Perhaps no singer brings more spiritual baggage to a CD entitled “Theology” than controversial Irish songstress Sinead O’Connor. The singer, who tore up a picture of the Pope on “Saturday Night Live” years ago and claimed once to be ordained as a priest, has always mentioned religion and God in some way or another in her music over the years. However, “Theology,” in stores tomorrow, reveals a softer, more peaceful Sinead whose passion is not to create art for controversy’s sake, but to create a loving reflection on the nature of God.
Unlike previous efforts where O’Connor’s songs were often a religious mix of paganism, rastafarianism and catholicism, O’Connor’s approach on “Theology” is considerably more focused. Eight of the songs are directly inspired from the Old Testament, while she deliberately avoids New Testament references to Jesus (unless you count the cover of “I don’t know how to love him” from “Jesus Christ Superstar”).
O’ Connor also makes the important distinction in several songs that while her desire to earnestly seek God and have a relationship with Him is real, she still holds some of the man-made tenants of religion at arm’s length. And while there may be the slightest political tinge to songs like “The Glory of Jah” and “If U had a Vineyard,” it is with a lack of anger and despair–and with an eye to God’s sovereignty.
What really distinguishes the spiritual nature of this album are the deeply prayerful songs. “Something Beautiful” is a heartfelt cry for God to help her use her abilities to create something meaningful, and “Out of the Depths” is a humble, childlike reflection on a desire to know God and be used by Him without the restraints of formal religion. This is where “Theology” shines and is probably its most accessible to people who are not famiiar with her work–or who haven’t been big fans of her work in the past.
Still, whether or not “Theology” in either of its versions (one disc contains her sparsely arranged Dublin sessions while the second disc features the more orchestrated London sessions) will place O’Connor along side the ranks of Bob Dylan as a folksy, obtuse modern prophet is certainly questionable. I don’t think her work will play in the contemporary Christian music market because of her controversial past and her refusal to “Jesus” up her work. And early reviews by major magazines like Rolling Stone don’t seem to take a shine to this latest evolution of her work. But if you are willing to listen to her music and words without suppositions or labels, and instead let the worshipful nature of this CD wash over you, “Theology” is a worthwhile, inspirational musical experience.
posted June 25, 2007 at 9:16 pm
I’ve just heard the album and think your assessment is on target. It’s a superior, reverent, and often extraordinary piece of work. Intimate on the acoustic disc, and kind of awe-inspiring on the electric disc, I certainly think O’Connor has already reached the spiritual-prophet ranks of Dylan or Cash. She was right about the whole hush-hush, child molestation thing (via her 1992 Pope-rip), years before the scandals exploded in ways FAR more disturbing than the shredding of some Pontiff’s photograph. She’ll not likely get her due in this lifetime, (being a woman of controversy), but her giftedness (especially here) is unquestionable.
I love the way she injects her melodic powers into the Psalms and Song of Songs, and think “Something Beautiful,” “Dark Am I Yet Lovely,” “Vineyard,” and “Glory of Jah,” are classic. Young Christians, especially, would be wise to absorb the songs on this record, without judgment. They could be very powerful for worship, and they are very tight and faithful to the Scriptural sources.
Too, the album has since garnered some excellent notices from critics and the industry: USA Today; HotPress; MIxOnline; NY Daily News; etc. Luckily, no one over twelve has cared what Rolling Stone mag has to say about most anything in at least five or six years.
Great & accurate review of an album that has deep significance and sounds very worthy of the mountain-top.
posted June 26, 2007 at 1:16 pm
Don’t know about Sinead’s cd, but what JX said re Rolling Stone mag is sure right.
It’s become The Ads With Limited Text Magazine.
posted June 26, 2007 at 9:39 pm
I’m glad Sinead hadn’t apologized for ripping up the Pope’s photo, and I hope she never does. Sometimes you have to reject spiritual authority before you can come to a spiritual tradition on your own terms. (And hey, it was a photo. That Pope, a tough guy and bouyed by the love of millions, hardly suffered any harm.)
It does sound like she is opening to the tradition in a deep way on her own terms, finding what speaks to her soul and engaging in the kind of creative dialog that can end up being a gift to us all. I’m looking forward to getting her CD. (THough now I’m torn. Dublin or London? Sparse or lush? Dither, dither dither…)
As for ROlling Stone, their reviews may be poor but they’ve run some great political articles recently, doing serous reporting about some of the uglier things going on in the US under the current administration. So they’re still worth reading, if for a different reason.
Peace.
posted June 28, 2007 at 9:27 am
Saw Sinead perform most of the songs on this album last week. Absolutely beautiful, sincere and reverent. I’m thrilled Pittsburgh was one of the few places where she’s performing this year. We were very lucky.
posted July 10, 2007 at 5:17 pm
Sinead I am A catholic was visting England June 2007 Saw a interview of
you and you sang about the bible you stole please go to the store and pay for the bible and your music is great keep up the Gods work amen PAX
posted November 3, 2007 at 12:37 pm
You’re a really great singer. It has inspired the members of my family to turn a new page and start a new life in christianity. Thank you for all you encouraging words that keeps me going, resisting temptations and living a wonderful and Godly Christain life in Christ our Lord.