This just in from Reuters:

Sinead O’Connor

By Frank Scheck

NEW YORK (Hollywood Reporter) - Although the spectacle of a waifish, doe-eyed, shaven-headed white woman singing roots reggae might be incongruous, Sinead O’Connor overcame any reservations in her concert Friday night at New York’s Webster Hall.

Forgoing her past material to concentrate solely on Rastafarian-themed numbers, including every song on her new self-released CD, “Throw Down Your Arms,” the Irish songstress managed to put her stamp on the music.

Not that she was taking any chances. Accompanying her for the two-hour show were Sly Dunbar and Robbie Shakespeare, the classic production team/rhythm section who collaborated with her on the album, and reggae legend Burning Spear, who wrote nearly half of its tracks. Sly and Robbie also performed a rousing half-hour opening set showcasing their distinctive grooves.

Delivering classic numbers written by the likes of Spear, Lee Perry, Peter Tosh and Bob Marley, O’Connor stayed faithful to the original versions, with only slight shifts to accommodate her voice. The results, while not particularly revelatory, are undeniably impressive, with the singer’s impassioned vocals and spiritual conviction adding a new dimension to the music.

Still, lacking the deep-voiced power of some of her predecessors, she sometimes was overcome by the loudness of the musicians, particularly the boisterous horn section. Thus, she shone brightest on the opener, “Jah Nuh Dead,” delivered in a stark arrangement showcasing her voice, and such numbers as “Untold Stories” and a slowed-down “Rivers of Babylon,” for which she was accompanied by only a pair of backup singers and acoustic guitar.

Her deep commitment to the material was evident on songs like “Vampire,” for which, alternately shouting and dancing in place, she seemed to enter a trance. But her more playful side also was displayed on Perry’s amusing (and, in her case, ironic) “Curly Locks” and Tosh’s “Downpressor Man.” She introduced the latter by saying, “This one’s for the ladies.”

Anchored by Sly and Robbie on drums and bass, the band was absolutely tremendous, laying down one sinuous rhythm after another. Spear, providing vocal and percussive support, also served as the evening’s cheerleader, constantly rousing the crowd with the exhortation, “Talk to me, people!”

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter

This entry was posted on Friday, December 23rd, 2005 at 4:52 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.