Bang pints of Guinness together for Sinead!! This is not only my favorite record of her amazing catalog, but one of the most personally satisfying of the 80s, 90s, and beyond. O'Connor's hauntingly emotional voice is a delicate and powerful instrument, and one I fell hard in love with as a teenager. The Emperor's New Clothes and her cover of Prince's Nothing Compares 2 U were the first singles that dropped on our local college radio station, THE BUS. I believe it was that very next week that I counted my bills and headed over to Chicago Records in Kankakee to grab this on cassette. An example of Sinead's vocal diversity is the moody transition from Feel So Different to I Am Stretched On Your Grave to Three Babies. Without sounding too crazy, I really don't know what more I could ask for in a record, both vocally, lyrically, and instrumentally. It is folk, it is rock, it is alternative, it is Irish...and its beauty and spiritual ascent spans a vast spectrum, from stories to meditations. And just when you think you've had enough Jameson and know what's next, Sinead surprises you with an unexpected shift (i.e. Black Boys to Nothing Compares to Jump In The River) that many times has left me in tears. The last 3 songs on the album tell all. Truly, thank you for sharing your gift and touching me deeply. I Do Not W*ant What I Haven't Got, unless I don't got Sinead. xo ** I would put this is in my top 10 flashback records that I spin on a regular basis
A beautiful album, O’Connor’s voice is sublime and her song choices are intriguing, managing to cross a range of genres and styles without feeling disjointed. Nothing Compares 2 U is the obvious highlight and loses none of its emotional heft (despite its ubiquity at the time of its release). Black Boys on Mopeds is a quietly seething protest song and The Emperor’s New Clothes gives us a glimpse of what O’Connor’s career as a power pop star might have looked like. A fantastic listen.
3.8 + So many thoughts and feelings surrounding Sinéad O'Connor. When she first busted onto my radar in 1989, I was utterly fascinated by her beautiful baby face and her rebellious spirit. It seems banal to comment on her bald head but at the time there were absolutely ZERO other female entertainers who had the balls to sport that look. Her baldness made her the butt of countless cheap jokes on American television. Regardless, her two hit videos were on heavy rotation on MTV. \"Nothing Compares...\" is a lush, gorgeous, expansive arrangement that gives Sinéad's voice the backdrop to flutter and soar. The single tear she sheds in the video, with the tight camera shot on her angelic face - for ten year old me, it felt sublime. \"Emperor's New Clothes\" still reads as her mission statement that in retrospect serves as a general narrative to her life as an artists and public figure: \"Whatever it may bring, I will live by own policies, I will sleep with a clear conscience, I will sleep in peace.\" That uncompromising stance has come up again and again - the tearing of the pope's picture on SNL, her born-again Christian phase, coming out as gay, converting to Islam... - she's made choices that have cast her negatively in the limelight but she's stood by what she believes often risking her own image and mental health. Sometimes I wish she were better able to play nice. But surely she'd end up another throwaway whatever-happened-to artist - more so than she is currently. Now, putting aside her status as pop music's Contrarian, we're left with her music. Unfortunately, for me, the quality and luster in these tracks remains inconsistent and sometimes lacking. Setting aside \"Nothing Compares...\", which she made her own heartbreak song for the ages, we're left with songs that might be generously described as \"quirky\" and \"unique.\" Frankly, the arrangements on some of these songs is confusing (\"I Am Stretched On Your Grave\") and the lyrics are sometimes cringe-y in their directness (\"Black Boys on Mopeds\" and \"Three Babies\"). To be sure, there are some solid moments (\"You Cause as Much Sorrow\", \"Jump in the River\"). I've tried over the years to LOVE this album, which is probably her best, because I've often loved Sinead O'Connor's brave, authentic, rebellious persona. But try as I might, I still only like it.
This album is surprisingly varied, stylistically. I'm a sucker for Irish-sound, so those tracks were easy. The rest of it had sounds that generally jived with me; it's all in my 90's wheelhouse. I'm giving this one 5 stars, but it's not as strong a 5 as Aretha's.
