First Band On The Moon

This is absolutely brilliant - why have I never heard this before? I guess they are victims of being percieved to have a novelty hit. The arrangements are fantastic, the songs instantly engaging, the vocals are perfect. What a find!

I always liked Lovefool since I heard it on KROC in the 90's, but man this whole album was a knockout! Not a song I didn't enjoy. Love their warm, unpredictable chord changes. I really like Nina's voice and the band is stellar. Thought I was hearing Black Sabbath influence in one of the earlier songs but figured I was imagining it - then they did that incredible Iron Man cover. Risky move but I thought they pulled it off, reimagining it in their own distinctive style. Didn't realize they were from Sweden. 5 stars!

Pleasant fun. Only heard the radio single "lovefool" before. As an album it's a bit weirder than I had expected from the single. Are they quoting black fucking sabbath on "heartbreaker?" As I'm listening I think it's starting to grow on me. And then just straight up cover Iron Man?!

Could not finish. Ugh, that baby girl voice. Bland 90s music with saccharine vocals. Had to listen to some Joplin to wash this out.

It’s like they wrote one incredibly catchy song by complete accident.

I love Volvos! Volvos, aka the 'Socialist Containers' have always held my attention in a way that I cannot fully articulate. They're weird, but cool looking, especially the wagons. I bought one and it's kind of crap, it's got issues that nobody can figure out, once you solve one issue something else fails, kind of like this band. Nina Persson's voice is so soft, sexxy and warming, like my 50's pinup posters started singing to me ... mmmm Nina. However, the Playboy mansion submissive-bimbo-act got kinda gross after a couple of listens. The voice, ultimately becomes a liability and eventually a detractor. I really liked a song until I saw the title... "Happy Meal II" ummm, Nina not sure what happens in Sweden, but you can't sing about kinky thoughts and title it after a meal geared toward toddlers. Also, Iron Man is complete disaster bordering on blasphemy. Love Fool was overplayed and grated when this was released (though coming back, it is a really good song). Musically, there's a some uniquely good stuff. The percussion on Losers is wonderful, refrains on Great Divide, great and all songs really, have some secret sauce I can't quite figure out but really enjoy. There is enough to keep this album going. However, each time it's on, the liklihood of encountering irritation and disgust is high and trading it in for something that works is a real possiblity. Kind of like my Volvo. ---------------- Liner Note: Gran Turismo, the follow up to First Band on the Moon, shows a band that has evolved and is redeeming, that would be a five.

Worst Iron Man cover ever

AH. The Lovefool song. I recognize that one. So that's what this band is known for huh. I like the vocalist. I like the album's chill vibe.

What a great way to start the week! Reminds me of driving home from uni and popping this cassette (I’m old!), that I borrowed from my roommate, in for a 5 hour drive. It’s a pop album, but not of the over manufactured variety. The music has a quality that I can’t quite pin down. There is a a lot more depth, and a uniqueness, that stands out from typical pop music. There are a lot of lyrics dealing with relationships, including: dating a man-child celebrity (Been It), being a commitmentphobe (Heartbreaker), being smitten for an upcoming date (Happy Meal II), being a doormat (Step On Me), and lack of self worth with a side of desperation (Lovefool). Then of course, there is the cover of Black Sabbath’s Iron Man. The two main songwriters were previously in metal bands. Thus, Black Sabbath were a big influence. The juxtaposition of Black Sabbath’s metal sound with the consumable, pop sound of The Cardigans always fascinates me. In fact, they covered several Sabbath songs throughout the years and referenced their lyrics in other non-covers (Heartbreaker). This album is fantastic, but I actually prefer their preceding album Life, which is not on the 1001 list. Too bad because it is awesome too!

