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The Cranberries - To the Faithful Departed Audio CD

A fair review of the The Cranberries "To the Faithful Departed" 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.

The Cranberries Band: The Cranberries
Title: To the Faithful Departed
Rating:
Release Date: 1996-04-30
Media: Audio CD

Tracks: 1: Hollywood 2: Salvation 3: When You're Gone 4: Free to Decide 5: War Child 6: Forever Yellow Skies 7: Rebels 8: I Just Shot John Lennon 9: Electric Blue 10: I'm Still Remembering 11: Will You Remember? 12: Joe 13: Bosnia

Good fruit is starting to mold
Even with the group repeating themselves melodically and structurally throughout, and some pretty immature lyrical dealings, somehow a sincerity in the chemistry still vastly shines through, no less in O'Riordan's clunkiest sentiments. Indeed, a third entry in the groups sweetly blossoming discography began the obvious faithful departure from genuine songwriting evolution, with limitations hinted at previously coming into complete (de)fruition. .


A Remarkable Studio Album
However, I'm overwhelmed (in a good way) by Dolores' truly amazing voice. Several things that strike me about this album are its diversity, energy, power, and passion.

I'd rate very highly 10 out of the 13 tracks, led by 'Free to Decide', 'The Rebels', 'Salvation', 'Forever Yellow Skies', and 'I'm Still Remembering'.

As far as studio albums go, this would probably slip into my Top Ten favorites of all-time. Sure, there are many terrific compilations and greatest hits CD's out there, but when considering only *studio* releases, this is one of the very best there is.

Fantastic-.


3rd Time's A Charm
I don't get it. To The Faithful Departed, the 3rd studio alblum from The Cranberries has often been panned as "one of the worst alblums of all times". The songs are produced wonderfully, paying special attention to the era of 90's alternative rock, and even a little ska. There is a lot of musical experimentation on this alblum that is very refreshing, and not the same as "No Need To Argue", where you tend to not know when the song is ending, and a new one is starting. You WILL know when tracks change on this alblum!
The start of the disc really grabs your attention with the hard rocking opener "Hollywood". It stays true to who The Cranberries are as a band, with the classic yodel of Dolores O'Riordan's beautiful voice.
"Salvation", the first radio single from this alblum, is a great anti-drug anthem, and with the help of a wonderful, yet creepy promotional video, moved this song to the top of the Modern Rock Charts in 1996. With ska music becoming ever popular in the early to mid 90's, this song contributed a wonderful brass section to the song, and makes it one of the best tracks on this alblum.
Other great songs on the alblum are "Forever Yellow Skies" with Dolores once again yodeling away to a hard rock beat. "I Just Shot John Lennon" is a wonderful rock song with hard guitar riffs, and Dolores pounding vocally away.
To make this alblum more diverse from there other 2 alblums before, The Cranberries decide to go a little more experimental, and in my opinion they do a wonderful job. It does sound experimental, and even a bit weird at some points, but what's wrong with that? I don't like it when reviewers say that "the alblum sounds just like their old stuff, why don't they do more experimenting", and then when the do experiment they pan saying, "a little too experimental, and not an accessible alblum".
This alblum is very accessible, and has wonderful sound. Give it a listen.

Christopher Sorick
Council Bluffs, Iowa .


Erratic, Forced, Characteristicallly Dull Lyrics.
This was a band with extraordinary potential: truly unique lead vocals, distinctive sound(s), and real presence. This CD is the first I have bought of the Cranberries, and if I had not explored their earlier releases, it would be the last. They squander it, at least in this album, giving a jerky, distasteful performance. They are hooked on the idea of the yodeling punk band, and the result is miserable. There are moments, the gentler bits of "Electric Blue" and the delightfully gypsyish "Will You Remember?" that are truly decent, rich and potent instrumental segments. Then they yodel their trite and bland lyrics (most songs have only four or five lines, repeated to the gnawing point) and all falls down. What does she even mean, yelling over and over that "Salvation is Free"? There is always a cost to such things. If you're going to preach, preach something worth saying.

Look at the earlier stuff; it's calm, rich, and well-balanced. At least it seems that way in comparison. The lyrics are still dull, but it's ok somehow. And then write a review of it for me!.


really good
My only complaint is that the album art book is very thick and makes it hard for the CD case to close properly and fit in with my CD's.


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.

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