Sinéad O'Connor - I'm Not Bossy, I'm the Boss

Sinéad O'Connor named this 2014 album I'm Not Bossy, I'm the Boss, and the songs back up every word of that title.

Arriving late in a career that never followed anyone's rules, the record finds her writing about desire, faith, power and self-respect with a directness that surprised even longtime fans. It is one of her most immediate collections, built on sturdy rock arrangements rather than the hushed atmospherics of some earlier work, and her voice remains a remarkable instrument, capable of a whisper one moment and a roar the next. Since her passing in 2023, it has taken on extra weight as one of her final statements.

Take Me to Church is the centrepiece, a churning, cathartic rocker about starting over on her own terms. The Vishnu Room offers a tender counterweight, quiet and intimate, while 8 Good Reasons is raw and reflective, delivered with disarming honesty. James Brown, featuring Afrobeat star Seun Kuti, swaggers along with a funky, playful strut.

There is humour here too, and a sense of an artist entirely comfortable in her own skin and unafraid to show it.

For anyone who loved her fearless spirit and that extraordinary voice, this is a vital late chapter, full of grit and grace.