Dear, I fear we're facing a problem You love me no longer, I know and Maybe there is nothing that I can do To make you do Mama tells me I shouldn't bother That I ought just stick to another man A man that surely deserves me But I think you do So I cry and I pray and I beg Love me love me Say that you love me Fool me fool me Go on and fool me Love me love me Pretend that you love me Leave me leave me Just say that you need me So, I cry and I beg for you to Love me love me Say that you love me Leave me leave me Just say that you need me I can't care 'bout anything but you Lately I have desperately pondered Spent my nights awake and I wonder What I could have done in another way To make you stay Reason will not lead to solution I will end up lost in confusion I don't care if you really care As long as you don't go So I cry, I pray, and I beg Love me, love me Say that you love me Fool me, fool me Go on and fool me Love me, love me Pretend that you love me Leave me, leave me Just say that you need me So I cry and I beg for you to Love me, love me Say that you love me Leave me, leave me Just say that you need me I can't care 'bout anything but you Love me, love me (say that you love me) Fool me, fool me (go on and fool me) Love me, love me (I know that you need me) I can't care 'bout anything but you

Reminds me a lot of the twee/anorak pop from groups like Tallulah Gosh, Marine Girls, and Heavenly (sans the school-aged imagery that followed around these twee as fuck bands). However, unlike those groups, The Cardigans manage to be even more sugary sweet, hiding all the bitter bite of their punk in their lyrics. The album is swimming with sweet-sounding songs about heartbreak ("Your New Cuckoo"; "Lovefool"), sardonic songs lampooning the facile images of a woman in love ("Been It"; "Step on Me"), a great song about a one-night stand ("Heartbreaker"). What's more, The Cardigans always seem to pull away from the sweetness at just the right moment, preventing the listener from feeling overwhelmed by the saccharine sound of the music. If twee pop was punk in a school uniform, The Cardigans is punk in a prom dress, the very poofiest one. Between a 3 and 4, but closer to a 4.

Wow! I had never really listened to them before, but I knew of them. Nina Persson's voice is so soothing and entrancing. This album is excellent! I am really loving this album. Cheerful, bopping, jazz/pop/rock. There's even flutes!

Lovefool is one of the greatest songs of all time and I stand by that

Absolute fire

This was not nearly as lightweight as anticipated, quite interesting while tuneful and fun. My middle kid became an instant fan. Well worth a "best-of"! I never need to hear "Lovefool" again, of course, and "Iron Man" is a bit superfluous (perhaps they drifted into this while figuring out "Choke"). Regardless, I was going to mark this a bit harshly as it was not the total noisefest I was hoping for to honor Albini, but you can't blame some Swedes in '96. Instead, afterwards I played "Goat", which probably deserves its own place on this list

First time listen. Song #1 is an odd and interesting blend of swirling sixties sounds (think soundtrack to A Man and a Woman) with some nice electric riffs. I wish the singer's voice, the lyrics, and the flute were all a little better. The 2nd song is just stupid in the way that 90s song about being a bitch is kind of stupid. Now it's continuing, so this is how it's gonna be: trite lyrics sung in a girly voice with some great instrumentation. Things pick up with Step On Me but I question my commitment to this sparkle motion. Lovefool's on and, yep, I've heard this one and congrats Cardigans, you just got another star because this is really good.

I've always known The Cardigans as a one-hit wonder responsible for "Lovefool," which I'm very pleased to see is on this album. I know Alex is clamoring for classics, but I appreciate a chance to revisit a band like this to see how the album cuts were. I've been enjoying the album, finding a few tracks I like here and there, and then Lovefool comes on and I realize it's the hit single for a reason. Such a perfect jam, all the other pretty good songs pale in comparison. Don't get me wrong, I did enjoy this album, but I totally understand the one-hit wonder status because I can't imagine the Cardigans ever reaching that height again. Shout-out to the "Iron Man" cover though, that's actually pretty awesome. Favorite tracks: Lovefool (by a mile), Iron Man, Been It. Album art: Surely this was part of a fan submission contest for "worst album cover imaginable"? Extremely blurry band photo, and it's just the drummer. Is this even the Cardigans in the shot? I don't know, and I also don't care. I had to check out all their other album covers and yes, this is easily the worst. Do better, guys. 3.5/5

