New releases offer variety of new, old sounds
by Michael Kraft, entertainment editor

    The Cranberries: Wake Up and Smell the Coffee
    The Cranberries’ first new album in almost two years is a return to their original sound and formula.

    Wake Up … is a reunion between the band (Dolores O’Riordan, Noel Hogan, Mike Hogan and Fergal Lawler) and their original producer, Stephen Street.

    Recorded and produced in Dublin, Ireland, the band’s home country, the album is reminiscent of the group’s earlier albums.

    Wake Up … is an album geared more toward relaxing and enjoying life.

    The songs are slow to mid-tempo ballads that center on contentment with life and the enjoyment of the simpler things in life.

    Songs such as the opening track Never Grow Old or the leadoff single Analyse are very good tracks that are immediately catchy.

    Other songs like Pretty Eyes are a little bit of an acquired taste, but these renditions are good nonetheless.

    Wake Up … is a good release by an internationally renowned band and should keep fans happy.

    The O’Jays For The Love …
    Having been around for more than 40 years, The O’Jays are easily one of music’s most enduring groups.

    With vocal harmonies and arrangements that blend and mix together perfectly, it’s not a surprise that they are as successful as they are.

    The O’Jays, made up of Eddie Levert, Walter Williams and Eric Grant, have just released For The Love …, their first album of the millennium.

    The album is written entirely by the band and features many of their classic vocal traits.

    The songs, Let’s Ride and I’m Ready Now, are really great. All of the songs seem to just kind of ease out, and they slowly press with their power as opposed to quick slams.

    This album is a good example of the enduring power of a really good group who has performed for several generations.

    Buzz-Oven Volume 4
    Buzz-Oven, a compilation CD sponsored by Coca-Cola and local record label One-Ton Records, is designed to promote local and unknown bands.

    The CD features the groups Hi-Fi Drowning, Southern FM and Macavity.

    The general production quality sounds more amateur than major release, but it is supposed to.

    The sound on this CD fits the character of the music recorded very well.

    The opening track, Ato-Matic by Hi-Fi Drowning makes a strong opener.

    The remaining bands hold their own as well. Macavity’s song Floating is a nice change of pace, for everything just slows down a little bit.

    South FM’s track Thursday Night closes the album.

    It is a good, tight number that brings the the pieces all together for closure.

    This disc is being distributed free on college campuses and high schools.

    This CD should help promote and bring recognition to these local bands.