Atlanta
19 Jun 2000

POP: "Faith and Courage"
Sinead O'Connor. Atlantic.
13 tracks.
Grade: B

Lulled by her proper voice and the lush, oils-and-crystals feel of "The
Healing Room," you would never suspect that this is the Irish woman who
shocked the world by ripping up the pope's picture. Before you know it, 
Sinead O' Connor has eased you into the rumbling drums of "Daddy I'm Fine" 
-- or almost any of the other elegant tracks producer Dave Stewart could 
have given to O'Connor or Eurythmics partner Annie Lennox --- and slowly, 
the lyrical knives dig in. The guitars kick up. Her deceptively fragile 
voice grows biceps. But the scariest thing about this ultimately affirming,
 reggae-fond production is its ability to draw you in - song after
song --- for another unpredictable episode of O'Connor's mood swings.

--- Sonia Murray