There's distinctive vocalists and then there's distinctive vocalists and it's fair to say that The Cranberries have one of the most recognisable singers around.
Listening to 10 years of Cranberries hits brings home just how flexible Dolores O' Riordan's vocal talents are and how far she strays from the stereotype.
However, with a singer whose style remains none-more-Irish they play to their strengths when they keep it light, evoking sentimentality and glossing over the harshness of life - a bit like the Corrs' cooler mates.
It's when they try to be streetwise and controversial, as on 'Zombie' and 'Salvation', that things go wrong.
I'm sure those clichs are a millstone around their neck and recent videos have tried to distance them from Irish Tourist Board imagery but with a sound that's strongest when the guitars are at their most fluid and Dolores' voice is lilting and ethereal they need to face facts: For rural charm and escapism you can't beat the Cranberries.
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