Theology
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The uncompromising Irish artist, spiritualist, and provocateur gives a twist to the critical truism that double albums would generally be stronger if edited into a single disc. With what she terms her "attempt to create a place of peace in a time of war," Sinéad O'Connor consciously risks charges of not merely padding but redundancy, as the two discs feature practically the same set of material recorded in different settings. The "Dublin Sessions" are more minimal and acoustic, and the "London Sessions" incorporate full-band arrangements including harp, strings, horns, and percussion. Finding dual inspiration in Jerusalem and Jamaica, the material proves all the more revelatory in the contrasting settings, as the minimalist approach underscores vocal intimacy while the band arrangements build to majestic intensity. The opening "Jeremiah (Something Beautiful)" ranks with O'Connor's loveliest music to date, with "Job (Watcher of Men)" among her most tormented. The cover(s) of Curtis Mayfield's "We Are People Who Are Darker than Blue" fits perfectly, though a misguided attempt at "I Don't Know How to Love Him" (from Jesus Christ Superstar, mercifully featured only on the second disc) proves that some musical miracles are beyond even Sinéad's power. The second disc sounds more like pop; the first disc sounds more like prayer. --Don McLeese
Tracks
| 1 | Something Beautiful [Dublin Sessions] |
| 2 | We People Who Are Darker Than Blue [Dublin Sessions] |
| 3 | Out of the Depths [Dublin Sessions] |
| 4 | Dark I Am Yet Lovely [Dublin Sessions] |
| 5 | If You Had a Vineyard [Dublin Sessions] |
| 6 | Watcher of Men [Dublin Sessions] |
| 7 | 33 [Dublin Sessions] |
| 8 | Glory of Jah [Dublin Sessions] |
| 9 | Whomsoever Dwells [Dublin Sessions] |
| 10 | Rivers of Babylon [Dublin Sessions] |
| 11 | Hosanna Filio David [Dublin Sessions] |
| 12 | Something Beautiful [London Sessions] |
| 13 | We People Who Are Darker Than Blue [London Sessions] |
| 14 | Out of the Depths [London Sessions] |
| 15 | 33 [London Sessions] |
| 16 | Dark I Am Yet Lovely [London Sessions] |
| 17 | I Don't Know How to Love Him [London Sessions] |
| 18 | If You Had a Vineyard [London Sessions] |
| 19 | Glory of Jah [London Sessions] |
| 20 | Watcher of Men [London Sessions] |
| 21 | Whomsoever Dwells [London Sessions] |
| 22 | Rivers of Babylon [London Sessions] |
