SinAtildecopyad O039ConnorSinead O039Connor - Throw Down Your Arms (12 tracks) +Album Reviews

Oh, that Sinead ...

Brandon J. Smith | Philadelphia, PA | 10/04/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"What a bizarre and fascinating career Sinead O'Connor has had. Who could have guessed from The Lion and the Cobra that she would have such a meandering, do-what-feels-right approach to her subsequent albums? Since her first scandals in the early days, I've never really taken O'Connor at her word. She may have said she was retiring, but I never gave up hope that she really just meant she needed a little vacation. She's an artist who follows her muse, and, thank goodness, that muse leads her into the studio every so often.

In this case, we've got what will forever be referred to as Sinead's reggae album. Because that's exactly what it is. She's dabbled in the genre before, to excellent results, so why not immerse herself in the scene for a while?

Despite this being a covers album within a genre, this is very different from Sean-Nos-Nua, in which she reworked and reinterpreted traditional Irish songs. This time around, she lets the music take her in its direction. The bottom line: It works. O'Connor has an incredible voice which can convey an extraordinary amount of emotion, and she uses it to great effect here. I'm not a fan of reggae, overall, but this album pulls me in. It's rather hypnotic in its way. It feels like the real deal, not just some genre excercize. I'd recommend this to the O'Connor faithful as well as fans of reggae in general."

So much for retirement...

Melissa Niksic | Chicago, IL United States | 10/04/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It came as no surprise to me that Sinead O'Connor decided to put an end to her "retirement" earlier this year. Her announcement that she would only be recording spiritual music from now on wasn't much of a shock, either...it's not like her previous albums have been lacking in religious material. Then I found out that she was planning to release an album of reggae cover songs, and I was like, "WHAT?!" But "Throw Down Your Arms" is wonderful, like most of Sinead's albums are. I'm generally not a big fan of reggae music, but I like all of the songs on this album. All the tracks are hypnotic spiritual songs with a Rasta influence. "T Mas Gan," "Vampire," and "Downpressor Man" are probably my favorite songs on the CD. The album also includes a version of Bob Marley's "War," which is the song Sinead sand on that infamous episode of "Saturday Night Live" in 1992, when she tore up a picture of the pope on television.

Although Sinead has dabbled in reggae before, "Throw Down Your Arms" is very different from any of her previous albums. That's what makes Sinead so great, though: she refuses to conform to any popular style and just sings what she wants to sing...and she does a great job at it."

An Amazing Achievement

archaeopteryx | 10/04/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I had always been a bit "iffy" about O'Connor. Was she crazy? Had this artist gone "off her rocker?" Maybe this woman is eccentric, but I can tell you one thing: this is one of the most astounding albums I have ever had the privilege to hear. One of the things that "sold" me was that O'Connor did not go to LA to create this masterpiece. She went to Kingston, Jamaica, and enlisted the talents of brilliant rhythm-section Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare. Moreover, she insisted that at least one of the rasta musicians who played on the original sessions was present. The result is simply powerful. Ms. O'Connor has taken these (often obscure) rasta/roots/reggae classics and caressed them with an obvious, poignant reverence. I had forgotten what a powerful instrument this woman possesses in her voice. She tackles Burning Spear's "Jah Nuh Dead" and the title track to the point wherein the hair stands up on the back of your neck. Her take on Tosh's "Downpressor Man" is about the most stunning track I have heard in ages. I knew O'Connor's passion from college days and her "Lion & Cobra" release. This album seems to capture the same passion this artist expressed as a 17 year old. Unbelievable record. Highlights abound on this gorgeous, authentic disc: "Curly Locks" is perhaps the most utterly beautiful song I have ever heard. "He Prayed" is mind-blowing. "Vampire" is full of the righteous anger this artist has apparently been nursing for years. "Prophet Has Arise" is astonishing not only for O'Connor's vocals, but for the obvious island back-up singers she utilizes. Sly & Robbie steer her in a completely honorable, precise direction. Not one track fails.

I know O'Connor has been stigmatized for her prescient protests in the past, but this record made me re-think my own pre-conceived notions about her. I was, quite frankly, awestruck. In a world where so many "artists" work from an industry standpoint and tow the proverbial line, O'Connor (eccentric as she may truly be) reminds us what music is all about on this disc. I'm amazed by it. Humbled, actually. The outrageous thing is that I forgot what a powerful voice this woman possesses. Well, I learned better...and pretty swiftly. O'Connor brings the unique twist of a woman singing these generally male-warrior songs, and she pulls it off with ease. Mind-blowing, in many ways, but it would take a voice and personality like hers to make it work. This could have been a crappy record, or a brilliant one, the way I see it. O'Connor has hit the ball out of the park on this one. The vibe on this record is certainly apocalyptic, but totally upbeat and accessible. Happy and comforting.. TOTALLY DANCEABLE. I give the woman props, for blending those elements of passion and pure "listen-ability." There is no question: run...don't walk...and buy this record. It's got "classic" written all over it. Truly. Big props to Sly & Robbie for such astounding production. Wow."

