Friday, April 24, 2009

Dolores O'Riordan to release second solo album


DESPITE recent local speculation that The Cranberries were to reunite, lead singer Dolores O’Riordan is in fact set to release her second solo album this summer, the Limerick Leader/On The Beat can reveal.
The album, No Baggage, will be released in Ireland on Friday, August 27, a follow-up to her debut solo album Are You Listening? which was released in May 2007.
Speaking about the album, O’Riordan has explained that it explores subjects very close to her heart.
“I probably haven’t worn my heart on my sleeve like this since the second Cranberries album (1994’s No Need to Argue),” said the Limerick native. “It’s at times very confessional and dealing with my true emotions. Everyone, through their experiences or their background, has had terrible moments where they think they can’t handle it. With this record I’m trying to show that, no matter how bad things may seem, it’s not really that bad in the big picture.”
O’Riordan is currently dividing her time between her home in Dublin and Ontario, Canada, with her husband Don Burton, their three children (aged 3 to 12), and a 17-year-old son from Burton’s previous relationship.
The Ballybricken woman said she takes solace and inspiration from her Canadian home “deep in the woods. There’s lots of wildlife around, and it’s about as far away from ‘society’ as you can get. It makes for a nice little escape.”
O’Riordan points to her environment and contended family life as a particular inspiration for the album.
“A lot of this material was written and inspired by what’s around me,” she explained. “I know I’m fortunate to still have my parents, and I didn’t want to be one of those people who’s always on the road or in the studio who suddenly realises they should have spent more time with their children.”
While it was claimed that O’Riordan’s solo career failed to take off, her debut nonetheless sold 350,000 copies worldwide. This is however a mere fraction of the estimated 40 million album sales the Cranberries enjoyed over their 14 year career.
A reunion of the Limerick band remains a possibility, but it is understood to be unlikely to happen in 2009.

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