Wake Up and Smell the Coffee [EXTRA TRACKS]

The Cranberries

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 23, 2001)
• Original Release Date: October 23, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Extra tracks
• Label: Mca
• ASIN: B00005QD7U
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (95 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #63,786 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
After 10 years of making hit records, you would think Cranberries singer Dolores O'Riordan would have figured out how to write a proper rock lyric. But less than two minutes into the Irish group's fifth album, we are treated to a flashing display of her incomparable wit: "Birds in the sky/ they look so high" she coos on the opening track "Never Grow Old," before adding "I feel the breeze/ I feel at ease." And that's when she is being mercifully clever. On the title track, she doesn't even bother summoning the lessons learned in fifth-grade poetry. She simply repeats each line twice, therefore rhyming every sentiment with itself. The lazy writing is really a shame because it gets in the way of one of the last truly clear, pristine voices in rock. While the Cranberries' musical might remains largely intact on its fifth album, showcasing full-bodied rhythms and symphonic flourishes on tracks like "I Really Hope" and "This Is the Day," it's really difficult to sustain any interest when the tiresome lyrics trip you up at every turn. --Jaan Uhelszki

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An album I've been waiting for, October 24, 2001

By	JRK "jkunzvt" (VERMONT) - See all my reviews

As huge fan of "Everybody Else..." and "No Need to Argue", it's tough for me to say that "To the Faithful Departed" was under par and as a result, I never really gave "Bury the Hatchet" a chance. I didn't let their latest CD "Wake Up & Smell the Coffee" go past and I'm really glad that I didn't. Despite the review that blasted this album's lack of creative lyrics, I've never bought a Cranberries album for the lyrics. I've always been more interested in the music and Dolores' sweet voice. My initial reaction (having listened to this album for about four days now) is that this album is most like "No Need to Argue" with its mix of fast & hard songs with slow & melodic ones. My favorite songs are "Analyse" (which sort of reminds me of "Dreams"), "Never Grow Old", "This is the Day" and the title track. If you are able to listen to at least those four, I think you'll be convinced that this is an album definitely worth buying.

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wake Up and Smell the Coffee, Jaan Uhelszki!!!, March 4, 2002

By	cranfan2480 "cranfan2480" (Ohio) - See all my reviews

... While most fans of the Cranberries will tell you that they like the band for their unique rock sound and crystalline vocals, Dolores O'Riordan's lyrics are indeed some of the most refreshingly sublime lines around today. Listen to them closely and you will discover that they are simply human, approachable verses that reflect a close examination of life itself.
In addition to O'Riordan's lyrics, listeners will find that all four members of the band have grown in maturity and musical range. After a bit of a break since "Bury the Hatchet," in which Dolores and bandmate Noel Hogan welcomed new children into their separate families, the band returns with a renewed, optimistic approach to the album. You won't find anything as intense as "Zombie" here (WUASTC comes closest), but the disc does provide an assortment of the styles that Cran fans have come to love.
If you like the band's lighter songs, like "Dreams," and "Linger," you'll like the new songs, "Analyze," and "Every Morning" (not to be confused w/ the Sugar Ray song), among others. If you like their harder stuff, like "Zombie," and "Salvation," you'll find some new anthemic rockers, like "WUASTC," and "This is the Day." And I don't know anybody who wouldn't like the U.S. bonus track, the upbeat, exotic "Cape Town."
Listening to the Cranberries is the musical equivalent of standing under a cool, clear waterfall in a lush Irish forest - Refreshing! Don't Analyze, just let the music wash over you.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing!!!, October 30, 2001

By	Richard Ortiz (Miami, FL USA) - See all my reviews

My expectations for the new Cranberries album, were high, to say the least. Usually when expectations are that high, one ends up being disappointed with the final result. When I popped "Wake Up And Smell The Coffee" into my cd player and listened to it for the first time, all of my prior expectations were blown out of the water, it was 100 times better then I could ever hope for!

The music haunts me, I find myself humming the tunes that I can't get out of my head. From the absolute beauty of songs like "Never Grow Old", "Chocolate Brown", and "Dying Inside", in which Dolores sings: "The lady loved her gold, the lady lost her soul.", It's lyrics like that that give me chills down my spine.

Of course the true rocker in me has worn out tracks like "I Really Hope", "Wake Up And Smell The Coffee", and "This Is The Day", the song that in my opinion has surpassed the previously untouchable "Zombie" as the best rock song ever!

All in all, this album is a must have! I only hope that The Cranberries will be making music for many years to come.

--Richard Ortiz