Customer Reviews

Gospel Oak

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Sinead fans were perplexed when, suffering a six-year hiatus between full original albums, Mizz Banshee released this vicious teaser. It turns out to be, perhaps, one of the greatest *incomplete* artistic canvases ever proffered by a recording "star." Gospel Oak, though an EP, is easily Sinead O'Connor's most realized, honest, defining, and elemental work. Owing to her intriguing behavior as an artist, she toured the world to support this teeny little acoustic, made-in-the-bedroom record, while she refused to tour behind Atlantic's multi-million dollar "Let's Re-invent Sinead!" whopper in 2000...the expensive 'Faith and Courage' album. However, this little forgotten piece of brilliance is the record where she truly rediscovered her jaw-droppin' chops as a songwriter, after the hell America put her through in 1992. Turns out that America learned a bit more about the Pope's organization in the meantime, and Sinead, who had effectively squelched her mainstream career, will never recover while the papacy will continue to drag on. But... every song on this record is a vocal masterpiece, a gem of poignant-yet-incisve songwriting, and sheer genius that, for a change, makes somebody actually proud to be a member of the human race. If you can get a copy of this widely shifted disc...do it. Don't put it off. You want real magic in your tired life? Look no further. I am not remotely using hyberbole here. 'Gospel Oak' is *that* good.

I was somewhat disappointed of Faith and Courage because it didn't meet the standards of this release.

Musically this is gem. Vocally it is amazing. It works because sinead is at her best when she just takes it and goes with it. When she tries too hard to make a point, it fails. This album is pure love, devotion and works.

When critics(men usually;I am a man by the way) review her, they drag her down because of things she does. ...

When I play sinead, people come to me and ask who is this. When they find out it's her singing, they are surprised. She's worked with so many people, awhich is her strength. From soundtracks, to groups, world artist etc...
I have turn so many people over to her real talent.
Sinead is a woman who sings, she has more in her catelog that I
wish people would hear.

Sineads voice is a soothing voice, yes a lullaby, I feel at easy when I listen too this album, at peace.
Too bad there are not audio clips. ...

I bought this recently after seeing it in a shop for the first time [in Australia].
From start to finish it is a collection of beautiful, gentle music. The lyrics are some of her best and the instrumentation often sparse but perfect. The highlight for me was the last track, 'He Moved Through The Fair', a live recording spotlighting the quality of Sinead's voice.

Ever since her televised tearing-up of the Pope's photo, the world seems to have written off Sinead O'Connor. What a tragic mistake! Regardless of her personal politics, Gospel Oak is a haunting, beautiful work. Gone are the dramatic screeches and rock influences from her "The Lion and the Cobra" days. Gospel Oak is a soft lullaby tinged with traditional Irish sounds and melodies. She seems to have abandoned her early celebrity and confrontational persona to quietly pursue making beautiful music regardless of public opinion. In "I Am Enough for Myself" she sings "I don't need anything else" not out of anger but out of contentedness.. I often put this short (6 song) EP on "repeat" and let it play over and over. I never seem to tire of Sinead's soothing voice or the beautiful melodies that wash over the listener. Sinead O'Connor is an immensly talented artist who deserves to be re-discovered.

This is an EP...therefore, it's probably low on most people's priority list. This is Sinead's best work, along with Universal Mother. They came out back to back. If you like Universal Mother, this is a necessary album to have.

I was very reluctant to buy this CD, since I really have a passion for only the angry Sinead O'Connor songs from The lion and the cobra, I do not want what I haven't got and some of the tracks on Universal Mother. Anyway, the rage from her Cobra days is long gone, the one time I did hear her raise her voice was in "this is a rebel song" when she says 'what good will SHUTTING me out get done!' I love that song. This is to mother you is so soothing, it will make you think of all the pain you've endured in your life and perhaps make you remember that there is still a lot of good in the world. All in all, this album isn't as good by any means as her first two breathtaking records, but it is worth to add to your sinead collection, I think anybody with half a brain could easily enjoy this albums lush lullubies. "All of your unhappiness, I will take away with my kiss, yes, I will give you tenderness." ~sinead

Sinead proves that she can stand out from all those sinead-wannabes. Let them scream,let them shout. Others like Alanis Morisette or Cranberries may sell hot with their fiery songs...But Sinead had already done it long time ago. And she didn't even want to do it again! Yes, she may not be at the top of the charts again...like the one and only <Nothing Compares 2 U>. But she has discovered a new style of singing that heals! <This is to Mother U> showers love to the hearts of those who feel lonely...while <This is a Rebel song> is another political song that is cleverly written,without the angry lyrics like the 1994 <Famine>. This is definitely not a POP-Rock album...coz it is too good to be there. This is the album which u would listen to without getting tire, and would always take great note to the gentle lyrics.

This is one of Sinead's most beautiful CDs. Each song on here is very healing and beautiful. My favorite is "Petit Poulet," the song in which Sinead cautions that there "isn't any answer to the question, you only learn to live with it." Nor is there any answer in religion, "Don't believe one who says there is."

This CD, as with most of Sinead's music, envokes Ireland and her struggles. In the song titled "This IS a Rebel Song" (apparently referencing the title of a song by U2) Sinead puts to task the treatment of Ireland by England, casting Ireland in the role of a faithful but neglected wife. Sinead asks why England has never told Ireland that he loves her.

Now, this is a MUST HAVE whether or not you are a fan of Sinead O Connor. Although I enjoyed most of her work, including her latest (Faith and Courage), this got to be her best. I like the idea of the songs and how they were organised in this EP. In this album she sounded more mellow and at peace with herself.

Sad to say that she is now not popular in Singapore, judging by her <Faith and Courage> sales. People only remember her work in <Nothing compares to You>. This EP is no longer available in Singapore. Most of the records store I visited (even major ones like HMV, Towers and Borders) does not carry this title anymore. What they have in store are her most "sellable" ones like <I Do not want what I Havn't Got>, <So far... her best>, <Cobra and the Lion>, <Universal Mother> and <Faith and Courage>.

The soothing effects of the songs presented in this EP acted like catalyst for healing wound (physical or emtional). So whether you had been hurt before or recovering a heartache this is the best antidote (other than the ones doctor prescribed). Even if you are well and happy, you might want to have it in your First-Aid Kit. Who knows when you will need it?

This is an album so personal to Sinéad O'Connor that she named it after a neighborhood in England in which she found sanctuary and healing from both public and private pain.

From the first track, this beautiful songbird sings, almost at a whisper at times, " This is to mother you... to comfort you and get you through..."

During the second track she sings reassuringly, " I am enough for myself..." touching on the subject of loving one's self.

Petit Poulet, the third track, is in it's entire context, "little one, who is afraid". With its' charming touch of french intertwined with english, Sinéad tenderly sings what could easily be considered,,, a lullaby.

4 My Love, the fourth track is medium tempo and is hard to sit still to. As usual, in her own unique way, Sinéad blends the message of her song to an amazing traditional Irish instrumentation. She is one of the key trail-blaizers for creating what is widely known today as World Music.

This Is A Rebel Song is not exclusive to this album. It is nevertheless, a wonderful Sinéad O'Connor Ballad and is the fifth song on Gospel Oak.

The sixth and final song, is a hauntingly beaultiful traditional ballad entitled "He Moved Through The Fair" which Sinéad recorded with The Chieftains.

Do get this little CD and let this Irish Songbird whisper you somthing...

René Swan