Oh my god. This album. I loved it the first time I heard it and I love it just as much now. I listened to it endlessly in 1990. I used it to test out the first real set of speakers I got. I needed some base. I still have those JBLs. I didn't listen to much of her stuff after this, but this and Lion and the Cobra were everything.
Haunting, melodic, political, spare, heart-rending & heartfelt. Sinead brings it all and more with this album. Both the vocals are the production are stunning in their simplicity. The anger, desperation and plaintiveness of the lyricsm bring an emotional wallop to every track, especially when paired with her yearning vocals. This album is sublime.
I love black cherry iice cream but it’s pretty easy to hate Sinéad if you're a fan of the Pope / Catholic church or were watching SNL in 1992. There are also some difficult-to-unsee dancing in her MTV videos that also may give you pause. But if you were lucky enough to listen to her before the aforementioned, you’ll probably agree 'I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got' is the best album of 1990. In an age of maximalism, this album shows that maximum impact is achievable with basic tools and simple beats. There are no gimmicky production tricks, flimsy bass or wild synth-y sounds to date this album by. It holds up well, unlike ice cream on the beach or Prince’s Sign of the Times. From an a capella title track to the steady power chords of Jump in the River, the beauty in the album is its simplicity. Wikipedia says that this album was almost entirely devoted to the family of Colin Roach and presumably he is the subject of Black Boys on Mopeds. That song itself resonates stronger today than it did when it was released. This fact catapults it into the another realm. Nothing Compares 2 the use of James Brown's Funky Drummer backup on Stretched Out On Your Grave, or the gentle strum and steady build of Last Day of Our Acquaintance. I love how the tenor of that song creates liberation from a stifled existence. The entire album is great, but The Emperor's New Clothes keeps me coming back to listen to the rest. Emotionally, this album rides the line of somber relaxation and unrealized power on the brink of erruption. Without being too heavy, I could listen to this on my way to a protest rally or any Sunday morning. This is a Five for sure, but to put the five into context, I’ll offer this. If I was stranded on a desert island forever and had one album to take, this might be it, this and an everlasting supply of black cherry ice cream with a cooler.
Álbum de pura calma. Canções lentas que, em alguns momentos, lembram mantras e sons de meditação. Cantora irlandesa. Sofreu abusos durante a infância. Acabou de perder seu filho para a depressão. Uma voz doce, mas também rebelde, firme.
I love this melodramatic record, a lot of soulfullness surprisingly, and even though it is a little cheesy, I was surprised that it did feel quite authentic.
Sinnead is one of the greats. Personally liked her better on the slower, more heartfelt songs. Feel So Different is an awesome opener
Treads the line between profound and trite, mostly on the right side. Some very passionate and beautiful moments, not least of which being Nothing Compares.
This album hasn’t aged well, but her voice is absolutely something to behold when it’s used correctly. Her version of Nothing Compares 2 U is one of the best vocal performances of all time in any genre.
I really like this. Sinead has a great voice, and I like the somewhat sparse arrangements of the tracks. Most of these have a very 80s sound, but with a transitionary feel. Nothing Compares is obviously the star of this album, and it still holds up, but I really liked I am Stretched On Your Grave, Black Boys on Mopeds, and I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got. Really surprised by my enjoyment of this.
Me regalaron este vinilo mis amigos en el instituto. Era el único disco que conocían pero al mismo tiempo les parecía bastante raro como para gustarme. Dudaron entre este y el Solitude Standing de Suzanne Vega (lo volveré a oír en breve). La cuestión es que este disco fue un bombazo y siempre me recordaban: —Esta es la calva esa de la que te regalamos el disco. Aparte de las batallitas es un disco interesante que va desde el hip-hop/folk de "I am stretched on your grave", chamber pop en "Feels so different" o "Three Babies", pasando por el rock de "The emperor's new clothes" y por supuesto el clásico "Nothing compares 2 U".
