The Cranberries
Something Else

There is a thin red line.

A very dangerous line that divides two types of artists. Those who become caricatures of themselves on one side, and on the other, those who pay tribute to their career for that segment of nostalgic audience.

The glories of the past breathe life as an orchestra introduces Noel Hogan's guitar: Linger.

Dolores roars softly and brings back to my mind the first time I put my precious copy of Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We into the stereo.

Dreams, Ode To My Family and that so evocative Limerick. Two decades shine with new life.

The stylistic evolution of the band saw two very important phases in the nineties: the transition from the calm and Irish sounds of the beginning to those abrasive guitars so angry with the world around, with drugs, and with the selfishness of those above who dominate. But most importantly, the change that occurred with the maxi single Just My Imagination, projecting them into the cauldron of chart pop.

The Cranberries, for those who understood them, were much more than that. It's an opportunity to relive that anger, that calm inner storm.

But the real surprise, what I did not expect, comes from the new tracks. Dolores speaks of the banshees (and she is undoubtedly one of them) who mourn the death of September, and repeats Why in the chorus of the eponymous track to emphasize her newfound wounded and bleeding verve. The power of Zombie unfortunately gains new meanings in this troubled 2017, but the vocal power is undoubtedly (and surprisingly) the same as that fruitful 1994 for the four Irish.

For me, experiencing a new Cranberries album is priceless. Just like observing that No Need To Argue style cover with them in the same poses, perhaps older and more hipster, but there they are.

I wouldn't be surprised by a new release from them with more unreleased material within the next year.