Are You Listening?

Dolores O'Riordan

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 15, 2007)
• Original Release Date: May 15, 2007
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sanctuary Records
• ASIN: B000O170YY
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (54 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #13,171 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

It's been a long wait for the solo debut from Irish icon Dolores O'Riordan. After all, the Cranberries issued their swan song in 2001. After their break up, O'Riordan collaborated with Germany's Jam and Spoon, Italy's Zucchero, and David Lynch composer Angelo Badalamenti. She also appeared, as herself, in the 2006 comedy Click. All the while, she toiled away on her first solo effort. Fortunately, good things come to those who wait. Co-produced by Youth (the Verve, U2), Are You Listening? is a throwback to 1980s-era Siouxsie and the Banshees and Sinead O'Connor--sweeping keyboards, forceful drumming, and muscular guitar work. It may seem like a melodramatic move, but the music never overwhelms the slight yet steely figure at the center of the maelstrom, particularly on the lilting "Ordinary Day" and haunting "Black Widow." Cranberries fans expecting something more demure may be taken aback, but O'Riordan's supple voice should win over most skeptics. And lyrically, she compensates with tender words inspired by her husband ("Apple of My Eye"), the death of her mother-in-law ("Black Widow"), and the birth of her youngest child ("Ordinary Day"). --Kathleen C. Fennessy

More from Dolores O'Riordan and the Cranberries

Ordinary Day (Single)	Everybody Else Is Doing It So Why Can't We? (The Complete Sessions)	No Need to Argue (The Complete Sessions)
To the Faithful Departed (The Complete Sessions)	Bury the Hatchet	Stars: The Best of the Cranberries, 1992-2002

Product Description

2007 solo debut from the former Cranberries vocalist. Written and recorded in Dublin and Canada and featuring production from Dan Broadbeck and acclaimed musician/producer Youth, whose many production credits include Paul McCartney and U2. The album was written and inspired by her personal experiences over the last four years including her marriage, the birth of her third child and the death of her mother-in-law. 12 tracks including the first single 'Ordinary Day', 'Loser' and 'Apple'. Sequel. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

29 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I dread this place without you, June 10, 2007

By	incubus1 - See all my reviews

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.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing album bordering on BORING., July 19, 2007

By	Dark Water Mermaid - See all my reviews

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.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ireland's pride and Joy!!, July 3, 2007

By	Amre the king (Dublin, Ireland) - See all my reviews

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!!