As a raccoon dines on crayfish, I ate this up. Great voice and like the slow tempo of the whole album
An album to keep coming to dig in and enjoy every now and then. Nothing Compares 2 U of course, but also Emperor's New Clothes, Jump in the River, Feels So Different... Pop at its best
It was less boring than I expected. I liked many of the songs. She has a great voice and the lyrics are good.
Fantastic album with a Van Morrison reference in 'Black Boys on mopeds'. O'connor has often spoke about how the man is her favourite artist and they have appeared on Letterman together in the mid 90's (Van was drunk).
Heartfelt, sad, poignant, and beautifully composed. Perhaps not as earwormy as some pop-artists but a wonderful collection of emotional songs
I really liked it. It started off with a few slow songs, which werent really for me, but as the album went on further, I liked it more and more. Highlights: Nothing compares 2 you, last day of our acquaintance. Beautiful voice, mostly good/great songs. I said i didnt like the slow songs at the beginning, however, nothing compares to you is my favorite song off the record. Its heartbreaking and so pretty at the same time.
The first half is really great. It drags a bit after that, but picks back up in the last two tracks. Sinead O'Connor's vocal delivery never fails to impress. She is recognizably Irish and infuses her music with little inflections, both musically and vocally, to that point. However, she is not mired in traditionalism and makes music that must have certainly sounded new and fresh when it debuted.
Some really good songs but each one was too long? So it kind of dragged. But I liked it.
Quite an impressive album. Though it has some pretty sparse, whispering type tracks... the meat of it: from emperor's new clothes all the way to last day of our acquaitance is quite enjoyable. The songs have meaning and passion.
When I think of Sinead O'Connor, I think of "Nothing Compares 2 U." So the tracks on this album that are faster-paced rockers were surprising. There was a nice mix of the slower, more haunting songs with faster songs that wouldn't be out of place coming from the Cranberries. I was actually surprised (pleasantly) how much similarity I heard between the two. "I Am Stretched on Your Grave" fit that more haunting mold, and I loved when the Irish violin/fiddle kicked in. "Black Boys on Mopeds" was a highlight, getting political in calling out the hypocrisy of the British government and society and previewing the stand O'Connor took two years later when she called out the Pope on SNL.
Really enjoyed this - it was great to hear what an amazing voice she had and hear it on tracks I hadn't heard before - album would have been a revelation back then, so much so my least favourite track was Nothing Compares 2 You (as heard so often)
Surprisingly eclectic and dynamic. String quartet to hip-hop drums to guitar laden folksy ballad, just in the first three tracks. And the distinctive Irish quality is always present in her voice and some fiddle work. The album starts really strong, but does get boring in the second half. Maybe it’s too arty or contemplative for me.
I don't want to like this as much as I do. She has the occasional weird howler song, but most of the others have a nice late-80s/early-90s feel.
I didn't like it at first, but it grew on me during album listening. Not my cup of coffee completely, but good album overall. Nothing compares 2 U is good, obviously, but I've also liked Last Day of Our Acquaintance.
What a cool record! O’Connor has a great voice used to great effect. This was when she had the world prepped for her to be a big star and told everyone to fuck-off. Nothing Compares 2 U, Feels So Different, Black Boys on Moped. Chill yet full of passion.
The rest of the album does in fact compare (and quite favourably) to the hit single. Liked this.
female vocals, good quality production, stunning music videos a prayer at the beggining, I haven't listened into the lyrics much, it's all about romantic love anyway =)
I must have grown up 🤣 I truly did not appreciate this when it was released and now I enjoyed it very much!
Sinéad's voice comes across as delicate, but stands up to quite a range of (unfortunately often dated) styles. That range is weird enough and the gossamer compelling enough to hear this as a unique record in a now-satured genre. The recording is hardly naturalistic: I often felt alone with her voice in a cavernous room. It was the perfect place to hear it.
It pretty good synthpop, but I was not super crazy about all the songs. As a first experience to Sinead's work I think this left me wanting to check out more which is a win in my book
A bit of traditional influence on I am stretched to your grave, which I appreciated. I don't think I've ever listened to Sinead before. Overall a few slow and dreamy songs and then some upbeat 90s alt/pop? if you're into that. A bit slow at the end.
