Customer Reviews

Are You Listening?

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It seems to me that every person buying Dolores O'Riordan's debut solo release Are You Listening? is only doing so because they loved The Cranberries. Tis the reason I did so I'm not saying that it's a bad idea at all. In many ways, this IS a Cranberries record, maybe even better at certain points. If you loved Dolores in The Cranberries there's absolutely no reason for you not to be head-over-heels for Are You Listening?

It's no secret Dolores has a voice you either love or hate. However, love or hate, everyone seems to be in agreement that her voice definitely stands out. That's one thing every single song has going for it. Another thing is the band backing her. At times it's nothing big, a piano-laced track with mild use of the guitar and drums maybe. Other times your jaw will just hit the ground because of how unexpected something they did is. And lucky for us, that happens quite a bit throughout the CD. Dolores' lyrics have always been questionable, and they still are at points here, but she's actually gotten a lot better with words.

Looking for a few songs that will jump out at you immediately? In The Garden, Stay With Me, and Black Widow are the most powerful tracks featured. Dolores' delivery in these songs never fail to stun me and the band really proves to be quite excellent. When We Were Young, Loser, and Apple Of My Eye all feel as if they were ripped straight out of The Cranberries catalog, and do them every bit of justice. As for the rest of the CD, sure there's a few influences that are easy to spot but for the most part there isn't a dull moment to be seen. Human Spirit, Accept Things, and Ecstacy are the more notable songs of that certain pack.

My favorite songs are In The Garden, Stay With Me, Apple Of My Eye, Black Widow, and Accept Things. If you like The Cranberries or have always been fond of Dolores' voice, definitely check this out. For everyone else, there's such a variety on this CD that it'll be easy for most people to find a few songs they like. Are You Listening? is highly recommended.

I have been a Cranberries fan since the first time I heard their music. Dolores O'riordan's voice was simply magical. Listening to her singing always sent chills up my spine and gave me a buzz. Her original, intense, and emotional voice was a saving grace to much of the junk music that overwhelms us today. I was heartbroken to learn that the Cranberries split and went on to individual projects, but as long as Dolores was still singing, I'd surely be buying. And then she gives us "Are You Listening?" And well......What happened???!

She told us her solo album would be something different from anything she's ever done before. Something more .... AHEM... "experimental" (very overused word in the music industry and hardly applicable considering so much pop garbage sounds alike). Well, Dolores, where's the originality in this album? This album is much more <<cringe>> POP sounding than her previous work with the Cranberries. The musical originality is absent from most of the songs. It sounds like she uses typical pop arrangements, sounds, and tricks and as a result the album sounds like very all-purpose, generic pop music with Dolores O'riordan's voice sing the predictable rhyming lyrics. Very uninspired music.

Dolores does quite a bit of whisper (breathy) singing on this album. Usually when I hear that I think of a singer who's vocals aren't as strong as they used to be and who literally CAN'T sing crisply, clearly, or as strong as before. I hope that's not the case with Dolores' voice, but all the whisperings on this album make for a weak sounding voice. An annoyance when I'm eagerly waiting for her to just SING.

As for the lyrical content, Dolores continues to sing about the same subjects - her children, her husband (and her love and/or desperate need for him in her life), her other family & loved ones, people who put her down (remember the song "Loud and Clear"? well, she still sings defensively to people who hurt her and this time it's in the song "Loser"), and her efforts to evolve and grow as a human being. Dolores' lyrics tend to be simply put and straightforward. There's nothing wrong with that. Simple can be good. Listening closely to her lyrics give me the impression that she is still trying to find herself and climb out of a dark, murky something that is taking up more than enough space in her life.

I find most of the songs plain, uninspired and very forgettable. There are some standouts, namely BLACK WIDOW and OCTOBER. Black Widow is a song she wrote while going through the death of her Mother-in-law from cancer. She sings the song passionately and with a little creative use of her voice. It is heavy on the electronic musical *help* though. I wonder how the acoustic version would sound. OCTOBER is another song that I really liked at first. When I heard it the band Linkin Park came to mind. This one sounds like a Gloria Gaynor "I Will Survive" song. Meaning, "I may be down but I'm not OUT!" It's a You Go Girl! song and I have a soft spot for those.

My biggest complaint with this album is that Dolores just doesn't sound very alive when she's singing. I don't mind that she sings about the same topics. She could be singing about her cornflakes cereal for all I care. But sing it like it's the best stuff you've ever tasted and every bite tastes absolutely wonderful and puts you in 7th heaven! That kind of energy is missing from this album. She sounds like she's trying too hard when it used to come almost effortlessly. Maybe Dolores went the way of some other artists (Tori Amos, Sinead O'connor, Alanis Morrisette to name a few) who could sing beautifully and with such raw passion when they were angry or unhappy, but somehow lost some of that spark when intense dark emotions left them. Can't they be just as intense when they're happy?

Dolores hasn't done a complete 360 (a la Sinead O'connor) with her voice, it still sounds great. But in this album it's sounding a little more flat and dull. Not a bad effort for her first solo album, but I hope for a better sophmore solo album.

I shelved this album one month after I purchased it. It's so lackluster. And I am still listening to her older works more than 10 years since I purchased it. That says a whole lot. No doubt she could be a great solo artist, but she missed it buy a long shot with this album. Buy it and listen for yourself.

What an amazing album. A great effort from the unique Limrick girl. I did like the Cranberries to some extent but this is much more a mture and outstanding effort.
The music is catchy and clean at the same time. My favorites are "Ordinary day", A beautifully written piece of art with tender words oozing with honesty. Rich melodies and easy flowing arrangements. The absolute stunner on the album is "Ecstasy", Once again beautifully written and produced. The lyrics are controversial but I'm sure one can understand what the lass is talking about! and the music is absolutely devine. I think this is the best song she has ever written! I'm hooked!!

