Sinead O'Connor - Goodnight, Thank You, You've Been a Lovely Audience
She's an original, that Sinead O'Connor, even when taking on a repertoire as old and seemingly as intractable as her homeland's own rocky shore. The Irish singer draws liberally from her 2002Sean-Nos Nuarecording in this Dublin concert, holding her audience rapt while bringing a rich, full, almost New Age sound, strings and synth pads galore, to "Molly Malone" and other haunted "songs of the Irish soul"--as well as to "Nothing Compares 2 U" and "Fire on Babylon," both of which benefit from the update. There are no frills here, just the music (about 70 minutes' worth). That's admirable, but O'Connor's voice--powerful but a wee bit strident--becomes wearisome after a while. Even so, an excellent band, superb sound, crystal-clear visuals, videos of sixSean-Nos Nuasongs, and even a 30-minute documentary about the album make this a memorable document, whether or not she follows through on her retirement plans.--Sam Graham