Faith and Courage

Sinead O'Connor

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 13, 2000)
• Original Release Date: June 13, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Atlantic / Wea
• ASIN: B00004TJAQ
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (176 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #36,843 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com's Best of 2000

As a controversial artist who's confounded and even repelled fans, Sinead O'Connor returns with a pop triumph. Demonstrating an ability to move fluidly from raucous rock to ethereal reggae, O'Connor's pop sensibilities sparkle without sacrificing her hard-won wisdom and spiritual enlightenment. Faith and Courage shows us both. --Kevin Cole

Amazon.com

Throughout much of her career, Sinéad O'Connor's personal torments and passions have been played out in public, frequently overshadowing the poetry of her music. The tabloid-fueling antics that led up to Faith and Courage created the perception of a woman on the fringe, but this album redirects attention back on her considerable talents. Faith and Courage unveils the rebellious Irishwoman as a sexy, vulnerable, emotional artist who's stared down her demons and is ready to revel in her triumphs. The album's you go, girl sentiment is pumped up by strong R&B and hip-hop elements. Its crisp acoustic guitar arpeggios and air-tight beats (think TLC's Fanmail) snap like the crack of a belt on "Daddy I'm Fine," "'Til I Whisper U Something," and "Dancing Lessons." Brian Eno, Eurythmic Dave Stewart, bassist Jah Wobble, and Wyclef Jean help O'Connor leverage the album's radio-ready rhythms into everything from power pop to Celtic mysticism. Lyrically, O'Connor acknowledges her periodic lack of judgment, but makes no apologies, opting instead to carry the torch for feminine sexuality, financial independence, soul searching, and her right to shave her head, wear leather boots, rock out, and still be a good mother. In other words, Sinead brings home the bacon and fries it up in a pan, millennium style. --Beth Massa

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A long-awaited and very satisfying comeback, June 17, 2000

By	"leafynowhere" (Denver, CO) - See all my reviews

After briefly achieving mega-stardom at the beginning of the 90's with her memsmerizing "Nothing Compares 2 U" and the "I Do Not..." album, Sinead really fell from favor with the mainstream due to her controversial social views and some odd artistic choices. She continued to release great music, including a lot of film soundtrack work, throughout the decade with little commercial success. It's great to hear her come roaring back with such an accomplished album, certainly her best since "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got."

The ambient dub of "The Healing Room" opens the album and lays out some of the recurring themes. The first single "No Man's Woman" follows, a brief but fiery pop-rocker about independence and faith. The third track "Jealous" strikes me as the most likely hit single, it's an absolutely gorgeous ballad with great lyrics and a spectacular vocal performance. Elsewhere, the dubby, autobiographical "Daddy, I'm Fine" includes a rock chorus recalling "The Lion & The Cobra" era. Another standout is "The Lamb's Book of Life," which combines whistles, reggae rhythms, and hip-hop beats to present Sinead's somewhat confusing Catholic/Rastafarian/Pagan spirituality.

If there is a negative to this album, it may be that the production is almost too polished and full in comparison to the intimate feel of the first two Sinead albums. But with Sinead in such fine voice singing great lyrics, it's hardly a distraction.

I'm pleased to see this album doing so well on Amazon's sales chart (#5 as of this writing). Hopefully, this decade Sinead will again be known best for her superb music.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sinead's Redemption, October 25, 2000

By	James A. Allio "aheyheynow" (Oakland, CA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

It's been a long time coming, but "Faith and Courage" is worth the wait. Finally, after years of uneven if sincere albums and EPs with head-scratching cover songs and perplexing originals accompanying the occasional Sinead O'Connor classic, the Irish genius delivers on her promise, not just to her record company for a CD they can sell, but to her fans for their love and patience. Every track on this disc rocks and each in a different way. The lyrics are phenomenal, and Sinead's voice has never sounded richer, more robust or more soulful. She works with a variety of producers, from Dave Stewart to Brian Eno to Wyclef Jean to Kevin "She'spere" Briggs, and for once the producer-hopping adds color and flavor to a cohesive whole. To say this is Sinead's most consistent album since "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got" is not an understatement. The opening song, "The Healing Room," and closer, "Kyrie Eleison," beautifully frame the musical journey contained between the two heartfelt dialogues about prayer that double as prayers in themselves. In the rowdy, anthemic "No Man's Woman" and "Daddy I'm Fine," O'Connor's spirit and spirituality shine through just as clearly as it does on the relationship numbers like "Jealousy" and "What Doesn't Belong to Me." One cut in particular, "The Lamb's Book of Life," links politics and spirituality in a way that is pure Sinead O'Connor, and does so with an inherent musicality and sing-along-ability that tips it over the edge into one of her best songs ever. In fact, give this CD a year, and the four stars I'm giving it now may very well turn into five. Good work, Ms. O'Connor, and thanks.

20 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A must-have CD!, June 13, 2000

By	John Wallace (Ireland) - See all my reviews

Thjis album was always set to be a winner, as it followed the incredible Gospel Oak EP and the gorgeous Universal Mother before that, but I certainly wasn't expecting anything as consistently enjoyable as this. I've always found Sinéad's albums to be patchy affairs but not Faith And Courage. There isn't even a hint of filler on this album.

Things start off subtly with The Healing Room. Probably the most ambient of the tracks in terms of production, and also the weakest melodically speaking. Still, it's a nice intro to the album. Things really get going with the second track, No Man's Woman. This is one of my favourite songs in Sinéads entire catalogue and a great lead-off single choice, even if it has ruffled some feathers of some reviewers who have jumped to conclusions about the song's meaning. Jealous is simply a gorgeous ballad. Beautiful melody and understated production. An instant classic and surely a future single? Dancing Lessons is undoubtedly another potential single. This track is one of the more upbeat songs with a sublime piano line and catchy chorus. The combination of Sinéad and Wyclef Jean proves to be a winner. It's a shame he they didn't collaborate on more tracks. Perhaps in the future. Daddy I'm Fine is yet another great track. The almost punk chorus coming out of nowhere, and the autobiographical lyrics make it one of the most interesting tracks. Til I Whisper U Something isn't a standout of the album, but like I said before, the quality is of such a high standard that even the non-standouts are excellent. The next track is a cover version, although Sinéad is so comfortable with it, it almost sounds like one of her very own compositions. The State I'm In is definitely a highpoint. Another track written by the team who brought us Natalie Imbruglia's Torn and the aforementioned No Man's Woman, this is another strong song, both in terms of melody and lyrics. Highly commercial, without sacrifing artistry. The next track was one of the collaborations I had been most looking forward to hearing. The Lamb's Book Of Life was written with Kevin Briggs(Contemporary R&B producer) and is one of my favourites. Lyrically it's most representative of the album, appealing for forgiveness and prayer. Musically it's a dynamic combination of Celtic flutes and R&B grooves. A standout. If U Ever and Emma's Song are two more beautiful ballads which precede the closing track, Kyrie Eleison. This traditional song has been arranged by Sinéad and is an uplifting end to Faith and Courage.

All in all, this highly accesible album is possibly the finest in Sinéad's career. Gorgeous melodies, heartfelt vocals and fascinating production. Well worth checking out!