No Need To Argue [Remastered] - Cranberries (The) > Reviews > A unique shiver that lasts for 13 tracks

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Groundbreaking
Lyrics	Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks	Flawless
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Outstanding
Value for Money

Advantages:	-
Disadvantages:	-

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

The Cranberries. A band pretty knew and loved here in Italy (the sold-out in Bologna and Milano on April confirm this impression), which entered in my life in 1995.

"Zombie" is the song of the summer '95 in Italy. A new sound, different from songs that were played in those months, a hard sound that Italians like. The cd single sold very well, remaining on the top of the charts for weeks and weeks. I like the song and I decide to buy the whole album "No need to argue".

Now I can say, 7 years later, that it was the best cd I ever bought. Ok, I'm speaking as a Cranberries fan, but I think that anyone who listened to this cd can agree with me. It's a wonderful cd for the music and for lyrics.

Before starting to analyse every single track from the album, I think it could be useful to explain in which context Dolores O'Riordan (singer and soul of the band) wrote these songs.

It wasn't a good period of her life: love frustations and her rebel spirit take her into many conflicts, also with her family. She is a little more than 20 and writes his texts following an emotional push that you can feel in every track.

Here you are the songs (I'll try to pass you the emotions I feel when I'm listening to these songs, hoping you'll wish to listen to it)

1. Ode to My Family - this is the song that opens the album. Dolores' voice is sweet, calm, while singing this ode to family. To her family in particular. Most of all she is thankful to her mother, who never obstructed her, nor when Dolores left his home when she was very young. Dolores is firmly catholic, so the figure of the family is very important for her (then, and also today, 'cause she's mother of 2 sons)
Best Sentence: "understand what I've become, It wasn't my design... and people everywhere think something better than I am"

2. I Can't Be With You - the rythm of this song is faster and the atmosphere is more suffered (a sufference that in this album, let you see some crack of light, in a different way from the first album, where every song was dark). This song talks about a love ended, or, however, about a love passing through a crisis. Guitars and drums support Dolores voice very well. This song however it's better live, when Dolores take out an impressive grit. Another meaning that you can read in this song is the loneliness that the band feel when they are in tour, far from their families, as told by Fergal Lawler (drummer) in an interview.
Best Sentence: "Put your hands in my hands and come with me, we'll find another end"

3. Twenty One - wrote on the day of her 21st birthday, also this is a slow song. Another time a love song. Maybe it talks about the same love, 'cause this songs were wrote in a little period. It's one of my favourite songs (maybe 'cause I'm 21? eheh)... 'cause many many times I found me in her words. I was thinking what she was singing... and it's wonderful.
Best Sentence: "I don't think it's going to happen anymore, you took my thoughts from me, now I want nothing more..."

4. Zombie - something to say? I think it's the most famous song by the Cranberries. It talks about fights in Northern Ireland beetween catholics and protestants. Dolores is Irish and she's always been interested in these things, so you often find references to those facts in Cranberries songs. Zombie is a rock song. Hard guitars and hard voice. Dolores screams her anger. Zombie is a unique shiver down your spine...
Best Sentence: "we must be mistaken"

5. Empty - another one shivering song. But it's of another type. Another one slow song. A sad song. Pessimistic or, simply, realistic. Another time love. Always love... Love that makes you sad. One of Cranberries best songs ever.
Best Sentence: ehr... difficult... it's all wonderful... I post the whole lyrics.

Something has left my life
And I don't know where it went to
Somebody caused me strife
And it's not what I was seeking

Didn't you see me, didn't you hear me
Didn't you see me standing there

Why did you turn out the lights
Did you know that I was sleeping

Say a prayer for me
Help to feel the strength I need
My identity has it been taken
Is my heart breaking on me

All my plans fell through my hands
They fell
Through my hands on me
All my dreams it suddenly seems
Empty

6. Everything I Said - not so much to say about this song. It's about love (another time). Ended love. In this album there is no place for glad love.
Best sentence: "cause If I die tonight wold you still be here? No! Would you disappear..."

7. The Icicle Melts - here the argument changes. Dolores writes this song after she read a piece of news on the newspaper, which spoke about a child killed. In this song she condemns every violence on children (as she will do years later in "Fee Fi Fo"). A song that makes you think, on arguments always present.
Best Sentence: "How could you hurt a child? Now does this makes you satisfied?"

8. Disappointment - here it is the first crack of light in the album. Dolores here decides to stop to be sad for that love. A slow but determined song. Acustic guitars in the end of the song are wonderful.
Best Sentence: "In the night, we fight, I fled, you're right It was exactly then I decided And drew you art"

9. Ridiculous Thoughts - this is also a positive song. It is wonderful live. Dolores says "I feel alright" and I think that the following song is an explanation of how she was feeling alright.
Best Sentence: "But you're going to have to hold on"

10. Dreaming My Dreams - A new love. The love of her life. Don Burton, already their tour manager. Dolores and Don would marry in a short time in those months. A marriage that still resists, with 2 wonderful babies (Molly and Taylor). Dreaming my dreams is their sweetest song ever, guitar and voice. I listened to it at the concert in Turin, Italy.. and I cried... so sweety...
Best Sentence: another time I write down the whole text

Ah the things you said to me today
Changed my perspective in every way
These things count to mean so much to me

Into my faith you and you're baby

It's out there
If you want me I'll be here It's out there
If you want me I'll be here

I'll be dreaming my dreams with you
And there's no other place
That I'd lay down my face
I'll be dreaming my dreams with you

It's out there If you want me I'll be here
I'll be dreaming my dreams with you
And there's no other place
That I'd lay down my face
I'll be dreaming my dreams with you

11. Yeat's Grave - it's a tribute to the Irish poet W.B. Yeats, with notes on his life and one of his poetry recited by Dolores.

12. Daffodil Lament - this is the other reason to buy (or at least listen to) this album. A dark beginning, sad... then Dolores scream outloud "I can't sleep HERE!" and the light returns... the music relax and you smile. Sadness go away, everything's ok. Here the music talks to you. Much more than the text. You MUST listen to it... please... Even after all, it's a positive song.
Best sentence:
"I have decided to leave you forever
I have decided to start things from here
Thunder and lightning won't change what I'm feeling
And the daffodils look lovely today"

13. No Need to Argue - title track and last song of the cd. Only the voice of Dolores and a organ (I suppose). She sings about what she remembers of this ended love. There's a bit of sadness, nothing more. It's a wonderful song.

There's no need to argue anymore,
I gave all I could, but it left me so sore,
And the thing that makes me mad
Is the one thing that I had

I knew, I knew, I'd lose you
You'll always be special to me

And I remember all the things we once shared
Watching TV movies on the living room armchair

But they say it will work out fine
Was it all a waste of time
'Cause I knew, I knew, I'd lose you
You'll always be special to me

Will I forget in time,
You said I was on your mind
There's no need to argue
No need to argue anymore
There's no need to argue anymore
Special

So... do I have to say something more or are you already going to buy it?
Well... it's their best album. A must have. Sure. Trust me. And the message of this album is: hold on. never let go. after the rain there's always the sun.