aaamusic | On 04, Mar 2012

Twitter rants, desperate online pleas for a boyfriend followed by a hasty Los Vegas marriage and mental health issues. The past year has seen Sinead O’ Connor make a media comeback- for all of the wrong reasons. Unfortunately these stories make for tabloid gold and have overshadowed what made Sinead O Connor famous in the first place- her raw talent. New album “How About I Be Me (and You Be You)?”- due to be released on March the 2^nd is O Connors reply to all of the criticism, judgment and hardship she has faced.

Like a female Morrissey, Sinead O Connor is notoriously opinionated- she says what she likes and refuses to apologize for her behaviour. So, it was to some peoples surprise when she kept tight-lipped on a recent appearance on the Graham Norton show. She refused to comment on her recent erratic behaviour, saying that she didn’t want to upset record label execs and instead focused the discussion on her new music. She did however perform her new single “The Wolf is Getting Married” live- and her honest, passionate performance said it all.

For the first time since 2000’s ‘Faith & Courage’ the production of this album and the song writing matches O Connor’s talent as a vocalist. “Very Far From Home” opens the album. A melancholy heart wrenching ballad, the production on this song is suitably stripped back and raw allowing O Connor’s emotive, whispery vocals to take the lead and set the tone for the album. How About I Be Me (and You Be You) does not try to be a contemporary album- or try to compete with modern music techniques and new sounds. Long time producer (and first hubby) John Reynolds has kept the production minimal and organic.

Of course given Sinead O Connor’s infamous religion rants there is an almost obligatory reference to her thoughts on the Church in “Take off your Shoes”. At times it is an uncomfortable listen “I bleed the blood of Jesus over you” however, it is an uncomfortable topic and O Connor treats it as such.

There are touching moments on the album in tunes like “I had a Baby” and “Old Lady” O Connor delivers the melody and expresses the lyrics with the kind of tenderness that many pop stars of today could only dream of.

There are a few weak moments on How About I Be Me (and You Be You), one being “Reason with Me”, her portrayal of a junkie- however all together with the level of Sinead O Connor’s conviction and vigour, you never really doubt her. With this album Sinead O Connor has managed to salvage her reputation as an artist with pure talent. This is a solid album that will surprise her biggest sceptics and delight her loyal fans.

 

Orna Lyons