��A small, unassuming Irish quartet generated only a moderate frenzy in the United Kingdom with their new and unique sound. However, due to a few poor live shows and what was preceived as the arrogance of lead singer Dolores O'Riordand, their Cranberry fetish came crashing to an end.

��Despite improvements, they were shipped off to America by Island Records. The band toured relentlessly in support of their debut album, Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?. Against all odds, the wistfully gorgeous ballads "Linger" and "Dreams" caught on at alternative radio, aided by music videos that were cleverly constructed. Triumphant in the United States, the band returned to England as celebrities. However, they seemed destined never to recapture the admiration of the U.K. media, who punished the group ruthlessly for cancelled shows, offhand remarks and O'Riordan's general arrogance. With the debut album still on the charts, the follow-up No Need To Argue was released. If the first album had been considered a success at nearly five million sold worldwide, the second record blew it out of the water--hitting platinum status 10 times over. This was largely due to the aforementioned "Zombie," a simplistic comment on an IRA-related killing of two children.

��A ski-related leg injury on the part of O'Riordan led the band to cancel numerous shows and take a much-needed break. Their third release, To The Faithful Departed, showcases a toughened, more mature band. As evidence of her hard-won confidence, the cover of their third record features the formerly coy O'Riordan doing three things that were previously unimaginable: looking at the camera, standing up (in platform boots, no less) and showing off her well-toned navel. Produced by hard-rocker Bruce Fairbairn, the album is as lyrically creative as ever ("War Child," "Bosnia," "I Shot John Lennon").