It's nearly impossible these days to visit a coffee shop and not hear another depressed folk singer-songwriter. Exhibiting rough vocals and instrumental ability, these artists pour out their emotions and confess their past transgressions while solemn listeners brood over their lonely cups of coffee. Until recently, this confessional genre has been typified by mediocre acts like Dashboard Confessional.

Amid this community of weepy musicians, however, Irish singer-songwriter Damien Rice successfully brings the best of the confessional genre to the forefront. With a high-profile romance under his belt (Rice dated Renée Zellweger) and a main track in the Julia Roberts-Clive Owen film "Closer," Rice's popularity has steadily increased since the critically acclaimed 2002 release O.

And it's no wonder that Rice's success continues to grow — his boyish vocals, quirky, heartfelt lyrics and pitch-perfect orchestration, in addition to his slight Irish accent, appeal to classical music enthusiasts and folk-rock fans alike. Hoping to develop yet another successful record, Rice uses his combination of musicianship and charming vocals again on his latest album 9.

Not surprisingly, given this style of music, Rice wastes no time in delving into his emotions. The somber arpeggios on the piano beneath band member Lisa Hannigan's raspy intro from opening track "9 Crimes" set a melancholy tone for the entire album. With the inclusion of groaning violins and his vocals, Rice attempts to recreate the emotional and orchestral heights of "Volcano" from O. Unfortunately, Rice falls short of this goal.

This seems to be a common theme on 9 as Rice repeatedly attempts to recreate the musical expertise of O. "Elephant," an admitted sequel to "Blower's Daughter," follows Rice's formula of a shaky vocal intro, swelling into emotion, then subsiding with more shaky vocals. 9's closing track "Sleep Don't Weep," though soothing, almost directly recreates the calming effect of "Cold Water," down to the reverb on the instruments.

Rice, however, attempts on some tracks to branch out from his subdued folk confessional style, a pointless endeavor that creates under-developed melodies and brash lyrics. On "Rootless Tree," Rice strays furthest from his folk origins with the incorporation of swinging electric guitars and heavy percussion, while he repeatedly wails "Fuck you, fuck you/ Fuck you and all you've been through." In fact, the only aspect keeping "Rootless Tree" from converting into a sub-emo track is Rice's charmingly accented voice.

Although many of 9's tracks are less than stellar, Rice redeems himself with original works that display real musicianship and vocal ability. The Jeff Buckley-inspired track "The Animals Were Gone" provides an easy, almost summery feel with soothing violins and guitar. This track, like most, makes Rice's enjoyable, choirboy vocals the focus as he sings, "I love your depression and I love your double chin," a perfect example of the quirky lyrics Rice is known for. With a final cadence of violins, the track fades away with an eerie chorus of "oohs."

Differing from the usual finger-picking on other tracks, Rice begins the track "Coconut Skins" with more intense strumming, setting up one of the album's most up-tempo tracks. Despite the bouncy tempo and use of a tambourine, the minor descent and stretching of the underlying guitar work lends a serious tone of this track. Rice sings that "You can lie between her legs/ And go lookin' for/ Tell her you're searching for her soul," criticizing the inconsistencies that exist in relationships.

With his charming vocals, quirky lyrics and plucky, up-tempo guitar work, Damien Rice has distinguished himself from run-of-the-mill confessional coffee house artists to build a successful music career. Though Rice possesses the ability to effortlessly convey his emotions to an audience on a portion of his album, numerous tracks on Rice's 9 attempt to mimic but fall short of the melodic and lyrical mastery of 2002's O. Loyal Damien Rice fans may appreciate the similarity between O and 9, but those searching for a more developed sound from this Irish folk star should look elsewhere.

Grade: 2.5 out of 5