Customer Reviews

Faith & Courage

5 star:		(111)
4 star:		(43)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

After briefly achieving mega-stardom at the beginning of the 90's with her memsmerizing "Nothing Compares 2 U" and the "I Do Not..." album, Sinead really fell from favor with the mainstream due to her controversial social views and some odd artistic choices. She continued to release great music, including a lot of film soundtrack work, throughout the decade with little commercial success. It's great to hear her come roaring back with such an accomplished album, certainly her best since "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got."

The ambient dub of "The Healing Room" opens the album and lays out some of the recurring themes. The first single "No Man's Woman" follows, a brief but fiery pop-rocker about independence and faith. The third track "Jealous" strikes me as the most likely hit single, it's an absolutely gorgeous ballad with great lyrics and a spectacular vocal performance. Elsewhere, the dubby, autobiographical "Daddy, I'm Fine" includes a rock chorus recalling "The Lion & The Cobra" era. Another standout is "The Lamb's Book of Life," which combines whistles, reggae rhythms, and hip-hop beats to present Sinead's somewhat confusing Catholic/Rastafarian/Pagan spirituality.

If there is a negative to this album, it may be that the production is almost too polished and full in comparison to the intimate feel of the first two Sinead albums. But with Sinead in such fine voice singing great lyrics, it's hardly a distraction.

I'm pleased to see this album doing so well on Amazon's sales chart (#5 as of this writing). Hopefully, this decade Sinead will again be known best for her superb music.

It's been a long time coming, but "Faith and Courage" is worth the wait. Finally, after years of uneven if sincere albums and EPs with head-scratching cover songs and perplexing originals accompanying the occasional Sinead O'Connor classic, the Irish genius delivers on her promise, not just to her record company for a CD they can sell, but to her fans for their love and patience. Every track on this disc rocks and each in a different way. The lyrics are phenomenal, and Sinead's voice has never sounded richer, more robust or more soulful. She works with a variety of producers, from Dave Stewart to Brian Eno to Wyclef Jean to Kevin "She'spere" Briggs, and for once the producer-hopping adds color and flavor to a cohesive whole. To say this is Sinead's most consistent album since "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got" is not an understatement. The opening song, "The Healing Room," and closer, "Kyrie Eleison," beautifully frame the musical journey contained between the two heartfelt dialogues about prayer that double as prayers in themselves. In the rowdy, anthemic "No Man's Woman" and "Daddy I'm Fine," O'Connor's spirit and spirituality shine through just as clearly as it does on the relationship numbers like "Jealousy" and "What Doesn't Belong to Me." One cut in particular, "The Lamb's Book of Life," links politics and spirituality in a way that is pure Sinead O'Connor, and does so with an inherent musicality and sing-along-ability that tips it over the edge into one of her best songs ever. In fact, give this CD a year, and the four stars I'm giving it now may very well turn into five. Good work, Ms. O'Connor, and thanks.

Thjis album was always set to be a winner, as it followed the incredible Gospel Oak EP and the gorgeous Universal Mother before that, but I certainly wasn't expecting anything as consistently enjoyable as this. I've always found Sinéad's albums to be patchy affairs but not Faith And Courage. There isn't even a hint of filler on this album.

Things start off subtly with The Healing Room. Probably the most ambient of the tracks in terms of production, and also the weakest melodically speaking. Still, it's a nice intro to the album. Things really get going with the second track, No Man's Woman. This is one of my favourite songs in Sinéads entire catalogue and a great lead-off single choice, even if it has ruffled some feathers of some reviewers who have jumped to conclusions about the song's meaning. Jealous is simply a gorgeous ballad. Beautiful melody and understated production. An instant classic and surely a future single? Dancing Lessons is undoubtedly another potential single. This track is one of the more upbeat songs with a sublime piano line and catchy chorus. The combination of Sinéad and Wyclef Jean proves to be a winner. It's a shame he they didn't collaborate on more tracks. Perhaps in the future. Daddy I'm Fine is yet another great track. The almost punk chorus coming out of nowhere, and the autobiographical lyrics make it one of the most interesting tracks. Til I Whisper U Something isn't a standout of the album, but like I said before, the quality is of such a high standard that even the non-standouts are excellent. The next track is a cover version, although Sinéad is so comfortable with it, it almost sounds like one of her very own compositions. The State I'm In is definitely a highpoint. Another track written by the team who brought us Natalie Imbruglia's Torn and the aforementioned No Man's Woman, this is another strong song, both in terms of melody and lyrics. Highly commercial, without sacrifing artistry. The next track was one of the collaborations I had been most looking forward to hearing. The Lamb's Book Of Life was written with Kevin Briggs(Contemporary R&B producer) and is one of my favourites. Lyrically it's most representative of the album, appealing for forgiveness and prayer. Musically it's a dynamic combination of Celtic flutes and R&B grooves. A standout. If U Ever and Emma's Song are two more beautiful ballads which precede the closing track, Kyrie Eleison. This traditional song has been arranged by Sinéad and is an uplifting end to Faith and Courage.

