The Lion and the Cobra

Sinead O'Connor

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: 1987
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B000003JAW
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #30,734 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

To quote her fellow Irishman, poet William Butler Yeats, when Sinead O'Connor's debut, The Lion and the Cobra, was released, a terrible beauty was born. O'Connor has a haunting voice as dark as the Irish bogs, and her unwavering delivery simultaneously inflames and chills. She sings in two ranges: her soprano ("Never Get Old," "Jackie") is a nearly monastic chant that's angular and breathy like a pan flute or a tin whistle, while her alto, reigning in "I Want Your (Hands on Me)" and "Mandinka," is a suspended, forceful spoken-word tone that never quite yells. By switching back and forth between these two vocal modes, she yanks the listener into her turmoil, giving you no choice but to empathize. She was only 20 years old during this recording, and her difficult relationships with lovers, motherhood, her parents, and the Catholic Church were traumatic and fresh. But rather than mellow with maturity, she gained notoriety with publicly unfavorable political antics that would accompany and often overshadow her equally astounding follow-up, I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got. --Beth Bessmer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars an Incredible Debut, September 16, 2004

By	J. Brady (PAWLEYS ISLAND, SC United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This is one of the most amazing debut albums by any artist of any genre. O'Connor is a incredible vocalist and songwriter. Unfortunately she also possesses a self destructive streak not seen in popular music in a long time. Never before have I seen an artist of her talent involved in such career busting moments. If all you know of her is her cover of Prince's "Nothing Compares 2 U" you need to dig a little deeper and get this one. She covers a lot of ground, from stark, folkish ballads to hip-hop and electronic songs to straight ahead punchy rockers. My wish is that people could look past the headlines, the scandals, the retirements, the coming in and out of the closet, etc etc to give this album the attention it deserves. It is amazingly eclectic and full of wonderful songs.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Underlined with naked anger, fear and despair., March 29, 2000

By	dev1 (Baltimore) - See all my reviews

About once every decade a woman comes along who changes my perspective of women in popular music and, for that matter, my perspective of music. In 1977 it was Kate Bush with The Kick Inside, and in 1987 it was Sinead O'Connor with The Lion And The Cobra. Forget the shaved head and combat boots. I'm not talking about fashion, I'm talking about uncompromised passion.

Every song on The Lion And The Cobra is underlined with naked anger, fear and despair. I've tried to imagine living in a country (Ireland) which has had an ongoing War of Independence for the past century. A country where a walk to the bakery on Sunday morning for bread may be the last. Sinead takes you through the violent streets of Belfast (Jerusalem, Drink Before The War). She also introduces the listener to the stark despair of 'Jackie' and `Troy.'

The Lion And The Cobra is potent - lyrically and musically. If your tastes are bent towards `entertainment,' may I suggest exploring the Grammy winners. However, if you're prepared to lock yourself inside the cage with the lion and the cobra, this CD is for you.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Myth and Vinegar, April 27, 2000

By	Jack L. Aiello (Bronx, New York United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is the CD that still blows me away. Say what you will about Sinead O'Connor and her political stunts, but you can't deny this is one hell of an album. O'Connor has a clear chilled voice that can emote an anthemic growl one minute and pain and hurt the next. She can vilify and accuse a lover (the devastating "Troy"), while still conveying hurt and sadness at the same time. The Lion and the Cobra winds itself around themes of Irish Myth and lore, Catholicism, soured relationships and O'Connor's acute sense of political awareness. Such weighty stuff might bog down an album, and at times it does a feel a little heavy and burdensome. But for the most part Cobra succeeds because the music is such a heady mix of garage rock, new wave, late 80's club and Punk. It may feel like O'Connor is getting on her soapbox, but you don't give a damn because she's testifying!