The volume of Bury the Hatchet-era commercial live bootlegs has been scarce over the past two years. Last year brought us “One’s Better Self”, “The Undead”, “Little Fruits”, and a few other titles basically all consisting of the April ’99 Germany show.

Now just recently released in Europe is the new bootleg, “Loud and Clear”. It marks the first, and only, live commercial bootleg of 2000. The show was recorded at the Theatre Antique de Fouriere on July 24th, 2000 in Lyon, France. This show also marks the last gig in the Loud and Clear 1998-2000 Tour. Although the tour is officially recognized as the 1999-2000 tour, the band kicked it off in Oslo, Norway in December 1998 for the Nobel Peace Prize Concert. The back insert also bears the name of one brave man, Vince Dome, by stating that he recorded the show.

Tracks are:

1. Intro (new one)
2. Promises
3. Loud and Clear
4. Linger
5. Wanted
6. Salvation
7. Desperate Andy
8. Go Your Own Way
9. Daffodil Lament
10. When You’re Gone
11. I Can’t Be With You
12. Free to Decide
13. Waltzing Back
14. Zombie
15. Ridiculous Thoughts
16. You and Me
17. Just My Imagination
18. Animal Instinct
19. Dreams

My first encounter with this show was on eBay, from where the pictures came. I thought that because I hadn’t seen it elsewhere that the packaging, etc., was a one-of-a-kind homemade effort to peddle a live show on eBay. However, lately the CD has been popping up in stores across Europe. Sebas tells The Cranberries Herald that some shops across Spain carry the CD for a price tag of approximately $10 US.

Luckily, The Herald was able to get a copy of the show from a European trading friend. First, I can tell you that the quality is excellent if this Vince Dome person is an ameteur. Grading it, I give the quality a 9.5/10. In addition, The Cranberries Herald has some exclusive MP3 clips for all those interested in downloading. First is the brand new intro, which is quite suspenseful, and hopefully something we can look forward to for the next tour. Note that these are just sample MP3’s and the actual sound quality is better than I can capture.

New Intro (MP3, 435k)
Loud and Clear (MP3, 538k)
Ridiculous Thoughts (MP3, 481k)

Enjoy, and also check out the full size cover art, back art, and disc art. (No longer available)

Partial Sources: eBay, also thanks to Sebas

Amazon.com, arguably the biggest and baddest multimedia superstore on the ‘net has posted their review of “Beneath the Skin”. Here’s what editor Tom Keogh had to say:

“Amazon.com
Recorded in December 1999 before a massive and wildly enthusiastic French audience, this Cranberries concert is remarkable testimony to the Irish band’s seasoning, evolving confidence, and heightened sense of fun in the years since the release of their breakthrough hit singles (“Linger,” “Zombie,” “Ode to My Family,” all performed here). Fans who saw the Limerick-born group’s early- ’90s tours recognized in singer-songwriter Dolores O’Riordan equal parts gamine, witch, and an inspirational incarnation of W.B. Yeats’s Glimmering Girl. Now, however, Beneath the Skin: Live in Paris underscores O’Riordan’s more relaxed, womanly stage presence, as well as a rounder, fuller sound from founding members Mike Hogan (bass), his brother Noel Hogan (guitar), and drummer Fergal Lawler.

Strutting at various times in a flowing robe, leather mini-skirt, or white pants, the diminutive O’Riordan leads the Cranberries through an overview of their Celtic-tinged, alternately jangly or thrashing repertoire. As always, they’re at their best when they reach beyond O’Riordan’s tendencies toward lyrical self-congratulation. When they don’t, a bit of monotony fogs up the proceedings. When they do, however, which is frequently in Beneath the Skin, the Cranberries demonstrate exquisite pop craftsmanship (“Just My Imagination,” not to be confused with the Temptations’ classic) and ferocity of spirit (“Animal Instinct”). In any case, the passionate Parisian audience at this show amplifies the band’s thorny glories while, paradoxically, easing them into a comfortable encounter with stardom. All in all, this is a must for Cranberries fans and a multifaceted introduction to the group for everyone else. –Tom Keogh

Additional features
The DVD edition is filled out with supplementary material, some of which is underwhelming (lifeless, backstage photos) while other goodies have genuine value (printed, albeit tiny, lyrics; videos and performance clips going back to 1993). –Tom Keogh”

Source: Amazon.com

It looks like Asia will be the first region of the world to get their hands on “Beneath the Skin”, in VCD form.
The first thing I should point out is that it is difficult to determine if this is pirated or not. Keep in mind that Asia is the piracy capital of the world and that 95% of the VCD (preferred video format) market is pirated, mostly in China and Hong Kong. However, the video is marked with the Island logo as well as a “ratings” sticker. The publisher, Panorama, even lists their Hong Kong address, so we will have to assume that this is an official release.

