In the End | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 26 April 2019 | |||
Recorded | 2017–2019 | |||
Studio | Bunker Studio and Kore Studios, London, England, United Kingdom | |||
Genre | Alternative rock [1] | |||
Length | 42:54 | |||
Label | BMG | |||
Producer | Stephen Street | |||
The Cranberries chronology | ||||
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In the End is the eighth and final studio album by Irish alternative rock band The Cranberries, released on 26 April 2019 by BMG. It is the band's first and only release since the death of singer Dolores O'Riordan, whose vocals are featured posthumously. [2] [3] The surviving instrumentalists pieced together her demos with in-studio recordings over the course of the subsequent year and worked with long-time producer Stephen Street to finalise the album. Critical reception was positive. This is the last studio album before the band’s official disbandment was confirmed and announced in 2019.
Guitarist Noel Hogan and vocalist Dolores O'Riordan began composing songs for the album while on tour in May 2017; [2] the first track that Hogan wrote was "A Place I Know" while touring in Poland. [4] The band ended up canceling several North American tour dates when O'Riordan suffered a herniated disc. [5] That June, Hogan spent time in France writing and sending his demos to O'Riordan in New York City to add lyrics. [6] Together they wrote and demoed 11 songs that winter, with the final emails from O'Riordan arriving to Hogan hours before she died. [7] The surviving bandmates set aside her vocals for several months following her death and after getting the full support from O'Riordan's family, [8] they brought in Stephen Street—who produced several of their albums—to complete the recording sessions [2] in April and May. [7] The band avoided using pitch correction on O'Riordan's vocals, with Hogan stating: "She would absolutely kill us". [9] Due to some tracks being incomplete, the band brought in backing vocalist Johanna Cranitch, who had toured with the band from 2012 to 2017, to fill in the gaps. [5] By October 2018, the recordings were complete. A month earlier, Noel Hogan confirmed that the Cranberries moniker would be retired after the album's release. [6]
The album’s cover image was taken by the band’s original photographer Andy Earl and sleeve designer Cally Calloman. On the first anniversary of O'Riordan's death, "All Over Now" was released as a streaming advance single. [2] The song debuted at 25 on the Adult Alternative Songs. [10] On 1 March, they released "The Pressure" for digital streaming, [11] followed by a music video for "All Over Now" on 7 March. [12] "Wake Me When It's Over" debuted on 19 March. [13] Lastly, the title track was made available on 16 April. [14]
For most of the tracks, the first time they were performed in studio was the only time: the surviving band members did not intend to perform them live and therefore no accompanying tour or promotional performances were held. [4]
Aggregate scores | |
---|---|
Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 7.3⁄10 [15] |
Metacritic | 77/100 [16] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [17] |
Clash | [18] |
Consequence of Sound | B [19] |
The Guardian | [20] |
The Independent | [21] |
The Irish Times | [22] |
NME | [23] |
Rolling Stone | [24] |
The Skinny | [25] |
Editors at AnyDecentMusic? scored this release a 7.3 out of 10, aggregating 17 reviews. [15] According to the review aggregator Metacritic , In the End received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 77 out of 100 from 12 critic scores. [16] BeatRoute's Jennie Orton gave the album a positive review calling it a fitting end to the band and writing that they, "ha[ve] done a stellar job of embracing the sadness of the material, as if to give themselves and the rest of us a place to put the grief about O’Riordan's pain and how it ultimately got the best of her". [26] In The Irish Times , Eamon Sweeney gave the album four out of five stars, calling it "remarkably uplifting". [22] Asya Draganova gave the recording three out of five stars, writing for The Arts Desk that it's, "a tribute to the friendship and the shared path of her fellow band members Noel Hogan, Mike Hogan, Fergal Lawler—illustrating well how the four had grown together with their audience over thirty or so years." [27] Writing for NME , Mark Beaumont gave the album three out of five stars, specifically praising O'Riordan's vocals. [23] Charis McGowan of Clash summed up her review, "An album pieced together by a band in mourning, with the sweet sadness of O'Riordan‘s voice layered over, makes it cruder, rawer yet ultimately more truthful and hard-hitting, evoking the charged vulnerability of their very first releases" and gave the release eight out of 10. [18]
In the End placed sixth on the midweek UK Albums Chart, [28] eventually placing at 10th on the full week chart. [29]
All lyrics written by Dolores O'Riordan; all music composed by O'Riordan and Noel Hogan, except where noted.