The great thing about the album is that there isn't a bad song on it and you can listen to the whole album without skipping tracks, something very hard to find nowadays. I wish Dolores would be more widely promoted as the world deserves to know of her talent which is genuine and generous but unfortunately it's the manufactured Irish boy band Westlife with all their repititious hollow songs that are more clever with promotion and playing on a sickly boring image that seem to be the better sellers but then again, so are the likes of Britney and Crazy Frog!!!. Never mind Dolores, you have your loyal fan base and most of all, you know you're true to yourself. Both thumbs up!!

I listen to a lot of music. For me to go buy it, the album has to be really good. This is one of those albums. Dolores's voice is beautiful as always. A few of the songs can be a bit repetitive, but as a whole, the album is terrific. If you liked the Cranberries, you will love this.

I liked this album all the way thru. I was a Cranberries fan. I'm happy that Delores has found a niche out there in solo land. She came up with quality songwriting and the voice is as seductive as ever. Great alternative rock. Check it out.

GOD I LOVE THIS WOMAN!!!

She IS my favorite artist of all time. Of course I purchased her solo cd without having heard one song on it. Her first solo cd "ARE YOU LISTENING" is amazing. The cd is definitely Dolores throughout since she wrote every song. There's rock, alt rock, ballad, love songs -- something for everyone. Not to be crude, but Dolores could poop on a pancake, call it a cd, and I would buy it.

The cd starts out with "Ordinary Day" reminescent of her old Cranberrie days. Then you notice the change or "the growth" as she calls it.

"When We Were Young" is straight forward rock. I like that she's utilizing synthesizer now. Then the love song to her daughter "In The Garden" which has a harder, darker edge. Next, "Human Spirit" which I love because it's such an odd rendering. I believe she's added violins and a piccolo along with old fashioned tambourine. It is a likeable, odd kind of alt-rock song with almost a hint of Middle East to it.

Next, and OH MY GAWD comes my favorite song on her cd. It is the hard rocking and VERY, VERY catchy song, "Loser." Here she shows she still has that biting sarcastic sense of humor: "You think you're clever, but you haven't got a clue. A two watt light bulb is brighter than you." It is a great, straight-forward rock song. The next rock style song is "October." All of her up-tempo songs have strong catchy riffs, great production sound.

The other songs on the cd are mid-to-low tempo songs. The lyrics of these songs sometimes convey a sense of pain or loss -- probably due to events she's endured the last couple of years (multiple deaths of those close to her). The lyrics also convey at times her inner struggle with coping and accepting loss (if you're gone, why are you still here? Don't come near, I don't want to cry any more. Memories, illusion versus reality)

I've read some reviews that suggest Dolores' vocals can be annoying. But one of the things I like most about this woman is that she does NOT have tremendous vocal ability and she doesn't seek to hide that fact. Many of her songs rely on straight-forward vocal/falsetto/vocal/falsetto. Which gives her that unique lilting sound.

She has a new band behind her but she, as always, plays piano and guitar (so very, very well).

I will never forget the first time I saw Dolores on stage. A diminuitive elf of a creature playing a big guitar that made such a big, incredible sound, and then there's that unique voice.

I wish this cd was getting air play. I hope it does and that it is a successful solo venture for her so that she will continue to create music.

My world is truly such a better place because of this lovely little Irish musician/singer. I think if you bought the cd, you might just feel the same.

This abum has made my year (musically that is). I am a big Cranberries fan, and although I am sad to hear that they have broken up, this album is great and I can't stop listening to it! The instrumenation, lyrics, and vocals are all outstanding. I like this album more than all the Cranberries albums after the first two (their first album is so great that it will take a lot to beat it and probably isn't possible). Keep them coming Dolores!

I saw her name listed and recognized the name from her Cranberries day. I picked up the CD yesterday and was amazed. Her voice sounds great and every song is worth listening to!

Yes,... i've always liked The Cranberries...always thought Dolores had a beautiful voice, i followed them throughout the years and was sad when they decided to stop after "Wake Up And Smell The Coffee". That's why i was very happy to know that a new album is coming in February 2012, ROSES.

ROSES will mark the end of an 11 years hiatus!!....I cant wait !!! ...But for those of you who were wondering what was going on with Dolores the past few years, i'm happy to let you know that she did 2 solo albums! ARE YOU LISTENING ? (2007) and NO BAGGAGE (2009).

I got them both and i'm very happy with it. If you like the cranberries and you miss them then you should definitely get this album. It is a very good album in general, some song you will dig right away...my favourite on the album is LOSER but there is also lots of nice ballads and other songs that will grow on you the more you listen to it.

Any fan of the cranberries should get their hands on this one! It was a pleasant surprise! NO BAGGAGE is her 2nd album and is also very good!!. Give it a try and see what you think!

ENJOY!!!!!

To anyone that has heard Dolores O'Riordan in her work with The Cranberries you know that her voice is unique and pleasant to hear. One difference between her solo album and her other works is that I feel this showcases her voice more as there is less intricate instrumentation accompanying her. Some of the songs are primarily her and piano accompaniment but it still has her distinct signature. Her lyrics continue to have depth and a poetic mystique to them depending on the song. It is a wonderful disc that I would purchase again and again. Great for background music that you can tune into and enjoy but also tune out if needed while doing other tasks. I listen to this disc frequently while cleaning or doing a project that may require some extra focus at times but when I feel strictly instrumental music isn't enough to fill my music listening needs.