As reported earlier, “Fields of Hope”, the new benefit compilation for those starving in central Africa, has just been released in the UK. Below is the first image of the cover art, which features a painting of a person travelling across a sun-scortched land. The new compilation, which features a live version of the Cranberries’ “Dreaming My Dreams”, is available in the UK on Dara Records.
“Empire Records”, a movie about the dying breed of independent music stores, will be released on DVD in less than two months. The movie, filmed in 1995, features the Cranberries tracks “How” and “Liar”.
“Liar” was also placed on the film’s soundtrack, being pushed as a major selling point for the CD.
The DVD release of the movie will feature several new additions, including theatrical trailers, widescreen anamorphic display, Dolby Digital 2.0, and subtitles in English, Spanish, French, and Portugese.
The disc will be cased in snap case packaging. The movie will be released on DVD on April 3rd, 2001 with an MSRP of $19.99
Source: Amazon
The opening page of the Cranberries official site is a far cry from what it was just days ago. The opening page features a preview of what to expect from the newly-designed site. The new design features a curious mix of the “Bury the Hatchet” signature line-and-circle art, mixed with morphed band photos and sketches that look like they’re out of a 1950’s biology book.
Some new features are also to come. A “Press Release” section will be launched. Flash technology will also be mandatory to view the page. Lastly and most intriguing is a bright red-and-blue sun that features the word “Live” lightly enscribed into its center.
I’m now quite anxious to see the new page, so be sure to check it out when it launches this Saturday.
In the meantime, click here to see the preview, or check out the picture below. (Link no longer available)
Source: The Official International Cranberries Website
In an unsuprising note, the webmaster of the official international Cranberries webpage reports that the new redesign of the site has once again fallen behind schedule. The new site has been planned to hit the bandwith today. The relaunch has been pushed back innumerous times since its original planned launch late last year. The new layout will feature art by Storm Thorgerson, the “dark and sexy” artist who did most of the art for “Bury the Hatchet” and its singles.
In related news, an official mailing list is now up on the official site. Those interested can enter their email address and receive news and other updates, sent straight to their inbox.
Source: Cranberries Official International Homepage
A review is out to promote the new benefit compilation “Fields of Hope”
VARIOUS ARTISTS “FIELDS OF HOPE” Dara 2000
65 min
Tracklisting:
Dolores Keane: Storm in My Heart – Altan: Castles in The Air – Van Morrison & The Chieftans: Irish Heartbeat – Sinead Lohan: Everything Around Me is Changing – Mary Black: Ae Fond Kiss – David Gray: Lead Me Upstairs – U2: Staring at The Sun – Sinead O’Connor: Ode To Billie Joe – Maire Brennan: Ceolfidh Mi – Christy Moore: Lovely Young One – Dsnal Lunny & Coolfin: Butlers – The Cranberries: Dreaming My Dreams – Jack L: Rooftop Lullabye – The Corrs: Runaway
Although it goes without saying that the thinking behind it was a truly admirable demonstration of how people power in a needy hour could really save lives, the Band Aid single “Do They Know It’s Christmas? (Feed The World)” will always bring a bad taste to many mouths. Apart from giving rise to countless other cheesy charity tunes featuring duets from ‘well intended’ faltering stars who linked arms while grinning inanely (you know who they are!), the music itself amounted to little more than second rate, lame pop. Several years on from this we have learnt the hard way that like puppies, benefit albums are not just for Christmas, but for life! Here’s where this album comes in. There are no ill-fitting duets or sing-along anthems here, but quite a few rare tracks which showcase some of Ireland’s most established songwriters and musicians with a predominantly traditional and folk vibe. Dolores Keane’s distinctive sean nss touch to an airy “Storm in My Heart” complements the low-key acoustic touches of Sinead Lohan’s “Everything Around Me is Changing”. Meanwhile U2’s live acoustic version of “Staring at The Sun” proves that they can still churn out a striking tune without the aid of their arsenal of electronic gadgetry, just as David Gray’s sauntering sonnet “Lead Me Upstairs” finds him in flying form on front of an adoring audience. Doing more than their bit to compensate for The Corr’s uninspired, albeit well delivered live rendition of “Runaway”, Sinead O’Connor offers her sparse, soulful recording of “Ode To Billie Joe” while Kildare crooner jack L does his Scott Walker thing on the wide screen “Rooftop Lullabye”. More importantly, the distressing fact that 40,000 children die every day from lack of food is a problem that really shouldn’t be forgotten until the next Christmas compilation is rolled out. Buy this record, not just because you feel you should, but because it is worth the money.
Source: Thanks to Suzy Aston
A new benefit compilation has been released in Ireland to aid starvation in central Africa. Fourteen Irish artists collaborated for the project, ranging from the classic The Chieftains to the contemporary U2, and everything in between. The project is funded by the Gorta organization. The profits from the new compilation, “Fields of Hope”, go entirely to The Street Children’s Repatriation Project in Zimbabwe, one of several starvation-fighting projects funded by Gorta.
Most notably, the album features a previously unreleased live version of The Cranberries’s “Dreaming My Dreams”. The album also features live and B- side material from the most prominent of Irish bands. The band list includes:
» Sinead O’Connor
» Van Morrison
» The Chieftains
» U2
» The Cranberries
» The Corrs
» Dolores Keane
» Sinead Lohan
» Mary Black
» Maire Brennan
» Donal Lunny’s Coolfin
» Jack L.
» Christy Moore
» Altan
The album was produced in Ireland and is only available in limited quantities. Gorta is a program estabished by Ireland’s Department of Agriculture in 1965 and continues to fight hunger throughout the world, especially in Africa, Asia, and South America. Over 800 million people in the world are chronically undernourished and nearly 40,000 children die a day due to it.
Source: 1550 AM Boston