A collection of Cranberries’ singles from the period 1992-2002, this compilation marks the end of an era in the Cranberries’ career and the beginning of another(which is yet to quite take off..)
Let’s go over the track listing..
1) Dreams (From their 1st album : Everybody Else is Doing it, so Why Can’t We?) - This was their second single, and thus, their second hit.. It is used on SSOO many soundtracks, though I can’t say that I’m surprised.... Dolores’s soft vocals on this track accompanied by Noel’s ancient-sounding guitars can make anyone go crazy. No wonder this track is used to finish off all their concerts, leaving the fans hungry for more..
2) Linger (From the Album : Everybody Else...) - This was their first single and obviously their first super hit that established the Cranberries in the United States. When the boys were taking auditions for a lead singer, and came across Dolores, they were mesmerized.. Noel had composed the music beforehand, and gave it to Dolores on a tape to work on.. the next day, she was back to the studio with ’’Linger’’ and left them gaping with her work. Linger has become no short of an Anthem since then.... It’s about how her (then) boyfriend was treating her badly, as is obvious from the https://lyrics.
3) Zombie (From Their 2nd album : No Need To Argue) - Need I have to write about this song? After all who hasn’t heard Zombie? You haven’t? Shoot yourself then ;).
This song was inspired about war in Northern Ireland and was written while Dolores was watching a documentary on the same on TV.... The video is a master-piece.... and infact, when confronted by the cops while shooting it, the director (or producer, maybe) had to lie that they were shooting a documentary, in order to be allowed to continue shooting the video.
4) Ode To My Family (From the 2nd Album : NNTA) - I myself don’t know what is so special about this song that it grips anyone who listens to it.... Written about her family(obviously), this song has a very soothing affect.... Excellent vocals by Dolores, every concert is incomplete without this number too....
The video was shot in a bar in Ireland so if you want to watch it, buy the hard-to-find Stars DVD/VCD on sales nowadays.
5) I Can’t Be With You(From the 2nd Album : NNTA) - A very hot and pumping track, that can really get you jumping. an all time favourite, really blows you away.... about break-up, obviously.
6) Ridiculous Thoughts(From the 2nd Album : NNTA) - Another ’’rock’’ track, though an edit from the album version. The video stars LOTR actor Elijah Wood, at an early age of 14. Elijah fan, are you? But the Stars DVD/VCD.
7) Salvation (From The 3rd Album : To The Faithful Departed) - Another rock track, which I’ve excessively praised in my review on ’’To The Faithful Departed’’ so why not check that out? https://mouthshut.com/readreview/58328-1.html
8) Free To Decide (From the 3rd Album : TTFD) - Purely Alternative Rock, this is my favourite song at present. Want to know more about it? You can read it up in the TTFD review.
9) When You’re Gone (From The 3rd Album :TTFD) - Dreamy soft-rock song which I’ve written about in the TTFD review. Check it out!
This one has an excellent video, available on the Stars VCD/DVD. Dolores looks HOT!
10) Hollywood (From the 3rd Album : TTFD) - Very interesting story behind this one. in the TTFD review ofcourse. Check it out, won’t you? I’m too tired to type it here. and I still have to write about 10 more songs.
Only song without a video, so you won’t find it on the Stars DVD/VCD.
11) Promises (From the Fourth Album : Bury The Hatchet) - it’s an excellent track no doubt ...(Rumor has it that she used to get so emotional about this song that she’d shed a few tears every time she sang it, live). It’s about alarming increase in Divorces in Ireland, which is evident from the https://lyrics. Excellent https://lyrics.
The video stars a Witch-cum-scarecrow that comes to life and starts attacking the farmer.
12) Animal Instinct (From the 4th Album : BTH) - This was their comeback single after 1 and a half years of absence from the music scene.... One of the best Pop tracks I’ve heard, till date! Great vocals, amazing music and awesome video! It’s the video, which is responsible for my tryst with this band, as it is so interesting. About a mother who’s children were taken away from her, and how she gets them back..
Obviously on the DVD/VCD that you, by now, know so much about..
13) Just My Imagination (From the 4th Album : BTH) - If you want to listen to a track similar to Zombie, DON’T listen to this. the only similarity btw. this and that is the performers. It’s excellent pop, excellent enough to be played on the ’’Charmed’’series.
14) You n Me (From The 4th Album : BTH) - It’s about her son ’’Taylor’’ and a great song, no doubt…blah blah (check out my BTH review)! So on to the next track.
15) Analyse (From the 5th and latest album : Wake Up And Smell the Coffee ) - This song is amazingly similar to ’’Dreams’’, so much so that some people call it a rip-off.... no wonder that it’s so amazing. There was a funny thing about the video of this song which is there on my ’’WUASTC review’’ https://mouthshut.com/readreview/59102-1.html
The song has 2 videos, both available on the Stars DVD. Only 1 on the VCD..
16) Time Is Ticking Out (From the 5th and latest album : WUASTC) – Check out the WUASTC review. I found the video amazingly cute.... you might too! Why don’t you check it out? You know where, don’t you?
17) This Is The Day (From the 5th and latest album : WUASTC) - GREAT Single.. Excellent track! Blood pumping music... really gets you jumping. Dolores looks Awesome in the video with long black hair(for a change).
18) Daffodil Lament Voted Best Non-Single By The Fans(From The 2nd Album : NNTA) - I’m not surprised by how much everyone loves the song. It’s very ’’Dynamic’’(to quite Dolores) and hence, has a gripping effect on everyone. You MUST listen to this track on loud volume(the louder, the better) and surround sound.
19) New York, New York Previously Unreleased - You will LOVE this song. It’s an amazing rock track based on the 9/11 tradgedy. amazing music, very loud, very dynamic and makes you go crazy.
20) Stars Previously Unreleased - Their LATEST single, with a very nice video, great music, great https://lyrics. everyone loves it. Good pop! Won’t be surprised if you like it too! Do check it out!
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A special edition of the ’’Stars’’ CD was available. it came with an Official bootleg (recorded from Stockholm performance in 2002) and was priced at an unaffordable Rs. 800.... now I HAVE enough to buy it, but it’s not available anymore! If you earn a lot, do buy this! Dolores is VERy good in concerts, so are the boys!
Thanks for reading this long and boring review! Hope you liked it, and hope you like the CD/VCD/DVD even more. Do comment on it! Makes me feel nice :D !!
Three Cheers to A decade of the Cranberries.