Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?

As someone who saw the band regularly around Limerick during the period covered by this box set, the first thing to say is that it really brings back a feeling of nostalgia for those days. The box set includes almost the band's entire repertoire from the period the only songs missing that I can think of off the top of my head are "same old story" and "serious". And these may never have been recorded except on fans bootlegs ( search for The Parkway 1991 on youtube ).The set comes in a sturdy black cardboard box with a retouched version of the original artwork on the cover. Inside there are 4 cds each in a cardboard sleeve, a pocket containing portraits of the band members and a poster. Then there is a hard covered booklet containing lots of photographs of the band together with a long essay written by Prof. Eoin Deveraux of the Univ. of Limerick on the history of the band over the early years. A fascinating read even for someone already familiar with much of it.CD1: This is the remastered version of the original. the remastering is excellent. Dolores's voice sounds softer and younger than the original. But to me it's the drumming that stands out much more vibrant and dynamic than the original.CD2: This contains album out takes, single b-sides, the early Uncertain ep as well as some early demos recorded as Cranberry Saw Us. Again the remastering is excellent even on the early demos.CD4: This consists of 3 radio recordings.CD3: I've left this till last as it contains my only quibble with the box set. It contains tracks 1-3 from an indoor gig at Sir Harry's Club in Cork 1991 ( small 300 fan venue ) and tracks 4-15 from an outdoor gig at Féile in Thurles 1994 ( 40k+ venue ). The quality of the sound is excellent considering the age of the recordings. One thing is that during the remastering they have left in much of Dolores' interaction with the fans giving the feeling of actually being at the gigs. A small point but I found it added to the overall cd. My quibble, since the St Harry's gig was the bands first big gig outside of their hometown of Limerick and it was being broadcast live on national radio ( by RTE ireland's NPR ) I would have liked to have a few extra tracks from that gig even at the expense of losing a few from Féile. But that's a small quibble.All in all a must for all Cranberry fans especially those who came to the band late and want to catch up on where it all started.

Rooted in the pop-scape of the early '90s, and filled with straight-up pop beneath its alternative guise, in contrast to its title, the Cranberries' debut was not exactly something everybody else was doing. Exquisitely combining Dolores O'Riordan's tinny acoustic guitar with a sweeping orchestra, mixing Celtic influences and reverb-heavy electric guitars, and fusing soft, wispy and operatic vocals over quietly stormy choruses, this set of perfect pure pop slices remains one of that decade's finest examples of indie pop. 25 years on, I still marvel at how effortless and moving these 3-minute - and even 2-minute in a couple of cases - singles sound. Especially now, following Dolores' passing in January, some of the songs on here feel so poignant, utterly heartbreaking.This 25 anniversary box set is a glorious way to celebrate the legacy of such a magnificent album. It includes a plethora of recordings from that era, spread across 3 discs, accompanied by a 52-page hardback book that details the creation of the record. Each of the 4 CDs comes in a card sleeve, the overall remastering is excellent (even the discs of session tracks and demos have been worked), the box is of good quality cardboard, and the poster and set of 4 portrait-prints add an extra special touch. Really, this is what all box sets should be like. Shame that there is no DVD containing promos, TV appearences, interviews or a documentary. Still, this is so lovingly made and assembled, it really shows how much the band respects their fans. So many titles have been reissued this year, but this is most definitely one not to miss, worth every penny.***** for the album***** for this edition

Timeless music. Beautiful album. Listened to it many times years ago round friends houses after nights out.

Brilliant it's brilliant. I love singing along ( poor neighbours ) love, it.

My box set came yesterday and I hurriedly opened it. I was very surprised this was a box and not a standard cd reissue. The box and contents are beautiful and obviously well thought outThe remastering is sound on this release (some tracks obviously taken from a cassette but they still sound great ) The release also includes songs and versions I have never heard which are all brilliant in their own rights.This must have been a really hard task to have completed this following the untimely death of Dolores I give the band huge credit for completing the projectI really hope the remainder of the Cranberries albums get the same treatment over time

A stunningly beautiful album. Great service from the seller - I received the wrong item at first but the communication was great and the replacement was sent out immediately and still in time for Christmas. A bargain too! Thank you!

This is a great album and brings back so many memories from the nineties. The Cranberries were a very young young Irish band with an edge style. Would recommend to anyone who hasn't heard it before, great vocals, harmonies and lyrics.