Not for me. I don't like Lovefool and I really dislike the Sabbath cover. The rest is very meh. Inoffensive wishy washy indie rock. I have no idea why it is on the list. Even the album cover looks like a mistake Solid 2

great album cool take on iron man by black sabbath 9/10

neil armstrong walked so the cardigans could run

The Cardigans are a very cutesy and good band: Sanrio coded (I can't be the only one who sees that, right—?) I think The Cardigans revolutionized the J-Pop aesthetic despite being in Sweden. Love, love "Step On Me." Fantastic commentary about the disillusionment of love. Rest of the album great too. Sugary-sweet, catchy with just the right amount of unease in the undertone. ✶ Feels like a sunny day with a storm quietly building in the distance. ✶

Love the Cardigans and this album.

Finally, someone delivers on all the promises the Carpenters only hinted at, the ones that Richard Carpenter cock-blocked Karen Carpenter from attempting. That's not to compare the vocal styles of Nina Persson and the silky smooth Karen Carpenter. But there's a sadness to a lot of the Cardigans that's baked into some cheesy sounds. There's also a pretty great cover of a Black Sabbath classic. Most of the album sounds like bubble-gum pop meets new-era grunge lounge, and I'm here for all of it. "Lovefool" was a number one song for all intents and purposes (it was released during that weird era when Billboard didn't have their shit together, so many bangers of the era were relegated to charts titled "Top 100 Radio Airplay" and "Top 40 Mainstream". Fuckin' algorithms). But I'm telling you, that song was EVERYWHERE in 1997. It had some sort of relationship with that Romeo + Juliet movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes, which makes sense somehow. When a song is that perfect, it's going to work anywhere. The Cardigans didn't reach the level of success that fellow Swedish bands Abba or Ace Of Base did, and it sounds like a lot of that was due to the fact that the success of "Lovefool" freaked them out a little. I still own three CDs by the Cardigans, and I'll take them over anything by Ace Of Base anytime.

Is there a genre for pop that is alternative? Really liked it. Humming liked charged satin.

fasen vad dom kan skriva låtar

Perfect scandi pop.

Why would a band turn Black Sabbath’s “Iron Man” into a sultry lounge song? BECAUSE THEY CAN. This album grew on me with multiple listens. Nina Persson’s vocals, combined with certain retro flourishes, sound like they are right out of an early 60s jazz room, only transformed into something completely fresh, and layered with fine musicianship and crisp production. Almost a 5 but I’m sensitive to lyrical content that objectifies women. Even if it’s con/sensual.

With a name like "The Cardigans" and a brilliantly catchy single with "Lovefool," it is an expected risky roll of the dice on the album. And it came up sevens. While it isn't a five-star album for me, it surprises on a bunch of levels. There are lo-fi anthems, jazz, a surprising cover... all pristinely produced, tight, and diverse tracks. They may not literally be the first band on the moon, but if I lived on the moon, I would be happy to spin this one every once and while!

I enjoyed listening to this, I think I would smile if I heard someone else listening to it. I’ve never listened to The Cardigans other than obviously hearing the song lovefool at least a dozen times. Fave track was losers!

I actually owned this one in the 90s. Back when you had to buy the whole CD for 1 song. But again I might have also got the CD from BMG music club for one penny. Anyway, I've always enjoyed this album and the band. Obviously, any person of the 90s will recognize and adore "Lovefool". I enjoyed "Been It". I totally forgot they covered Black Sabbath. Once I heard that, I swear there were 2 other songs that weren't straight up covers but definitely cribbed some of the chord progressions from Sabbath as well. "Choke" is on of the songs that sounds like they borrowed from Sabbath. Overall, a fun little throw back to the 90s. This is not essential for anyone. I don't know how it made the top 1001 albums to hear but is a nice listen anyway.

