Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Half and Half, May 13, 2004
By the time "Univeral Mother" came out, Sinead had become high on my list of favorite female artists - solely because of "Lion and the Cobra" and "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got". Being objective, this CD has some beautiful arrangements, but only about half of the songs really grabbed me, but when they grabbed me, they REALLY grabbed me. I enjoyed "Red Football" because of its message and I love how the song ends on a very angry, retaliatory way. I also was touched by "Scorn Not His Simplicity", which is a beautifully touching song about a mother whose child is 'not like all the others' and deals powerfully with a mother's feelings of 'what did I do wrong to deserve this' and 'why was my child born this way'. It is just an incredibly powerful song and very well written. I was surprised how much I loved "All Apologies" and I honestly think I like her version better than Kurt Cobain's, but I do like Kurt's as well. But, my all-time favorite Sinead song is "Perfect Indian". This is one of those songs that if it was possible to wear out a CD from playing a song too much, it would be this one. Since I dabble a little on the piano, I was very much pulled in by the music. I have to say it is one of the most perfectly beautiful piano pieces I have ever heard in my life! And, Sinead's very moving vocals make this song a beautiful gem. I would have gladly paid $15 just for this one song, but I was glad I did like a few more. I have never known any artist to put so much intensity into her songs, whether it's angst or understated, she commands her songs and pulls the listener into her world of lyrics and you come away feeling like you just had a very deep conversation with a very close friend.
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stunning Work From The Most Extraordinary Talent of the 90's, April 16, 1999
By A Customer
"Universal Mother" is a voyage into bitterness, betrayal and, ultimately, redemption. The inclusion of Germaine Greer's sound bite on track one was a little over the top, in my opinion, but when the horns start to blow on "Fire On Babylon," the listener is blasted into a very eloquent tapestry of rage. "Babylon" is one of Sinead's best songs simply by virtue of its experimental quality. The rage here is heartbreaking, even shocking. The fact that this is followed by "John I Love You/My Darling Child" is even more stunning. Now the fallout from Babylon's rage has come to earth and we are faced with an uplifting ode to the tenderness of loving relationships and between adults and the sheer joy brought into the adult world by the presence of a child. Sinead pulls it off with admirable ease and the genuine quality of her songwriting is so evident here. I don't think I've ever listened to an album that has been so perfectly recorded to be listened to "as a whole"--Sinead even urges that her fans listen to it in this manner (via the liner notes). This record is really like one continuous orchestral piece rather than a number of different songs. Mystifying and marvelous. The standout for me was "Thank You For Hearing Me." I absolutely lost it when I heard this song for the first time. It's beautiful, it's crushing, its triumphant, it's gorgeous. It's %^&&#ing religious! The only track I found to be out of place on this CD was "Scorn Not His Simplicity." While this is a lovely song(penned by Phil Coulter) and Sinead did a great job, it didn't seem to fit the thread of album overall. Otherwise, buy this CD. It will grow on you like no other.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
When It Works - It's Awesome, August 29, 2005
"Universal Mother" was Sinead's first album of new material after her 1990 blockbuster "I Do Not Want What I Have'nt Got" and in the 4 years in between the two album's her popularity declined significantly due to some bad behavior and and an ill-conceived album of pop standards that was not her forte. Consequently, "Universal Mother" was not heard by many people - which is unfortunate becuase it is mostly a very good effort. Sinead's voice is truly a work of art: at times soft and ghostly and at other times belting out anger with an intensity that is frightening. On "Red Football," she begins gently but soon turns all fury on an abusive lover. She tackles "All Apologies" with a deft touch and makes the song her own. The gorgeous "In this Heart" features a haunting O'Connor vocal backed by a choir. Only when Sinead sings lullabies to her children does this album falter. This is definately worth a listen.
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is Sinéad O'Connor's 
