The Cranberries were an Irish rock band formed in Limerick, Ireland. Originally named the Cranberry
Saw Us, the band were formed in 1989 by lead singer Niall Quinn, guitarist Noel Hogan, bassist Mike Hogan, and drummer Fergal Lawler. Quinn was replaced as lead singer by Dolores O'Riordan in 1990, and they changed their name to the Cranberries. The band classified themselves as an alternative rock group, but incorporated aspects of indie rock, jangle pop, folk rock, post-punk, and pop rock into their sound.
The Cranberries rose to international fame in the 1990s with their debut album, Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?, which became a commercial success. Some of the band's hit singles include "Dreams" (1992), "Linger" (1993), "Zombie" (1994), and "Salvation" (1996). Five of the band's albums reached the Top 20 on the Billboard 200 chart, and eight of their singles reached the Top 20 on the Modern Rock Tracks chart.
[Artist Biography by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Combining the melodic jangle of post-Smiths indie guitar pop with the lilting, trance-inducing sonic textures of late-'80s dream pop and adding a slight Celtic tint, the Cranberries became one of the more
successful groups to emerge from the pre-Brit-pop indie scene of the early '90s. Led by vocalist Dolores O'Riordan, whose keening, powerful voice was the most distinctive element of the group's sound, they initially had little impact in the United Kingdom. It wasn't until the lush ballad "Linger" became a worldwide hit in 1993 that the band achieved mass success. Following "Linger," the Cranberries quickly became international stars, as both their 1993 debut album, Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?, and its 1994 follow-up, No Need to Argue, sold millions of copies and produced a string of hit singles. By the time of their third album, 1996's To the Faithful Departed, they had added distorted guitars to their sonic palette and began crafting more socially conscious music. They
continued down this path into the 21st century before taking an extended hiatus in 2003 to pursue solo efforts. After nearly a decade, the quartet returned with 2012's Roses and 2017's Something Else. However, in early 2018, O'Riordan died from an accidental drowning in London. Her last vocal recordings were used to construct the Cranberries' final work, 2019's Grammy-nominated In the End, a goodbye to O'Riordan, fans, and the band itself.
Originally, the Cranberries were a band called the Cranberry Saw Us. Brothers Noel and Mike Hogan (guitar and bass, respectively) formed the band in Limerick, Ireland, with drummer Fergal Lawler in 1990. Following the departure of the group's original singer, Niall Quinn, the trio placed an advertisement for a female singer. Dolores O'Riordan responded to the advertisement and auditioned by
writing lyrics and melodies to some of the band's existing demos. When she returned with a rough version of "Linger," the group hired her on the spot. Shortly after she joined, the band recorded a demo tape and sold it in record stores throughout Ireland. After the original run of 300 copies sold out, the group truncated its name to the Cranberries and sent another demo tape, which featured early versions of both "Linger" and "Dreams," to record companies throughout the U.K. The tape was made at Xeric Studios, which was run by Pearse Gilmore, who would later become their manager. At the time the tape was made, all of the members were still in their late teens.
The demo tape earned the attention of both the U.K. press and record industry, and there was soon a bidding war between major British record labels. Eventually, the group signed with Island. The Cranberries headed into the studio with Gilmore as their producer to record their first single, "Uncertain." The title proved to be prophetic, as the band did indeed sound ill at ease on the single,
leading to poor reviews in the press in addition to tensions between the group and Gilmore. Before they were scheduled to record their debut in 1992, the Cranberries discovered that Gilmore had signed a secret deal with Island to improve his studios. The tensions within the band became so great they nearly broke up. Instead, the Cranberries severed all relations with Gilmore, hired Geoff Travis of Rough Trade as their new manager, and hired Stephen Street, who had previously worked with the Smiths, as their new producer.
The band's debut album, Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?, was released in the spring of 1993, followed by a single of "Dreams." Neither the album nor the single gained much attention, nor did the second single, "Linger." In the summer and fall of 1993, the band toured the United States,
opening for The The and Suede, respectively; frequently, the Cranberries were given a friendlier reception than either of the headliners. Their strong live shows led MTV to put "Linger" into heavy rotation. By the end of the year, the single was on its way to becoming a crossover hit. Eventually, the single reached number eight on the U.S. charts, while the album went double platinum. Everybody Else and "Linger" began to take off in Britain in early 1994; the album eventually peaked at number one during the summer.
O'Riordan married the band's tour manager, Don Burton, in a much-publicized ceremony in July 1994. The marriage, as well as the group's videos, emphasized the singer as the focal point of the band.
