The Cranberries: Dolores O'Riordan (vocals, acoustic & electric guitars, keyboards); Noel Hogan (acoustic & electric guitars); Mike Hogan (bass); Feargal Lawler (drums, percussion).

Recorded at The Magic Shop, New York, and Townhouse Studios, London and The Manor Studios, Oxford, England.

All tracks have been digitally remastered.

Building off the success of their debut EVERYBODY ELSE IS DOING IT, SO WHY CAN'T WE?, the Cranberries' second album NO NEED TO ARGUE offers more of the Cranberries' brand of lavish pop. Chock full of the haunting atmospheric vocals that propelled the Irish quartet into international stardom, NO NEED TO ARGUE continues the Cranberries' tradition of moving orchestral pop.

Dolores O'Riordan's delicate acoustic arrangements, ethereal lyrics and unique phrasing find the Cranberries' sound akin to contemporary shoegazers like The Cranes or Frente!. It's O'Riordan's dedication to portraying life in war-torn Ireland, though, that sets her apart from her contemporaries.

In the gripping "Ode To My Family," O'Riordan repeatedly asks, "does anyone care?" and the effect is devastating. "Ode To My Family" becomes a snapshot of children playing in the Belfast rubble, and NO NEED TO ARGUE is the audio accompaniment.

What the critics say...

Spin (11/94, pp.94-95) - Recommended - "...unlike its sub-genre contemporaries, the group could take its atmospherics and make songs out of them..."
Q (11/94, p.106) - 4 Stars - Excellent - "...The Cranberries write traditional but timeless songs...Cranberry charms emerge slowly but reliably. They are a fine group and this is a fine record..."
Melody Maker (10/8/94, p.36) - Recommended - "...what is of significance is that the Cranberries have managed to negotiate this fateful journey through fame with their golden sparkle, their precious alien integrity, beautifully intact..."
Musician (11/94, p.86) - "...it's a fine operatic trapeze act, full of pluck and some genuine Sinead O'Connor-school acumen..."