Sinead O'Connor: Faith & Courage (Atlantic)

Ten years after her biggest hit, Nothing Compares 2 U, Sinead is ready to come back from the cold, with help from Dave Stewart, Wyclef Jean and Eno, and armed with a bunch of strong, radio-friendly songs, including the stunning first single, No Man's Woman. Even with all the heavyweight production and songwriting presence, Sinead's own honesty, vulnerability and compassion shine through, and her voice soars above the hip-hop beats, reggae rhythms, traditional melodies and straight-ahead rock. The Lamb's Book Of Life is a candid open letter to her estranged American public, while Daddy I'm Fine is a lurid, humorous potted autobiography, and Faith & Courage is bravely aimed at the adult contemporary market. If record-buyers can get over their Sinead-o-phobia, this could be her finest triumph.

- Kevin Courtney

Eminem: The Marshall Mathers LP (Universal)

You want outrage? Well, you've come to the right place as Eminem kicks off The Marshall Mathers LP where his debut finished. While he has amazing prowess as a rhymer, it's just a shame that what Eminem rhymes about is so puerile and downright nasty in places. Sure, there are similar elements on many great hip-hop albums (check the Beastie Boys' head on this) but Eminem's brand of outrage is designed with one eye on the sales figures. With predictable targets (boy bands, Christina Aguilera, the music industry, the media, the moral majority and his mum - again) and more rage than is healthy for one man, you've got to wonder does he ever get to chill out and relax. And no, we didn't mention Vanilla Ice.

- Jim Carroll