The 2-VCD set features the entire concert, as well as the bonus DVD features, such as “Yesterday’s Gone” from MTV Unplugged, and the three music videos. Here is the breakdown:

Disc 1

1. Promises
2. Animal Instinct
3. Loud And Clear
4. Ode To My Family
5. The Icicle Melts
6. Linger
7. Wanted
8. Salvation
9. Desperate Andy
10. Go Your Own Way
11. Pretty
12. When You’re Gone
13. I Can’t Be With You

Disc 2

14. Waltzing Back
15. Free To Decide
16. Zombie
17. Ridiculous Thoughts
18. Dying In The Sun
19. You And Me
20. Just My Imagination
21. Delilah
22. Dreams
–DVD Extras–

For those that don’t have a DVD player, remember that VCDs are playable on nearly any PC or Mac with an MPEG player, so you may want to look out for a copy of the Asian version.

Webmasters: Please remember to credit Zombieguide.com if borrowing these pics/news story for your page.

Source: Exclusive

The Cranberries Tape Trader, a Canadian fan page, is reporting that retailers there currently have the release date for the new Cranberries VHS and DVD. Canadians will be happy to know that they will only have to wait a day longer than the US, as the release goes on sale there January 3rd, 2001.

Black Star, a popular e-tailer of videos and DVDs for the UK and the rest of Europe has posted two different release dates for Europe. The DVD will be the first released, on January 15th. The VHS will follow two weeks later on January 29th. Europeans looking to order a Region 2 DVD can do so here. PAL videos can be purchased from Black Star here. Note that these dates are tentative, but probably accurate.

Sources: The Cranberries Tape Trader, Black Star

The Official Dario G Website has updated with all the details of the upcoming “Dreams” remix single.
The actual title of the track is “Dream to Me”, a lyric from the original song. Unfortunately, the song is not exactly a true remix. Instead it is a remake, with Dolores’ vocals removed, and have been replaced by Dario G lead singer Ingfrid Straumstoyl. The single will feature other mixes by Airscape, Warrior, Ian Wilkie, and Above and Beyond. The single will be out January 22, 2001.

Those interested in a sample of the song can click here (Real Audio clip) (Link no longer available)

Sources: Dario G Official Site, Loud and Clear 2001

The Cranberries Official International Homepage has gone under more than one delay in the new design. The new design is being done by legendary artist Storm Thorgerson, who has done the band’s cover art for Bury the Hatchet and all of its singles as well as the upcoming “Beneath the Skin”. He is probably best known for his abstract Pink Floyd cover images.

In a previous post, the new design was set for January, but today, this note was posted:

“We have just got word from Storm Thorgerson, who is re-designing our website, that the “new look” site will be up and running by mid February 2001. More on that soon!”

Looks like we’ll have to wait a little longer to see the new layout, but I’m willing to do so.

Source: The Cranberries Official International Homepage

It looks like trying to get any peek at the new DVD before January 2nd is extremely difficult. Today, while contacting an employee at Image Entertainment, the distribution company for “Beneath the Skin”, he told me that not even the employees at the distribution house are permitted to handle the release until after the busy holidays.

“The disc is manufactured but the holidays are keeping everything tight and we are not allowed to touch the Cranberries title until next week,” said Burgess Wilson, an Image representative.

Even those that have ordered it directly from DVDPlanet.com, the online retail branch of Image, will probably not receive it early. For those, “it will probably show up the week of [January 2nd],” said Wilson. He concluded, “Better on time than never.”

Source: Exclusive

Image Entertainment, the distributor of the upcoming VHS and DVD “Beneath the Skin” has posted a new press release on their website. No really new info. here, but it is newsworthy.

IMAGE ENTERTAINMENT TO RELEASE DVD AND VIDEOCASSETTE OF “THE CRANBERRIES: BENEATH THE SKIN: LIVE IN PARIS” ON JANUARY 2, 2001

 

Worldwide Home Video and Broadcast Rights Granted in Exclusive Agreement with Island Records, Inc.

 

CHATSWORTH, CA (December 5, 2000) – Image Entertainment, Inc. (NASDAQ: DISK), a leading licensee and distributor of DVD programming in North America, today announced the January 2, 2001 release of The Cranberries Beneath the Skin: Live In Paris, filmed at the Palais Omnisport de Paris Bercy in Paris. The DVD and videocassette are being released through an exclusive agreement with Island Records, Inc. that grants Image all facets of home video and broadcast distribution throughout the world.

 

The Cranberries, featuring vocalist and songwriter, Dolores O’Riordan-Burton, guitarist and co-writer, Noel Hogan, bassist, Mike Hogan and drummer Fergal Lawler, reside in their hometown of Limerick, Ireland. The quartet was formed in 1989 and their first single, “Uncertain”, was released in 1991. The band’s first album, Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can’t We?, was released in March 1993 and has sold over five million copies, spawning two hit singles: “Linger” and “Dreams”. From there, The Cranberries went on to release No Need To Argue and To the Faithful Departed, each album more successful than the last, and winning international awards and recognition, including the MTV Award for European Single of the Year for “Zombie.”

