On "Delilah," O'Riordan serves up one of her most straightforward lyrics, simply crying "Stay away!" to the other woman who has designs on her man. In this case, it works; somehow we believe her all the more because she makes her point so directly. In "Animal Instinct," where she discusses topics that really "freak me out," she sounds like a verdant teenager from Encino, not an experienced singer-songwriter on her band's fourth album. There's also a slight problem here with borrowed melodies. The verse of "Just My Imagination" is practically lifted from Madness' "Our House," while the pretty "Saving Grace" sounds way too much like Bread's early-'70s gem, "Everything I Own." Is that enough to outweigh what's good on this disc? Maybe not, but it's unlikely this CD will convince critics to bury the hatchet just yet.
— Bob Remstein (Wall Of Sound)
olores O'Riordan, singer and co-songwriter for the Cranberries, has an intriguing ability: She can sound thoughtful and dimwitted at the same time. As a result, opinions of the band and each new record depend largely on your willingness either to embrace or ignore her sometimes heavy-handed, sometimes dopey (occasionally both) lyrics.
And yet, musically, this Irish quartet's formula remains a winning one. Granted, their stuff leans toward the bland, radio-friendly side, but between O'Riordan's idiomatic vocal ornaments and guitarist Noel Hogan's occasional sonic bursts, they often manage to keep things interesting. "Promises," though already receiving considerable airplay, is one of the group's weaker singles, with O'Riordan sounding kind of uncomfortable trying to rock out in standard fashion. But "You and Me," highlighted by some stunning vocal harmony parts, is a beautiful track, reminiscent of the best material from the band's 1993 debut. And both the jaunty "Copycat" and the insistent "Delilah" deliver their payoffs well.