The Cranberries Albums Ranked
The Cranberries were an Irish rock band formed in Limerick, Ireland 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. The band officially classify themselves as an alternative rock group but incorporate aspects of indie pop, post-punk, folk-rock, 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, and achieved five top 20 albums on the Billboard 200 chart: Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We?, No Need to Argue, To the Faithful Departed, Bury the Hatchet and Stars: The Best of 1992-2002[ as well as having eight top 20 singles on the Modern Rock Tracks chart: “Linger”, “Dreams”, “Zombie”, “Ode to My Family”, “Ridiculous Thoughts”, “Salvation”, “Free to Decide”, and “Promises”. Their fifth studio album Wake Up and Smell the Coffee was released in October 2001. Here are all of The Cranberries albums ranked.
Don’t miss to listen to all The Cranberries hits below! Click to enjoy the anthems from the 90’s!
8. To the Faithful Departed (1996)
“This album is incredible and very underrated. I think a few years ago when I first heard this album, the song that really kicked this album up for me was “I Just Shot John Lennon”. That song still sticks with me and makes me feel all sorts of emotions that I can’t even describe without listening to the song. Shame that this release isn’t given as much attention as albums like No Need to Argue.”
7. Roses (2012)
“Roses is contemplative and wistful and proves that when they’re on fire, The Cranberries can still pack a musical punch. The problem is that some weeds are found among this bed of roses. This means that if there’d been some careful pruning the band might have made something a little less disposable and a set more fragrant and evocative. Nevertheless, Roses will still prove a welcome gift by the group’s core fans, because for some people the absence of this “present” would be a fate far worse than one that is occasionally lackluster.”
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6. Wake Up and Smell the Coffee (2001)
“Wake Up and Smell the Coffee is obviously an album where the arrangements are designed to take a back seat the vocals. I’ll give Dolores extra kudos for completely avoiding the “yodeling” this time around; the lack of such outbursts does make her sound significantly less distinctive, but I’ve always felt that she’s at her best when she sticks to the angelic dream pop delivery. She’s also managed to rein in the preachiness that sank To the Faithful Departed, with “Time Is Ticking Out” (an apparent single…) being the only track here that reeks of in-your-face, Bono-esque social activism. Unfortunately, all of these potential virtues do reinforce the record’s identity as “boring”, “safe” and “middle-of-the-road”. I suppose that makes Wake Up and Smell the Coffee the most adult-oriented record of the Cranberries’ career, which is fine if you grew up with the band but undoubtedly made the group harder to embrace for the next generation of potential fans.”
5. Bury the Hatchet (1999)
“Bury The Hatchet is more uniform than it’s predecessor To the Faithful Departed with no odd or experimental tracks. I was actually surprised how much I enjoyed this album. The melodies, despite being very simple, are catchy and engaging. The same could be said about Dolores O’Riordan’s unique voice. She does a fine job throughout Bury The Hatchet and is responsible for all of the lyrics and most of the songwriting efforts as well.”
4. Something Else (2017)
“If there’s a way to make a mark with new and old fans then The Cranberries have undoubtedly set the benchmark in 2017. Nearly 25 years after they released their debut album to the world, comes Something Else – an acoustic over-brushing both pertinent and rich. Featuring select hits from their back catalogue and a few new treasures, you can expect a new experience from their most cherished and beautifully crafted song gems.”
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3. In the End (2019)
“No track has this effect more than the final one, ‘In The End’, the namesake of the album. “They can never take your spirit,” O’Riordan sings on the chorus, reminding us that even if the journey is over, there will always be a way to live on. Which is exactly how she will be remembered. After all, there is no end to a timeless legacy.”
2. No Need to Argue (1994)
“Dolores O’Riordan sings with an Irish accent and rapid switches between chest and head register. Their music combines electric and acoustic guitar with electronic string arrangements, ranging from catchy pop tunes to more meditative melodies. In Ode to My Family the singer thinks back of the traditional Irish family she left to become a rock singer. I Can’t Be with You expresses frustration over a broken relationship. The vehement anti-war song Zombie was inspired by two child victims from an IRA bombing in Warrington, England. Repeated syllables make it sound obsessive. The “zombie” could be someone who’s traumatized by the war violence, which makes it a protest against the madness of war in general. Over a sober accompaniment of sustained chords the title track describes the transition from anger to acceptance after a break-up. They found a good middle between their entertaining and their activist side.”
1. Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We? (1993)
“This album from the beginning took me by the hand and lead me to another more quiet and beautiful place. Dolores’ voice is extraordinary, crystal clear and so emotional you wanna cry in each and every song. Guitars are mostly based on effects and rhythm leaks than in solos and exhibition. That is the most important thing of all. To know what you want and not to follow what everybody else is doing exactly.”
