Now that’s she’s finally getting to pay tribute to Bob Dylan (simultaneously evincing her charitable nature), and gotten married to hubby number four (on her 45th birthday, no less), Irish songstress Sinead O’Connor is ready to release her next album. Her first record in five years, and ninth overall, How About I Be Me (And You Be You)? is penciled in for a February 21st release via One Little Indian abroad and MRI in the U.S.

The record is said to “play like an encyclopedic definition of O’Connor’s oeuvre.” To translate, that means one should expect songs of love, pain, religiosity, and calls for social justice. Nine of the 10 tracks were written or co-written by the songwriter herself, save for a lone cover of John Grant’s “Queen of Denmark”.

A double sample of what O’Connor does when she’s herself can be heard below. First is “4th and Vine”, a strolling pop number dedicated to her very new groom, Barry Herridge (or, perhaps, the guy she married last year…). It’s sweet, for sure, despite chuckling at the notoriously short-haired/shaved singer talking about how she’ll “do [her] hair up tight.” “Take Off Your Shoes” may be more recognizably O’Connor, with the haunted, snarling vocals and catholic commentary. “You’re running out of battery/and I don’t see no bunnies around here” is an early contender for lyric of the year, even if the Easter reference is unintentional.

An international tour is expected to support the album in 2012, so stay tuned for more. The tracklist is also below.

How About I Be Me (And You Be You)? Tracklist:
01. 4th And Vine
02. Reason With mé
03. Old Lady
04. Take Off Your Shoes
05. Back Where You Belong
06. The Wolf Is Getting Married
07. Queen Of Denmark
08. Very Far From Home
09. I Had A Baby
10. V.I.P.