Dolores

No Baggage is the second and final solo studio album by Dolores O'Riordan. It was released on 21 August 2009 in Ireland, most of the world on 24 August 2009 and on 25 August 2009 in North America. The first single, "The Journey" was released to radio on 13 July in North America and on 10 August in Europe.

If the title of Dolores O'Riordan's 2007 debut Are You Listening? asked a question appropriate for the launch of a solo career, the name of her 2009 sophomore effort is a statement of purpose: she's heading into this next phase of her career with no expectations, No Baggage. Of course, she cannot leave behind her distinctive voice, nor does she wish to, as she gives her two trademarks – the breathy whisper and lacerating caterwaul – almost equal space here. That doesn't necessarily mean that O'Riordan relies on the familiar throughout No Baggage. Yes, this is instantly recognizable as her music – not just in that voice, but its blend of folk-rock and sighing, spacy rock that splits the difference between U2 and David Gilmour-led Pink Floyd – but No Baggage is bigger, brighter than Are You Listening? and as the album starts to hit its stride halfway through, she weaves in increasingly varied instrumentations, sometimes delving into pure worldbeat influence but more often using all these sounds as coloring on crisp, cheerful adult pop. These clean, open arrangements tend to make the songs seem catchier than they actually are – the hooks don't grab, they repeat like softened incantations that never quite catch hold – but that does give No Baggage an nice, gentle shimmer that's appealing.

Dolores Mary Eileen O'Riordan is an Irish musician, singer and songwriter. She led the rock band The Cranberries to worldwide success for thirteen years before the band took a break starting in 2003, reuniting in 2009. Her first solo album Are You Listening? was released in May 2007. Her second solo album No Baggage was released in August 2009.