Sinéad O’Connor followed up Faith and Courage with an album even closer to her heart. Sean-Nós Nua features a baker’s dozen of traditional Irish songs. The title means “new old style,” reflecting her contemporary sensibility merging with tunes first performed hundreds of years ago.

If you’re a fan of old-fashioned Irish ballads, this is the album for you. Sean-Nós Nua doesn’t take many chances in its production or arrangement — the key here is O’Connor’s wonderful voice, paired with lilting acoustic instruments.

Continue reading →