O'Riordan's position in the group continued to rise with the fall release of the group's second album, No Need to Argue. Boasting a slightly harder, more streamlined sound, yet still produced by Stephen Street, the record debuted at number six on the U.S. charts and eventually outsold its predecessor; within a year it went triple platinum, spawning the number one modern rock hit "Zombie" and the number 11 "Ode to My Family."
During the tour for No Need to Argue, rumors began to circulate that O'Riordan was going to leave the band to pursue a solo career, all of which the band vehemently denied. Nevertheless, the rumors persisted until the Cranberries began recording their next album with producer Bruce Fairbairn, who
had previously worked with Aerosmith. The resulting effort, To the Faithful Departed, was a tougher, more rock-oriented affair. Upon its spring 1996 release, it entered the charts at number six, but its first single, "Salvation," failed to become a hit on par with "Zombie," "Linger," or "Ode to My Family." Consequently, the album slipped down the charts relatively quickly and only went platinum, which was slightly disappointing in light of its two predecessors' multi-platinum status.
During the fall of 1996, the group canceled its Australian and European tours, sparking another round of rumors about O'Riordan launching a solo career. In 1999, the group released Bury the Hatchet, their last big chart hit, and quickly followed with 2001's Wake Up and Smell the Coffee. Shortly after the
release of a greatest-hits compilation in 2003, Stars: The Best of 1992-2002, the Cranberries officially declared that they were taking a break. This finally gave O'Riordan the time she needed to work on her long-talked-about solo album, Are You Listening?, which hit shelves in 2007. In 2009, O'Riordan released her second solo album, No Baggage. Around the same time, the Cranberries reunited for a North American tour that continued throughout Europe in 2010. Several live albums also appeared in 2010.
In 2011, the band began work on a new album in Toronto with longtime producer Street. Released
nearly a decade after the start of their extended hiatus, the resulting album, Roses, arrived in March 2012. A supporting tour followed, recorded for posterity at London's Hammersmith Apollo on Live 2012. At the end of 2013, O'Riordan performed a New Year's Eve concert in Limerick with a string quartet from the Irish Chamber Orchestra. Inspired by the classical interpretation of the Cranberries sound, she approached the band
with an idea to celebrate their silver anniversary. The result was a full
album comprising string quartet renditions of the band's biggest hits. Something Else arrived in the spring of 2017, featuring their ten most successful singles culled from their first four albums, as well as three new songs. The band kicked off a tour in support of the album, but it was cut short due to O'Riordan's ongoing back problems.
In January 2018, Dolores O'Riordan travelled from New York City, where she lived, to London to work
with Martin "Youth" Glover on her side-project D.A.R.K. and to meet representatives of the BMG record label about a new Cranberries album. O'Riordan arrived at the London Hilton on Park Lane hotel in Mayfair on 14 January. At 2:00 am on 15 January 2018, O'Riordan had a phone call with her mother. Later that morning, she was found unresponsive in the bathroom and was pronounced dead at 9:16 am. The day after her death, the tabloid newspaper Santa Monica
Observer spread a false story rumouring that fentanyl was found in the room, indicating that London authorities suspected suicide and a "deliberate overdose". The fentanyl overdose rumor endured for months. The cause of death was not made public until an inquest at Westminster Coroner's Court held on 6 September, which ruled that she died as a result of accidental drowning in a bath following sedation by alcohol intoxication. Empty bottles were found in O'Riordan's room (five miniature bottles and a champagne bottle) as well as some prescription drugs. Toxicology tests showed that her body contained only "therapeutic" amounts of these medications but a blood alcohol content of 3.30 g/L (0.33%).]
