When I first heard The Cranberries‘ “Dreams” in the summer of 1993, I was instantly smitten with Dolores O’Riordan’s angelic voice. Picking up their debut album, Everyone Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We?, the Irish band’s jangle-pop tunes, reminiscent of The Smiths, The Sundays, and 10,000 Maniacs, didn’t disappoint. And the sonic pedigree was legit, as the set was produced by Stephen Street, who did the same for The Smiths.
When The Cranberries followed up with 1994’s No Need To Argue, and its lead single, “Zombie,” I found myself less enamored with the band’s louder sound. Coupled with a much more forceful O’Riordan — and her much more pronounced accent — at the center of the tempest, the album just wasn’t my cup of tea. There was one exception, however: “Ridiculous Thoughts,” especially the last bit (at 3:48) where O’Riordan channels Sinead O’Connor circa The Lion And The Cobra.
My interest in The Cranberries fell precipitously from there. I took little notice of subsequent albums, even as their last, 2001’s Wake Up And Smell The Coffee, found the quartet reuniting with producer Stephen Street, who’d departed after No Need To Argue. But what a difference a decade makes. Following a period in which O’Riordan released a pair of solo albums and The Cranberries reunited for a tour, last spring the band decamped to a recording studio with Street.
The first fruits of The Cranberries’ sixth album, Roses, were revealed last October when “Show Me The Way” was offered as a free download. That track didn’t really move the needle for me, but proper first single “Tomorrow” happily heralds the return of the sweet jangle-pop sound that I and so many others fell for nearly 20 years ago. Here’s what O’Riordan told Billboard about “Tomorrow”:
“It’s about the way we sometimes hyper over-escalate things in our minds, overthink about things… when sometimes spontaneity and just jumping in is better,” O’Riordan explains. “Tomorrow you might not have that moment back again. So it’s really about moving on and also about kind of looking at the younger generation and how they worry about all kinds of silly things. They don’t think they’re silly, but when you’re older you know better.”
This week, The Cranberries premiered a music video for “Tomorrow.” Directed by Colin McIvor, the clip features a bound-in-chains O’Riordan and wall projections of mementos from the band’s past. Keep an eye out for a shot of the Billboard albums chart featuring Everyone Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We? sandwiched between Xscape and Rod Stewart:
The Cranberries’ new album, Roses, is out February 14.
Purchase The Cranberries – “Tomorrow” via iTunes, Amazon MP3. Pre-order the regular or deluxe edition of Roses via iTunes.