Search - Sinead O'Connor :: Theology

True Spirituality for a Change--Wow!

Cheap Dutchman | Grand Rapids, MI | 06/29/2010

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was blown away to discover this album. Most of the "religious" music on the market is just trite and terrible. O'Connor's work is miles above the ordinary. Really, an entirely different category and genre. She draws from the Bible's own song book, the Psalms and other Hebrew poetry. Until 150 years ago, the entire church used only this song book before the steady but sure decline of Christian music down to the present. The sheer depth of O'Connor's songs pierce the soul, shake the conscience, cry out for justice, plead with God's people to get their act together, shutters in the awesome, sovereign presence of the Deity. The Savior is mercifully understated (blood, blood, blood and I don't know how to love him) rather than propping him up like an object of proclamated kitsch. The two-album setting of the discs are amazing, contrasting a contemplative and majestic approach to the same material. Brilliant. Inspired. Truly spiritual."

Sinead's Soul

Jill Oserowsky Stanevich | Ann Arbor, MI | 10/02/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In this two disc creation, I prefer Sinead's acoustic intensity; however, the second disk is beautiful, too, including "I don't know how to love him" from JC Superstar.



Sinead has drawn her lyrics mostly from the Tanakh/Old Testament and it speaks to all. Spirituality...relationships with the divine...doing unto others/not doing unto others...balance.



Beautiful."

Sinéad's Journey Continues

Reno Baldomero | 02/21/2010

(4 out of 5 stars)

""Theology" is truly an enigmatic collection of songs. Based on old scriptures and psalms, "Theology" is truly another step in O'Connor musical pilgrimage, which in my opinion started back in 2002 with the incredible "Sean Nos Nua", a collection of traditional Irish songs, which received universal praise. 2005's "Throw Down Your Arms", a collection of roots/ reggae tunes, was equally well-received.



"Theology" is a two-disc release, which is a bit much if you ask me. The first disc is the "Dublin" session, and it is by far the better one of the two. Sinéad is accompanied by Steve Cooney, and it's a stripped down acoustic affair. The songs are not all equally musical, and the lyrics can get a little too heavy-handed, and difficult to listen to because of their lack of rhythm. It sometimes feels like she is reading from the Bible, and not all of it translates well into music. But there are some truly lovely songs. "Something Beautiful" is lilting, and "Dark I Am Yet Lovely" is wonderfully written song. The song truly sounds like it could have been a song by some Medieval bard, if that makes any sense. "Out of the Depths" is strangely uplifting, and "Watcher of Men" is an angry cry of despair, while "If You Had a Vineyard" remains one of O'Connor's most beautifully written songs. A couple of the lyrics fails to translate well into music; "Whomsoever Dwells" feels strangely detached.



The second disc is an interesting idea, but the songs usually fall flat compared to the versions on the first dics. It could have been amazing, had they been supported by an orchestra, instead of the same tired studio gimmicks we've heard a million times over. In fact, Sinéad performed a truly wonderful version of "Dark I Am Yet Lovely" at the Night of the Proms in Holland back in 2008, supported by a full orchestra, and it sounded amazing. She also sang the legendary "Troy" for the first time in twenty years, by the way. That being said, a couple of the songs do benefit from the transformation. "33" becomes a very different tune with its beautiful strings and beat. "Watcher of Men" and "Whomsoever Dwells" both become much darker, and they both benefit from being updated to a grander musical scale.



It is no secret that Sinéad's voice have been in rapid decline since 2005, and it's a great loss, as she once had the most beautiful voice in the music business. She can still sing her heart out, but her once beautiful lower range have been reduced to a husky and heavy sound, instead of the beautiful near-whisper she once mastered. Luckily, she's been sounding much better, judging by a couple of performances from last year."