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All Music Guide review of She Who Dwells
The live show on disc two is riveting; it is revelatory for its deep emotional commitment to the performance of the material at hand. On material such as "Molly Malone," "I Am Stretched on Your Grave," and "You Made Me the Thief of Your Heart," Celtic, reggae, and modern dance music come together in a singular mix of O'Connor's own design. Bottom line: it kicks ass. And the performance of Prince's "Nothing Compares 2 U" blows away the studio version with its searing sense of loss and grief. O'Connor's professionalism as a bandleader is not to be eclipsed by anyone. This 13-track set was simply the best record of 2003 at the time of its release. Her manner of getting inside the material is uncanny as she transforms herself with that gorgeous voice from track to track. Her protagonists and characters are people of this world to be sure, but they are also angels and haunted spirits, children, and broken lovers who have been laid waste by their honesty, much like the singer herself. O'Connor is easily the most misunderstood artist of her time, and her willingness to allow her restless spirit to seek happiness and indulge her emotions clearly makes people -- particularly Americans -- very uncomfortable and angry. If you cannot get past the person to appreciate the voice, it's your loss, as this is quite simply a presentation of pop culture that translates itself into high (yet very accessible) art for anyone with ears that are open. Sinead, thank you for everything; you will be missed. Amen. - Thom Jurek