Review:

on 2011-03-31 CharlesMartel Said:

A number of good bands came out of Ireland in the middle of the nineties. Some, such as Whipping Boy, never really got the attention they deserved. Some, such as the Cranberries, achieved some sort of status but never really sustained it. I guess that far too many people thought all Irish bands should sound like U2 and when they didn't they grew disillusioned and disappointed and then tried to ignore the band.

The Cranberries brought with them a fresh take on what is often, erroneously in my opinion, called Celtic Rock. Now this is a term I loathe and despise for a more inaccurate and woolly term you could not hope to find. Most so-called Celtic Rock is in fact traditional Irish music played with the addition of some modern instruments, such as Clannad or Cowslips. Occasionally, it is given to people of Scottish or Irish descent who cannot be pigeonholed - Mike Scott and the Waterboys is the classic example - and for whom it is too much of an exercise to appreciate genius to allow it to stand alone. At its worst, the term is applied to any band or individual who emanates from Ireland.

This term therefore downplays the best features of bands like the Cranberries and plays up to their worst. The problem with the Cranberries was that I could never figure out if the band wanted to be rockers or balladeers. This album is easily the best of their output because it combines both to good effect. Ultimately, however, they continue to fall between those two stools and the album loses some direction because of that.

"Zombie" and "Ridiculous Thoughts" are the outstanding tracks on the album which has a uniquely Irish lyrical flavour about it - you can even hear the thickness of Dolores O'Riordan's accent on many of the songs. That voice is probably the biggest selling point the Cranberries have, and it is complemented by some insightful and personal lyrics. "Zombie", which was a minor hit, was a criticism against the violence in Northern Ireland blasting both sides for their rooted-in-the-past philosophies and solutions to a problem which required a present-day resolution and indeed would get one within a few years of its release.

Sadly, O'Riordan's voice is far from perfect and she is unable to carry the whole of the album through on the strength of it. She lacks range and really struggles at the higher end when her voice becomes thin and reedy. In places the music seems to take a back seat and, when this happens, the effect of the lyrics and music combined is somewhat lost and the tracks dissolve into a continuum. It is only occasionally that a song breaks through to shake you out of that feeling you may be listening to wallpaper music. "Ridiculous Thoughts", "Zombie" and "Ode to My Family" are three such tracks which break through and do manage to make an impact on the listener.

Overall, this is a good album and one that has several points to recommend it. Just don't expect an easy ride. You will never truly know in which direction you are going.
Rating: 7/10