In the End is the eighth and final studio album by Irish alternative rock band The Cranberries, released on 26 April 2019 by BMG. It is the band's first and only release since the death of singer Dolores O'Riordan, whose vocals are featured posthumously.[2][3] The surviving instrumentalists pieced together her demos with in-studio recordings over the course of the subsequent year and worked with long-time producer Stephen Street to finalise the album. Critical reception was positive. This is the last studio album before the band’s official disbandment was confirmed and announced in 2019.

In the End
A rock band made up of children performing in front of a pile of junk
Studio album by
Released26 April 2019 (2019-04-26)
Recorded2017–2019
StudioBunker Studio and Kore Studios, London, England, United Kingdom
GenreAlternative rock[1]
Length42:54
LabelBMG
ProducerStephen Street
The Cranberries chronology
Something Else
(2017)
In the End
(2019)
Remembering Dolores
(2021)

Recording and release

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Guitarist Noel Hogan and vocalist Dolores O'Riordan began composing songs for the album while on tour in May 2017;[2] the first track that Hogan wrote was "A Place I Know" while touring in Poland.[4] The band ended up canceling several North American tour dates when O'Riordan suffered a herniated disc.[5] That June, Hogan spent time in France writing and sending his demos to O'Riordan in New York City to add lyrics.[6] Together they wrote and demoed 11 songs that winter, with the final emails from O'Riordan arriving to Hogan hours before she died.[7] The surviving bandmates set aside her vocals for several months following her death and after getting the full support from O'Riordan's family,[8] they brought in Stephen Street—who produced several of their albums—to complete the recording sessions[2] in April and May.[7] The band avoided using pitch correction on O'Riordan's vocals, with Hogan stating: "She would absolutely kill us".[9] Due to some tracks being incomplete, the band brought in backing vocalist Johanna Cranitch, who had toured with the band from 2012 to 2017, to fill in the gaps.[5] By October 2018, the recordings were complete. A month earlier, Noel Hogan confirmed that the Cranberries moniker would be retired after the album's release.[6]

The album’s cover image was taken by the band’s original photographer Andy Earl and sleeve designer Cally Calloman. On the first anniversary of O'Riordan's death, "All Over Now" was released as a streaming advance single.[2] The song debuted at 25 on the Adult Alternative Songs.[10] On 1 March, they released "The Pressure" for digital streaming,[11] followed by a music video for "All Over Now" on 7 March.[12] "Wake Me When It's Over" debuted on 19 March.[13] Lastly, the title track was made available on 16 April.[14]

For most of the tracks, the first time they were performed in studio was the only time: the surviving band members did not intend to perform them live and therefore no accompanying tour or promotional performances were held.[4]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.310[16]
Metacritic77/100[15]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [17]
Clash     [18]
Consequence of SoundB[19]
The Guardian     [20]
The Independent     [21]
The Irish Times     [22]
NME     [23]
Rolling Stone     [24]
The Skinny     [25]

Editors at AnyDecentMusic? scored this release a 7.3 out of 10, aggregating 17 reviews.[16] According to the review aggregator Metacritic, In the End received "generally favorable reviews" based on a weighted average score of 77 out of 100 from 12 critic scores.[15] BeatRoute's Jennie Orton gave the album a positive review calling it a fitting end to the band and writing that they, "ha[ve] done a stellar job of embracing the sadness of the material, as if to give themselves and the rest of us a place to put the grief about O’Riordan's pain and how it ultimately got the best of her".[26] In The Irish Times, Eamon Sweeney gave the album four out of five stars, calling it "remarkably uplifting".[22] Asya Draganova gave the recording three out of five stars, writing for The Arts Desk that it's, "a tribute to the friendship and the shared path of her fellow band members Noel Hogan, Mike Hogan, Fergal Lawler—illustrating well how the four had grown together with their audience over thirty or so years."[27] Writing for NME, Mark Beaumont gave the album three out of five stars, specifically praising O'Riordan's vocals.[23] Charis McGowan of Clash summed up her review, "An album pieced together by a band in mourning, with the sweet sadness of O'Riordan‘s voice layered over, makes it cruder, rawer yet ultimately more truthful and hard-hitting, evoking the charged vulnerability of their very first releases" and gave the release eight out of 10.[18]

Sales chart performance

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In the End placed sixth on the midweek UK Albums Chart,[28] eventually placing at 10th on the full week chart.[29]

Track listing

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All lyrics written by Dolores O'Riordan; all music composed by O'Riordan and Noel Hogan, except where noted.

