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Jun 29, 2017 Web Exclusive By Matt the Raven

The Cranberries have given us Something Else to help them celebrate the band’s 25th anniversary. That something else is a hand-picked selection of favorites from the back catalog, re-worked and re-recorded in orchestral and acoustic versions.

It turns out to be somewhat of a mixed bag though. While this style works well, and is even more suited for some tracks, it diminishes the appeal of some others. Hits such as “Linger,” “Dreams,” and “Ode to My Family” take on a new and enriched life, but the seminal rocker “Zombie” just wasn’t meant to work this way and falls a bit flat.

Thankfully there are two other stand out features here that make listening a worthwhile endeavor. One is the tracklisting. The Cranberries actually picked their best tunes, something that doesn’t usually happen with these types of projects. The other is Dolores O’Riordan’s vocals. Re-recorded for this album, her voice is as radiant and emotionally powerful as ever, with an elegance that keeps even the weaker tracks afloat.

Recorded over two weeks at the University of Limerick with a quartet from the Irish Chamber Orchestra, Something Else also offers a little something more in the form of three new songs. While none of the new material matches the bright melodies and commercial playfulness of the songs from the band’s peak, they fit well with the reflective mood of the album.

While the new tracks are not enough to get real excited about, Something Else does contain a decent and different perspective on some compelling music from the ‘90s, it’s just a little disappointing it isn’t something better. (www.cranberries.com)

Author rating: 6/10