don't shoot me for it. It's tricky to put together a constrcutive critique of a song when you're maybe just not that bothered.
What happened to tolerance of other people's views?
Earnest Folk Freaks, the lot of ya ;p
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Damien Rice is very talented, not one who sing easy lyrics such as "my bitch, my fourty ounce" or "oh i love you why did you leave" blah blah many artist out there are not talented, only what the people want to hear and this is why they are signed on. And to hate an artist because you think its a "gay" song makes you a little ignorant and closed minded, he has something to say and writes it in a way so that when you hear t you are a little confused and you have to think about what it means for a moment, aposed to many artst where it easy, think about poetry, edgar allan poe was brilliant, a little odd, but a wonderful writer, do you understand what hes trying to say at first? no, now paris hiltons little poetry that is now a song...well...shes not a rocket scientist...anyways stop getting your panties in a wad.. either listen to it or dont...
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This song is never ment to be liked by most of the people on this planet. And thank god for that. This song is one of the examples why music can be defined as an art. I'm an art lover and this is what i can respect. I aint even saying this is one of my favorite songs or anything but people, THINK. remember what music truly should be.... Feelings, Emotions. Be it happy or sad! Look at Radiohead. One of the most talented and revolutionairy bands ever alive! They too use true emotions.
In music like Britney spears and lots of "POP" songs emotions are not part of a song. But it's not bad music!!! You cannot listen to radiohead or damien rice the whole day. You need some songs to fill up your day or just make you shake your booty on the dancefloor. Concluding: SAY WHAT YOU WANT WHENEVER YOU WANT! just remember to back up what you say and think things through.
As i said before you do not HAVE to like this.... It's just that you all remember what music is all about.
And about interpretations of the song.... It's what YOU see in the song. and nothing else.
The last thing I've got to say to everyone:.. Greetings from HOLLAND ;)
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This song is never ment to be liked by most of the people on this planet. And thank god for that. This song is one of the examples why music can be defined as an art. I'm an art lover and this is what i can respect. I aint even saying this is one of my favorite songs or anything but people, THINK. remember what music truly should be.... Feelings, Emotions. Be it happy or sad! Look at Radiohead. One of the most talented and revolutionairy bands ever alive! They too use true emotions.
In music like Britney spears and lots of "POP" songs emotions are not part of a song. But it's not bad music!!! You cannot listen to radiohead or damien rice the whole day. You need some songs to fill up your day or just make you shake your booty on the dancefloor. Concluding: SAY WHAT YOU WANT WHENEVER YOU WANT! just remember to back up what you say and think things through.
As i said before you do not HAVE to like this.... It's just that you all remember what music is all about.
And about interpretations of the song.... It's what YOU see in the song. and nothing else.
The last thing I've got to say to everyone:.. Greetings from HOLLAND ;)
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Loved the interpretations offered. I have been trying to sort it out myself, too. I did also think it was about cheating on a lover.
When he sings, "...give my gun away when it's loaded", I took that as he was cheating when he was drunk. The image he conjured with those lyrics are amazingly rich and painful. When you imagine a loaded gun just being given away to anyone, carelessly, you know someone is goign to be hurt. I felt as if the approval he seeks from his lover ("...is that all right?), was troublesome. Did his lover stop wanting to make love, was the relationship falling apart? In the coldness of indifference, perhaps his lover said, "Just leave me alone and go fuck someone else." So he did. Is that all right? Is that what you wanted? Yeah... No.
The cheating was deliberate ("...I got no excuse..."). We know he's cheating, and we know he's thinking of his lover while he's with another. Dually, he knows that no one will be spared the pain of consequence.
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Yet another opinion from somebody living in Belgium, that little puistje on the butt of France. I was particularly taken by this song; I like the simple, spare arrangement, the rather esoteric lyrics, the harmonies, and the way Rice's rough voice works so well with Hannigan's breathy sweetness. Those who liked this song might want to listen to "World's on Fire" at http://www.myspace.com/twilightred, by a young unknown Texas artist, Sahara Smith.
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I think the loaded gun stands for the fact that he tells her he's cheating on her and she shooting the gun I think means ending their relationship. "Then how am I supposed to hold it" would then mean: What am I supposed to do?
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wow, people need to stop analysing this song and just accept it as beatiful tune sung by some beautiful voices
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I don't care two hoots for anyone's freakin' opinion of anything having to do with or without Damien Rice, his singing companion, or the philosophy and explanation of this unexplainable song.