All in all, this highly accesible album is possibly the finest in Sinéad's career. Gorgeous melodies, heartfelt vocals and fascinating production. Well worth checking out!

I've liked Sinead since I first saw her video for "Mandinka" in 1988 on MTV. Not easily being swayed by controversy, I have stayed a loyal fan. It was, and is, her singing that won me over. I always knew that Sinead wasn't going to be a one hit wonder. After her 1990 "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got" she released a couple of albums in which her artistry was challenged. Now, on "Faith And Courage" Sinead proves what her loyalist fans already knew--she can sing AND create great music. Seldom does an entire album satisfy like "Faith And Courage" does. She probably won't have a comeback because of all the past and present controversy surrounding her beliefs, plus radio is dominated by mindless bubblegum right now. Then again, it's nice to hear a great cd and not have to hear it overplayed on the radio or MTV/VH1. Highly recommended to fans and non-fans.

I never owned a Sinead O'Connor record, but this record has gotten so many rave reviews from 'Rolling Stone,' 'Billboard,' "Time' and so many other magazines and sites, calling it one of the best records of the year, and a friend of mine has been singing its praises for weeks. So...I finally decided to get it myself. I have to agree: this IS one of the best albums I've ever heard. The voice of O'Connor is simply amazing. It will give you chills (but in a very GOOD way).The songs are loaded with emotion and spirit, and backed by arrangements using hip/hop, celtic, reggae and ambient influences. This is one of those albums where EVERY track is superb. This is an album about one woman's personal journey to find courage and independence, but the grooves here are so sexy and deliciously funky that the music just radiates great vibes. It makes you feel like you're onto something REALLY special. The best tracks are 'The Healing Room,' 'Daddy I'm Fine' 'Hold Back the Night' 'Emma's Song' 'No Man's Woman' 'What Doesn't Belong 2 Me' and the amazing song 'Jealous.' Just a spectacular album that shimmers with brilliant artistry and some of the most elegant (but wholly unobtrusive) production I've seen in years. A five star record, and if this one doesn't win some major Grammys and rekindle the career of O'Connor, I don't know what this world can be thinking. Just beautiful. Buy it. Your life will be richer for the experience of listening.

Depending on what you're looking for, "Faith and Courage" is either a pleasant sixty-minute assortment of songs or a big disappointment. If you're hoping to hear your old friend Sinead--you know who I'm talking about--the singer who uses her amazing vocal range and power to belt out songs that challenge your mind while they slam you against the wall, look elsewhere. This is a mellow cd. It's the kind of music that sounds great over dinner and a glass of wine, or perhaps while driving up the freeway at night (especially "Jealous, Healing Room, and "The State I'm In"). It works on that level, and for that reason, I give it three stars. But if you want to rock, stick to "The Lion and the Cobra" or "I Do Not Want what I Haven't Got."