Nothing Compares is certainly one of the best Prince covers out there. The album as a whole is a bit too dramatic for me to want to return to.
One of the albums I felt familiar with but really it was just the all-pervasiveness of the Prince cover for a time. I don't think the rest of it actually measured up to that mark.
Two songs I liked enough to save, some songs were plain weird though, I think one or two more good songs would’ve bumped this up!
I respect the heartfelt emotion and honesty but this is not something I would choose to listen to on my own.
"Jump in the River" Released: October 1988[3] "Nothing Compares 2 U" Released: 8 January 1990 "The Emperor's New Clothes" Released: 5 June 1990 "Three Babies" Released: 17 December 1990
Nothing Compares 2U ist immer noch ein Über-Hit. Funky-Drummer-Break war 1990 natürlich noch bisschen Cutting Edge. Schöne Stimme hat sie auch auf jeden Fall, auch wenn ich den Trick bei zB Shakira oder Amy McDonald überhaupt nicht mag, aber Last Day Of Our Acquaintance ist doch ne feine Iren-/Schottenballade. Insgesamt gefällig und gar nicht ungeeignet, mich in wohlig-wattig-unschuldige Frühneunzigerstimmung zu versetzen. 2,8.
I can see how/why this would be such a groundbreaking album upon release. Behind its chart topping Nothing Compares 2U, this album was a smash success for its time. I do feel like it paved the way for artists like Tori Amos, who in my opinion, did this genre way better. But it wasn’t a bad listen at all. One of those I have always meant to get around to, but never thought I would.
I did not expect to enjoy this. But I did! No idea what she is singing half the time but was enjoyable.
I was surprised that I actually enjoyed this up until nothing compares 2 u, after that there were songs that didn't fit on the same album and it fell flat. Enough on there to enjoy though 3*
'Nothing compare 2 U' is een redelijk poppy nummer. De rest is wat minder toegankelijk, maar niet minder mooi. Maar toch niet 100% mijn ding
It's good, I can't deny that, but I never aligned with O'Connor. Other than that one truly excellent song, of course.
Thanks for the invite! This was my first album in the queue. Tremendous vocals. Not a go to artist in my arsenal but nevertheless enjoyed going through it. I am transported to a city I just travelled to and arrived at and its midday but not pleasant weather and I am in an empty dark pub waiting on an old friend to meet up who I haven't seen in awhile.
Some decent songs on here, but Nothing Compares is the biggie. Not many of the other songs come close to its quality. I am stretched... is a decent shout, album itself is what you would expect based on her standout song.
I didn't expect so many pop tracks. Otherwise quite okay. Her voice is really beautiful. (6/10) Favorite Tracks: The Emperor's New Clothes, Nothing Compares 2 U
Absolutely belongs for for Nothing Compares 2 U. One of the best vocal takes ever cut to a record. The rest is... honestly interesting, but not highly repeatable for me.
I know this guy who said this was one of his all-time favorite albums. He played The Emperor's New Clothes so much in his tape deck that it wore thin and started sounding warped. He said Sinead was the cat's meow, the bee's knees. What a pretentious ass. I mean, I don't HATE the album. I just can't for the life of me understand how it made the list. Maybe the list-makers were afraid of being eviscerated on Sinead's come-back performance on SNL. Or maybe they subliminally are giving her props for being a pioneer in cool text verbiage (Nothing Compares 2 U). (Now that I've typed that out, maybe that song is actually a demonic-play-it-backwards homage to Sinead's comrades in Irish music fame...U2 Compares Nothing.) Somehow I find the quality of Sinead's voice to be somewhat reminiscent of kd lang's, which is shocking, given some pretentious ass's opinions of her album on this list. What I will give Sinead is tangentially related to her music, which is that she dared to display a boldness that women in her time had not really gotten away with. Sure, she got blowback for it, and still does. And so to the extent that her fame gives her the platform to highlight issues that matter to her, more power to her. But what her message offers in wisdom is lost in its immature delivery. When songs from this album come on, I won't change the station, but I won't go looking for it, either.
