The Cranberries "In the End" (2019)

In the End
release date: Apr. 26, 2019
format: vinyl (LTD. gatefold cranberry vinyl) / digital (11 x File, FLAC)
[album rate: 4 / 5] [4,06]
producer: Stephen Street
label: BMG - nationality: Ireland

Track highlights: 1. "All Over Now" - 2. "Lost" - 3. "Wake Me When It's Over" - 5. "Catch Me If You Can" - 9. "Summer Song" - 11. "In the End"

8th and final studio album by The Cranberries released more than one year after the accidental and most tragic death of lead vocalist and primary songwriter of the band, Dolores O'Riordan, Jan. 2018.
The album has been a long way in the making - partly because of O'Riordan's untimely departure, and for the remaining band members having to come to terms with the fact that what was to be a restart of the band with a ready-made promotion plan and a scheduled tour list, was all of a sudden something completely different - and final. Also, what had been recorded of Dolores' vocals were only demo takes, so what could easily have ended as a shelved half-finished last album had to be mixed and arranged to fit what had been laid down.
Stylistically, the band aims at the core of its own strengths: their special blend of soft alt. rock jangle pop and dream pop in a singer / songwriter outing, thanks to O'Riordan's talent for songwriting, which in a way takes the band back in time to its more successful releases of the '90s.
Stephen Street is credited as additional musician and he has mixed and produced the album so skilfully that you forget the circumstances that were at play. Without O'Riordan's sparkling demo vocals these songs could only have been shelved. Instead we are blessed with one final last chapter - all thanks to The Cranberries: Dolores O'Riordan, Noel & Mike Hogan, and Fergal Lawler.
The album has been met by positive reviews, and after only two days, I dare already say that it's truly a fine accomplishment. The album contains sincere ballads and uptempo rockers in a tone that puts the album at the very top of all the band's releases.
In the End may be one of the saddest ends to a great band, but at the same time it's a gem to have been handed to us all - despite devastating circumstances, and it's definitely highly recommendable.
So far a certified top 3 album of the year!
[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone 3,5 / 5, 👍The Guardian, Clash, The Independent 4 / 5 stars ]

2019 Favorite releases: 1. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Ghosteen - 2. The Cranberries In the End - 3. Rammstein Rammstein

The Cranberries "Something Else" (2017)

Something Else
release date: Apr. 28, 2017
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,72]
producer: The Cranberries
label: BMG - nationality: Ireland

[ playlist of album songs ]

7th studio album, or: 7th official band release is a collection of ten previously released songs in acoustic versions recorded live at the University of Limerick, Ireland with the addition of three new songs (#2, 7 and 13). The album follows a series of live albums (8 albums in 2010 recorded at various European locations and another 2 live albums in 2012 also in Europe), and it presents some of the band's most popular compositions in acoustic / orchestral versions with the addition of the Irish Chamber Orchestra, which really distinguishes this from ordinary live albums.
The album was met by positive reviews and a following European live tour was scheduled, but during its initial stage in late May, the remaining dates were cancelled due to O'Riordan's health problems. Also the American tour was subsequently cancelled in July, and the band didn't get to do any further live performances that year. However, they managed to record O'Riordan's vocals for a forthcoming album when in Jan. 2018 it was announced that she had been found dead at London's Park Lane Hilton hotel. So in a way, this material feature the last official live recordings of The Cranberries and by Dolores O'Riordan, although, a successive and final album, In the End would be released in 2019.
As for track highlights, I find it too difficult a task to pick tracks at the expense of others 'cause there really are no fillers nor any mediocre tracks on an album that may require some familiarisation to these arrangements, but in the end, it's a truly fine result and a recommendable album.
[ allmusic.com 4 / 5 stars ]

The Cranberries "Roses" (2012)

Roses
release date: Feb. 14, 2012
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,48]
producer: Stephen Street
label: Cooking Vinyl - nationality: Ireland

Track highlights: 1. "Conduct" - 2. "Tomorrow" (4,5 / 5) - 4. "Raining in My Heart" - 6. "Schizophrenic Playboy" - 9. "Astral Projections" - 11. "Roses"

6th studio album by The Cranberries feature Stephen Street, who produced the band's two first albums, back in the producer seat, and that is a welcomed return. Street did help the band creating a fine balanced and broad sound, which in a way dissolved somewhat on the following albums.
The album doesn't contain that many great tracks but I find that the sound is back on track - O'Riordan's vocal and backing harmonies in collaboration with jangle pop elements and string arrangements secure a rather fine comeback album that may better the last 3 albums by The Cranberries, but which frankly, only just contain good enough material for an ep, as it also contains a number of clear fillers.
[ allmusic.com, PopMatters 3,5 / 5, Rolling Stone 3 / 5 stars ]

