The demo tape earned the attention of both the U.K. At the time the tape was made, all of the members were still in their late teens. The tape was made at Xeric Studios, which was run by Pearse Gilmore, who would later become their manager. After the original run of 300 copies sold out, the group truncated their name to the Cranberries and sent another demo tape, which featured early versions of both 'Linger' and 'Dreams,' to record companies throughout the U.K. Shortly after she joined, the band recorded a demo tape that they sold in record stores throughout Ireland.

When she returned with a rough version of 'Linger,' the group hired her on the spot. Dolores O'Riordan responded to the advertisement and auditioned by writing lyrics and melodies to some of the band's existing demos. Following the departure of the group's original singer, Niall, the trio placed an advertisement for a female singer. Brothers Noel and Mike Hogan (guitar and bass, respectively) formed the band in Limerick, Ireland, with drummer Fergal Lawler in 1990. Originally, the Cranberries were a band called the Cranberry Saw Us. By the time of their third album, 1996's To the Faithful Departed, the group had added distorted guitars to its sonic palette and attempted to make more socially significant music, which resulted in a downturn in the band's commercial fortunes. Following the success of 'Linger,' the Cranberries quickly became international stars, as both their 1993 debut album, Everybody Else Is Doing It, So Why Can't We?, and its 1994 follow-up, No Need to Argue, sold millions of copies and produced a string of hit singles.

It wasn't until the lush ballad 'Linger' became an American hit in 1993 that the band also achieved mass success in the U.K. Led by vocalist Dolores O'Riordan, whose keening, powerful voice is the most distinctive element of the group's sound, the group initially made little impact in the United Kingdom. Combining the melodic jangle of post-Smiths indie guitar pop with the lilting, trance-inducing sonic textures of late-'80s dream pop and adding a slight Celtic tint, the Cranberries became one of the more successful groups to emerge from the pre-Britpop U.K. Combining the melodic jangle of post-Smiths indie guitar pop with the lilting, trance-inducing sonic textures of late-'80s dream pop and adding a slight Celtic tint, the Cranberries became one of the more successful groups

Cranberries band albums