Worth the price of admission for 'I Am Stretched On Your Grave' and of course 'Nothing Compares 2 U'. But there’s other highlights like ‘Jump In The River’ and ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’. This album surprised me in a good way despite its unflinchingly raw and personal nature,. I suspect repeated listens over time will make me appreciate it further still.
NAtuurlijk bekend van nothing compares 2u. De rest van het album gaat alle kanten uit maar niet waar ik naar luister
25th November 2021 Listened on my phone while working. Chilled evening. Very dramatic, great voice, tries different vibes throughout and has a stone cold classic in nothing compares. Liked it more than I thought I would.
Best Song: Black Boys on Mopeds. Soft instrumentation with haunting, socially conscious lyrics that still feel relevant. Worst Song: Nothing Compares 2 U. This might just be me punching out against the obviously most famous song on the album, but although sung beautifully, the whole song has this sort of weepy, damsel-in-distress, helplessness that undercuts the strong voice and individuality of the rest of the album. There are better songs about failed relationships on this album. Overall: A fine collection of soft, poignant songs. I would have preferred more of the politically charged songs and fewer of the purely relationship ones.
Huikeet vokaalit! Hittiä ei oikeen jaksanut oikeen kuunnella, mutta muut biisit yllätti positiivisesti. Hyvää tekstiä. 3/5
It's okay, I have a headache so I kind of needed slower and more mellow music today. Not particularly exciting or memorable. She's clearly talented but this kind of music isn't for me. Also this is my 100th rated album, nice.
I've listened to this album before. I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got is not my favorite album from Sinead O'Connor (check out The Lion and the Cobra). O'Connor's most recognized song is on this album ("Nothing Compares 2 U"), which is a good showcase of her vocal abilities, but it's not a song that keeps my attention well. My favorite song from this album is "The Emperor's New Clothes", which has a strong guitar rhythm backing up the energetically paced vocals. I also like O'Connor's version of the traditional tune "I Am Stretched on Your Grave". All of the songs were at least good, but I don't imagine coming back to the album as a whole.
There's something about her singing style. Mostly etheral, but it's very forward. It's not so much about her voice as it is the way she chooses to sing. This allows us her to have extreme emotional moments in her music. I also find the accompanying arrangements to be interesting. In the first four songs, we get classical / folk, downtempo, and alt rock (the kind that New Wave evolved into, see Crowded House). It's intentionally repetitive, spotlighting O'Connor's diverse singing styles. I preferred the tracks where O'Connor isn't limited by the instrumentals. "Feel So Different" and "Nothing Compares 2 U" capture her ensnaring style mixed with right level of instrumental. The last 3 songs keep things simple for a solemn folk finish, but I found them to be a bit dull.
I've heard the big hit on this but kinda interested to know what the rest sounds like. Ok it's basically a mix of pop and kinda new world type stuff. Not much substance. And it turns out the big song was a Prince cover. 2/5.
Voz realmente única. Lembra o timbre da Dolores e da Bjork. Nothing Compares 2 U é a melhor disparada, mas as duas primeiras são muito boas também
It was a pretty solid album. I don’t know if it’s something I’ll ever listen to again but overall I liked almost every song I listened to.
AMAZING vocals, and I dig the music as far as 90s style goes, however the lyrics are sometimes a lot to handle. I liked the experience of hearing more of SO's music, after only really knowing Nothing Compares 2 U Highlights: -The Emperor's New Clothes -Nothing Compares 2 U -Last Day Of Our Acquaintance
Very mixed feelings on this one. 30/70 lite to dislike. Couple songs were great, didn’t enjoy the rest.
