Sound Advice: CD Reviews - The Cranberries

CD Review:
To the Faithful Departed does not inspire as the band’s first two albums did. The music is louder and the lyrics become preachy without a message of note behind them. But occasionally they hit the mark on some songs so the album isn't a total waste. Plus O'Riordon's voice remains as beautiful as ever.

The Cranberries changed their producer from Steven Street, who produced their first two releases, to Bruce Fairbairn. Street earned his reputation with albums like The Smith's Strangeways Here We Come and Viva Hate by Morrissey. Fairbairn worked with Aerosmith. Why the band decided to downgrade in this respect is unknown.

O'Riordon wrote most of the songs on this release and she seemed to take a talent hiatus when doing so. Many of the songs were political or social in orientation but weren't more than surface dressing when speaking on the issues raised in the songs. The song "Salvation" speaks of heroin addiction and solves the whole problem by saying "don't do it." "Bosnia" speaks on the troubles in Yugoslavia and makes the most profound (sarcasm intended) statement on the war by stating "Bosnia was so unkind." "I Just Shot John Lennon" takes the shooting and makes it trivial through what seems a total lack of effort.

But occasionally everything comes together and you remember why The Cranberries were so good. "When Your Gone" adds some 50s do wop with a Cranberries' sound. The lyrics are better, and they speak of missing a lover when he is not beside you. "Electric Blue," a song that almost places you in a monastic setting with its organ and flute until it becomes too loud. It speaks about a guardian angel. "I'm Still Remembering" returns The Cranberries to their previous beauty with O'Riordon's voice remaining calm (which heightens its attraction) singing about a husband who committed suicide. "Will You Remember" seems to continue on the husband theme whereby the wife is asking the departed husband whether he will remember their wedding day.

When the band can stay within itself, shown most on the slower, non-political tracks, they retain all the elements that attracted everyone to them. But it seemed that O'Riordan wanted the band to take on a more socially and politically conscience role, which because of the lack of depth on those tracks, killed almost half of the album. Overall, this album is The Cranberries worse release. They moved back to what they knew best and what we all liked about them on their next release Bury the Hatchet and we thank them for that.

Scott D. Brown