Sinéad O'Connor - Faith and Courage

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. ~ MacKenzie Wilson, All Music Guide

Name Credits A. Wright Programming Acar S. Key Engineer Alan Branch Programming, Engineer Alvin Sweeney Engineer Andy Grassi Engineer Andy Wallace Mixing Anne Preven Vocals (Background), Producer Ash Howes Mixing Bim Sherman Vocals (Background) Blandinna Melky Jean Vocals Brian Eno Producer, Piano, Mixing Brian Garten Assistant Engineer Carlton Ogilvie Bass, Piano Chris Sharrock Drums Chucho Merchán Bass Ciaran Cahill Engineer Dave Stewart Guitar David Levita Keyboards Derek Scott Guitar Emily Lazar Mastering Ghetto Priest Vocals (Background), Spoken Word Glen Marchese Engineer Graham Dominy Engineer, Assistant Engineer Greg Koller Engineer Jah Wobble Bass Jeff Turzo Drum Programming, Editing Jerry Duplessis Producer Jim Fitzpatrick Illustrations Joel Derouin Cello John Reynolds Drums, Engineer, Programming, Producer, Mixing Junior Delgado Spoken Word Justin Adams Guitar Kate Garner Photography Kerren Berz Orchestral Arrangements, Conductor Kevin Augunas Assistant Engineer Kieran Kiely Low Whistle Lil John Drums Liquid Grooves Drum Samples Little Roy Vocals (Background) Mark Price Programming Michael McCoy Assistant Engineer Nick Addison Engineer Paul Bushnell Bass Reece Gilmore Programming Rob Herrera Assistant Engineer Rusty Anderson Guitar Scott Cutler Producer, Guitar Scott Gordon Engineer Simon Mundey Programming Sinéad O'Connor Arranger, Vocals, Vocals (Background) Skip McDonald Guitar, Vocals (Background), Producer, Bass Steve Churchyard Engineer Steve Jones Assistant Engineer Steve Sisco Assistant Engineer Tom Hutten Assistant Mastering Engineer Wyclef Jean Mixing, Producer