I really like this album. A wonderful collection of pop/rock songs. Accessible, but not generic, with beautiful melodies and interesting arrangements. I love Nina Persson's voice, and Peter Svensson's guitar work is incredible - an absolute master of guitar tone, and always seems to play exactly what is required for the song (and no more). Love the production too, with all the instruments and vocals clear and defined and exactly where they need to be. (4.3)

Relaxed, fun album. Some new songs for me that I liked (Your New Cuckoo, Never Recover, the Iron Man cover). I’ll give them a 4 in part because I think their sound is unique.

nice 90s pop, some really great tracks on here but there's a few annoying ones as well. the iron man cover kinda rocks. 7/10

First Band on the Moon I was never into The Cardigans back in the 90s, I really disliked Lovefool back then, and although I do know it’s a good pop song I’m still not keen on it. I really appreciate their gift for bullet proof Scandinavian pop melody, and I like the combination of sugary catchiness and acid tongued lyrics, but it too often falls too far into loungey, nouvelle vague kitsch for my taste. It’s all very skillfully played and crafted, there is some very nice guitar, drums and bass and it’s arranged brilliantly for what they are doing, but it sadly doesn’t really resonate that well with me. I did really like Been It though, there's a bit of bite to the music, matching the acerbic words and the result is a great, lithe bit of pop. And Step on Me is nice too. It’s obviously not bad and I didn’t dislike it, it is a listenable album, but it just doesn’t really land with me. I’m unlikely to seek it out again, but a 2 does feel too low, so I’ll go with a 3. 🌕🌕🌕 Playlist submission: Been It

Fun. Bubbly, airy, effortless-ish. Her voice is a bit too thin and shallow for a repeat listen. "Lovefool" is still a banger. The cover of "Iron Man" was a grotesque miss.

Everyone talks about how The Cardigans were the first band on the moon, but no one wants to discuss the horrific mechanical failures of their lunar lander that stranded them there, leaving them to perish in the distant, cold silence of space. Very sad.

I know I've heard of the Cardigans before, but never really knew what they sounded like, or who they sounded like, kind of vaguely assuming they were like the Happy Mondays or something like that. I guess not! (And now I know who did that earworm "LoveFool".) But they're also not really doing much for me, despite the props I give them for doing a cover of "Iron Man" (I wanted to like their bizarre pseudo-jazzy take, but couldn't quite). Several of the songs started off sounding interesting, but then seemed to dissolve into some sort of anodyne alt-rock-ish sound (in large part due to Nina Persson's sort of baby-tone voice). I kept wanting them to be more like Portishead, but that's not really their thing. I know it's not really fair to the Cardigans, but it kind of feels unfair that the 1001 albums project has *this* Swedish band in the collection, but doesn't have Robyn, who seems a lot more interesting and distinctive.

This might be a novelty record with a single hit, but the novelty is mostly charming, smart and catchy. Its leanings to muzak are a tad too arch for me, but there’s more craft and chorus here than I was expecting.

Poppig, die Stimme nervt etwas auf Dauer

This album gave me extreme enjoyability whiplash. For the first few songs I honestly thought I might be giving it a 1, they just plain annoyed me. But then Never Recover was fun enough to at least solidify a 2. But then Lovefool came, and my deep hatred for that song made me want to drop it down to a 1 again… but then immediately after Losers came on and not only saved it from losing a star, it bumped it all the way to a 3. And then that Black Sabbath cover… I honestly have no idea how to feel about it other than strangely intrigued. With the album ending on a nice but forgettable few songs, I think I’ll have to rate this a very confused 3 in the end.

63/100: I've never heard an album that was so clearly well-produced and touched by talented hands but also so incredibly horrendous and difficult to listen to. I think it clearly took a very talented artist to create the song "Lovefool," but it's such a shame that it's such an obnoxious song. It's honestly on the order of "What's New Pussycat" in terms of difficulty to listen to. Most songs on this album fall into this category. This album really made my 3am drive to the airport even worse than it already was, which is really rough because I was really hoping for a great album to boost my mood.