It seems hard to believe that Sinead's big "comeback" on Atlantic took place two years ago, with this incredibly diverse and musically brilliant album. I still listen to it more than I have listened to most of my other CDs, and part of the reason is that the emotional impact of this song collection is as vital as the immaculate, sparkling musical production. Sinead has always been experimental and courageous with her spare sort of melodies, but on this work, she allows new styles to weave a little enchantment around the edges of her phrasing, her tones, her lyric twists and turns. Here we find everything striking a gorgeous balance. She doesn't abuse the ambient, electronic, Celtic, reggae, and hip-hop influences at work here--she makes them service the songs, and the songs are often startling. Why Atlantic didn't bother to really promote more than just the first single in this set stuns me: with its virtually unanimous critical acclaim,'Faith & Courage' deserved the full studio push. "The Healing Room," with its trancey, trippy electronics and the assured, spell-casting quality of Sinead's lyric and vocal, represents the classic "new" Sinead in all her glory. "No Man's Woman," co-written with Scott Cutler and Anne Preven is probably her best "direct impact" rock hook ever, but the choice as first single was a misfire (why "ease" Sinead O'Connor back into the spotlight by putting big money behind a song that will divide people right off-the-mark, and set a considerable amount of folks *against* even giving the rest of the album a listen?!? I'm not questioning the artistic value or power of this churning, massive tune, just the waste of record company money). "Jealous" is positively the most elegant piece of musical treacle and vocal prowess we've seen from her in years--preserving all of her emotive powers and integrity in a song that could have encountered immense mass-appeal had it been given a real chance at radio. Sadly, by the time it was released, Atlantic no longer had the budget to make those nasty radio-station pay-offs needed to get a song into suitable rotation. They could have bet their chops on this one first thing and the record would have gained the mass audience it deserves. The rest of the record is almost spectral in its floating elegance: Sinead charming your pants off in the Wyclef Jean-produced "Dancing Lessons"; Sinead punk-thrashing what is likely her best-written song ever, "Daddy I'm Fine" (Another better choice for a first single); Sinead laying back for an astonishing Celtic-club groove with "Whisper"; Sinead raising gooseflesh with a heart-rending power ballad, the Hogdens-penned "Hold Back the Night." This song, though a cover, should have been the first single. Part of Sinead's magic is her ability to cover as powerfully as she can perform her own material, and it was a cover that gave *more" people a chance to know who she was to begin with. "Night" is an astonishing, unforgettable song. Atlantic had a worldwide hit with this and they blew it. After this tune the record slips just a notch, but only because it loses a touch of its cohesiveness. Sinead starts going all over the place. The songs are great, but perhaps the sequencing of the album could have been a bit more micro-managed. "Stae I'm In" (another Cutler/Preven work) is Sinead in pure AAA Radio pop mode, and though it's a strong track, a highly effective track, it's not really Sinead O'Connor at all. Not believable. But it works because her vocal performance nails the original mood of the composition with technical perfection. "Lamb's Book of Life" is bombastic and very well orchestrated, but about three verses too long. "If U Ever" (a Celtic country weeper about Sinead's deceased mother)is a four star effort for the sheer emotion alone, even if Sinead's writing here is very, very lazy (.."you got into your car, and you drove as far...as you could and even FARther..." [disappointing]). The next two tracks stamp the finished product with the brilliance that it deserves: "Emma's Song" is a soaring Sinead classic if there ever was one, and her idiosyncratic rendering of "Kyrie Eleison" against a chaotic reggae loop is pure genius. A moving, bewitching, shockingly good record overall, on a par with her first two albums (but perhaps not quite quite as musically brilliant as her second), this one will have legs for years to come, as the word-of-mouth cult status of 'Faith and Courage' is already legendary. It will end up selling more in the long-run than it ever did during Atlantic's brief but high-profile media blitz. By the way: the word is out now that O'Connor is soon releasing a stirring new album of irish traditionals crossed with electronica: the fusion promises to be a winner: how could a return to her deepest soul-roots combined with all she has learned musically over the years NOT be an instant classic? Looking well forward to that one when it arrives. But buy 'Faith & Courage' and add it to your collection. You'll never forget it, and you'll never stop being haunted by its sounds.

A couple of years ago I was looking through my sister's tape collection and saw that she had Sinead O'Connor's "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got" album. I remember whenever I would see Sinead's video for "Nothing Compares To U" I would always make fun of it and call her "Skinhead" O'Connor and names like that, although I secretly liked the song. I enjoy new music and borrowed my sister's tape and found out that what she had was a great album. I soon became a fan and now own all of her albums. Due to controversy, Sinead's work has always been overlooked. How many people have heard her excellent "Gospel Oak EP" from 1997? "Faith and Courage" follows Sinead's high standards and hopefully will allow a wider range of people to give her music a chance. Each track is powerful. Favorites include: "Dancing Shoes",""Jealous" and "Emma's Song." This is definitely the best album of her career and is worth a listen. I hope people will forgive Sinead and give this album and her music a chance.

I've been a long time listener of Sinead's work (since way back in 1987), and I've continued to follow her even when she did some of her more experimental recordings. This is definitely her most cohesive album since I DO NOT WANT WHAT I HAVEN'T GOT. There are numerous influences on the album, including Van Morrison and Bob Marley. Her voice has never sounded this beautiful--and once in awhile, she will still let go a wail of emotion that will make the hair stand on the back of your neck. Some of the tracks are very reminiscent of the sound of her single "The Thief of Your Heart", but that's a good thing in my opinion. Standout tracks include "Hold Back the Night", "'Til I Whisper You Something". It's a little more polished than her previous work, lacking some of the rawness that makes her such an awesome singer/songwriter, but it doesn't take away from the emjoyment of the CD.

This album is an excellent comeback for fans of Sinead's earlier work. It contains some of the energy and anger of "Lion and the Cobra" as well as "I Do Not Want..."'s emotional depths. Few other artists offer as much insight into their lives as Sinead does, and this time around, she livens her lyrics up with awesome collaborators like Dave Stewart and Wyclef. Standout tracks: "No Man's Woman," "Jealous," "Dancing Lessons," "Daddy I'm Fine," "The Lamb's Book of Life," and "Kyrie Eleison" (not a Mr. Mister cover). Overall: Excellent!