Customer Reviews

Stars: The Best of the Cranberries, 1992-2002

5 star:		(40)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

If you like all the Cranberries radio hits, and were hoping to have them all on one disc instead of owning every single Cranberries CD, just be warned that you are NOT getting many of the full length recordings, with some tracks being as much as 2 minutes shorter than the original album versions. Amongst the many edited versions I noticed were:

Dreams
When You're Gone
Free to Decide
Hollywood
Promises
Animal Instinct
Just my Imagination
You & Me

Track times:

1. dreams (4:15)
2. linger (4:34)
3. zombie (5:07)
4. ode to my family (4:31)
5. i can't be without you (3:07)
6. ridiculous thoughts (3:36)
7. salvation (2:24)
8. free to decide (3:23)
9. when you're gone (3:52)
10. hollywood (4:19)
11. promises (3:32)
12. animal instinct (3:32)
13. just my imagination (3:13)
14. you & me (3:17)
15. analyse (4:06)
16. time is ticking out (3:01)
17. this is the day (4:15)
18. daffodil lament (6:06)
19. new new york (4:09)
20. stars (3:31)

While I wish this U.S. release was a 2-disc set (they deserve it!) this disc includes the most important and famous works of the Irish quartet. And as a bonus you get the two previously unreleased tracks including the immediately catchy 'Stars.'

HOWEVER, like other "Best Of" CDs of artists, this disc contains edited versions of the original songs (The only reason I didn't give it 5 stars.) Most notable cuts occur in the songs 'Ridiculous Thoughts' where the haunting opening bars by Dolores are completely cut out and the 'Hollywood' track had the opening shortened as well. If you're a stickler for the original versions of the songs, then this "Best Of" may not be agreeable with you. But, if you're new to the Cranberries (where have you been!?!) you'll find this an amazing listen that is sure to be a permanent addition to your CD rotation.

I bought this best-of cd wanting to hear a band I liked and saw a few times back in college. The problem is, Amazon doesn't let you know that the songs are the "singles" versions that were shortened for radio. "Promises" is hacked down to practically nothing. I'd recommend just buying their original cd's as opposed to this.

This is a Greatest Hits well done. Including all the single cuts release to radio outlets. Usually Record Label do not place one single so you still buy the original records and the greatest hits, wich really anoys me. Although The Cranberries music career it's better heard on their original conceptual records than a Greatest Hits Package, this cd will do very well for those casual fans of the irish band. The fans will find delightful that they include a non-release cut from theit NO NEED TO ARGUE album, DAFFODIL LAMENT, wich in my opinion is one of the bands best tracks. Worth your money. Buy It.

The Cranberries started out the early nineties as one of pop's most promising musical units, thanks in large part to their knack for melodic dream pop and Dolores O'Riordan's Sinead-like wail. Somewhere along the way, however, they seemed to stray from their initial path, with their music becoming increasingly riddled with overt political commentary(which, when lyricized by O'Riordan, was almost always laughable)and musically even sounding occasionally like just another corporate rock band, the only difference being the screaming banshee lead singer. But, when they were good, they were very good--'Linger' remains their shining moment, but they still managed several small jewels among the otherwise overbaked rubbish that often littered their studio sets. Both 'Dreams' and the hard-rocking 'Zombie' rate among their best--and they must have thought so too, considering as how they remade both later under the titles 'Analyse' and 'Hollywood', respectively. That aside, there's little to complain about here--this is a strong retrospective that actually does everyone the favor of wading through their spotty studio sets and placing all their essential music front and center on one disc. Highly recommended.

This band was one of the best bands of the 90's and no doubt the best female-fronted band of the decade. The lead singer's Celtic wail gave them a distinguishable sound *yeah, we had had similar vocal styles from Sarah Mclachlan and Sinead O'Conner, but this was a different sound.*

As far as the material, the album is kicked off right away with their most familiar and radio friendly material. "Dreams" is still one of my favorite songs and is actually still played quite a bit on the radio as is their biggest commercial hit, the ballad "Linger." Both tracks are awesome. "Zombie" was the band's big rock hit and is a powerful track. My favorite song is probably "Ode To My family" which I have always found sort of endearing for some reason. Some of my other personal highlights include "Be With You", "Free To Decide" and "Analyze."

For fans of the alternative bands of the 90's, this is essential. This group was awesome and can appeal to many different audiences.

This has got to be the best album that came out in 2002. Even if one's not a Cranberries fan, this album has a little bit of something for everyone. All best songs from the past are included (even though there are still some other great songs) and the latest single - "Stars" is just simply great. I couldn't help myself listening to it for several times everytime. The song is a true Cranberries trade mark - beautiful, melodic, good beat and just pure simple music. Very addictive. Every music lover should have this CD. One of the greatest 'best of...' albums of the decade!!

I will admit the title "Best" is deceptive, but the record company did many of us a favor who own the Cranberries albums. This compilation offers the single versions and created new edits, which is clearly stated in the booklet. Imagine trying to buy all eighteen songs (pictured in the booklet) individually? The last two songs on this CD, making the total twenty were previously unreleased. The Pop-Rockin' "Stars" is no token throw-away. It one of their better songs in the last phase of the Cranberries. I like the single versions better on this CD and album versions better on the individual albums if that makes sense. A true "Best" is owning "Everybody Else Is Doing It So Why Can't We? - Complete", "No Need To Argue - Complete" and this compilation. The other indivdual songs is personal choice. The band also had the fans vote for their favourite non-single - "Daffodil Lament". So what is offered here is sampler of their five albums. For a beginner, it's good enough. For a big fan, it closes the book unless the band gets back together. In the 1990's the Dave Matthews Band and the Cranberries were Modern Rock's best.

My husband was helping a friend paint his living room, he came home at the end of the day raving about this CD that our pal had been playing while they painted!

So, being a good and thoughtful wife (!), I purchased it for my husband as a Christmas stocking gift. We've all (incl. our two young sons) fallen in love with this terrific CD.

The music is rich, celtic in spots, rockin' in others. Some of it you'll recognize from the radio, but you might (like me) not have known who the artist was?! Strong vocals, great backup instrumentals (my husband is a drummer, and is particularly drawn to music w/ good drum-beats!).

Anyway, we're loving this CD, and we highly recommend it to all of you! Enjoy!

A good starting point for anyone who enjoys the Cranberries tracks that they have heard on the radio. If you listen to the entire cd, you will most likely find that you become a fan of the band. If you can, rent the dvd "Live In Paris", an excellent performance. Then you will appreciate the talent level of the artist in this band. You will most likely wind up looking to aquire the artist entire collection of work.