Postcards From The East Oceanside(Greatest Hits) Artist: Paula Cole

I''ve been a follower of her voice and music the first time 'Where Have All The Cowboys Gone" hit MTV. I really dig her voice. I'm one of those who really find little girl voices very annoying and big voices are really refreshing in a generation that caters to bublegum pop that sounds like a frog croaking (sorry Britney Spears)or someone running out of air and life (I know a lot and they could take up all the page). Realistically , this album is not a 'greatest hits' because some songs here have not even enjoyed great airply but still, they are good songs.There are times when the songs are kind of lengthy. Yes they are good but 5:30 minutes? Come on! Most songs loose their shine after 4 minutes...unless you are as good as Mozart then you can really keep an audience that way.


   Almost all of the 16 songs in this compilation came from her three Warner Bros albums :Harbinger, This Fire and Amen.Tomorrow I Will be Yours, Postcards From the East Oceanside and Johnny Mercer's Autumn Leaves are getaways found only in this compilation. Her voice has all the control and power, gliding from Kate Bush soprano whisphers to big and powerful Ella Fitzgerald growls.This packaging will sum up her big days in the 90's when 'I Don't Want To Wait' became massive after becoming the theme to Dawson's Creek.These days, the cliches of pop could long for Paula's original approach to songwriting.What about another original album?

So far...The Best Of. Artist: Sinead O'Connor

I heard the name Sinead O'Connor in 1990 with the #1 hit single "Nothing Compares 2 U".At that time I was discovering talents from Ireland because of U2's Jushua Tree album .Sinead has a voice of an angel that evokes the misty irish countryside.At times she adds a punch to it that reminds me of a Banshee's wailing despair.

   My niece was keen on saying (after I let her listen to Never Get Old from The Lion and the Cobra), It's like Enya only bigger and louder.Surprisingly the track also features Enya narrating a passage from the Psalms in Gaelic. No, she did not do any musical contribution except her spoken voice.The sad thing is that the said track is not included in this compilation.Bummer! 

  Sinead can be on extreme sides both politically and musically. All these facets are reflected in this Best Of compilation ,all 15 tracks of the most beautifully haunting songs in pop/rock world. Personal faves include Mandinka,The Emperor's New Clothes, Fire on Babylon,Troy, and You Made me the Thief of Your Heart which became the theme for the movie In The Name of the Father starring Daniel Day-Lewis. Nothing Compaires 2 U, has been a so-so in my book of list because I am never a Prince fan (he composed the song)and it was too popular at that time . Not until now , after exploring the track that I am able to really appreciate it. The 7th track "I Am Stretched On Your Grave" is a traditional irish track covered by so many artists already including Dead Can Dance. Sinead added her own Gregorian meets-Trent Reznor touch to the song giving it an upbeat and eerie quality which would be highlighted if you listen to it through your ipod while trekking a graveyard at 12 o'clock midnight-I miss this stuff!