CD Review

Remember the Cranberries? They were that band that played that song “Zombie” when you were in high school.

That other single of theirs, “Dreams,” was played on a bunch of movies and TV shows, and just like Michael Jackson, they’re back. Their newest album Wake up and Smell The Coffee was released on Oct. 23.

Originally called The Cranberries Saw Us, the group was started by the Hogan brothers Mike, bass guitar, and Noel, guitar, in Limerick, Ireland. Fergal Lawler, drums and Dolores O’Riordan, lead vocalist and guitarist, joined them in 1991.

In the interest of brevity, they shortened the name to its current form and began to play in the Brit-Pop indie-rock scene.

Their Celtic rock sound and O’Riordan’s unique vocals added a different sound that grabbed people’s attention with their original album Everybody Else is Doing it, So Why Can’t We.

Singles like “Linger” and “Dreams” began the group’s climb into the mainstream. 1994’s No Need to Argue was their second album and the aforementioned single “Zombie” marched its way across the globe. The Cranberries became a hit.

But trouble with contracts, producers and band tensions led to less than smashing album sales for their following two records.

Many years, two babies for both O’Riordan and Noel Hogan and much song writing later produced their current album.

Recorded in two sessions in Dublin and London, the group went back to what works.

The old formula of good Celtic rock instrumentals with great lyrical accompaniment by O’Riordan makes for another good album that is distinctively Cranberry.

The album does sound similar to some of their older songs.

However, new singles like “Never Grow Old” “This is the Day” and “Analyse” are welcomed additions to the Cranberries’ collection.

By far the most enjoyable and longest song is “This is the Day.”

Its fast rhythm and positive message of hope and faith saving you make it is one you will listen to again.

Some of the songs, like “Never Grow Old,” are quite short, with only 11 lyrics and less-then-inspired music filling the spaces between. The politically charged message of “Time is Ticking Out” harkens back to some of their U2 influences.

It does a great job of highlighting issues like the environment and globalization.

Songs like “The Concept” linger on the subject of love, although it would be nice if it were longer then 12 lines.

The album vacillates between these two themes of political activism and love.

The instrumentals are enjoyable but not necessarily memorable, but the song writing is good, albeit sometimes short.

As a whole, they could have done more to go off the energy they created with “Zombie.”

But it is obvious that this, their fifth album, is more mature.

Let’s just hope this time that they linger a little longer so we can remember them easier when their sixth album comes around.