New York Post
June 13, 2000

SINEAD O'CONNOR
"Faith and Courage"

Atlantic

By DAN AQUILANTE

Indomitable is the muse that guides Sinead O'Connor, a
woman who has a gift for making both music and
trouble.

On her fifth album, "Faith and Courage," O'Connor has
finally created a worthy follow-up to 1990's "I Do Not
Want What I Haven't Got."

The 33-year-old Irish singer has regained her edge
and, as the record's title indicates, her faith and
courage.

Here in America, O'Connor had made plenty of enemies
for her religious/political beliefs. The most damning,
career-crushing event occurred in October '92, when
she sang an a cappella version of "War" on Saturday
Night Live and closed the performance by ripping up a
photograph of the Pope and hissing at the camera,
"Fight the real enemy."

Eight years later, O'Connor has made the discovery
that the real enemy is sometimes within. Musically,
her new album is stunning, a triumph, but that doesn't
count if no one will listen, so she apologizes to
those she feels she hurt and offended.

"The Lamb's Book of Life" is not the best song on
"Faith and Courage," but it is the record's most
important. Here, O'Connor sings in her clear soprano:
"I know that I have done many things to give you
reason not to listen to me. Especially as I have been
so angry, but if you knew me, maybe you would
understand me. Words can't express how sorry I am if I
ever caused pain to anybody."

This very public mea culpa is startling and places the
listener in judgment of her petition. Those who are
compassionate and believe that the passion of youth
sometimes leads to mistakes will listen to this
spiritual collection.

Even though O'Connor does ask for a pardon for her
past, she didn't make a milquetoast disc. She still
has fire in her belly as she sings the powerful rocker
"No Man's Woman" that will certainly be bashed by
he-men woman-haters, especially in light of her recent
announcement that she is gay.

The top song on the disc is the autobiographical
"Daddy I'm Fine" that tracks her rise from a Dublin
girl to rock star to mother of two. This is a song
that should be all over the radio, but won't because
it contains explicit language.