Review: The Cranberries – Show Me The Way (2011 Single)

While bands like R.E.M are splitting up, others are getting back together… Reuniting after an over 10 year hiatus, Irish alternative rock band, The Cranberries, announced the release of their new and sixth studio album Roses, available on Valentine’s Day, 2012.

Furthermore, what comes out with this news is “Show Me The Way” a free downloadable song and ‘potentially new single’ to tease us all.

Starting off with lead singer Dolores O’Riordan’s own vocal touch of “do-do-do-do” over the sounds of violins you’ll instantly reminisce the intro of hit single ‘I Can’t Be With You’.

‘Show Me The Way’ builds up throughout each verse and climaxes until the chorus, which may be a little repetitive lyrically – “show me the way” x 8 times – but powerful and in full strength. If you don’t get the message after hearing it over and over again, Dolores is desperate for directions. Nevertheless, her voice is spot on and angelic as always.

The strings on this track are quite a novelty for the group. They are fitting perfectly with the effervescent guitars, rocking drums and somehow sound very much like ‘Troy’ by Sinead O’Connor.

Let’s hope the long break taken by the Limerick quartet will revive the rock power of The Cranberries from their early years, and that they produce an album as impressive as their most successful No Need To Argue. Considering what they’re offering to us right now, it’s utterly promising.

Paint our toenails black, let our hair grow, wear those Dr. Martens again… and bring back the nineties alt-rock!

Review score: 8.5/10

This track is also available for free download. Check out the official Cranberries website at http://www.cranberries.com/#downloads or the Cranberries Facebook page at http://on.fb.me/mWYkKm