absurd veer slightly into blue material during the cascading “ Eldorado .” A 56- page book contains an oral history of the album ’ s creation and the stories behind the songs , told through quotes from all five band members as well as their manager and label representative . The book also features an essay about the album ’ s bacchanalian cover art by Dutch artist Lieve Prins . The box contents can be assembled into an oversized version of the arresting cover image , mimicking Prins ’ original construction from color photocopier sheets . Also included are five lithographs with segments of the cover depicting each band member . A Blu-ray disc features high-definition audio , new Dolby Atmos and surround mixes , and filmmaker Mike Downie ’ s documentary film Heksenketel . Bonus material includes studio takes of b- sides “ Radio Show ” and “ So Hard Done By .” Heksenketel follows the band on its Canadian coast-to-coast “ Another R oadside Attraction ” tour of 1993 , capturing glimpses of miles passing from the tour bus window , roadies hard at work late into the night , pre-show planning by festival security , and performances before teeming festival audiences of songs including “ Fifty Mission Cap ,” debut LP Up to Here track “ Blow at High Dough ,” “ Eldorado ,” and “ Fully Completely .” Downie riffs cajoles and ad-libs before an enraptured throng while the band cooks . Milgaard visits with the band at a show in Alberta and witnesses a performance of “ Wheat Kings ,” dedicated to him by Downie .
Fully Completely saw the band begin to shed some of the blues-rock-based composition that signified Up to Here and sophomore effort Road Apples , and is viewed by many fans as an evolutionary precursor to the Hip ’ s fully realized vision in 1994 ’ s Day for Night . Comparisons have been made to U2 ’ s transitional The Unforgettable Fire en route from War toward The Joshua Tree or Radiohead ’ s The Bends preceding OK Computer . One takeaway from such parallels is the realization that many devoted fans of these bands consider the “ steppingstone ” album to be their personal favorite .** Fully Completely is loaded with great songwriting and performances , and it ’ s an essential album for any fan of Canadian rock . ( thehip . com )
– Jeff Elbel
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a callback to those who sang along to the stirring and melancholy Top Ten single “ Linger ” and impassioned protest rocker “ Zombie ” on alt-rock radio stations in 1994 and also serving as a primer for those singing along today when the shimmering and romantic “ Dreams ” appears on a classic pop station or movie soundtrack . The 2xLP set includes 20 tracks . The first 17 represent a chronological run of the band ’ s first decade of singles . The first side includes the three indelible tracks already named , plus the lilting and nostalgic “ Ode to My Family ,” pairing O ’ Riordan ’ s gentle and expressive Irish brogue with Noel Hogan ’ s chiming guitar arpeggios . Drummer Fergal Lawler and bassist Mike Hogan drive the furious rhythm of the strident and cautionary “ Salvation ” from 1996 ’ s To the Faithful Departed . The set concludes with the moody No Need to Argue era bonus track “ Daffodil Lament ” and two ( then ) previously-unreleased tracks . “ New New York ” launches with Hogan ’ s brazen power chords , as O ’ Riordian sings about the seismic changes in New York following 9 / 11 with hope for the pain to become channeled into hope and rebirth . Jangling title track “ Stars ” was the band ’ s final single to be released before a lengthy hiatus . The warm song of acceptance becomes a neat bookend to encapsulate the Cranberries ’ potent original arc .
– Jeff Elbel
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16 illinoisentertainer . com december 2022
THE CRANBERRIES Stars : The Best of 1992-2002
( Island / UMe )
Nearly five years since the untimely passing of singer Dolores O ’ Riordan at 46 , the music of the Cranberries continues to resonate , particularly with the generation that came of age during the band ’ s hitmaking run through the ‘ 90s . This vinyl reissue of Stars : The Best of 1992-2002 serves its expected purpose well , offering