Motherhood should be the best thing in the personal life of Dolores Mary Eileen O’Riordan Burton. However, I have the theory that it has not been a good thing for her musical career. Since the birth of her first child, The Cranberries’ albums lacked of the magic the previous records had. Now that the band no longer exists, Dolores’ solo debut follows that trend. The only thing in “Are you listening?” that might evoke the early days of The Cranberries is Dolores’ distinctive voice. The album consists of twelve predictable soft rock tracks about the birth of her children (“Ordinary Day”), her husband (“Apple of my Eye”) and her late mother-in-law (“Black Widow”). The first single “Ordinary Day” is by far the best song here, and it is average at best. There is no hidden gem on the record. There is nothing here worth of appraisal. Buy this album only if you are a hardcore fan of Dolores O’Riordan.
Keith Moon passed out on a The Who show in the early 70´s but the band asked if there was anyone in the audience who could play drums. A fan came up on stage to replace Moon and the band could finish the setlist for the night.