Dolores O'Riordan "No Baggage" (2009)

No Baggage
release date: Aug. 24, 2009
format: cd
[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,98]
producer: Dolores O'Riordan and Dan Brodbeck
label: Cooking Vinyl - nationality: Ireland

Track highlights: 1. "Switch Off the Moment" (live) - 2. "Skeleton" - 3. "It's You" (4 / 5) (live acoustic) - 5. "Stupid" (4 / 5) - 6. "Be Careful" - 7. "Apple of My Eye"

2nd and last solo album by Dolores O'Riordan and also the second with producer Dan Brodbeck is a more uptempo collection of songs compared to the slower and more introvert solo debut from 2007. The style is not far from The Cranberries - it seems more balanced towards a mainstream audience with an obvious grounding in the celtic rock heritage, and contemporary pop / rock and singer / songwriter styles - much like the debut, although, that one is somewhat more narrow and simple when it comes to the production sound. In that sense No Baggage shares the more spacious dream pop style of her regular band without being anything close to ambient. The track "Apple of My Eye" was also included on her debut, but here it's been rearranged to a more electrified version.
I really like this album and find it clearly bettering her solo debut. It's also bettering her last three albums with The Cranberries. Despite being a more uptempo album, the two best songs are also two slow and sentimental compositions: "It's You" and "Stupid" - both very strong singles, which deserve so much more recognition.
Highly recommendable.
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5 stars ]

2009 Favourite releases: 1. Kent Röd - 2. Gossip Music for Men - 3. Dolores O'Riordan No Baggage

Dolores O'Riordan "Are You Listening?" (2007)

Are You Listening? [debut]
release date: May 8, 2007
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,32]
producer: Dolores O'Riordan and Dan Brodbeck
label: Cooking Vinyl - nationality: Ireland

Track highlights: 1. "Ordinary Day" - 2. "When We Were Young" (4 / 5) - 3. "In the Garden" - 7. "Apple of My Eye" - 12. "Ecstasy"

Solo debut album by Dolores O'Riordan after some years without releasing studio albums with her primary band The Cranberries who's most recent album Wake Up and Smell the Coffee from 2001, which didn't receive the best reviews, and after a time working on new material the band then announced (2003) that they would take a hiatus as The Cranberries leaving room for individual projects. During this time O'Riordan found herself involved in various projects, e.g. together with Zucchero on his album Zucchero & Co. (2004), with Angelo Badalamenti on two songs for a soundtrack and various other projects until she started working on her first solo album.
The album features a collection of songs, all written by O'Riordan, which have only little in common with the best selling songs by The Cranberries but which ultimately are not far from what the band released on its 2 most recent studio albums before 2007. The focus is on mainstream pop / rock combined with celtic rock and some alt. rock elements scattered around the album. The clearly best track "When We Were Young" is perhaps closest in style with the more traditional material by her band, and could easily have been included on either of the first two albums by The Cranberries.
Generally, I find it a bit difficult to digest as a whole - the songs simply point in all kinds of directions, but it's not just a mediocre release. There are simply too many fine traits and songs here.
[ allmusic.com 3,5 / 5 stars ]

The Cranberries "Wake Up and Smell the Coffee" (2001)

US cover

Wake Up and Smell the Coffee
release date: Oct. 21, 2001
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,58]
producer: Stephen Street
label: MCA Records - nationality: Ireland

Track highlights: 1. "Never Grow Old" - 2. "Analyse" (4 / 5) - 3. "Time Is Ticking Out" - 5. "This Is the Day" - 6. "The Concept" - 7. "Wake Up and Smell the Coffee" - 9. "I Really Hope" - *14 "Cape Town"
*Bonus track on US issue

