Toronto Sun
11 June 2000

Sinead finds God
By JANE STEVENSON

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FAITH AND COURAGE
Sinead O'Connor
(Atlantic-Warner)
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 O' Connor's first full-length album in six years
finds the Irish singer in major exploration mode. Her
most recent effort had been 1997's excellent,
lullaby-like, six-song EP Gospel Oak.

Working this time with an impressive list of
producer-writers, including Dave Stewart, Brian Eno
and Wyclef Jean, she incorporates several music genres
-- dub, reggae and ambient -- into her glorious
Celtic-tinged pop sound. The end result, in stores
Tuesday, is a diverse work that grows on you after a
few listens.

Standouts include the provocative proclamations, No
Man's Woman and Daddy I'm Fine, the moody, atmospheric
Jealous and Hold Back The Night, the upbeat Dancing
Lessons, and the Celtic gospel-like If U Ever, Emma's
Song and Kyrie Eleison.

Check out, too, the album-opening song, The Healing
Room, on which you can hear children laughing and even
one declaring in a very proper British accent: "We
love you lots and lots and lots."

Not everything works here, such as the preachy What
Doesn't Belong To Me and The Lamb's Book Of Life. But
you've got to give O'Connor credit for trying to move
beyond the boundaries.

O'Connor has said she will only do a few select dates
in support of this album because of her two young
children. Let's hope Toronto is one of them.