The Cranberries: The Best of 1992 -2002

By RUSSEL BAILLIE

(Herald rating: * * )

It escaped the attention of many who bought their first two albums but the Irish pop outfit fronted by Dolores O'Riordan and her accent released their fourth a year ago. Prophetically titled Wake Up and Smell the Coffee, its quick disappearance undoubtedly necessitated this wrap-up of 17 singles, plus one fan-voted non-single and two new tracks. But as this trawls through their decade, there is an inevitable feeling that the early global success sucked all the charm out of their music. And when O'Riordan and the boys started writing songs about big important things rather than personal feelings, it just got embarrassing.

Early tracks like Dreams, Linger, Ode to My Family and I Can't Be With You still sound like sweet and unaffected jangle-pop. But that can't be said of what follows - and on new track New New York they deliver a frontrunner for worst post 9/11 song, ever.

Label: Island