[.ca] To the Faithful Departed

From Amazon.com:
This is the Cranberries' contribution to the time-honored difficult-third-album syndrome, with the Irish quartet--particularly frontwoman Dolores O'Riordan--working to expand its musical base and stretch out in new lyrical directions. While their efforts are only partially successful, the band approaches the task with such cocky confidence that the album maintains a consistently high level of likableness. The band employs a convincingly aggressive instrumental attack on "Salvation" and "Hollywood," while the lilting balladry of "Free to Decide" and "When You're Gone" underlines O'Riordan's ties to Celtic folk tradition. And while her efforts at tackling current events on "War Child," "Bosnia," and the controversial "I Shot John Lennon" are hit-and-miss, her obvious sense of commitment gives those songs an undeniable power. --Scott Schinder

cranberries with turkey:
And boy is this a turkey! There's nothing worse than rock stars trying to "change the world" with trite lyrics and vapid sermonizing. What is it with these Irish rock stars - if it ain't Bono, it's Sinead or Sir Bob - they all seem to have a need to make statements about social problems but the problem with Dolores here is that she sings about drug addiction, war, murder, fame, etc. as if no one has ever heard - or sang - about them before. It's all been said and done, Dolores, and if you must get preachy try doing it with a sense of humor - it's more effective. I wanted to slash my wrists after hearing this.

childhood music:
my sister and i grew up listening to the moody blues, eric clapton, and the cranberries, my mother's favorite groups. one of our favorite things to do was dance around our family room after our father got home form work to "i just shot john lennon", "ode to my famiyl", or "nights in white satin". and sadly, as we grew up, we stopped listening to this music, but recently i reverted back to the cranberries and moody blues as comfort music and im happy to say they are once again some of my favorite groups. (ont he other hand, my friends prefer blink 182 and ludacris, so just dont get it) the music on this cd is some of my favorite done my the cranberries and definitely the most recent of their stuff that i like...the next 2 cds are a downhill path, in my opinion.

When the Cranberries tasted bittersweet...:
Two years after the explosively successful 'No Need To Argue', Irish sweethearts The Cranberries released 'To The Faithful Departed' True to its title, the album pays tribute to casualities of war, dead singers, and just about anybody dear to somebody who had departed. This takes up the theme of most of the album: sad, emotional, and bittersweet. 'I Just Shot John Lennon' takes its title straight out of the mouth of the person who said it right after killing former Beatle Lennon, Mark Chapman. This track, like many others, is a dark and haunting song but moves by at a quick pace ending with the sound of gun shots. Yet on the other side, we get 'Hollywood', a Zombie-ish tune, turning Hollywood into a character in a gothic tale. 'Salvation' presents the dangers and ugliness of drug abuse. The highlight on 'To The Faithful Departed' has got to be 'When You're Gone' which is the soundtrack of the album's theme. The song can be related to just about anybody. And when Dolores croons the line '...but i miss you when you're gone...that is what I do...yeah yeah yea', it somehow makes up for most of the missing gaps and dullness of some of the other tracks on the album. Yet out of all the misery the album has to offer, we get one feel-good treat 'Free To Decide', a very good but typical Cranberries tune. Somehow most of the tracks here are mostly forgotten. Unlike 'No Need To Argue' which is a compilation of memorable tracks, 'To The Faithful Departed' is at best a mediocre offering with outstanding tracks; When You're Gone, Free To Decide, Salvation, songs that shouldn't be missed out on a greatest hits compilation. Good C+

To the Faithful Departed:
I carefully read reviews before I make a decision about whether to buy a CD or not...This time that was a mistake. Most of the reviews I read were putting down this album, stating it was their worst collection. Obviously I disagree with that remark. Yes, some of the desperate political messages can get annoying, but if that is the worst thing about this album, that's not saying much. There are always going to be those few songs that you don't listen to as much, but in this case it isn't because they're bad, its just because you fall in love with the other ones. 'The Rebels' has got to be the best track on this album. Her loud, powerful voice just blows you away, plus the melody is great. 'Yellow skies' is brilliant. It's one of those songs that you just have to sing along with. 'Hollywood' and 'Salvation' really gives you a reminder of how hard they can rock, so if you like that style definately listen to those. All in all, EVERY song is worth listening to. Even the intermission is beautiful. Ultimately, I read too much negative information about this album, costing me time that I could have used enjoying it's unique style.

"Faithful" a terrific postlude to "No Need to Argue":
First of all, if you already like the Cranberries, you will love this album! It is the best (in my humble opinion) next to No Need to Argue. Dolores, Mike, Noel, and Feargal work together wonderfully in their music-- there's always such harmony with voice... guitar... drums... crazy Italian-sounding instruments in the background... in all of their songs, to evoke whatever feeling to you, whatever thought the music is trying to make. Dolores O'Riordan has the most talented voice of all the female vocalists I've ever heard, and she displays it beautifully in this album especially. You can hear her soft soprano on numbers such as "Joe", the harsh and forceful voice on "Bosnia" and everything in between. If one of her many tones happens to become obnoxious to you after a while, if you switch to the next track, it's liable to take a completely different tone. Same with the instruments and the lyrics and everything, without every switching away from the essence of their album, To the Faithful Departed. This album is beautiful, simply amazing-- political, reminiscing... love, war, John Lennon... no Cranberries fan should ever have to miss out on this!

• Hollywood
• Salvation
• When You're Gone
• Free to Decide
• War Child
• Forever Yellow Skies
• Rebels
• I Just Shot John Lennon
• Electric Blue
• I'm Still Remembering
• Will You Remember?
• Joe
• Bosnia