<body><![CDATA[Anyone who treasures early Bob Dylan or peak-period Bob Marley should find a connection with Damien Dempsey. It’s not a description you hear often these days, but essentially Dempsey is a protest singer, balancing his pride in his nation with his hatred of what it’s had to live through. Seize the Day is an album that grabs you by the throat. That voice: the thick, hard Dublin accent that punches the words out at you. Those lyrics: grim then suddenly tender. That percussion: slamming in to underscore Dempsey’s emotional cries. This is one of the most distinctive albums released this year, and one of the best. If Dempsey doesn’t command your attention, you’ve been living in Pop Idol land too long. Click <a href="asfunction:Tardis.webPageOpen,http://www.damiendempsey.com"><b>here</b></a> to visit the official Damien Dempsey website. The audio track It’s All Good is a special extended sample.Buy for £12.99 or less, including postage and packaging, before July 26. Subject to availability.]]></body>