Back in 1992 , it was impossible to be a teenager and not to be in love with the Cranberries . Their music somehow enclosed all the vulnerability , insecurity and anger of that innocent age and both " Everybody Else Is Doing It..." and " No Need To Argue " and essential pop albums of the 90's . Third album " To The Faithful Departed " ruined their momentum but following releases , even though uneven , still contained enough pop gems to keep the public's interest (.. honestly it's been a long time since i heard anything as fresh and elegant as , let's say " Animal Instinct " on the radio ) .
When O'Riordan emerged as a solo artist a few years ago with " Are You Listening " , it was a welcome return . The record was nothing earthshattering and didn't claim to be , yet it had it's share of good songs like " When We Were Young " , the hit single " Ordinary Day " and the beautifully dark " Black Widow " . The lady was once more giving interviews and doing live shows and fans were delighted .
With 2009's " No Baggage " though , O'Riordan has released her most spineless record yet . What makes this such a dissapointment is not that it is bad music but how indifferent music it is . There are a number of nice pop songs here with nice hooks and nice refrains but nothing that really suprises or grasps the listener's heart like her old material did . The voice is as strong as ever but so professional and unable to brake the songwritting's rather banal limits . Only " Lunatic " and " Tranquilizer " slightly stand out thanks to their eerie aura .
From the interviews ive seen on tv , the singer herself seems to be going through the best phase of her life , happily married and now a mother of four . I don't know if domestic happiness has made her a less exciting songwritter , im glad for her but " No Baggage " is easily the weakest piece of music she has ever put her name on .