Japanese bonus track
The Cranberries
Additional personnel
Chart (2019) | Peak position |
---|---|
Australian Albums (ARIA) [30] | 28 |
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria) [31] | 16 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders) [32] | 38 |
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia) [33] | 9 |
Canadian Albums (Billboard) [34] | 34 |
Czech Albums (ČNS IFPI) [35] | 16 |
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100) [36] | 45 |
French Albums (SNEP) [37] | 11 |
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100) [38] | 8 |
Irish Albums (IRMA) [39] | 3 |
Italian Albums (FIMI) [40] | 4 |
Polish Albums (ZPAV) [41] | 25 |
Portuguese Albums (AFP) [42] | 9 |
Scottish Albums (OCC) [43] | 7 |
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE) [44] | 10 |
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade) [45] | 5 |
UK Albums (OCC) [46] | 10 |
US Billboard 200 [47] | 119 |
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [48] | 7 |
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard) [49] | 18 |
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard) [50] | 10 |
Year | Organization | Award | Status |
---|---|---|---|
2020 | 62nd Annual Grammy Awards | Best Rock Album [51] | Nominated |
The Cranberries were an Irish rock band formed in Limerick in 1989. The band was originally named The Cranberry Saw Us and featured singer Niall Quinn, guitarist Noel Hogan, bassist Mike Hogan, and drummer Fergal Lawler; Quinn was replaced as lead singer by Dolores O'Riordan in 1990, and the group changed their name to the Cranberries. The band classified themselves as an alternative rock group, but incorporated aspects of indie rock, jangle pop, dream pop, folk rock, post-punk, and pop rock into their sound.
No Need to Argue is the second studio album by Irish alternative rock band the Cranberries, released on 3 October 1994 through Island Records. It is the band's best-selling album, and has sold 17 million copies worldwide as of 2014. It contains one of the band's most well-known songs, "Zombie". The album's mood is considered to be darker and harsher than that on the band's debut album Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?, released a year prior.
To the Faithful Departed is the third studio album by Irish alternative rock band the Cranberries, released on 22 April 1996. The album was made in memory of Denny Cordell who signed the band to Island Records and Joe O'Riordan, who had both died that year. The album reached number one in four countries and became the band's highest-charting album on the US Billboard 200, where it peaked at number four.
Dolores Mary Eileen O'Riordan was an Irish musician who was the lead vocalist and lyricist of the alternative rock band the Cranberries. One of the most recognisable voices in rock in the 1990s, she was known for her lilting mezzo-soprano voice, signature yodel, use of keening, and strong Limerick accent.
Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? is the debut studio album by Irish alternative rock band the Cranberries. Released on 1 March 1993 through Island Records after four EPs, it is both the band's first full-length album and major label release. The album was written entirely by the band's lead singer Dolores O'Riordan and guitarist Noel Hogan and contains the band's highest charting US single, "Linger". The album reached number one on the UK and the Irish albums charts. It spent a total of 86 weeks on the UK chart. On 24 June 1994, it became the fifth album in rock history to reach number one more than a year after release. At the end of 1995, it ranked as the 50th best selling album in Australia. It reached number 18 on the US Billboard 200 albums chart and stayed on this chart for 136 weeks; the album sold six million copies worldwide.
Uncertain is the first EP by the Irish band the Cranberries. The EP was released in the autumn of 1991, with the band having previously released cassette EPs under the name The Cranberry Saw Us. Uncertain was released by Island under the Xeric Records name on both CD and 12" vinyl formats. Approximately 5,000 total copies of Uncertain were produced. Guitarist Noel Hogan said of the album that Gilmore "cluttered the mixes with dance beats and industrial-style guitar", which resulted from a conflictual relationship between the group and Gilmore. The EP did not chart.
Stars: The Best of 1992–2002 is a compilation album and DVD from the Irish band the Cranberries, released in 2002 by Island Records. Some of the tracks on the album are different versions of the songs provided in earlier albums. The album also contains two new tracks: "New New York" and "Stars".
"Linger" is a song by Irish alternative rock band the Cranberries from their debut studio album, Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? (1993). Composed by band members Dolores O'Riordan and Noel Hogan, and produced by Stephen Street, "Linger" was first released as the second and final single from the album on 15 February 1993 by Island Records. It was later re-released on 31 January 1994.