This album was fine. But I started it with the hope of trying to figure out the difference between The Cardigans and Sixpence None the Richer and I still haven’t so I’m a bit disappointed it wasn’t as illuminating as I had hoped.

Ergh. Ergh, all a bit repetitive. Ergh, all a bit repetitive. Lovefool - rejoice! Ergh, all a bit repetitive. Fuck me this is terrible. Really annoying.

- a little like the Mother Mother of the 90s, or a cotton candy version of No Doubt (which are maybe two out of four total groups I'm familiar with that I'd consider true pop-rock): a little overly saccharine, but also doing some really unexpected and interesting things musically. every song here had a nugget of something interesting that made it feel like a very intentional album with a lot of effort put into its creation and mixing, from some impressive drums at the end of "Never Recover" to the guitar riff in "Been It" that frankly had no business being that sick - I tried to imagine this group with a different singer, and I think the overall effect/mood would disappear: her crisp, childlike vocals are the "it" factor here. the vocal melodies are also largely responsible for keeping the tone solidly ~poppy~ (esp in "Been It," where singing everything in a minor key to match the riff would have made that song much more aggressive) - once again, a decent pair of over-ear headphones probably changes this entire experience from just hearing a forgettable band with one tired hit single to being in the right state of mind to think "there's something else here" - there are weak tracks ("Losers" and "Step On Me" come to mind), but I think each song has a pretty solid bass part, for what it's worth. another plus is that this album is short enough for you to not get burnt out on song after song that follows roughly the same pattern without changing - going to round up to a 5 because this just solidly exemplifies great pop-rock music to me, and the sheer musicality was pretty impressive for what I expected from a 90s pop band. it makes me want to listen to other pop albums I might have initially dismissed as being too straightforward or boring, which I think merits the extra star I otherwise wouldn't have given

This record blew me away! I only knew Lovsfool but I eally enjoyed every other track too. I can't wait to dig more into this!

Holy shit this is my vibe. This is pure indie pop at its finest and sharpest. There are so much songs here that just got me to react very impressed

приятная музыка, сохранил. напомнило 500 дней лета)

Such a fun album to listen to. I did prefer the more upbeat tracks over some of the slower ones, but the pacing worked really well for a short album. This has ‘I bought this album at a used music and bookstore because I knew Lovefool from The Office but ended up playing over and over’ written all over it. And I was digging the Iron Man cover. Honestly a little surprised but I’m willing to give this one a five.

I really enjoyed this one. Easy listening experience.

Absolutely incredible, songs are poppy and catchy and the instrumental palette is wonderful. Wistful and whimsical, playful yet with a tone of morose. Had only heard Lovefool before but never properly listened to the layers and depth to the song, it is incredibly well crafted and executed. The cover of Iron Man could not have worked on any other album ever, Im almost sad its a cover as the instrumental is fucking beautiful, but its so funny and sweet and completely recontextualizes the song. I have no bad notes, I really enjoyed this start to finish, its so much of what I love about a lot of Japanese Indie and Shibuya-kei but in a western package. I wouldn't say its the greatest album of all time, but very well deserving of a 5/5

I really enjoyed this one. It’s light, fun, and charming, and definitely more than just pop. The contrast between the sweet, almost retro melodies and the darker, emotionally tangled lyrics works beautifully. There’s a cleverness to it that doesn’t take itself too seriously. A solid, stylish listen that I’d come back to when I want something catchy with a bite.

I like this a lot!

