The Cranberries
No Need To Argue

These four Irish guys, who, when they started out, had the sole purpose of making good music that would reach people, certainly did not think that one day they would compose an album that can be comfortably included among the classics of authorial pop-rock of the last thirty years.

An artistic triumph and an extraordinary commercial success (18 million copies sold so far) - aided by a legendary single. The intro of "Zombie" is really simple. Sweet guitar opening, Charleston touch, and the arrival of the hard guitar. Simple, but after a minute you realize you are facing a great song. After the intro, the instruments step aside and accompany Dolores's voice very soberly, without ever overshadowing her, with the guitar occasionally stepping in with some sparkling notes. Then the chorus with the epic vocalizations and distortion used to perfection. In a technically superior but less intelligent band than the Cranberries, the song would have been lost in noise or some idiotic virtuosity. Four chords for a monumental masterpiece of songwriting.

But "No Need to Argue" is not just "Zombie," but an almost miraculous series of inspired tracks: "Ode to My Family" (delicate electric arpeggio, delicate string arrangement, delicate singing); "Ridiculous Thoughts" (their rhythmic masterpiece, with an angry Dolores against journalists who had criticized her); "Daffodil Lament" (a long suite, perhaps the peak of the album); "Dreaming My Dreams" (whispered love declaration, with the chorus gently underscored by the violin); "21" (simple but effective folk-rock); "Disappointment" (a slow rhythm enlivened by the drums); "I Can't Be With You" (the pop track of the album, with Dolores missing her partner); "Yeat's Grave" (acoustic guitar introducing a wonderful psychedelic pop-rock); "No Need to Argue" (an organ and an almost Gregorian chant that conclude the album).

If we want to find a flaw, it is in the number of tracks - despite the reasonable 50-minute length. With a couple of songs fewer, it would have been better.

But the worst flaw is the absurd position of "Zombie." Such a song should have been in one place only, at the end, perhaps with the peaceful "No Need to Argue" preparing the way for the wrenching finale.