Same Old Juice From the Cranberry Bog

Zom-bie... Zom-bie... Zom-bie. Oh wait, that was the last album. But the Cranberries' new album, To the Faithful Departed, is trying hard to recapture the popular success and political angst of this, one of their most famous songs. Dedicated "to all those who have come before us...to the faithful departed and all those left behind," this new album explores loss of love and life in a suffering world.

The album, recorded in Ireland, marks the Cranberries' return to the studio after a two year break. Composed while the group was on the road touring after the release of No Need to Argue--the album was recorded in a similarly hectic experience--it took the Cranberries less than four weeks to record all thirteen tracks. The group admits to "very few takes, very few edits" but qualifies this as being intentional. Attempting to strive for something "different", the innovative group decided to avoid the "over-polished work" of "safe pop bands." Nevertheless, they enlisted the help of Bruce Fairbairn, known for his work with Aerosmith, AC/DC and Van Halen, to help produce Departed.

For the most part, the album continues in the tradition of the Cranberries' first two albums, complete with Dolores' distinctive warbling voice and the generally cheesy lyrics that we've all grown to know and love: "There was a time I was so lonely/Remember that time, it was a Friday/You made me feel so fine/we did it my way/I sat on your knees every Friday" (from "Joe", a song about Dolores' well-loved grandfather). While songs like "When You're Gone" and "I'm Still Remembering" may cover old ground in terms of song lyrics, the Cranberries manage to present these well-worn ideas in such a way as to make the listener happily enjoy every little trite and banal moment.

The Cranberries also continue to present a diversity of songs, ranging from the fierce opening cut "Hollywood," (whose style is similar to that of "Zombie") to the melodious, ethereal sounds of "Electric Blue," which borrows an introductory theme directly from "No Need To Argue." It's only when the band attempts to stray from these familiar styles and subjects that they run into trouble. Indeed, some of these other tracks sound like they're trying too hard to inspire deep thought-provoking sentiments (and not succeeding).

Songs such as "War Child" and "Bosnia" both deal with the heavy-handed subject of war. Whereas the Irish group was well qualified to write of Belfast's destruction, they are out of their element when they attempt to focus on the Bosnian war. "When do the saints go marching in..." repeatedly intones "Bosnia", while a children's lullaby plays faintly in the background. It is commendable that the group should attempt to address such an important conflict but their constant allusions to the matter are disconcerting and somewhat glib considering their inexperience with the subject.

A similar instance of the Cranberries straying too far off course occurs in the song "I Just Shot John Lennon", a track examining the tragedy of Lennon's death from the perspective of the fan and the fanatic. Dolores comments, "Even though we were all too young to actually remember when he died, his death had an impact on us." Once again, the group's intentions are sincere, but it is hard to take them seriously when you hear their punchy song accompanied by four fake (but rhythmically accurate!) gunshots at the conclusion.

Still, the album is sure to succeed, supported as it is by the well-established basis of fans that the group has accrued since it's creation six years ago. Their wide-spread appeal came as a surprise to the four members of this alternative band but their dreamy-yet-vigorous sound resonated with the public immediately with the band's debut album Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?. But even now, the band prefers to stay clear of the limelight in order to concentrate on their music. The Cranberries still live in Limerick, maintaining close relations to both the city and Irish culture, but their fans are by no means limited by geography--the Cranberries have fans all across the world, While To the Faithful Departed takes a harder, more solid approach to its songs, the Cranberries can rest assured that fans will be clamoring for this distinctive and enduring album.