Throw Down Your Arms

Sinead O'Connor | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 4, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: That's why there's chocolate and vanilla
• ASIN: B000B6D6TU
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (77 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #58,810 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Jah Nuh Dead

2. Marcus Garvey

3. Door Peep

4. He Prayed

5. Y Mas Gan

6. Curly Locks

7. Vampire

8. Prophet Has Arise

9. Downpressor Man

10. Throw Down Your Arms

11. Untold Stories

12. War

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Oh, that Sinead ..., October 4, 2005

By 

Brandon J. Smith (Philadelphia, PA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Throw Down Your Arms (Audio CD)

What a bizarre and fascinating career Sinead O'Connor has had. Who could have guessed from The Lion and the Cobra that she would have such a meandering, do-what-feels-right approach to her subsequent albums? Since her first scandals in the early days, I've never really taken O'Connor at her word. She may have said she was retiring, but I never gave up hope that she really just meant she needed a little vacation. She's an artist who follows her muse, and, thank goodness, that muse leads her into the studio every so often.

In this case, we've got what will forever be referred to as Sinead's reggae album. Because that's exactly what it is. She's dabbled in the genre before, to excellent results, so why not immerse herself in the scene for a while?

Despite this being a covers album within a genre, this is very different from Sean-Nos-Nua, in which she reworked and reinterpreted traditional Irish songs. This time around, she lets the music take her in its direction. The bottom line: It works. O'Connor has an incredible voice which can convey an extraordinary amount of emotion, and she uses it to great effect here. I'm not a fan of reggae, overall, but this album pulls me in. It's rather hypnotic in its way. It feels like the real deal, not just some genre excercize. I'd recommend this to the O'Connor faithful as well as fans of reggae in general.

35 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars So much for retirement..., October 4, 2005

By 

Melissa Niksic (Chicago, IL United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Throw Down Your Arms (Audio CD)

It came as no surprise to me that Sinead O'Connor decided to put an end to her "retirement" earlier this year. Her announcement that she would only be recording spiritual music from now on wasn't much of a shock, either...it's not like her previous albums have been lacking in religious material. Then I found out that she was planning to release an album of reggae cover songs, and I was like, "WHAT?!" But "Throw Down Your Arms" is wonderful, like most of Sinead's albums are. I'm generally not a big fan of reggae music, but I like all of the songs on this album. All the tracks are hypnotic spiritual songs with a Rasta influence. "T Mas Gan," "Vampire," and "Downpressor Man" are probably my favorite songs on the CD. The album also includes a version of Bob Marley's "War," which is the song Sinead sand on that infamous episode of "Saturday Night Live" in 1992, when she tore up a picture of the pope on television.

Although Sinead has dabbled in reggae before, "Throw Down Your Arms" is very different from any of her previous albums. That's what makes Sinead so great, though: she refuses to conform to any popular style and just sings what she wants to sing...and she does a great job at it.

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Amazing Achievement, October 4, 2005

By 

archaeopteryx - See all my reviews

This review is from: Throw Down Your Arms (Audio CD)

I had always been a bit "iffy" about O'Connor. Was she crazy? Had this artist gone "off her rocker?" Maybe this woman is eccentric, but I can tell you one thing: this is one of the most astounding albums I have ever had the privilege to hear. One of the things that "sold" me was that O'Connor did not go to LA to create this masterpiece. She went to Kingston, Jamaica, and enlisted the talents of brilliant rhythm-section Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare. Moreover, she insisted that at least one of the rasta musicians who played on the original sessions was present. The result is simply powerful. Ms. O'Connor has taken these (often obscure) rasta/roots/reggae classics and caressed them with an obvious, poignant reverence. I had forgotten what a powerful instrument this woman possesses in her voice. She tackles Burning Spear's "Jah Nuh Dead" and the title track to the point wherein the hair stands up on the back of your neck. Her take on Tosh's "Downpressor Man" is about the most stunning track I have heard in ages. I knew O'Connor's passion from college days and her "Lion & Cobra" release. This album seems to capture the same passion this artist expressed as a 17 year old. Unbelievable record. Highlights abound on this gorgeous, authentic disc: "Curly Locks" is perhaps the most utterly beautiful song I have ever heard. "He Prayed" is mind-blowing. "Vampire" is full of the righteous anger this artist has apparently been nursing for years. "Prophet Has Arise" is astonishing not only for O'Connor's vocals, but for the obvious island back-up singers she utilizes. Sly & Robbie steer her in a completely honorable, precise direction. Not one track fails.
I know O'Connor has been stigmatized for her prescient protests in the past, but this record made me re-think my own pre-conceived notions about her. I was, quite frankly, awestruck. In a world where so many "artists" work from an industry standpoint and tow the proverbial line, O'Connor (eccentric as she may truly be) reminds us what music is all about on this disc. I'm amazed by it. Humbled, actually. The outrageous thing is that I forgot what a powerful voice this woman possesses. Well, I learned better...and pretty swiftly. O'Connor brings the unique twist of a woman singing these generally male-warrior songs, and she pulls it off with ease. Mind-blowing, in many ways, but it would take a voice and personality like hers to make it work. This could have been a crappy record, or a brilliant one, the way I see it. O'Connor has hit the ball out of the park on this one. The vibe on this record is certainly apocalyptic, but totally upbeat and accessible. Happy and comforting.. TOTALLY DANCEABLE. I give the woman props, for blending those elements of passion and pure "listen-ability." There is no question: run...don't walk...and buy this record. It's got "classic" written all over it. Truly. Big props to Sly & Robbie for such astounding production. Wow.