The Denver Post 
June 11, 2000

Outspoken O'Connor breaks silence 
with a striking CD 


   Ten years ago, Sinead O'Connor was a force in
popular music. The  No.1 double-platinum album 'I Do
Not Want What I Haven't Got,'  which included her
recording of Prince's 'Nothing Compares 2 U,'  was
acclaimed as an absolute masterpiece. 

But the outspoken and fiery Irish singer-songwriter
made many  more enemies than friends with her reckless
pronouncements about  the state of the world around
her. She caused a series of  memorable brouhahas - in
1992, she tore up a picture of Pope John  Paul II on
NBC's 'Saturday Night Live' (saying 'Fight the
real  enemy') - and she refused to allow 'The
Star-Spangled Banner' to  be played before a show in
New Jersey. 

O'Connor found herself in a strange position. She was
one of  the decade's most famous female vocalists, but
the reasons had  little to do with her music. 

So she laid low. There hasn't been a full-length album
in six  years. Last year, she decided to be ordained
as a priest by  controversial Irish clergyman Michael
Cox, the leader of a  Catholic breakaway sect known as
the Latin Tridentine Church (the  Roman Catholic
Church does not acknowledge women as
priests).  O'Connor is now known, outside rock
circles, as Mother Bernadette  Mary. 

Now O'Connor's 'Faith and Courage' (Atlantic) will
be  released Tuesday. One might expect an act of
folly. 

One would be wrong. The album is surprisingly
striking,  radiating kindness. Yes, the collection
touches on religion ('What  Doesn't Belong to Me'),
but O'Connor also expresses love and lust  ('Daddy I'm
Fine'). The anthemic resolution of 'No Man's
Woman'  verges on male-bashing, but it's immediately
offset by the  evocative, moving 'Summer End.' 

O'Connor's voice is magnificent as always, and the
engaging,  smooth music blends electronic beats and
programming, traditional  Celtic folk instrumentation
such as penny whistle, and  street-smart funk and pop
influences, even reggae on 'The Healing  Room.' 

She's assisted by an array of producers, including
the  Eurythmics' Dave Stewart, Brian Eno, hip-hopper
Wyclef Jean and  Kevin 'She'kspere' Briggs (Mariah
Carey, TLC, Destiny's Child). 

O'Connor's public persona is good tabloid copy, but
she's no  flash in the pan as an artist. With 'Faith
and Courage,' she  should receive her due.