'So Far... The Best of Sinead O'Connor' was released a few years earlier and is a restrospective of her Ensign recording days. The 15-track album is representative, although it is truly a shame that some of her strongest moments (e.g. 'Three Babies') are not included. Nevertheless, it includes some of her most intimate songs. It is a difficult task to tell what Sinead is all about, but this album comes a long way.

Besides the still hauntingly beautiful 'Nothing Compares 2 U', her classic songs 'Mandinka' and 'Troy' are the most wonderful moments on the disc. The other compositions are less strong, although most of them have stood the test of time. Other assets are two tracks which were not available on other Sinead albums: the strong 'You Made Me The Thief Of Your Heart' (co-written by Bono from U2) and the nice 'This Is A Rebel Song'.

Some tracks also show how Sinead sometimes lost her way. The dancey 'Thank You For Hearing Me' is pleasant enough, but clearly not what she is all about. The other 'new' track, a collaboration with Bomb The Bass, is signicantly weaker than any of the other songs.

On the other hand, her version of Julie Covington's 'Don't Cry For Me Argentina' is quite possibly the best cover released so far. Such tracks, combined with the classics mentioned above, and other well-known offerings such as 'The Emperor's Clothes' make it a worthwhile album. Many artists should wish that they could select songs from such great repertoire as Sinead O'Connor.

Love Sinead, but this CD...
...has some terrible audio quality; I have to crank up the volume just to hear her sing, particularly on "Last day of our acquaintance" and "Fire on Babylon".

TALENTED IRISH GIRL
This Hits Collection just proved how talented Sinead is!, sadly she's been missunderstood, and all the media focused in the sad moment when she insulted the POPE, I'm catholic, and if something catholic are teach everyday is to forgive, and that's why I believe we should give Sinead another chance, just for the sake of art music, she reaches to different labels in music and her lyrics enbodies a lot of meaning in them. And don't get me started on her enchanted voice, what a voice. When you hear each song, is like living a story, So Far...The Best Of Sinead O Connor is a great collection.

So far, so good...just not the best
The title of this compilation is misleading, for it does not contain the best of Sinead O'Connor's work. I give it 4 stars because O'Connor deserves 4 stars, at least, not because the choice of songs on here was particularly inspired.

The album starts off like gangbusters, with seven solid tracks in a row. This includes the keening howl and sometimes unsettling intensity of "Troy" and "Mandinka" from "The Lion and the Cobra", the stunning debut album that introduced O'Connor to the world. The mesmerizing "Nothing Compares 2 U" of course makes it on here, as do "I Am Stretched On Your Grave," "The Emperor's New Clothes," and "The Last Day of Our Acquaintance," all from her second album "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got," which showed more mature songwriting and vocal style.

The rest of the album, unfortunately, is hit or miss. Throwaway tracks like "Success Has Made a Failure of Our Home", "I Want Your (Hands on Me)" and the sweet but middling "John I Love You" made it on here in place of more engaging songs. Her guest vocals on Bomb the Bass's "Empire" is also, somewhat inexplicably, included. "Heroine," O'Connor's collaboration with The Edge of U2 fame is a nice, simple touch, but her cover of "Don't Cry For Me Argentina" seems unnecessary, especially when she has written far superior songs herself. Even the yearning "You Made Me the Thief of Your Heart" from the "In the Name of the Father" soundtrack sounds a bit turgid here. At least the defiant "Just Like U Said It Would Be," from O'Connor's first album, closes the record, perhaps a final "f you" to all those who criticized her for her outspoken behavior and slightly odd career choices.

For all its good tracks, there are some startling omissions. Notable among the absent are "Black Boys on Mopeds", "Famine", "This Is a Rebel Song" and "Thank You For Hearing Me," which is perhaps one of O'Connor's most frank and personal statements.

As a supplement to what this album does not provide, I would suggest the 2000 album "Sinead O'Connor" or "The Rest of the Best," which features all of these songs and more.
With a distinctive voice and controversial statements, Sinead O'Connor was briefly in the limelight and quickly in the doghouse. But even her opinionated politics can't take away from the beautiful work she's contributed to the post-punk canon. O'Connor's poignant delivery of Prince's "Nothing Compares 2 U," is still heart-wrenchingly painful. "Troy" is equally evocative. So Far... The Best of Sinead O'Connor provides a thorough sampling of O'Connor's early years. Emotionally charged rockers like "Emperor's New Clothes" and "Mandinka" are essential inclusions, as are her rhythmic explorations with Bomb The Bass, "Empire," and the early "I Want Your (Hands On Me)." Sadly, her Cole Porter contribution to Red, Hot, And Blue was omitted. But O'Connor proves she rightfully deserves diva status with her rendition of "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina." As if there were ever any doubts. --Steve Gdula
Budget price collection from the influential, brash & outspoken Irish woman. Originally released in 1997 it features 15 tracks. Chrysalis.