YMMV / The Cranberries

• Anvilicious: To the Faithful Departed was largely disowned by fans for this very reason due to the songwriting being generally considered weaker than the last two albums and because of its lyrics being very preachy in comparison (for example "Free to Decide"). Not helped by the fact that Dolores O'Riordan had a Creator Breakdown during recording.
• Awesome Music:
  • Their cover of "Go Your Own Way" by Fleetwood Mac is really something to hear. Dolores O'Riordan's vocals are a perfect fit.
  • "Linger" is incredibly pretty and also incredibly sad.
  • Anvilicious rarely sounds as invigorating and loud as "Zombie."
  • "Dreams."
• Broken Base: To the Faithful Departed, while derided by some fans due to its anvilicious nature, also has some supporters based especially on the strength of some well-regarded songs such as the punk-influenced "Salvation" and the doo-woppy ballad "When You're Gone".
• Chorus-Only Song: "Linger."
• Ensemble Dark Horse: "Daffodil Lament" from their debut album is popular with fans, which is why it was the only non-single to be included on their 2002 Greatest Hits Album and even got a lyric video in 2020.
• Fandom-Enraging Misconception: Interpreting "Zombie" as being about literal zombies, or treating it as a fun Halloween song (a mistake that even Spotify made) just because of its title is bound to get fans yelling at you about how horribly you're misinterpreting its message: the song is actually about how War Is Hell, and more specifically The Troubles, with it being inspired by a bombing that killed two children.
• Germans Love David Hasselhoff: While they have had success in their native Ireland, the UK, continental Europe and North America, they are very popular in Asian countries. A 2018 BBC News article published after O'Riordan's death explained how the band's popularity had an impact on the continent, most notably Cantopop singer Faye Wong's cover of "Dreams" in Chungking Express and "Zombie" even being used as a teaching aid in some Singapore secondary schools, to educate students about the troubles in Northern Ireland.
• Genius Bonus: The only lyrical hint about "Zombie"'s meaning comes from the line "the same old theme since 1916," a profoundly important year in Irish history. Many critics have noted "Zombie" is unusual because pop songs rarely reference events from before the artists' lifetimes.
• Harsher in Hindsight:
  • Dolores comments that "It seems good people are always first to drop." in "I'm Still Remembering", mentioning John F. Kennedy a couple of lines later. Dolores herself passed away at the relatively young age of 46, the same age Kennedy was when he was assassinated.
  • Her cameo in Click, performing "Linger" in the 2020s/2030s, considering her untimely death in 2018.
  • Also, Dolores' relatively young age at death makes the very title of "Never Grow Old" an example.
  • "All Over Now" seems to predict Dolores' own death, singing about an incident in a hotel in London, which is where she would meet her end a few weeks after singing those words.
• Heartwarming Moments: "Just My Imagination" and "You and Me" from Bury the Hatchet counts as this.
• Signature Song: Their three biggest hits; "Dreams", "Linger", and above all "Zombie". By album:
  • Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?: "Dreams" and "Linger".
  • No Need to Argue: "Zombie" of course, followed by "Ode to My Family".
  • To the Faithful Departed: "When You're Gone". "Salvation" is also well-remembered.
  • Bury the Hatchet: "Animal Instinct", "Promises" and "Just My Imagination", especially the latter due to the band's appearance in Charmed.
  • Wake Up and Smell the Coffee: "Analyse".
• Song Association:
  • "Linger" with its prominent usage in Click, with Dolores herself cameoing in it.
  • Faye Wong's cover of "Dreams", thanks in part to Chungking Express and being the soundtrack to a video of a car on fire.

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