 

The Cranberries most recent tour began in Oslo, Norway in 1998 and lasted 18 months, reaching 700,000 fans, in 90 cities over four continents. Their most recent album, Bury the Hatchet, topped the charts around the world. To date the band has sold over 33 million albums. This is their first concert, since 1994, to be released to home video, and marks The Cranberries first ever DVD release.

 

The DVD will feature Dolby Digital 5.1 multichannel audio and exclusive bonus features including documentary footage, bonus performances from MTV Unplugged, promotional videos, rare live performance footage and more! The video was produced by Ned O’Hanlon for Timeless Music and Dreamchaser Productions and executive produced by Lewis Kovac. Audio was produced by the band and the program was directed by Maurice Linnane. Menuing and design for the project were handled by legendary artist, Storm Thorgerson.

 

The Cranberries are currently writing and recording new material for their fifth album, slated for release in Autumn 2001 by Universal Music Group.

 

Image Entertainment, Inc. is a leading aggregator of content for DVD with over 1,200 Image-exclusive DVD titles in release. The Company also has exclusive videocassette, broadcast, streaming video and downloading rights for certain properties. The Company maintains its distribution facility in Las Vegas, Nevada and is one of the largest distributors of DVD programming in North America. Additionally, Image has distribution agreements in Japan, China and Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand, Mexico, Brazil, and throughout most of Europe for select programming on DVD and videotape as well as for broadcast. The Company owns and operates an e-commerce subsidiary, DVDPlanet.com.

Source: Image Entertainment

Dario G, a popular dance artist in the UK, has decided to take on the fragile task of creating a dance remix of the Cranberries’ well-known “Dreams”. The song will definitely see a release in the UK early next year, possibly late January or early February 2001 (probably as an independent single). For those that recieve the UK digital music channel, The Box, it is now available for listening via selection number 268. The song has just been added to the channel as a Box Fresh Exclusive, which points to its forthcoming release soon.

The Cranberries’ songs have seen a varied mix of good and deplorable remixes. Unfortunately, the deplorable ones have been the ones recieving the most publicity. For those looking for a good mix, check out the “How” mix on the “Linger” single, “Pretty (Radical Mix)” on the “Pret-a-Porter Ready to Wear” soundtrack, or the elusive “Twenty-One (c-On Air Remix)”, which is not available on any official release. Stay away from A.D.A.M.’s “Zombie Dance Mix”, which got a single in the UK along with some radio airplay there. Also steer clear of the “Zombie (Camel’s Hump Remix)” available on the US single of “Free To Decide/When You’re Gone”.

Source: Loud and Clear 2001

Apparently, the idea of a DVD playable on a CD player is not as impossible as it seems. Several other bands have done the same thing. How? By manufacturing a double-sided DVD, one side with audio data for CD players, the other with DVD data for DVD players. If what Mike said in the E-Merge chat is true, then this is probably what the band is planning. Now, fans without a DVD player may feel compelled to buy both the VHS and DVD version — VHS for watching, DVD for listening.

Once again, “Beneath the Skin: Live in Paris” is due out in America on January 2nd.

Source: Exclusive, thanks to Norbert Brühn of Zombieguide Germany

If you live in Italy, or receive MTV Italy, mark your calenders and set your VCRs for Wednesday, the 20th at 9 P.M. The station will be re-airing the special “Simply the Best — A Night with the Cranberries”. The show originally aired this past July, but a few missed it. The show features an interview with Dolores and Fergal, along with airing all of the band’s videos, except for the new “You and Me”.

Source: Thanks to Daria

…but only in Turkey. Completionists looking for something new and especially rare to add to their collection can look for the new “The Cranberries Greatest Hits”. The disc is licensed by Universal, but is only available as a pack-in with the recent issue of the Turkish magazine “Blue Jeans”. The disc includes both CD audio components as well as enhanced CD-ROM features. There are 10 audio tracks, while the CD-ROM includes videos for “Zombie”, “Linger”, “Dreams”, and others, as well as lyrics and a photo gallery. The CD does come with its own case and packaging, but no scans for the moment. Zombieguide will have more info as it comes in.

Source: Exclusive

The Official Cranberries Homepage has updated their tour section with a new notice. Aside from the note that the band is currently working on a new album, due in Autumn 2001, they add that “a tour is not anticipated until early 2002”. This is a rather disappointing note, as the band began touring weeks before the release of their last album in order to promote it. Now, it appears that the band will either be doing promo work or else just resting. Hopefully, it’s the former as not doing any promo work for an album will slaughter its sales.

Source: The Official International Cranberries Homepage