Remember the Cranberries??

 

It’s great to see a lot of the 90’s artists who disappeared from mainstream return with new albums. One of these bands that I was recently reacquainted with is “The Cranberries” who returned with a new LP in February.

 

I read of the new album in Rolling Stone a while back. Read the news, thought it was great, and never thought of it again. Although I have yet had a chance to check out their new LP, they came into a conversation recently which had me digging out my old CD’s.

 

My wife was actually playing the “SongPop” game on my iPhone and one of the songs stumped her. She hollered out asking me who it was. I easily replied with “Zombie by the Cranberries”.

 

“Who are the Cranberries?” she asked. A part of me was taken back as the thought of anybody not knowing this song. To me this was as recognizable as “Smells Like Teen Spirit” but I guess this is where the 5 year age difference between us comes into play. In 1994 I was 13 years old. She was 8 (that makes me sound so dirty.. I assure you we never started dating until 12+ years later!). Everybody my age knew this song. This was HUGE in 1993. This is when bands that could actually write and were recognized for their talent. Now they seem to be more recognized for their appearance or criminal record.

 

To prove my point of how significant and important the Cranberries were to the 90’s I pulled out my copy of “No Need to Argue”, popped it in the CD player had her listen.

 

I can’t believe how long it has been. This brings me back to Junior High. A part of me was scared that I would realize how bad it actually really was (this happens from time to time…. Limp Bizkit anybody??), not this album. It hit me at an entire new level hearing this at my present age and state of mind. Back in the early 90’s it was all about how easily we could match the guitar riff of “Zombie”. Sure “Zombie” was the biggest single and a great solid song on this album but to me it never actually fit in with the remaining feel of the album. There are so many better songs.

 

It’s Dolores O’Riordan voice that carries this album. This is no big secret. She has one of the most distinctive voices of the 90’s. Amazing range and control and the Irish accent just makes it even better.

She was obviously full of heartbreak in this album. Either she is singing about leaving somebody in “Daffodil Lament” or losing somebody in “The Icicle Melts” she seemed to have the tormented depressed mindset that the usually great artists have.

I know it must seem I am pushing an album that everybody already has (It sold a mere 17 million copies). I know it definitely does not require a recommendation from myself to get praise it has long since received.

I’m just pushing for everybody to dig out those albums from their early teens and childhood and explore to see if it would still actually be worth a spin today. This one sure was.