The Cranberries – Treasure Box (The Complete Sessions, 1991-1999)
Label: Island Records – 586 707-2
Format: 4 x CD, Remastered, Box Set, Compilation, Limited Edition
Pays: Europe
Sortie: 2002
Genre: Rock
Style: Alternative Rock
CD1. EVERYBODY ELSE IS DOING IT, SO WHY CAN'T WE? (THE COMPLETE SESSIONS 1991 - 1993) - 2002 RE-RELEASE
01. I Still Do 3:17
02. Dreams 4:32
03. Sunday 4:20
04. Pretty 2:16
05. Waltzing Back 3:38
06. Not Sorry 4:20
07. Linger 4:34
08. Wanted 2:07
09. Still Can't... 3:40
10. I Will Always 2:42
11. How 2:51
12. Put Me Down 3:33
13. Reason 2:02
BONUS TRAXS
14. Them (Producer – Pearse Gilmore) 3:42
15. What You Were 3:41
16. Liar 2:22
17. Pretty (Pret A Porter Movie Remix) 3:41
18. How (Radical Mix) 2:58
The Cranberries
Dolores O'Riordan – lead vocals, acoustic guitar
Noel Hogan – lead guitar, backing vocals
Mike Hogan – bass guitar
Fergal Lawler – drums, percussion
Additional musicians
Mike Mahoney – additional vocals
MP3 Size: 151 MB
Flac Size: 384 MB
CD2. NO NEED TO ARGUE (THE COMPLETE SESSIONS 1994 - 1995)
01. Ode To My Family 4:31
02. I Can't Be With You 3:07
03. Twenty One 3:07
04. Zombie 5:06
05. Empty 3:26
06. Everything I Said 3:52
07. The Icicle Melts 2:54
08. Disappointment 4:14
09. Ridiculous Thoughts 4:31
10. Dreaming My Dreams 3:37
11. Yeat's Grave 2:59
12. Daffodil Lament 6:14
13. No Need To Argue 2:57
14. Away 2:38
BONUS TRAXS
15. I Don't Need 3:32
16. (They Long To Be) Close To You 2:41
17. So Cold In Ireland 4:45
18. Zombie (Camel's Hump Remix) (Featuring [Skank] – David Jarrow/Remix – The Orb/Remix [Credited To] – Alex Paterson, Andy Hughes) 7:54
The Cranberries
Dolores O'Riordan – vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, keyboards
Noel Hogan – electric and acoustic guitars
Mike Hogan – bass guitar
Fergal Lawler – drums, percussion
MP3 Size: 180 MB
Flac Size: 468 MB
CD3. TO THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED (THE COMPLETE SESSIONS 1996 - 1997)
01. Hollywood 5:08
02. Salvation 2:23
03. When You're Gone 4:56
04. Free To Decide 4:25
05. War Child 3:50
06. Forever Yellow Skies 4:09
07. The Rebels 3:20
08. Intermission 2:01
09. I Just Shot John Lennon 2:41
10. Electric Blue 4:51
11. I'm Still Remembering 4:48
12. Will You Remember? 2:49
13. Joe 3:22
14. Bosnia 5:40
15. Cordell 3:41
BONUS TRAXS
16. The Picture I View 2:28
17. Ave Maria (Arranged By – Giancarlo Chiaramello/Featuring – Luciano Pavarotti) 4:13
18. Go Your Own Way 4:03
19. God Be With You 3:34
The Cranberries
Dolores O'Riordan – vocals, electric guitar, acoustic guitar, keyboards, whistle, mandolin
Noel Hogan – electric guitar, acoustic guitar, mandolin
Mike Hogan – bass guitar
Fergal Lawler – drums, percussion
Additional musicians
Michael Kamen – orchestration
Henry Daag – saw ("Bosnia")
Richie Buckley – tenor saxophone ("Salvation")
Michael Buckley – baritone saxophone ("Salvation")
Bruce Fairbairn – trumpet ("Salvation")
Randy Raine-Reusch – additional percussion
MP3 Size: 180 MB
Flac Size: 506 MB
CD4. BURY THE HATCHET (THE COMPLETE SESSIONS 1998 - 1999)
01. Animal Instinct 3:31
02. Loud And Clear 2:45
03. Promises 5:27
04. You And Me 3:35
05. Just My Imagination 3:41
06. Shattered 3:42
07. Desperate Andy 3:44
08. Saving Grace 3:08
09. Copycat 2:53
10. What's On My Mind 3:12
11. Delilah 3:32
12. Fee Fi Foo 4:47
13. Dying In The Sun 3:32
14. Sorry Son 3:28
15. Baby Blues 2:38
BONUS TRAXS
16. Sweetest Thing 3:34
17. Woman Without Pride 2:26
18. Such A Shame 4:23
19. Paparazzi On Mopeds 4:43
The Cranberries
Dolores O'Riordan – vocals, guitar, keyboards
Noel Hogan – acoustic and electric guitars
Mike Hogan – bass guitar
Fergal Lawler – drums, percussion
MP3 Size: 172 MB
Flac Size: 513 MB
Notes
Limited edition cd-box which includes the first four albums remastered as complete sessions 1991 - 1999 including extra tracks.
CD1: Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? (The Complete Sessions 1991-1993) (Cat# 586 708-2)
Tracks 1-13 - 1-18 are bonus tracks
CD2: No Need To Argue (The Complete Sessions 1994-1995) (Cat# 586 709-2)
Tracks 2-14 - 2-18 are bonus tracks. Track 2-16 was originally done by Burt Bacharach and featured on his album "Interpretations".
CD3: To The Faithful Departed (The Complete Sessions 1996-1997) (Cat# 586 710-2)
Track 3-15 - 3-19 are bonus tracks
CD4: Bury The Hatchet (The Complete Sessions 1998-1999) (Cat# 586 750-2)
Tracks 4-15 - 4-19 are bonus tracks
