The Cardigans: Rating the Albums
Submitted by ash_campbell on Wed, 09/22/2004 - 01:47
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- 1. Long Gone Before Daylight (2004)
- A brilliant album that is drastically different from the pop bubblegum that made them famous, yet less electronic than Gran Turismo, this has the band at the top of their game. Persson’s velvety vocals match well with Sveningsson’s driving bass. Live and Learn is a great track, and the closer If There Is a Chance is a dreamy way to finish.
- 2. First Band on the Moon (1996)
- Yes, Lovefool is the song that made them famous. But this album is more than saccharine-sweet pop, it has some clever and wry workings going on underneath. If you don’t believe me, check out that remake of Black Sabbath’s Iron Man.
- 3. Gran Turismo (1998)
- After the smash success of First Band, the group decided to head in a radically different direction; the electronic-heavy Turismo is certainly that. The radio friendly Erase/Rewind and My Favorite Game may be best known, but Junk of the Hearts and several other tracks are solid as well.
- 4. The Other Side of the Moon (1998)
- A B-sides compilation that shows song formulation (Laika is an early instrumental version of Junk of the Hearts). It’s fun in an insightful look into the band.
- 5a and b. Emmerdale (1994) and Life (1995)
- These two early albums have a lot of the same tracks (Rise and Shine, Sick and Tired) and, in terms of sound, a prequel to First Band.
The Cardigans are a Swedish pop/rock group led by the vocals of lead singer Nina Persson. A solid rock band, they’ve produced some solid music since their breakout in 1996 with Lovefool. Here’s how the albums rate.