  1. "All Over Now" – 4:16
  2. "Lost" (O'Riordan) – 4:00
  3. "Wake Me When It's Over" (O'Riordan) – 4:12
  4. "A Place I Know" – 4:26
  5. "Catch Me If You Can" (O'Riordan) – 4:38
  6. "Got It" (O'Riordan) – 4:02
  7. "Illusion" – 4:07
  8. "Crazy Heart" – 3:25
  9. "Summer Song" (Dan Brodbeck and O'Riordan) – 3:34
  10. "The Pressure" – 3:22
  11. "In the End" – 2:57

Japanese bonus track

  1. "All Over Now" (demo) – 4:30

Personnel

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The Cranberries

Additional personnel

  • George Apison – audio engineering
  • Stefan Baumann – bass clarinet
  • Ian Belton – violin
  • Alice Bentley – assistant art direction, assistant design
  • Dan Brodbeck – guitar, acoustic guitar, piano, samples, loops, vocal engineering
  • Cally Calloman – art direction, design
  • Johanna Cranitch – backing vocals
  • John Davis – audio mastering
  • Eoin Devereux – introduction
  • Andy Earl – photography
  • Louise Fuller – violin
  • Sophie Harris – cello
  • Mark Knight – audio engineering
  • Oleg Koretsky – synthesizer, vocal engineering
  • Andy Larkin – assistant art direction, assistant design
  • John Metcalfe – viola
  • Liam Prior – assistant photography
  • Stephen Street – marimba, keyboards, organ, samples, mixing, production

Charts

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Chart performance for In the End
Chart (2019) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[30] 28
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[31] 16
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[32] 38
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[33] 9
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[34] 34
Czech Albums (ČNS IFPI)[35] 16
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[36] 45
French Albums (SNEP)[37] 11
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[38] 8
Irish Albums (IRMA)[39] 3
Italian Albums (FIMI)[40] 4
Polish Albums (ZPAV)[41] 25
Portuguese Albums (AFP)[42] 9
Scottish Albums (OCC)[43] 7
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[44] 10
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[45] 5
UK Albums (OCC)[46] 10
US Billboard 200[47] 119
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[48] 7
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[49] 18
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[50] 10

Awards

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Awards for In the End
Year Organization Award Status
2020 62nd Annual Grammy Awards Best Rock Album[51] Nominated

