Sean-Nos Nua

Sinead O'Connor | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 8, 2002)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Vanguard Records
• ASIN: B00006J420
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (67 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #19,572 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #85 in Music > World Music > Europe > British Isles > Ireland

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Sinéad O'Connor's first studio record since 2000's Faith and Courage takes her far into her Irish heritage with 13 traditional songs dusted off and set to new arrangements. Accompanied by stellar Irish and English-based musicians such as Donal Lunny (guitar, bouzouki, keyboard, bodhran, bodhran bass) and vocalist Christy Moore, O'Connor, who also coproduced, casts a hypnotic spell, making the old songs resonate with pulsing rhythms and sounds. Such contemporary treatment takes nothing away from the austere splendor of the material--in fact, this often seems a mystical recording just recovered from some ancient vault. Whether pining over unrequited love ("Peggy Gordon") or bemoaning the plight of a soldier who fled the Irish wars, only to be conscripted under Abraham Lincoln in the War Between the States ("Paddy's Lament"), O'Connor delivers an intimate and thoroughly mature performance, her whispered voice occasionally giving way to a primal scream. Melancholy to the core and astonishingly beautiful. --Alanna Nash

Product Description

Japanese version of Sinead's 2002 album, with all 13 tracks drawn from traditional Irish repertoire, includes two bonus tracks, 'Spanish Lady' & 'Marble Walls'. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

36 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunningly,achingly beautiful, October 11, 2002

By 

A. Hogan (Brooklyn, NY USA) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sean-Nos Nua (Audio CD)

Sine`ad O'Connor has found a perfect vehicle for her great talent. This is a collection of 13 cuts,most of them short,ballad like all of them traditionaly Irish. Th opening song is a hook, Peggy Gordon, a marvelously textured song of love{and the second longest on this album]. Others include LORD Franklin,the Stirring PAddy's lament, a haunting story of a conscript in the American civil war,the Gaelic Baidin Fheilimi,the longest song on this relese,Lord Baker is sung with Christy Moore,and it works very well.A great compilation of song,the outside of the Cd comes with a sticker from ms. O'connor" saying that this was the record she waited her whole life to make, and it sounds it. With the crystalline voice designed to break your heart, matched with the best arraingements,simple and elegant of her career, Sinead o'Connor has mad her finest recording to date. This is a near perfect album,and I highly recommend it .

29 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing collection of traditional Irish music, November 2, 2002

By 

Erica Anderson (Minneapolis, MN) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Sean-Nos Nua (Audio CD)

I have to confess that I am not the biggest Sinead O'Connor fan. I liked a few songs here and there in the past ten years but I wasn't really into her music as some of the reviewers here are. I was more indifferent to her music and just annoyed with her antics that I have seen on television. It wasn't until I heard Sinead's vocals on Conjure One's "Tears From the Moon" that made me re-think of her music. Her contribution on Rhys Fulber's new project just blew me away. Definitely one of the best tracks I have heard her sing on. I loved her thick Irish accent on the song. Plus a couple of my posting buddies over at MSN.com has raved about Sinead's new album of cover songs. I have heard nothing but good things about "Sean-Nos Nua". According to my friends, this album is all cover songs of traditional Irish songs. I love Irish music so that was a big plus for me to buy this album. I finally got around to buying "Sean-Nos Nua". I was definitely not disappointed in this album. Sinead's vocals were perfect for these songs. Doing an entire album of traditional Irish music was a brilliant idea on Sinead's part. Anyone wanting more poppier music from her should open their minds more, that or just should not buy this album if they want her to remain making pop music. I enjoy Irish music myself but I guess if people don't enjoy it and want Sinead to put herself in a rut by making the same ol' song over and over, so be it. I enjoy diversity. "Sean-Nos Nua" is a beautiful album. I absolutely loved "Peggy Gordon", "Molly Malone", and "Paddy's Lament" in particular. This entire album is a complete masterpiece. Fans of celtic music definitely would love "Sean-Nos Nua" as well as most Sinead fans. I may just have to check out her other albums in the near future. This woman is truly a talented and highly overlooked artist.

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Very nice recording but not enough of the Irish language, October 10, 2002

By 

greyhound1954 "greyhound1954" (Dallas, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sean-Nos Nua (Audio CD)

I've hoped Sinead would record an entire CD in the Irish language ever since I heard her do one such song in concert several years ago. This new album is very strong, but I wish there were more than two songs sung in the Erse. The liner notes include Sinead's introduction to each song and it's interesting to learn why she was drawn to them. She doesn't come right out and define what "Sean-Nos Nua" means, but I gather it roughly translates to "songs done in the old style." It is a nice collection and her voice is as expressive as ever. The best moments for me are her duet with Christy Moore on "Lord Baker" and her version of the anti-war song "Paddy's Lament." A surprising inclusion is "Molly Malone," which I'm used to hearing as a sprightly song, rather than as the dirge it really is, as Sinead notes. I'm hoping this CD will be a success that will lead to another.