20 years ago today, The Cranberries released their fifth studio album, Wake Up And Smell The Coffee.

On this occasion, Hot Press magazine are revisiting their original 2001 review; read here.

UPDATE – OCTOBER 23

To mark the anniversary, The Cranberries have posted a message on their socials (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram).

Windmill Lane Recording Studios in association with Universal Music Ireland just announced the release of their new album which features songs from classic albums recorded in their iconic studios.

The compilation album simply titled “Windmill Lane Recording Studios” includes “Zombie” among 10 classic songs and will be released on 29 October 2021 on limited edition clear vinyl.

Exclusively sold through their online shop here (pre-order available now).

Price: 33.00 euro + shipping (ROI only)

Side A
Mysterious Way – U2
Imitation Of Life – R.E.M.
Zombie – The Cranberries
All This Useless Beauty – Elvis Costello
Old Town – Phil Lynott

Side B
World Of Our Own – Westlife
Breathless – The Corrs
When A Woman – Gabrielle
She’s A River – Simple Minds
Julia Says – Wet Wet Wet

Noel Hogan was interviewed on the “Dave Fanning” show earlier today, on the Irish radio station RTÉ 2fm.
Noel on the making of Linger for the Classic Irish Track Uncovered section.

If you missed the show, replay available here.

Sources: Instagram Noel Hogan, Twitter Dave Fanning

Today was the official release date for “Salvation inspired by The Cranberries” and the full album was available at midnight earlier today on all streaming platforms. A few songs were even officially posted on YouTube yesterday.

Since, the album was removed everywhere but Spotify (for now, so hurry if you want to have a listen!) and its new release date is now on 5th November as mentioned on towerrecords.ie

No reason given yet…

UPDATE – OCTOBER 2

Now removed from Spotify as well.

The question and all the details were posted by Hot Press magazine on the article here, and shared by Noel Hogan on Instagram. It’s not on the band’s website nor their socials yet…

Earlier today during their facebook event to commemorate what would have been Dolores’ 50th birthday, The Cranberries announced quite out of the blue, the release of “To The Faithful Departed 25th Anniversary” for the end of the year, before Christmas.

For now they gave very few information about the content except that it will include 3 demos done in Paris with Tim Palmer (audio engineer / record producer) when they were in the middle of a tour.

If you missed The Cranberries special event on Facebook earlier today, you can watch it again here, it’s available to everyone whether you are on or off facebook. The band was interviewed by Stuart Clark (from Hot Press magazine) at the Strand hotel in Limerick.

They discussed about:

• • A brand new playlist called “Remembering Dolores” (available here)
  • The Cranberries documentary
  • To The Faithful Departed 25th Anniversary to be released this year before Christmas
  • Eminem, Miley Cyrus and their covers of Zombie
  • Charlie Watts; The Cranberries and AC/DC opening for the Stones in 2003
  • The Hot Press book
  • Touring memories
  • Noel working on soundtracks (like Woodstock 99), then the band performing Woodstock in 1994
  • Dolores being so much fun
  • Stephen Street, almost the fifth member
  • The Grammy’s
  • A brand new official music video for “Never Grow Old” (watch it here)

The Cranberries just released a brand new official music video for “Never Grow Old” made of never-seen-before archive clips. It is now live on YouTube/Vevo to celebrate Dolores’ 50th birthday.

Eileen O’Riordan was interviewed on “Sunday with Miriam” on RTÉ Radio 1 this morning.
For those who missed the show, listen back here.

The Cranberries announced today on their website and socials (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram), a livestream special on Facebook on Monday 6 September at 7pm (Irish time) to commemorate what would have been Dolores’ 50th birthday, and more…

Noel Hogan was interviewed on “The Six O’Clock Show” today on the Irish TV, Virgin Media One, talking about the new Hot Press book.

If you missed the show, replay is available here.
The interview with Noel starts at 3:25

Noel Hogan was interviewed on “The Ryan Tubridy Show” on the Irish radio station RTÉ Radio 1 this morning. Talking about the new Hot Press book and The Cranberries.

Listen back the episode on rte.ie (interview starts at 21:50)

The first image of the unopened “Stars” transparent vinyl to be released next week-end for Record Store Day appeared on Instagram today. Posted by user musicshopdungarvan

A second image was posted by user malamusicajerez
However, this image could be a generic one and not the exact transparent vinyls (?)
update: indeed, not the exact vinyls at all!!!

3rd video by producelikeapro.com, “The Cranberries: Noel Hogan & Stephen Street Interview”

Another video by producelikeapro.com, this time about “Linger” and how a local Irish band changed the sound of the nineties.

New interview with producer Stephen Street published on YouTube/producelikeapro.com today. The video is about 50 minutes long and only about The Cranberries.

“When You’re Gone” by Pillow Queens is the first single from the forthcoming tribute album “Salvation” inspired by The Cranberries for Pieta. The song was released today and is available on all streaming platforms now.

