Sinead O'connor Sin?ad O'connor Throw Down Your Arms

Personnel: Sin?ad O'Connor (vocals, whistle); Dalton Browne (guitar); Steven "Lenky" Marsden (keyboards); Robbie Shakespeare (bass guitar, background vocals); Uziah "Sticky" Thompson (percussion); Dalton Brownie (background vocals); Mikey Chung (guitar); Glen Brownie (acoustic guitar); Dean Fraser (saxophone); David Madden (trumpet); Carroll "Bowie" McLaughlin (piano); Robert Lyn (organ, keyboards); Sly Dunbar (drums); Katrina Harley, Pam Hall (background vocals).
Audio Mixer: Collin "Bulbie" York.
Recording information: Anchor Studios, Kingston, Jamaica; Tuff Gong Studio, KingstonJamaica.
Although it's tough to say whether this or Willie Nelson's COUNTRYMAN was 2005's most unexpected reggae album, THROW DOWN YOUR ARMS proved to be a remarkably simpatico collaboration between vocalist Sinead O'Connor and legendary producers/sidemen Sly & Robbie. Given her notoriously outspoken persona and hatred of injustice, it's oddly fitting that O'Connor applies her distinctive Irish lilt to a strong set of socially conscious roots-reggae classics.
Rather than showcasing tunes by her hero Bob Marley, O'Connor opts to cover songs by his renowned peers Lee "Scratch" Perry and Peter Tosh, as well as a handful of tracks by Burning Spear, going for an authentic Jamaican vibe by recording in the island's iconic Tuff Gong studios. Sly & Robbie's backing is as proficient and propulsive as ever, creating a thoroughly organic atmosphere that O'Connor revels in, particularly on Burning Spear's fierce "Marcus Garvey" and Perry's sauntering "Vampire." Though it had potential as a misstep, THROW DOWN YOUR ARMS comes off without a hitch, highlighting the talents of all artists involved.

• Format: CD
• Genre: Reggae