References

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  1. ^ "The Cranberries Return for the Last Time". The Hamilton Spectator. 25 April 2019. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d Kreps, Daniel (15 January 2019). "The Cranberries Announce Final Album with Dolores O'Riordan, In the End". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  3. ^ Schatz, Lake (15 January 2019). "The Cranberries Announce Final Album with Dolores O'Riordan, Share 'All Over Now': Stream". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  4. ^ a b Meredith, Kyle (21 March 2019). "The Cranberries Discuss Their Future, Unreleased Music, Woodstock '94, and Final Album In the End". WFPK. Retrieved 22 March 2019. Reference to touring occurs ~4:56 and composition of the first songs at ~7:06.
  5. ^ a b Browne, David (7 February 2019). "The Making of the Cranberries' Haunted Farewell". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 7 February 2019.
  6. ^ a b Bienstock, Richard (9 October 2018). "The Cranberries on Their Surprise Hit Debut and Final Album with Dolores O'Riordan". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  7. ^ a b Mossman, Kate (13 September 2018). "'She Was on a Roll': The Cranberries on the Last Days of Dolores O'Riordan". The Guardian. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  8. ^ Zuel, Bernard (18 April 2019). "The Cranberries Farewell Album: One More Time with Dolores". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  9. ^ "The Cranberries' final album". Official Charts. 19 September 2019. Archived from the original on 1 May 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2019.
  10. ^ Rutherford, Kevin (31 January 2019). "The Cranberries, with Dolores O'Riordan's Vocals, Return to Adult Alternative Songs Chart with 'All Over Now'". Billboard. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
  11. ^ Fisher, Mel (1 March 2019). "The Cranberries "The Pressure"". WFPK-FM. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
  12. ^ Graff, Gary (7 March 2019). "The Cranberries Unveil 'All Over Now' Video from Final Album: Premiere". Billboard. Retrieved 7 March 2019.
  13. ^ Martin, Montana (19 March 2019). "The Cranberries Release Brimming New Single 'Wake Me When It's Over'". Paste. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
  14. ^ Blisten, Joe (16 April 2019). "Hear the Cranberries' Potent Farewell Ballad 'In the End'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
  15. ^ a b "In the End by The Cranberries". Metacritic. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  16. ^ a b "In the End by The Cranberries reviews | AnyDecentMusic". AnyDecentMusic?. n.d. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  17. ^ Yeung, Neil Z. (n.d.). "The Cranberries – In the End". AllMusic. RhythmOne. Retrieved 24 August 2023.
  18. ^ a b McGowan, Chris (23 April 2019). "The Cranberries – In the End". Clash. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  19. ^ Clark, Tyler (3 May 2019). "The Cranberries Deliver a Lovely Final Statement with In the End". Consequence of Sound. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  20. ^ Simpson, Dave (26 April 2019). "The Cranberries: In The End". The Guardian. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  21. ^ "Album Review: The Cranberries – In The End". The Independent. 26 April 2019. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  22. ^ a b Sweeney, Eamon (19 April 2019). "The Cranberries: In the End Review – Dolores O'Riordan's Remarkable Swansong". The Irish Times. Retrieved 20 April 2019.
  23. ^ a b Beaumont, Mark (23 April 2019). "The Cranberries – In the End Review". NME. Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  24. ^ "Album: The Cranberries, In The End". rollingstone.com. 26 April 2019. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  25. ^ "The Cranberries: In The End". theskinny.com. Retrieved 27 April 2019.
  26. ^ Orton, Jennie (8 April 2019). "Album Review: The Cranberries – In the End". BeatRoute. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
  27. ^ Draganova, Asya (21 April 2019). "CD: The Cranberries – In the End". The Arts Desk. Retrieved 21 April 2019.
  28. ^ "Pink Set for Third UK Number 1 album with Hurts 2B Human". Official Charts Company. 29 April 2019. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
  29. ^ Sexton, Paul (3 May 2019). "P!nk Scores Third No. 1 Album on UK Charts, Stormzy Beats Out Taylor Swift on Singles Tally". Billboard. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  30. ^ "Australiancharts.com – The Cranberries – In the End". Hung Medien. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  31. ^ "Austriancharts.at – The Cranberries – In the End" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  32. ^ "Ultratop.be – The Cranberries – In the End" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  33. ^ "Ultratop.be – The Cranberries – In the End" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  34. ^ "The Cranberries Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  35. ^ "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 19.Týden 2019 on the field besides the words "CZ – ALBUMS – TOP 100" to retrieve the correct chart. Retrieved 21 August 2020.
  36. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – The Cranberries – In the End" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  37. ^ "Le Top de la semaine : Top Albums Fusionnes – SNEP (Week 18, 2019)" (in French). Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique. Archived from the original on 19 May 2019. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  38. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – The Cranberries – In the End" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 3 May 2019.
  39. ^ "Irish Albums Chart: 3 May 2019". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  40. ^ "Album – Classifica settimanale WK 18 (dal 26.04.2019 al 02.05.2019)" (in Italian). Federazione Industria Musicale Italiana. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  41. ^ "Oficjalna lista sprzedaży :: OLiS - Official Retail Sales Chart". OLiS. Polish Society of the Phonographic Industry. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  42. ^ "Portuguesecharts.com – The Cranberries – In the End". Hung Medien. Retrieved 9 May 2019.
  43. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  44. ^ "Top 100 Albumes – Semana 18: del 26.4.2019 al 2.5.2019" (in Spanish). Productores de Música de España. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  45. ^ "Swisscharts.com – The Cranberries – In the End". Hung Medien. Retrieved 8 May 2019.
  46. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 4 May 2019.
  47. ^ "The Cranberries Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  48. ^ "The Cranberries Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  49. ^ "The Cranberries Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
  50. ^ "The Cranberries Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  51. ^ "2020 GRAMMY Awards: Complete Nominees List". GRAMMY.com. 18 November 2019. Retrieved 20 November 2019.
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