Product Details

* Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
* Original Release Date: 2000
* Number of Discs: 1
* Label: Capitol
* Catalog Number: 21612
* ASIN: B000003JAW
* Other Editions: Audio Cassette
* Average Customer Review: based on 40 reviews. (Write a review.)
* Amazon.com Sales Rank: #3,755 in Music (See Top Sellers in Music)
Yesterday: #8,216 in Music

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1. Jackie Listen Listen
2. Mandinka Listen Listen
3. Jerusalem Listen Listen
4. Just Like U Said It Would B Listen Listen
5. Never Get Old Listen Listen
6. Troy Listen Listen
7. I Want Your (Hands On Me) Listen Listen
8. Drink Before The War Listen Listen
9. Just Call Me Joe Listen Listen
Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
To quote her fellow Irishman, poet William Butler Yeats, when Sinead O'Connor's debut, The Lion and the Cobra, was released, a terrible beauty was born. O'Connor has a haunting voice as dark as the Irish bogs, and her unwavering delivery simultaneously inflames and chills. She sings in two ranges: her soprano ("Never Get Old," "Jackie") is a nearly monastic chant that's angular and breathy like a pan flute or a tin whistle, while her alto, reigning in "I Want Your (Hands on Me)" and "Mandinka," is a suspended, forceful spoken-word tone that never quite yells. By switching back and forth between these two vocal modes, she yanks the listener into her turmoil, giving you no choice but to empathize. She was only 20 years old during this recording, and her difficult relationships with lovers, motherhood, her parents, and the Catholic Church were traumatic and fresh. But rather than mellow with maturity, she gained notoriety with publicly unfavorable political antics that would accompany and often overshadow her equally astounding follow-up, I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got. --Beth Bessmer
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
an Incredible Debut, September 16, 2004
Reviewer: J. Brady (PAWLEYS ISLAND, SC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
This is one of the most amazing debut albums by any artist of any genre. O'Connor is a incredible vocalist and songwriter. Unfortunately she also possesses a self destructive streak not seen in popular music in a long time. Never before have I seen an artist of her talent involved in such career busting moments. If all you know of her is her cover of Prince's "Nothing Compares 2 U" you need to dig a little deeper and get this one. She covers a lot of ground, from stark, folkish ballads to hip-hop and electronic songs to straight ahead punchy rockers. My wish is that people could look past the headlines, the scandals, the retirements, the coming in and out of the closet, etc etc to give this album the attention it deserves. It is amazingly eclectic and full of wonderful songs.

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5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
Myth and Vinegar, April 27, 2000
Reviewer: Jack L. Aiello (Bronx, New York United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)
This is the CD that still blows me away. Say what you will about Sinead O'Connor and her political stunts, but you can't deny this is one hell of an album. O'Connor has a clear chilled voice that can emote an anthemic growl one minute and pain and hurt the next. She can vilify and accuse a lover (the devastating "Troy"), while still conveying hurt and sadness at the same time. The Lion and the Cobra winds itself around themes of Irish Myth and lore, Catholicism, soured relationships and O'Connor's acute sense of political awareness. Such weighty stuff might bog down an album, and at times it does a feel a little heavy and burdensome. But for the most part Cobra succeeds because the music is such a heady mix of garage rock, new wave, late 80's club and Punk. It may feel like O'Connor is getting on her soapbox, but you don't give a damn because she's testifying!

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Customer Reviews
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This album will "Never Get Old"., March 14, 2005
Reviewer: Heathcliff (vt) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)
This album is simply amazing, and is only bested by her follow-up "I Do Not Want What I Haven't Got". Incredible that this came out in 1987. "Mandika" is the hit here, but "I Want Your (hands on me)" is also very strong, and "Just Like You Said It Would Be" and "Jerusalem" are great as well. But what's most impressive about "The Lion And The Cobra" is Sineads singing, and I can't believe she was only 20 at the time. Her voice is so strong and passionate. I also recommend "Faith And Courage", or of course her "best of".