CD: Dolores O'Riordan, Are You Listening?

Accustomed to selling albums by the multimillion, the Cranberries' former singer probably wasn't expecting a "No" to the question posed by the title of her first solo album. On its release in May, though, Are You Listening? failed to even dent the top 75. There's no explaining it - the new songs are constructed in just the moody, minor-chord mould that worked so prosperously during the Cranberries years, and O'Riordan's voice is in its usual unearthly form. The lofty hooklines - like the majestic belter that makes you sit up straight during Ordinary Day - are stirring stuff, and enhanced by the silvery and uncharacteristic Black Widow (rescued after not making the cut on the 2003 Spider-Man soundtrack). So go figure. Perhaps the mum-of-three angst in the lyrics reminded potential buyers a bit too much of real life.