Long Overdue Re-Master
JordanJasper | 04/22/2009
(5 out of 5 stars)
"People tend to forget that O'Connor truly became a star in 1987, when her breathtakingly feral debut album, 'The Lion and the Cobra,' went platinum, astonished critics, garnered a Grammy nomination, and thrilled modern rock fans and college kids on both sides of the Atlantic. The fact that people forget she had already scored big is all the more testament to the power of her 1990 follow-up, 'I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got.' Truly one of the most acclaimed albums of the 1990's, this Grammy-winning set deservedly rocketed O'Connor from sensation to global superstar. Though much of that success is due to her phenomenal and definitive cover of the Prince-penned 'Nothing Compares 2 U' and the stark accompanying video, it was really the impact of the entire album--O'Connor as superb singer-songwriter--that won her legions of fans and paved the way for the coming slew of angst-ridden girl-power pop/rockers. Every one of this album's originals has been remastered and the sound is a major improvement upon the prior mix. O'Connor is even more crytsalline, if that's possible. All her classics shine--"Emperor's New Clothes," "Three Babies," "Black Boys on Mopeds," "Last Day of Our Acquaintance" and, naturally, her monster-hit, "Nothing Compares 2 U." Though the bonus disc has excellent extras (esp. a haunting Daniel Lanois-produced version of 'Night Nurse'), it's the long overdue remastering of this groundbreaking classic pop/rock album that makes this purchase mandatory. Though O'Connor derailed subsequently for a variety of reasons, few artists since have been able to come close to the perfection of this set."
Remaster Audio Quality
Fred Von Lohmann | San Francisco, CA United States | 05/09/2009
(4 out of 5 stars)
"This review focuses on the audio quality of the remaster, for the benefit of audiophiles who are wondering whether it's worth replacing the original CD.
Overall grade: some improvement, but not a "must have" for audio quality.
The original 1990 CD edition didn't sound bad in the first place. The remaster boosts the volume (common trick that fools many into thinking it sounds "better"). In matched volume comparisons, the remaster stands out principally for having more "air" in recording, yielding a more open sound, more instrumental separation, slightly brighter than the original. But unless you're listening closely, it's not a night-and-day difference (unlike the remaster of The Cure's Kiss Me, Kiss Me, Kiss Me, which is an amazing across the board improvement on the original).
Second disk is a nice bonus, gathering b sides and compilation tracks, including a great live version of "Troy" that was the b side for "3 babies". Three previously unreleased tracks, as well: "Night Nurse," "Mind Games," and a live version of "I Want Your (Hands on Me)" from BBC Radio 1 (broadcast 25May1990).
Equipment used for listening comparisons: Mark Levinson 390S CD player, Aesthetix Calypso preamp, BAT VK-75SE power amp, and Quad ESL 988 speakers, cabling by Tara Labs."
Where are the lyrics? Was Sinead even involved in this rerel
Jason R. Tibbetts | Falls Church, VA USA | 10/21/2009
(3 out of 5 stars)
"Other reviewers have addressed the remastering quality of this reissue; I'm going to address the packaging and song selection.
If ever an artist deserved to be re-evaluated and appreciated by another generation, it's Sinead. The anniversary of "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got" (which is really *2010*, but who's counting?) should have been the perfect opportunity for this, but instead, it's a lackluster effort that got almost no promotion and has gone largely unnoticed.
One glaring oversight is the printed lyrics--where'd they go? They were in the original release. These songs are some of Sinead's finest examples of songwriting, so personal and so moving that not including the lyrics almost seems like Sinead is pulling back from the openness and intimacy that she gave us in the original release.
Second, there are almost no notes about the songs on the bonus disc. When were "Night Nurse" and "Mind Games" recorded? (I still have no idea. They don't sound contemporary with the rest of IDNWWIHG.) Who played on them? Where did "My Special Child," "Damn Your Eyes," and "Silent Night" first appear? (As a 1991 single, a b-side of 1990's "Three Babies", and a 1991 made-for-TV film in the UK, respectively). Why is "Silent Night" marked as "long version"? (Because the 1991 single of the same name had a shorter version, and the long version appeared only on the hard-to-find TV soundtrack.) You get the idea. Without notes, these bonus songs do little to help us interpret and understand the album, and Sinead's mindset when she wrote and recorded it.
Speaking of Sinead's mindset, why didn't she contribute any notes to this release, which was the highlight of her career? There's an amusing, but not very informative, note from her ex-husband and producer John Reynolds, but it leaves us wondering where the rest of it is.
On a positive note, some of the photographs in the booklet and digipak are absolutely exquisite, a reminder of how Sinead could look ethereal and divine, even while sporting an aggressive, up-yours "hairstyle".
I DO want what we haven't gotten with this release. Will Sinead, or somebody else in her camp or at EMI give this a *proper* rerelease next year, to celebrate its real 20th anniversary? I sure hope so."
Track Listings (10) - Disc #1