Released as a tribute to their 25 years as a group, Irish band The Cranberries has dropped Something Else, a 13-song record that re-imagines old tracks and introduces fans to some new tunes as well. Recorded with the Irish Chamber Orchestra at the University of Limerick in Limerick, Ireland, The Cranberries have released softer versions of their hits including “Linger” and “Zombies.” While the record is beautifully done, purists of the band will enjoy this effort alongside newcomers, though the only gripe about it is that tracks could have used some more creativity to make them sound entirely new, rather than just adding strings and calling the album complete.
Vocalist Dolores O’Riordan sounds as good as ever, with her unique vocal abilities being highlighted well and as for the rest of the band it’s clear that they haven’t lost what makes The Cranberries great. New cuts such as “The Glory” is a haunting and string filled tune that fans will fall hard for, while also translating well to a live setting, if the band doesn’t plan to change its orchestration to something harder and edgier.
“Rupture” is also a beautiful track, illustrating what makes the band unique. While O’Riordan’s voice may not be for everyone, her wispier vocal tone on this track provides listeners with a haunting vibe, and with a simple but workable instrumentation, “Rupture” will satisfy fans who have been waiting for new material.
“Why” Something Else’s final song,” is the last new offering that the band gives fans on this record. An almost entirely acoustic song, it’s another well-done addition to The Cranberries discography. While long-time fans could have the feeling that the band rehashed their back catalog, after 25 years The Cranberries still retain what made fans attracted to them in the beginning, allowing them to go forth for another two and a half decades.
Listen to “Linger” below.
