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Sinead O'Connor has to be one of the most heartbreaking and frustrating artists to emerge in the last 20 years. Her first two albums(both appropriately spotlighted on this collection)were masterpieces that showed one of the greatest new talents I had ever heard. She was 17 years old when her first album came out and she defied genre and desription as an artist. She was simply a force of nature, which quickly became a problem that worked against her. Her bizarre statements and erratic and eccentric personality soon completely overshadowed her recorded work and people didn't buy her records because they just didn't like her. To be fair to the CD buying public her albums became pretty spotty after the first two anyway and she seemed to drift further and further from her rightful place in the musical pantheon of Dylan, Van Morrison and Aretha Franklin where she belonged. The best of the later recordings are all here-"You Made Me The Thief Of Your Heart" from the "In The Name Of The Father" movie soundtrack, "Fire On Babylon" and her version of "Don't Cry For Me Argentina". Currently, Sinead has announced her retirement, but hopefully she will return with a freshly shaved head and more of her twisted celtic soul, until then, we have this great collection to keep us company.
The title of this compilation is misleading, for it does not contain the best of Sinead O'Connor's work. I give it 4 stars because O'Connor deserves 4 stars, at least, not because the choice of songs on here was particularly inspired.The album starts off like gangbusters, with seven solid tracks in a row. This includes the keening howl and sometimes unsettling intensity of "Troy" and "Mandinka" from "The Lion and the Cobra", the stunning debut album that introduced O'Connor to the world. The mesmerizing "Nothing Compares 2 U" of course makes it on here, as do "I Am Stretched On Your Grave," "The Emperor's New Clothes," and "The Last Day of Our Acquaintance," all from her second album "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got," which showed more mature songwriting and vocal style.The rest of the album, unfortunately, is hit or miss. Throwaway tracks like "Success Has Made a Failure of Our Home", "I Want Your (Hands on Me)" and the sweet but middling "John I Love You" made it on here in place of more engaging songs. Her guest vocals on Bomb the Bass's "Empire" is also, somewhat inexplicably, included. "Heroine," O'Connor's collaboration with The Edge of U2 fame is a nice, simple touch, but her cover of "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" seems unnecessary, especially when she has written far superior songs herself. Even the yearning "You Made Me the Thief of Your Heart" from the "In the Name of the Father" soundtrack sounds a bit turgid here. At least the defiant "Just Like U Said It Would Be," from O'Connor's first album, closes the record, perhaps a final "f you" to all those who criticized her for her outspoken behavior and slightly odd career choices.For all its good tracks, there are some startling omissions. Notable among the absent are "Black Boys on Mopeds", "Famine", "This Is a Rebel Song" and "Thank You For Hearing Me," which is perhaps one of O'Connor's most frank and personal statements.As a supplement to what this album does not provide, I would suggest the 2000 album "Sinead O'Connor" or "The Rest of the Best," which features all of these songs and more.
Without doubt one of the most talented singers to have emerged in the last 20 years and her albums huge successes, so a best-of seemed like a good idea. So Far...The Best Of does provide the casual listener with some of O'Connor's biggest hits such as the huge "Nothing Compares 2 U", "Mandinka", "Fire on Babylon" and so on, but as a real O'Connor I must say that it omits way too many of her greatest songs. Sure, "best-of" collections are for people who wants the best and biggest only, but unfortunately this compilation doesn't even manage to give that; for instance, why include "Empire" and not "Three Babies"? And why "Heroine" and not "You Do Something to Me" or "This Is a Rebel Song? As I've said, most people wouldn't even know the difference, but as a fan I feel like the casual listener is missing out on some of her greatest moments. I'm glad that they included "You Made Me the Thief of Your Heart" that at least, redeems it from total failure. If you want the "best-of" Sinéad O'Connor don't buy this one; save your money and wait for a real sampling or just buy "The Lion and the Cobra" and "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got" as these were her best.
I love Sinead O'Connor. I love that she doesn't care what people think of her. Or, even better, she does care, but she does what she needs to do anyway. I think that's the sign of a great artist. Heck, I even like her bald head.
Oh, and then there's the music. Don't let it be overshadowed by her public persona, because the music is what it's about. If I don't give 5 stars to this CD, it's because some of the choices are odd. "Don't Cry For Me, Argentina"? How about "Rebel Song" or "Three Babies"? Still, I did hear some of my favorites here: "Mandinka," "The Emporer's New Clothes,""I Am Stretched On Your Grave," etc. etc. And for those of you who came to Sinead because of the Prince cover- well, that's in here too.
Have to buy this one, because it contains "You Made Me The Thief Of Your Heart," O'Connor's most powerful and most exact expression of familial devastation. The song anchored Jim Sheridan's film "In The Name Of The Father," here it expiates surrounding detritus.
Given the fact that Sinead hasn't had a radio hit since 1990 (I believe), this "greatest hits" collection is amazing. I haven't really followed Sinead religiously, except for a couple of albums. This CD has it all. The songs showcase Sinead's unique vocals as well as her writing talents. It's a shame she faded from the public. Whether it's from the media or through her own fault, her low key presence has caused many to miss out on some great music.
Brief History Of a Tortured Genius, August 14, 2004
So far, so good...just not the best, September 3, 2003
"There's no other Troy, for her to burn", November 20, 2005
you made me cold, and you made me hard, April 23, 2005