Da isses wieder - der Überhit und das dazugehörige Album. Was mir beim Kometenschweif Don MacLeans „American Pie“ noch gut gefiel, langweilt mich hier auf hohem Niveau. Immerhin 1.5
“I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got” by Sinéad O’Connor (1990) It’s hard to think of Sinéad O’Connor without recalling the infamous SNL incident where she ripped up a photo of Pope John Paul II. This act was (as demonstrated in her alteration of the lyrics of Bob Marley’s “War”) intended to be a protest against the “child abuse” in the Roman Catholic Church. It was mostly lost on a stunned public (and now of course we know that her concern was baseless, right?). Well, the stunt flopped and, worse, it was bad art. But that 1992 event is not what this 1990 album is about, so let us remain focused. These intensely self-reflective songs are awkwardly transparent, producing within the listener a strong dose of detrimental empathy, where the art is obstructed by our feelings for the artist. With a voice marred by excess airiness and a struggle for control, she nonetheless evokes strong feeling. And that feeling is disordered by the extraordinarily painful but limited scope of her 24-year-old soul. The album’s theme is highly, uncomfortably personal, lamenting her recent divorce (“The Emperor’s New Clothes”, “Last Day of Our Acquaintance”) and the haunting affection/grief for the three children she had aborted (“Three Babies”). Her social protest (“Black Boys on Mopeds”) misses the mark by drawing an overly strained moral equivalence between Margaret Thatcher and the Chinese autocrats overlooking Tiananmen Square. It’s overwrought, and it dangerously invites an even worse reaction. Effective protest songs should avoid such recklessness. She’d have been well advised to learn from Bob Dylan’s more respectable work. On the plus side, there is an embrace of serenity (“Feels So Different” opens with Reinhold Niebuhr’s “Serenity Prayer”) and contentment (the title track “I Do Not Want What I Haven’t Got”). Nevertheless there is something tentative about the redemption she experiences. She sings as if matters are settled, which of course, they aren’t, and cannot be. Even if this album is emotionally on target, it lacks maturity. There are so many caveats and distractions that ultimately it does not succeed. Too bad. 2/5
Ehhh, some cool songs. Most were pretty forgettable. Listened to this on a long drive and it made the drive longer. Some talented songwriting, but not for me.
Not really my type of album. The singer songwriter style of the 90s was really hit and miss. A couple songs were ok. The singing is not bad. Just not my stuff. 3.7/10
Well Sinead O'Rebellion! Shock me shock me with that deviant behavior! Sinead does have a unique voice & I love Irish dialect. I recognize & appreciate the anguish that went into the album, it would be a good one if you ever need something to listen to during an ugly cry session. My highlights Feels So Different love love love the strings I Am Stretched On Your Grave is my fave of the album Nothing Compares is a classic of course, there's a reason that song has been so overplayed If I'm being honest a big highlight was when it was over.
O'Connor seems to sample every hot genre of the 90s in this one, running over the bombastic pop ballad, trip-hop piece, and standard britpop rocker just to name a few. Some are executed better than others (a few even to a T!), but the lack of a consistent theme means this feels less an album and more a dartboard of musical experiments.
This was quite boring, honestly. I didn't hate it, but I don't see myself ever listening to this again.
Eh, it wasn't horrible. It didn't interest me very much, some exciting lyrics, but that's it. Kinda sad when the best song on the album is a cover.
Eh, en ihan kauheesti välittänyt tämmösestä vähän laiskan kuuloisesta poppiksesta. Kokonaisuudessaan aika tylsä levy, vaikka laulajalla onkin ihan hyvä ääni.
Muutama biisi oli ihan mielenkiintonen (esim wtf I Am Steretched on Your Grave ja NWA biitti :D), mutta suurin osa biiseistä oli vähän liian lässytystä mun makuun. 2/5, vähän kolmosen suuntaan.
Rubbish. Nothing Compares shines like a diamond in shit. Well, last couple of tracks aren't too bad but the rest is whining, preachy mediocrity.
Not bad by any means, but it is certainly too melodramatic and dated for my tastes. Didn’t really age well.
This was a struggle for me to even get through. I understand what it was going for, but nothing connected with me at all. I couldn’t even finish the last song, which is the namesake of the album. Not really any redeeming qualities for me.
"Nothing Compares 2 U" is the best song on the album and it's not even hers (shoutout to Prince). The rest of the album is just garbage. 3/10.
Oh yeah