#408
Sinead O’ Connor, I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got
Release Date: 1990
Previously Owned: Yes
First Time Listen: No
- Impressions: Coming out just before Nirvana changed the whole popular music landscape, this huge-selling album made Sinead a one-of-a-kind cultural touchstone due to her strident no-bullshit attitude, trademarked bald head, and great pipes. Haven’t heard it in years, let’s get to it… The tone for the album is set with the slow-building, string-backed “Feel So Different.” For all the mockery she’s taken over the years, her cathartic emotional voice still manages to hit home for me. Her stark take on the traditional Irish poem “I Am Stretched On Your Grave” would be simply gut-wrenching if it weren’t for a “Funky Drummer” sample didn’t add another dimension. The songs vary from acoustic ballads, string arrangements, post-punk guitar rock, folk tunes and even an a cappella track. Sometimes the atmosphere is pretty heavy in an Irish sort of way, but what pulls it all together is her gorgeous, wounded voice. During the recording of this album, she was going through painful breakup with her drummer John Reynolds and the heartache is all over every track, even on the big hits like the driving “The Emperor’s New Clothes” and the devastating Prince cover “Nothing Compares 2 U.” Even though there’s so much personal material here, she applies the same emotion to political issues, like in the gentle, acoustic “Black Boys On Mopeds.” Her career faded after she famously tore up a picture of the pope on Saturday Night Live and she never reached these heights again. Plenty of Lilith Fair singer/songwriter types sprung up in her wake attempting to duplicate this formula, but few had the combination of toughness, emotion, chops and, forgive me, Catholic tastes in music as her.
Starred Songs: “I Am Stretched On Your Grave,” The Emperor’s New Clothes,” “Nothing Compares To You”
Sneaky Track: “Feel So Different,” “Black Boys On Mopeds”
Should this album be on the list? Yes
Will you listen to this again? It had been a real long time between listens, but I could see revisiting it.
Verdict: Challenging, varied pop music confessional sometimes gets a little melancholy, but her cathartic vocal performances make it click.
Rating: ★★★3/4