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No Need to Argue

The Cranberries - No Need to Argue Audio CD

A fair review of the The Cranberries "No Need to Argue" Audio CD. Please note that the below review is the views of the authors, and authors only. You can get a complete list of all The Cranberries reviews here, or go back to the The Cranberries tabs.

Band: The Cranberries
Title: No Need to Argue
Rating:

Release Date: 1994-10-04
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Ode to My Family 2: I Can't Be With You 3: Twenty-One 4: Zombie 5: Empty 6: Everything I Said 7: Icicle Melts 8: Disappointment 9: Ridiculous Thoughts 10: Dreaming My Dreams 11: Yeat's Grave 12: Daffodil Lament 13: No Need to Argue

One of the best albums I've ever had the pleasure of owning...
I should have known of course, given that Cranberries are a wonderful thing, that I was in for something different. There aren't many albums like this. When I decided to enter the world that the Cranberries created, I soon realized that I now had another favourite among my CD collection.

Usually there's some sort of filler musicians fill an album with. Even on the CDs I love a lot, there's usually the odd song that's weaker than the rest. Or there can be a couple of them that don't fit with the album as a whole. Don't get me wrong, those songs can be excellent; but they may disrupt the flow of an album by sticking out like a sore thumb.

This album is different.

"No Need to Argue" falls into another category entirely for me. Every piece flows so naturally with each other that they seem almost seamless. I'm not saying that they all sound the same, because they don't. There's enough variety here for the ears to enjoy. Each song of course tells a story; but what the Cranberries excel at is making them all fit within the framework of an album. It's similar to what you'd see in a film - many scenes tell their own story; but fit into the overall film's narrative. The same rules apply, except the scenes are the pieces and the album is a film for the ears, not eyes. It's pure brilliance.

Dolores O'Riordan's vocals are wonderful to listen to. She tends to have a soft singing voice; but can bring out the passion and raw-emotion needed during some of the more intense pieces. "Zombie," "The Icicle Melts," or "Daffodil Lament," just to name a few, are some key examples. She also knows how to shift tone and pitch in an appropriate way, in that it doesn't sound unnatural when she does. It seems like she's experimenting a bit here with her voice and it pays off. That, and the fact that she even has a speaking part in the underrated gem, "Yeat's Grave" show versatility.

Elsewhere, there's the instrumental side where a combination of folk, pop, alternative, rock-elements, and ethereal atmosphere combine. From the lonely swaying of "Empty", to the catchy single "Ridiculous Thoughts, the album is overall relaxing and fun to listen to. Ballads like "Twenty-One" and the love song "Dreaming My Dreams" just add charm to an already perfect album.

The Cranberries also released 4 bonus songs on the extended edition of the album. These are "Away," "I don't Need," "They Long to Be Close to You (Cover Song)," and "So Cold in Ireland". All four are wonderful additions to have. But there is one standout song here, which should have been an official song on the album. That would be "So Cold in Ireland". It's a very powerful song, with the instrumentals reaching a slow crescendo throughout the song. But this would be nothing without O'Riordan's vocals - which add extra power to the song. Especially, after the second chorus where she sings "But, I'm afraid of returning to Ireland/I'm afraid of returning to Ireland/I see/That there is nothing for me. " The song itself deserves to be more than a bonus track. I'd recommend that in buying the album you either get the Bonus Track edition of No Need to Argue or at least seek out this song on Itunes to add it to your collection.

This is one album that shouldn't be overlooked. .

Just a few arguments need to be had
3 1/2

Standing a certain test of time despite several seemingly bland elements, Cranberries warm brand of rock proves how earnestness, and a fantastic vocalist of course (the second-to-last singing of the album's title phrase in the closing track is simply stunning), transcend some of the bland familiarities often seen in similar setups.

Oh, Dolores!
Songs run the gamut from hauntingly beautiful to peacefully reflective to powerfully passionate. I can't really put into words how much I've enjoyed this album, or how much I'm afraid I'm going to ruin it by overplaying it. A lot of the lyrics aren't really the best written poetry I've heard, but it doesn't matter. The music is beautiful, and Dolores' voice is amazing as always. All of the songs have that really distinctive 'Cranberries' feel to them, but I think they really thought outside of the box with the making of this album (compared to Everyone Else Is Doing It. . . ) and tried some new things. It worked out well. Personal Favorites: "Empty", "Disappointment", and "Zombie. " .

Powerful Voice and Great Songs
The album contains two of their finest singles "Ode to My Family" and the controversal "Zombie". "No Need to Argue" is the best selling album the Cranberries have released before their current hiatus.

Though their music hardly can be called folk, there is an umistakeably influence from traditional Irish Music. On some of the strongest song find this influence obvious.

The album opens with beautiful "Ode to My Family" and the album continues with three more great songs. "I Can't Be With You" is one of the few upbeat rockers on the album - a catchy tune. Like "Ode to My Family" "Twenty One" is just beautiful and the powerful voice of singer Dolores O'Riordan is bound to hit you on the haunting "Zombie".

You may easily get the feeling that you're in the middle of listening to one of the few perfect albums in rock, but unfortunately the next handful of tracks do not live to the opening four. Though well-performed the songs are simply not as good.

Luckily the high standards are reset with O'Riordan's waltzy ballad "Dreaming My Dreams". "Yeat's Grave" is, inspite of its dark lyrics, quite uplifting.

The hymn-like title track is a fine closing track to the solid, but slightly uneven, album with some really great songs and the powerful voice of Dolores O'Riordan.

Epic

it's epically good. This is seriously a great album. It's in my top ten favorites of all time.
Every song on here is awesome.
On top of it being an excellent CD everytime i hear it all I think about is the 90's. . .
and the 90's were awesome, especially for music.

You can see a complete list of all The Cranberries discography, or go back to the The Cranberries tabs. There is also a good guide on how to read guitar tabs here.