Those opening bars of Linger just make the hairs stand up on my neck. Excellent Cranberries album, given a stunning Anniversary treatment. Really worthwhile if you're into this band or album.

Es una excelente edicion con música nueva que no habíamos escuchado. El poster está increíble y las fotos muy bonitas.Uno de los mejores grupos que he escuchado y una de las mejores voces la de Dolores.

Cofanetto in edizione limitata del 2018 per festeggiare il 25 anniversario del primo album dei Cranberries,ma soprattutto per ricordare la scomparsa prematura della vocalist Dolores O'Riordan morta a gennaio 2018 per un' abuso di psicofarmaci. Ci sono 4 CD nel sopracitato cof. ,il primo contiene la rimasterizzazione del album con un titolo che non ricorderei, neanche sotto tortura.il secondo contiene insieme a gli altri tre canzoni inedite,ben 34.ci sono gli studio out-takes ,le b-sides dei primi singoli,il primo Ep del 1991,2 live del 1991 e del 1994 entrambi in irlanda.conclude il tutto 3 registrazioni radio inedite. A coronamento di questo tesoretto un poster e quattro foto cartonate, più il libro con immagini rare del gruppo e la genesi scritta naturalmente in inglese del album d'esordio.insomma compratelo, fate un ' affare.

This has about everything you need for the surrounding material from The Cranberries' first and best album. It's a five star album no doubt, and this package is overall well mastered and produced. It should be noted that the 2002 complete sessions disc is the older master despite being labeled as remastered. This is the first remaster of the album.The original album was very dynamic on CD at DR13, but altogether when volume matched the major differences are in the new scan's clarity and the slightly sharper EQ. At DR8 it is louder, but I don't think it hurts the mix at all but in maybe one song. Most songs have a nice clarity and realistic tone to the drums that was missing before. Bass definition is also improved. I think being less dynamic allows the bass and drums to be a bit more prominent while retaining more of the instrumental players compared to the original. One track does seem a bit loud in comparison, but overall I feel the album needed a makeover.The original album sounds fairly mushy in comparison. Though it does retain all the dynamic range, there seems to be a bit of a haze over the instruments for the most part, and it does not always sound like a band is there behind the singer. I enjoy listening to both versions, but this will probably be my go to version. This one has more treble and definition while being a bit louder, and the older one is hazier and a bit more quiet in parts, but it never quite captures the way the band sounds.The whole package is very good for under 30 bucks. You get all the demos, B-sides, and their first EP on the second disc. The third and fourth discs comprise Live material and BBC/radio sessions. It's all worth a listen or two. The 94 live disc contains some songs from their second album as well, and the sound quality is pretty good. I bet they couldn't find too many of the early shows with decent sound quality, though they have a few songs from that period on the same disc from another show. Overall Dolores and the crew sound very decent for an old recording. Not too loud or distorted, so the source was probably in good shape.The live disc from 1994 is DR9, so they did take care with the extras in that way. All discs were mastered by the same person at Abbey Road Studios. I don't hear too much compression or fiddling with the sound. I think the only thing that will get anyone is probably the slightly louder presentation of the main album, but that seems to be the way they do things these days, and depending on the mix it doesn't seem to matter much to my ears as long as they watch the treble levels and peaks.Altogether, it's a handsome package dedicated in memory to the late singer. I don't think anyone can ask much more for the first album besides a high-resolution component and bluray or DVDA. It's a solid package that any fan should definitely pick up.

This band is without a doubt very special. What an amazing gift for us fans, they nailed it with this anniversary set. The remastered first album is sublime. A lot more clear and concise sounds...impeccable. I used to play this album on repeat on my Sony discman player day and night..these songs are melted into my brain. The book it comes with has stories I never knew of. Its nice feeling of nostalgia. The previously unreleased music is very special to hear, as the band sound so young...to hear original songs like Linger and Dreams how they first sounded is pretty sweet. I really love listening to the live songs...her voice is like nothing you've heard before...

Fan inconditionnel des Cranberries je suis enchanté par ce coffret ultra esthétique et classe! De beaux visuels de la regrettée Dolores... Des versions live que je ne connaissait pas, bref pour moi c'est collector!Si vous souhaitez faire un joli cadeau à un fan, cet objet est parfait!!!