5th studio album by The Cranberries is the band's first and only issued on MCA Records, and it's a welcomed return to initial producer Stephen Street. With Benedict Fenner the band had produced the predecessor Bury the Hatchet from 1999, which marked a bit of a return to their original sound and with this new one, they have in a way continued that tour towards their former best moments that are found on the band's first two albums.
Street is the secure and also the right choice for this band. As he was an important part in the stylistic changes with The Smiths, he seems like the gathering figure, who knows the band's strengths - and perhaps even better than the band members themselves. There's a fine balance of energetic rock, spacious keyboard- / synths-founded dream pop and the more guitar-based jangle pop, all of which has to make room for O'Riordans introspective ballads. I think, Fenner also handled that part well on the '99 album, but on To the Faithful Departed from '96, Bruce Fairbairn proved the difficult project as he didn't suffice to adjust the chemistry to ensure a successful balance.
Dolores O'Riordan has taken an even stronger role as primary songwriter on this new studio release. On the band's previous albums most songs were written and composed in a collaboration work with guitarist Noel Hogan - she would then write 3-4 songs entirely on her own and the remaining songs would have lyrics by O'Riordan and music by Hogan. Here, it's basically the reversed way: 5 songs together with Hogan and 8 songs on her own, i.e. on the standard 13 tracks album. Musically, it doesn't shine through at all, but in retrospect it may perhaps indicate what would happen in the near future, as the band would embark on its longest hiatus with O'Riordan, Hogan and Lawler will all dedicate precious time on other projects, which includes two full solo albums by O'Riordan.
Wake Up and Smell the Coffee may be the most overlooked album by The Cranberries, and personally, I think of it as somewhere between the '96 and the '99 album - it's nor their best, nor their worst and is worth more than just a glance.
The front cover is made by Storm Thorgerson and Peter Curzon at Hipgnosis, who also made the cover for Bury the Hatchet.
[ allmusic.com, Slant, Q Magazine 3 / 5, Blender 4 / 5 stars ]

original cover

The Cranberries "Bury the Hatchet" (1999)

Bury the Hatchet
release date: Apr. 19, 1999
format: 2 cd (2000 special edition)
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,66]
producer: The Cranberries and Benedict Fenner
label: Island Records - nationality: Ireland

Track highlights: 1. "Animal Instinct" - 2. "Loud and Clear" - 3. "Promises" - 4. "You and Me" - 5. "Just My Imagination" - 6. "Shattered" - 11. "Delilah"

4th studio album by The Cranberries released after a short hiatus - the band had faced poor reviews despite fine record sales with the previous album, To the Faithful Departed from 1996, and O'Riordan went through a period of stress-related illness, and she also gave needed time off the limelight as she have birth to her first child.
Bury the Hatchet is co-produced with a new producer and the sound and style has changed quite noticeable. Gone are the obvious links to alt. rock and almost also to the bold dream pop that characterised their previous releases, and instead this new album comes out as a more thoughtful and sincere album focusing on celtic rock with a stronger folk rock style and also more mainstream pop / rock references with jangle pop elements.
The album suffers, a bit like the predecessor, of a lack of consistent quality throughout, but the lows have clearly been levelled up, and it turns out much of a whole, and in that way easily betters the '96 album. The first four songs here are actually quite fine compositions pointing to something truly fine. The quality drops a bit in the second part and towards the end, and a track like "Copycat" sounds much like an outtake from the '96 album. Having said that, this is still a much better album than their last effort, and it's also a release with one of Ireland's most poignant voices and songwriters and as such an album clearly above the majority of mainstream pop / rock releases.
The 2000 Special Edition has been issued with the subtitle "The Complete Sessions" and feature a second disc containing five bonus tracks and seven previously unreleased live songs recorded in Paris Dec. 9, 1999.
[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone 3 / 5, USA Today 2,5 / 5 stars ]

The Cranberries "To the Faithful Departed" (1996)

To the Faithful Departed
release date: Apr. 30, 1996
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,38]
producer: Bruce Fairbairn and The Cranberries
label: Island Records - nationality: Ireland

Track highlights: 2. "Salvation" - 3. "When You’re Gone" - 4. "Free to Decide" - 9. "I Just Shot John Lennon" - 11. "I’m Still Remembering"

3rd studio album by The Cranberries with a new producer after two consecutive albums with The Smiths-producer Stephen Street. Amongst others, Bruce Fairbairn has produced for Van Halen, Aerosmith and Bon Jovi - bands that operate in a total different playground than a band associated with dream pop and jangle pop, and it never becomes apparent for whatever reasons he was brought about. Stadium rock and a heavy production sound seems out of touch here, and frankly, Street didn't do a bad job either.
The album wasn't met by the same positive reviews as the band's first two albums, but it still became the bands second best-selling album reaching number #1 in Ireland, Australia and New Zealand and peaking as number #2 in the UK, only surpassed by the '94 album.
I always found it a lesser release, but in retrospect I have come to see it in a much more positive light. It doesn't showcase a bunch of fine hits, and it also contains tracks where the band seems to reproduce former successful elements and structures as heard on previous hits, e.g. "Hollywood", "Salvation", "Forever Yellow Skies", and "Electric Blue". And the lows... the lows here are truly low.
I recall my first listen to "Salvation" - at a time when MTV was up front, and watching the video and listening to the song made be decide, it was not intended for me. But it also contains some fine songs, and one truly great composition, the ballad "When You're Gone". A few fine and one great cannot safe this album from being a bit on the low side, and I do understand many of the critics 'cause it does deliver on the same level as the two previous albums, and the band sounds more like they have run somewhat out of material. O'Riordan is a great songwriter and singer - no doubt about that, but this is not one of their best.
[ allmusic.com, Rolling Stone 2 / 5, USA Today 2,5 / 5 stars ]

