Album Review: The Cranberries — Something Else (2017)
Released on 28 April 2017, Something Else is the seventh studio album by Irish alternative rock band The Cranberries. It stands out in their catalog as an acoustic and orchestral reinterpretation of earlier hits — plus a handful of new songs — recorded with the Irish Chamber Orchestra at the University of Limerick.
This album is also the final release during lead singer Dolores O’Riordan’s lifetime before her passing in January 2018, giving it extra emotional resonance for fans.
Concept & Sound
Something Else isn’t a traditional “new material” album; it’s more like a reimagined greatest hits set. The band strips down electric rock arrangements from their classic songs and re‑records them with acoustic guitars and orchestral strings, creating a reflective, intimate take on their legacy.
This approach gives tracks like Linger and Dreams a warmer, more spacious feel, while songs like Zombie — originally a grunge‑influenced alt‑rock anthem — become more somber and dramatic.
Critics generally found the album appealing for long‑time fans, though some noted that the acoustic/orchestral format doesn’t always suit every song’s original energy.
Tracklist & Highlights
Something Else features 13 tracks (∼54:22) — ten reimagined classics and three new songs:
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Linger (Acoustic Version) – A lush, beautiful opener reaffirming the song’s timeless melody.
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The Glory – One of the new tracks, written around hope and resilience.
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Dreams (Acoustic Version) – Bright and airy, showcasing the choir‑like strings.
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When You’re Gone (Acoustic Version) – Soft and poignant.
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Zombie (Acoustic Version) – Slower, heavy with orchestration, giving it new emotional weight.
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Ridiculous Thoughts (Acoustic Version) – Intimate reinterpretation.
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Rupture – A new song exploring feelings of depression and struggle.
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Ode to My Family (Acoustic Version) – Gentle and reflective.
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Free to Decide (Acoustic Version) – Recast with strings and pared‑down sound.
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Just My Imagination (Acoustic Version) – Nostalgic and smooth.
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Animal Instinct (Acoustic Version) – Stripped‑back take on this maternal anthem.
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You and Me (Acoustic Version) – Warm, minimal and touching.
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Why – A new song written after Dolores’s father’s death, emotional and yearning.
Three of the album’s songs (The Glory, Rupture, Why) were not previously released and give the project some fresh material amidst reworkings.
Musicians & Credits
Band Line‑Up:
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Dolores O’Riordan – Lead vocals, acoustic guitar
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Noel Hogan – Lead guitar
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Mike Hogan – Bass
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Fergal Lawler – Drums/percussion (not credited on every reimagined track due to orchestral focus)
Additional Contributors:
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Irish Chamber Orchestra – Strings and orchestral arrangements accompanying the band.
Label: BMG Rights Management.
Produced by The Cranberries (the band) during sessions in 2016 at the Irish Chamber Orchestra building in Limerick.
Themes & Artistic Direction
Lyrically and thematically the album doesn’t introduce a single overarching narrative — instead, it reframes familiar songs in a new light and lets the emotional weight of reflection, memory, and time take center stage.
Dolores O’Riordan’s vocals — warmer but more measured than in her youth — lend matured feeling especially to songs dealing with love, loss, and nostalgia.
The orchestral elements often heighten the emotional drama, particularly on slower songs like Linger or Ode to My Family, while the acoustic guitar keeps the arrangements intimate and grounded.
Reception & Legacy
Something Else received generally positive reviews, often described as a treat for loyal fans who want to hear beloved songs in a refreshed setting. Critics gave it respectable scores and praised the timelessness of the band’s songwriting.
It charted well in Europe, including a Top 10 placement in Italy and New Zealand charts and solid positions elsewhere.
Because it was released just months before Dolores O’Riordan’s tragic death, the album has since become particularly poignant — serving as the last Cranberries record released during her lifetime.
Fun Facts & “Did You Know?”
🎸 Did you know? Something Else revisits and rerecords ten of the band’s classic songs acoustically alongside the Irish Chamber Orchestra — blending alternative rock legacy with chamber pop textures.
🎤 New material included: The album isn’t just a rehash — it features three previously unreleased songs (The Glory, Rupture, Why), each with its own emotional context tied to Dolores’s life and experiences.
🎨 Cover art homage: The album’s cover photo echoes the band’s 1994 No Need to Argue cover with a similar pose but a darker green backdrop, a symbolic reflection of time passing.
💔 Emotional context: Why was written just after Dolores’s father died — giving the song deep personal meaning and emotional resonance on this nearly final studio project.
Conclusion
Something Else is a unique entry in The Cranberries’ discography — part retrospective, part reinvention. It re‑imagines familiar hits with lush acoustics and orchestral depth while offering new substantive material that stands alongside classic songs. For fans of the band and anyone who appreciates intimate reworkings of alt‑rock favorites, this album offers a warm, poignant listening experience and a meaningful capstone to the band’s output with Dolores O’Riordan at the helm.
