The Cranberries
Wake Up And Smell The Coffee

THE REVIEW

Exactly three years after the release and my purchase of this album, I finally decided to listen to it for the second time. The disappointment after the first listen was such that I decided to put it away in the depths of my shelves and let it gather dust alongside some youthful mistakes better left unmentioned. The previous work, "Bury The Hatchet," already showed a certain tendency of the group to shift from good "dream pop" to a rather flavorless "poppettino" (if you'll allow the term). However, while in that album we could still find some inspirations worthy of the name "The Cranberries" and a bit of the old energy of the Irish quartet, the same can't be said about this CD. The album indeed sounds a bit all the same, classic 4-chord, 4 with a catchy chorus and rather banal melody.

The whole album practically flows on bland rhythms, which would even be acceptable if we found tracks at the level of the wonderful ballads "Ode To My Family" or "When You Are Gone". Unfortunately, however, there are very few pieces worth saving, perhaps the opening one, "Never Grow Old", and the two closing ones, "Carry on" and "Chocolate Brown", particularly the latter, a tender closing-track of three and a half minutes that somewhat recalls "No Need To Argue," the closure of the eponymous album. The structure is almost similar, even though the sweet organ of the latter is replaced by a very light accompaniment from the whole group. The only somewhat upbeat tracks are "This Is The Day", "Wake Up And Smell The Coffee," and "I Really Hope". The first one is neither good nor bad, a bit predictable but at least the group gives a sense that they still have some grit. "Wake Up And Smell The Coffee" is rather disappointing, starting from the more than a minute-long intro up to the sung part which only makes you think: "what happened to Dolores's voice?". Good question, the "Cranberries" strength of the past barely makes itself noticed throughout the album, particularly in this track, where the melody could fit nice vocalizations, but O'Riordan doesn't go too far, leaving a bitter taste. Finally, "I Really Hope" leaves one quite indifferent; it's not something to throw away, but remains predictable and monotonous from start to finish.

The last thing to note is the complete disappearance of that socio-political verve against war and its injustices on mothers and children, a verve which was already fading in the previous album. Ultimately, the album is disappointing, not only because listening to it quickly becomes tiring but above all because there's practically no track that stands out above the lines, that, once listening is over, you find yourself humming or whistling.