Three seconds after the music starts and one millisecond after the cello comes in and your opinion means butkis. It is chilling and painful to the soul. Period.
Nothing else matters.
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Goddamn, you lot of incredibly sad bastards. The only one making any sense on this forum IS Robert. Whether he had a happy childhood or not. A reactionary? I don't think so. The only reactionaries I see here is your sad lot, demising any criticism or good taste.
For al of you poor, diluted Ricelovers, I've got 2 words.
Elliott & Smith.
Have a happy, bland,colourless, tasteless and criticismless life, y'all!
Peter
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This just in, Criticismlessness is a pandemic sweepinig the globe. Hords of poor over-stimulated media consumer-critics are suffering from what other over-stimulated media consumer-critic physicians are calling chronic criticismlessness. Sufferers exhibit symptoms that render their over-stimulated media consumer-critic evaluations sadly sterile on blogs such as this, which are very important. Unfortunately, we fear that this insidious criticismlessness has spread and afflicted our heroic over-stimulated media consumer-critic physicians as well, sending the whole bunch into a terrible downward spiral into over-stimulated media consumer-critic purgatory.
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I love 9 Crimes! I think its absolutely beautiful, the type of song where you are with your friends, and it comes on, and you're forced to stop speaking, you know?
His music makes me think about my own life, although sometimes I just can't tell about what or why.
It definitely does force my thoughts and emotions, inward though, to that uncomfortable spot that we dont like to visit.
I liked the first interpretation of the song, I just wish I understood it more.
Like his other songs too, amie for example, i dont understand either. 'amie come sit on my wall, and tell me the story of old'?
confusing. maybe its one of those things that come with time.
And I do like his new cd, but I think 'O' and 'b-sides' are better. 9 Crimes sort of seems like it belongs on one of those cd's; a little less acoustic guitar and more cello and violin and piano.
well either way damien and lisa are both amazing musicians!
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I interpretted it differently. I think this a beautiful and complex song about guilt and the thought processes after cheating. It follows his/her feelings of guilt about the act, curiosity/anticipation of how their partner would respond, and the possibility of NOT telling their partner and not facing the consequences of their acts. Here's what I mean:
"Leave me out with the waste..."
(Knowing it's wrong; wanting the negative consequences to allieviate the guilt)
"Is that alright?"
(thinking about what their partner will think if they tell them)
"Give my gun away when it's loaded"
(Giving away the loaded gun represents telling the partner about the infidelity, because the partner then has the power to 'shoot' the cheater by leaving him/ her, etc.)
"If you don't shoot it, how am I supposed to hold it?"
(He/she is unable to deal with the guilt of NOT telling the partner about the infidelity; maybe even wanting some of the negative consequences to allieviate the guilt ...feeling that some of the hurt has been reciprocated)
*No matter what the actual meaning is behind the song, like many, it is almost made more beautiful and intriguing by its ambiguity.
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you can also interpreted this song...
To shot the gun is something she has to do, and she isn't strong enough to do it, so the guy shot it for her, ...and in the part...leave me out with the waste he is trying to said that he do it for her, he make a crime because of her and she can't make him feel guilty about that...
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It's quite a melody this one--I heard it played most recently on Oversight in Jericho season 2.
I don't know if my interpretation is right or wrong, but I got the impression listening to it that it's about lost opportunities and not having a second chance.
The timing or place or circumstances in a person's life is not considered "right" for a new opportunity (e.g. a person, job, etc.)--"it's the wrong kind of place to be thinking of you, it's the wrong time for somebody new"
He is conflicted inside as he fails to value the opportunity and deludes himself into thinking that his choice won't have that big an effect or that bad an outcome--"it's a smal crime"; but also realizes that he's got no excuse as he should know better--"and i got no excuse"
And the person makes a fatal choice thinking that it's the right one out of respect perhaps for somebody else, but loses everything--"i give my gun away when it's loaded if you don't shoot it how am I supposed to hold it?"
In the last moment of honesty he realizes that he's made an error in judgment and he's supposed to be better than this--"leave me out with the waste this is not what i do"
But, it's too late and he has lost the opportunity altogether, which he shouldn't have cheated himself out of--"it's the wrong kind of place to be cheating on you"
And now he has to live or die knowing the brutal consequences of his bad choice--"it's the wrong time she's pulling me through"...
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