An Amazing Surprise...One of the Best Modern Reggae Album's

Spencer Pennington | Seattle, WA | 03/04/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I'll admit up-front, I'm not really a Sinead O'Connor fan. I am, however, an obsessive fan of reggae, and owning about 200 albums and having heard different styles and hundreds and hundreds of artists from the giants like Bob Marley & the Wailers and Peter Tosh down to the lesser known like Ken Boothe and Jacob Miller, I can definately say that this is a sold five-star reggae album. I've extensively studied the history and nature of reggae, Jamaica, and the Rasta culture, as well as the lives of several reggae artists, and I can definately tell you this is one of the most heartfelt reggae albums that I've ever heard.

In all honesty, when I first heard about O'Connor's then-upcoming reggae cover album about a year or two ago, I was somewhat bewildered and even a little opposed to the idea. In fact, I was even somewhat apprehensive until I purchased it this afternoon. Although I'm no supporter of the church and I did understand O'Connor's point, I was largely repelled by her over-zealous tearing-up of a picture of Pope John Paul II on Saturday Night Live at the end of her performance in 1992. It is important to note that she did later apologize to the Pope saying what she had done was foolish and wrong of her. Yet, my fear couldn't have been more wrong.

O'Connor delivers a stunning album here, covering some of reggae's most famous anthems like "Jah Nuh Dead," (originally spelled "Jah No Dead") and "Marcus Garvey," by Burning Spear, "Downpresser Man," by Peter Tosh, "War," by Bob Marley & the Wailers and the folk-dancehall hit, "Untold Stories" by Buju Banton. Each songs remains true to its original roots, O'Connor events puts a pleasent new feel to the songs with her Irish roots and crystal clear, haunting vocals. What also adds to the album's authenticity is the all-Jamaican backing band of all-stars such as Sly Dunbar (drums), Robbie Shakespeare (bass), Uziah "Sticky" Thompson (percussion), Robbie Lyn (keyboards), and Mikey Chung (guitar), what's more, Sly & Robbie were the production team for the album. The album itself was also recorded in the most fitting of places: At reggae's home in Kingston, Jamaica in Bob Marley's own Tuff Gong Studios. It seems O'Connor has found friends in the island's most famous rasta musicians.

It's not surprising why. Her singing on the album is some of the most heartfelt I've ever heard. Her devotion and tenderness, yet strength, shines through in her singing in each song which she leaves in its original state, unstained by pop or remix tracks as she breathes her own essence of new life into each one with such love and care that it's amazing. The songs paint a vivid picture of anguish, pain, anger, sorrow, joy, spirituality, and love all true to the originals, sometimes so much so that the singer's vocals are nothing short of eerie and even bone-chilling and apocalyptic in its style and form.

This album is, without a doubt, one of the best reggae albums in years, perhaps even since the likes of the last great roots albums of the 80's by the likes of Bob Marley & the Wailers, Peter Tosh, and Jimmy Cliff. Any reggae fan will love this album hands down. In a few short years, Sinead O'Connor's "Throw Down Your Arms," will likely be regarded as one of the greatest albums of the decade and one of the greatest and most heartfelt and innovative albums in reggae history."

Daring, Devoted...but...

JordanJasper | 12/24/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"No one can ever accuse O'Connor of being an insincere artist. She took what (for most anyone else) would be a "you gotta be kidding me" concept and made a drop-dead serious effort. Only someone with buckets of talent could pull such a thing off.

Luckily, O'Connor has never lacked for talent, though she may have lacked for timing. The woman is indeed, as most critics and All Music Guide note, one of the greatest "born" singers to emerge in 20th century pop. She's also had extensive experience with reggae fusions to great success in her strong back-catalogue. People apparently forget that she's still sold 20 million records in spite of the "Pope thing." Her ability to successfully fuse styles was outright pioneering in the late 80s and beyond.

That said, this is a flat-out "religious-experience" record. O'Connor fakes nothing here, from the non-mainstream (but *choice*) reggae/rasta tunes she is covering, to the classic line-up of authentic studio players (recorded with Sly & Robbie at Tuff Gong, for heaven's sake). O'Connor has always been able to throw darts at God and spiritual themes...this album lets her go full-throttle. The opening rendition of "Jah Nuh Dead" is creepy in the best way you could imagine. It's her statement that she means every word she sings. Her soul and passion on every song is the ticket here: sensuous on a great "Curly Locks," firing on Babylon with "Downpressor Man." The title track is, again, spotlessly sung, produced, rendered, you-name-it.

The downside? You have to either really like Sinead O'Connor or really like reggae music and its message. The sounds alone are great for any ear, but at heart (on sleeve) this is a serious work, and not for the casual listener at all. I champion O'Connor's bold talent and, some day, in a rational world, this woman will be given the major props she has earned.

Also, I'm really disappointed that O'Connor is allowing cigarettes to start hacking away at that unbelievable voice. It's evident on virtually every song. Her timbre and resilience has suffered, and it's a crying shame, given that her calling card has always been the pristine, multi-octave tone of her vocal instrument. It's also clearly the cigs that are doing it. But she hasn't lost a shred of soul. This very good, very worthy album is proof. Buy it as an O'Coonor fan or a fan of REAL reggae, and you'll be utterly thrilled. There's no middle ground... otherwise it's a complete novelty."

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