Sinead O'Connor--Live: The Value of Ignorance/The Year of the Horse

Two live performances, one from 1988 and one from 1990, are included on this single disc, a potential boon for Sinead O'Connor fans but perhaps a mixed blessing for the uninitiated. The earlier of the two gigs, the 37-minute “The Value of Ignorance,” is not the Irish singer's finest moment; there are no shots of audience or band (primarily close-ups of Sinead and her shaved head, all “enhanced” by amateurish and distracting visual effects added in post-production), and the music is no great shakes either, what with O'Connor's unpleasant wailing and a sludgy instrumental mix. Fortunately, “The Year of the Horse” is not only about twice as long but twice as good in virtually every sense: better sound and visuals, better songs, and a much better performance (the tunes performed in both shows, such as “I Am Stretched on Your Grave” and “Jerusalem,” bear witness to that). The second concert shows how much an artist can improve in two years, especially with a hit like “Nothing Compares 2 U” under her belt. A good thing, too, or O'Connor's recently-announced retirement might have been forced on her a long time ago. Optional. Aud: P. (S. Graham)