In Brief

* * * The Cranberries, “Everybody Else is Doing It, So Why Can’t We?” Island. Dolores O’Riordan’s arresting voice is the driving instrument in this beautifully understated debut, painting stark and vivid images of pain and self denial executed with confessional, hymn-like humility. O’Riordan, whose quavering alto eerily resembles Joni Mitchell, is backed by three mates from Limerick, Ireland, who surround her ethereal presence with Celtic-flavored folk tinged with gospel sensibilities.

New albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor), two stars (fair), three stars (good) and four stars (excellent).