Sinéad O’Connor
I’m Not Bossy, I’m the Boss
11 August 2014
Nettwerk
2.5 stars out of 5
The tenth full-length by Irish singer-songwriter Sinéad O’Connor,
I’m Not Bossy, I’m the Boss is about
as traditional of a pop/rock record as she has produced in her career,
exhibiting none of the creative spark of her first handful of LPs and none of
the fiery political commentary which made her famous. Even her fascinations
with reggae and roots music are mute. What’s left is a collection of flat,
mostly lifeless AOR tunes that will likely be deleted from your iPod soon it is
added.
Let’s make one thing clear: O’Conner’s vocal performances
here are impassioned, emotional, and deadly. She hasn’t lost a thing in her
delivery; it’s what she’s delivering over that is lacking. The intensity that
won so many fans in her early days is still present in songs like “Harbour” and
“The Voice of My Doctor,” though it’s a mystery why she chooses such bland
arrangements to frame her voice and lyrics. A case in point: “8 Good Reasons”
is a venomous autobiographical attack on the music industry, delivered with
such contempt that it could strip the paint off the popemobile, but sung
overtop one of the dullest pop piano backing tracks you could imagine.
Waiting for it to end. Waiting for it to end. Waiting…
reviewed by Richard Krueger
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