Faith and Courage

AMG Review of Faith and Courage

MacKenzie Wilson
All Music Guide

Sinéad OConnor will not be taken in the midst of headlining controversy. She was informerly appointed a Catholic priest in 1998, soon after her traumatic scenes of attempted suicide and custody battles over her daughter, Roisin. Former colleague and friend, ex-Pogues frontman Shane McGowan lashed back at OConnor after she publicly criticized his wild drinking behavior. She should be down and out, ill-fated from making her signature political accusations and illustriously raw life songs, but OConnor will not be tested. Her fifth studio release of original material since 1994's Universal Mother, Faith and Courage is obviously OConnor's umpteenth disposition of reclaiming self-definition.

She sounds lonely and afraid in songs like "Jealous" and "Dancing Lessons," yet her fierce confidence overpowers such insecurity on the pinch-hitting "No Man's Woman." Don't be too fooled, for OConnor only lasts so long, regardless of her insisting nature to be on top of her game. She is a sensitive person and her most honest work shines on the sorrowful "Hold Back the Night" and on Celtic-rock "The Lamb's Book of Life," a brandish slap against her native Ireland. Emotionally spiritual and artistic, Faith and Courage tries so hard to take control as Sinéad OConnor refrains from being taken, but her bitterness prevails.