The Cranberries "No Need to Argue" (1994)

No Need to Argue
release date: Oct. 4, 1994
format: cd
[album rate: 3,5 / 5] [3,72]
producer: Stephen Street
label: Island Records - nationality: Ireland

Track highlights: 1. "Ode to My Family" (4 / 5) - 2. "I Can’t Be With You" - 4. "Zombie" (4,5 / 5) - 5. "Empty" - 6. "Everything I Said" - 9. "Ridiculous Thoughts" - 13. "No Need to Argue"

2nd studio album by The Cranberries is like the debut produced by Stephen Street. All lyrics are by Dolores O'Riordan, as well as most of the music, or it's written in collaboration with guitarist Noel Hogan (7 of 13 tracks).
It follows closely down the same musical path as the fine debut, although, this seems somewhat less coherent - the lows here are of lesser quality, and there is left more room for a more traditional celtic rock and celtic folk inspiration.
The album launched the two best-selling singles: "Zombie" and "Ode to My Family", the first is a protest song and a track most will associate with The Cranberries. It also became the band's first and only registered song to top the singles chart lists in several countries (e.g. Australia, France and Germany). "Zombie" (released as the only single prior to the album release) shows an angry grunge rock tone, which is never carried out on the remaining tracks on a primarily acoustic-driven album - what makes me think of it as incoherent. No Need to Argue became the band's highest charting and best-selling album with several number #1 positions, nationally, and in countries like Germany, Australia, New Zealand, France and Canada.
My initial verdict (from 1994) would only have secured a score just above 2,5 / 5; however, once I had finally come to terms with / accustomed myself to the vibrant and insisting voice of O'Riordan, I find the album much closer to the quality of the debut 'cause there's simply too many fine songs left on the album. It is a front-loaded album with several great tracks, but the second half doesn't quite suffice resulting in a fine follow-up
[ allmusic.com, Q Magazine 4 / 5, Rolling Stone 2,5 / 5, Sputnikmusic 4,5 / 5 stars ]

The Cranberries "Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?" (1993)

Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? [debut]

release date: Mar. 1, 1993

format: cd

[album rate: 4 / 5] [3,98]

producer: Stephen Street

label: Island Records - nationality: Ireland

Track highlights: 1. "I Still Do" - 2. "Dreams" - 3. "Sunday" (4,5 / 5) (live) - 7. "Linger" (4,5 / 5) (live and unplugged) - 8. "Wanted" (studio session) - 9. "Still Can't..." - 11. "How" - 12. "Put Me Down"

Studio debut album by Irish band The Cranberries consisting of Dolores O'Riordan on lead vocals and acoustic guitar, the brothers Hogan: Noel (older brother) on lead guitar and backing vocals, Mike on bass guitar, and with Fergal Lawler on drums and percussion. The brothers Hogan and Fergal were longtime friends and together with Niall Quinn (who also played in the band The Hitchers) they formed The Cranberry Saw Us in 1989 - the quartet played gigs and recorded demos, and in '90 Quinn left to concentrate on his other band, The Hitchers, and the trio then was joined by O'Riordan after which she soon became the band's primary songwriter.

Musically, The Cranberries play a softer version of alt. rock and dream pop with obvious jangle pop parts. It's not far from other contemporary artists like Cranes, The Sundays, Echobelly, Slowdive, but it also reflects musical bonds to Cocteau Twins and more melodious tracks by My Bloody Valentine, and perhaps the most obvious inspirational source: The Smiths. Most tracks here have lyrics by O'Riordan and music written by Noel and O'Riordan (three songs are solely written and composed by O'Riordan).

The album debut peaked at #1 both in Ireland as well as in the UK, though none of the two singles, "Dreams" and "Linger" - both issued prior to the album release - made remarkable entries on the singles chart lists. Both singles were re-issued in '94 with much more success when peaking at number #3 and #9 respectively in Ireland.

I must admit that I didn't appreciate the band all that much when the album was released. I simply couldn't come to terms with the voice of O'Riordan because, in my ears, she sounded too much like Sinéad O'Connor, whom I saw then as a greater songwriter. However, both The Cranberries and O'Riordan proved not to be short-lived nor minor artists, and today I see this album in a much more positive light, and Dolores... well, she is not just a major contemporary singer and songwriter, she is just in a league of her own.

[ allmusic.com 4,5 / 5, Q Magazine, Slant, Rolling Stone 4 / 5 stars ]