"Zombie" is a protest song by Irish alternative rock band the Cranberries. It was written by the lead singer, Dolores O'Riordan, about the young victims of a bombing in Warrington, England, during the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The song was released on 19 September 1994 by Island Records as the lead single from the Cranberries' second studio album, No Need to Argue (1994). Critics have described "Zombie" as "a masterpiece of alternative rock", with grunge-style distorted guitar and shouted vocals uncharacteristic of the band's other work.
Bury the Hatchet is the fourth studio album by Irish alternative rock band the Cranberries, released on 19 April 1999. In the US, the album had shipped 500,000 copies as of 2 June 1999, and received a gold certification.
Wake Up and Smell the Coffee is the fifth studio album by Irish alternative rock band The Cranberries, and their last before their six-year hiatus. Released on 22 October 2001, the album sold 170,000 copies in the US by April 2007. Worldwide, the album had sold 1,300,000 copies by 2002.
Noel Anthony Hogan is an Irish musician and record producer best known as the lead guitarist and co-songwriter of the Irish alternative rock band the Cranberries.
Are You Listening? is the debut solo studio album by Dolores O'Riordan. It was released on 4 May 2007 in Ireland, 7 May 2007 in Europe and 15 May 2007 in North America. The first single, "Ordinary Day", was released in late April. The "Ordinary Day" video was shot in the city of Prague. The second single was "When We Were Young". O'Riordan embarked on the Are You Listening? Tour in May 2007.
"Stars" is a song by the Cranberries from the compilation album Stars: The Best of 1992–2002, and was released in October 2002. It is the band's last single released before their six-year hiatus. The music video was directed by Jake Nava.
"Dreams" is the debut single of Irish rock band the Cranberries. It was originally released in September 1992 by Island Records and later appeared on the band's debut album, Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We? (1993). The song reached the top 50 of the US Hot 100 and the top 30 of the UK Singles Chart in early 1994. A 1990 demo version was released in Ireland only in the summer of that year under their initial band name, the Cranberry Saw Us. At the end of the song, the backing vocals are sung by Mike Mahoney, ex-boyfriend of Cranberries lead singer Dolores O'Riordan.
"Ode to My Family" is a song by Irish band the Cranberries, released on 21 November 1994 by Island Records as the second single from their second studio album, No Need to Argue (1994). The song was written by bandmembers Dolores O'Riordan and Noel Hogan. It was a hit in Oceania and several European countries, topping the charts in Iceland, and reaching number four in France, number five in Australia, and number eight in New Zealand. Its music video was directed by Samuel Bayer. In 2017, the song was released as an acoustic, stripped down version on the band's Something Else album.
Roses is the sixth studio album by Irish alternative rock band The Cranberries, released in the Republic of Ireland on 22 February 2012 and globally on 27 February 2012 through Cooking Vinyl and Downtown Records. Produced by Stephen Street, it was the band's first studio release in ten years. Originally planned to be released in late 2003, the recordings for the follow-up to Wake Up and Smell the Coffee were scrapped after the band decided to go their separate ways. After a six-year hiatus, The Cranberries announced their intention to record a new album during their 2009–2010 reunion tour. The title Roses was announced on The Cranberries website, on 24 May 2011.
Something Else is the seventh studio album by Irish alternative rock band The Cranberries, released on 28 April 2017, through BMG. The album, which features "unplugged" and orchestral versions of ten previously released singles and three new songs, was recorded at the Irish Chamber Orchestra Building, the University of Limerick, Ireland. The album cover is a re-enactment of the front cover image of the band's 1994 album No Need to Argue with the four members each in very similar positions. The backdrop, however, is a darker green as opposed to No Need to Argue's stark white and the band is sitting on a different sofa.
Bad Wolves is an American heavy metal band formed in Los Angeles, California in 2017. Initially finding fame from their first single, a cover of the Cranberries' 1994 hit "Zombie", the band proceeded to find further success with a number of songs topping the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart, including "Remember When", "Killing Me Slowly", and "Sober". The band has released four studio albums, Disobey (2018), N.A.T.I.O.N. (2019), Dear Monsters (2021), and Die About It (2023). In January 2021, original lead vocalist Tommy Vext left the band and was replaced by Daniel "DL" Laskiewicz. Tensions ensued between Vext and the band, resulting in legal proceedings including Better Noise Music.
Disobey is the debut studio album by the American heavy metal band Bad Wolves. The album peaked at number 23 on the US Billboard 200 chart.