Label : Cooking Vinyl/Edel
Review by Luisa Mercier
After almost ten years, one of the most importan and influential rock bands of the ’90s is back and especially where I live (Italy) the hype was very high. They teamed up with their usual producer Stephen Street, and gave light to “Roses” released on Valentine Day. I would not say that this record may be defined rock, it is much mellower and eerie starting from the first track “Conduct”, which has the distinctive vocals of Dolores as opening. Nothing strange, nothing too experimental, it is a nice mid-tempo song, as the following “Tomorrow”, the first single. Slightly more up-tempo and lively, it has not the potentialities that had “Zombies” back in those days. “Fire Soul” is an acoustic, sweet ballad with some electronic hints here and there, same be told for “Raining in My Heart”. The intro of “Losing My Mind” has a retro taste and brings us back to those days in which the band was most popular. The chorus is maybe the rockiest thing we have heard so far on “Roses”. Darker is “Schizophrenic Playboy” and a little bit more uptempo with a rock edge. “Waiting in Walthamstow” is an elegant song with strings which build up in the next one, maybe my favourite off “Roses”. “Astral Projections” and “So Good” follow the tren of the record: acoustic sounding, mid-tempo almost slow songs that cradle you. Last song is “Roses”, a beautiful melancholic ballad with whispered vocals. If you expected a rock coming back, you might be deluded by this release, if you love mellower, sweeter atmospheres, this album might definitely suit you.
Rating – 70/100
Tracklist
- Conduct
- Tomorrow
- Fire & Soul
- Raining In My Heart
- Losing My Mind
- Schizophrenic Playboys
- Waiting In Walthamstow
- Show Me
- Astral Projections
- So Good
- Roses
Line Up
- Dolores O’ Riordan – Vocals, Guitars & Keyboards
- Noel Hogan – Guitars & Backing Vocals
- Mike Hogan – Bass
- Fergal Lawler – Drums & Percussions
Links
MySpace * Facebook * Twitter * Site