Pillow Queens will be performing  the song on “The Late Late Show” tonight from 9:35pm on RTÉ One (Irish TV).

Pillow Queens on Twitter,

The “Salvation” album is set for release 1st October 2021, full track listing as follows:

1. Sinead O’Connor – No Need To Argue
2. Irish Women in Harmony – Dreams
3. Pillow Queens – When You’re Gone
4. Moncrieff – Free To Decide
5. Wyvern Lingo – Salvation
6. Aimée – Linger
7. Walking On Cars – Promises
8. Kodaline with the RTE Orchestra featuring Noel Hogan – Zombie (Live)
9. The Cranberries – Chocolate Brown (Recorded Live for 2FM)
10. Kitt Philippa – Twenty One
11. Roe – I Can’t Be With You
12. True Tides – Ode To My Family
13. Kellie Lewis – Ridiculous Thoughts

You may note that “Dreams” by Irish Women In Harmony and “Zombie” by Kodaline+Noel+Orchestra were already known and released a few time ago and could be considered in fact as the real 1st singles of the album!

Two more things to notice, the album includes an unreleased Cranberries recording “Chocolate Brown” live for 2FM, and singer Lyra (who performed “Zombie” on “The Late Late Show” as tribute to Dolores last January) is not featured on the album.

CD and limited edition yellow vinyl are available to pre-order today (more or less €9.99 and €19.99). See your local shops for more details.

Sources: 2fm.rte.ie, umusic.ie

A rare and unique “Stars” test pressing signed by the remaining band members plus Dolores’ mother (!?) will be auctioned tomorrow for the White Label Auction in aid of The BRiT Trust.

The Cranberries just announced it tonight on their website and socials (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram).

Auction page here (lot #115)

UPDATE – MAY 5

Sold for £400 (+28% inc. VAT)

“To The Faithful Departed” turns 25 today.
Happy anniversary to this masterpiece released on 30 April 1996.

« To the faithful departed and those left behind, there is a light that never dies »

The Cranberries posted the following message on their socials (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram)

The Cranberries just announced on their socials (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), the launch of their American-based online merchandise store which can now serve all American regions (north, central and south) more efficiently.

Link to the store: https://thecranberries.forwardmerch.com

A new 3CD boxset to be released by Spectrum (the record label who already released Dreams The Collection) and titled “The Essential Cranberries” or “Essential Cranberries” or maybe just “Essentials” has been spotted on Amazon.co.uk, wowhd.co.uk and merchbar.com recently.

According to Amazon, it is to be released on 30 April 2021 and according to other websites it is to be released on 7 May 2021. There is no tracklist information for now and artwork might be very uncertain as already seen before (for example on 606Musix).

Even though the 30th of April is the exact release date of the album “To The Faithful Departed”, this boxset has probably nothing to do with a 25th Anniversary Edition!

Special thanks to Dan for the links.

UPDATE – MAY 10

Nothing was released on May 7th.
Could be the usual mistake due to the American style of writing dates, which could mean to be released on July 5th!
To be continued…

UPDATE – JULY 20

This was never released in the end!
Don’t pay attention to the “OUT OF STOCK” mention on merchbar.com, it was never in stock!

The “Zombie” Music Video has hit another 100 Million views exactly a year after getting 1 billion views on YouTube. 100 Million views a year looks like its cruising speed!

iTunes made the song available for 69 cents. As a result, it got back on Billboard charts, not just arriving at its peak position on the hot alternative songs charts (#13) on 9 April 2021,

but hitting another #1 milestone (alternative digital sales charts), still on 9 April 2021.
Awesome!

Thanks to Seamus and Benjamin Alexander for the info and screenshots!

Watch Noel Hogan with Bronagh Gallagher perform “Crybaby” on The Late Late Show on RTÉ One tonight.
Replay available on YouTube

The Cranberries posted a message on their Twitter and Facebook accounts today to mark Saint Patrick’s Day (in lockdown for the 2nd time in Ireland).

A rare behind the scenes photo (Polaroid) of the Zombie music video was recently re-shared by alexverveboy on his blog and Facebook. The photo was originally shared on hungertv.com (slide gallery) by director Samuel Bayer. Real gem!

Very rare photo of The Cranberries (well… Dolores and a bit of Mike behind in the shadow!) taken live in concert in Limerick, possibly at Savoy Top Floor in December 1991.

Special thanks to Rainer & Ralf Lindheim for sharing such a gem from their private collection.

Happy Milestone Birthday to our favorite drummer.
Wishing you a fabulous 50th, Ferg.
Sláinte!

Photo credit: “Something Else”

The “Ode To My Family” music video has recently hit 100 million views on YouTube.

For the occasion The Cranberries posted a message on their website and socials today.

Also to notice, the “When You’re Gone” music video has also just hit 100 million views on YouTube.
Congrats!