I write often in these reviews about albums that have one-off songs that are particular favorites of mine- just yesterday I wrote about Soft Cell's "Tainted Love" being one of my top 25-30 favorite songs of all time. It's not really surprising that these great albums sometimes carry a single song that is truly a huge standout, and this album is a continuation, as "Lovefool" is maybe a top 15 favorite song of mine. I absolutely love it. It's also firmly high up on my list of "songs I desperately wish I wrote". The chord progression, the lyrics, the fantastic vocal affects that make you swoon for the singer... I feel like when I hear this song it is written about me, that I'm the other end of the singer's plight. Her voice is so tender and welcoming, and the spin of the lyrics in the chorus of : "Love me say that you love me Fool me Go on and fool me Love me Pretend that you love me" is so sad and yet enchanting! And when she sings: "I can't care 'bout anything but you" ooof.. my heart! This track also has one of the best bass grooves ever in the genre of pop/rock. (the pedant in me wants this genre to be something like "Disco romance alt pop rock) It's also mixed perfectly; I literally would not turn a single knob on anything in this mix. It's not super obvious but some of the songs blend into eachother- and I love that. "Been that" into "Heartbreaker" is a great example. Speaking of "Heartbreaker", I feel like this is a Fiona Apple song but sung by a sweetheart instead of someone that would intimidate me (I love Fiona Apple). The added instrumentation throughout is perfectly executed. The flutes, the soft trumpet and vibraphone(?) and soft whispers in "Heartbreaker".. it's all incredible! These aren't flavors added to a stew just for the sake of diversity; they are layers that enhance and bolster the musical and lyrical intent. I love that these aren't all just cutesy slow love songs. So many modern bands find a sound that they like and then they sit on it inside of that singular record, and then change it up or experiment on their next release, but The Cardigans don't do that here. They'll have tracks like "Lovefool", and then they have the upbeat drum-forward high energy "Never Recover". Then they do a cover of Black Sabbath's "Iron Man" and it's amazing! Every song has either some kind of special charm in it or some interesting instrumentation or fun twist. I love the album artwork. It's a great example of capturing a moment in time. I feel quite dumb that this is the first time I'm listening to this album full through (at least that I can recall). It's masterful, and even though "Lovefool" is one of my favorite songs already, this feels like possibly my favorite discovery on this listening project. I'm so happy to see it included in the list. Strong 5/5!

+I've only listened to 'step on me' and 'lovefool' beforehand, which are some of my favorite songs +interesting sounds +nina persson's voice is so sweet +no skips

The first band I have ever been obsessed with. Consumed this, together with their follow-up "Gran Turismo". It's heavy and light, dark and sweet, bleak and positive. Nina is my goddess.

Wow, that was so much better than i remembered. The Iron Man cover has got to be one of the best in history! Nina Persson has such a pleasant way of singing about choking to death!!! Liked Songs Added: Been It Lovefool Iron Man Choke

This is that love me band, reminds me a lot of Japanese Breakfast

5/5

Incredible album, huge fan of this one. Great singing, interesting songs, that iron man reinterpretation is awesome. This is the sort of album you hope to discover from a list like this!

this album was a nice little surprise! really peppy and kitschy. for those of you shibuya-kei rock heads like me, this album is practically equivalent to releases from japan, full of meaningful sonnets surroundings lounge pop bops. it's almost... cute sounding. i can't stress this enough, it's one of the closest equivalents to a genre i listen to often, and i almost fainted as soon as the first few tracks played. i am hooked. you're thinking about heavy stuff, but you're thinking about heavy stuff sitting on a picnic blanket, eating PB&J. really really good food.

I like this album like I like my coffee, genre bending but still true to rock. 10/10

Fun and light, but still relaxed pop

I adore this album, I’ve knows a few songs off it but have not listened to it all but it is amazing

excellent album, some weird themes, lovefool is a classic

Love fool was a favorite, but the deep cuts are pretty great too. Renewed fan.

Very cool

One of my all time favorite albums, and bands, and I am so happy it made this list. I have listened to this album so much over the past 3 decades. After this album, I remember going around searching for their other albums and struggling to find imports. I think I ended up overpaying at a local Tower Records for one, and eventually finding another 3 years later in Germany.

FUCKING BAD ASSSSSSSS

Curti, bem meu tipo de música mesmo, alternativo anos 90 pop-rock com umas leves pitadas de lounge e etc. Surpreso que nunca tinha ouvido essa banda antes, até que chegou no maior hit deles, Lovefool, e eu imediatamente o reconheci. Não entendo como alguém ouve esse disco inteiro e tem a coragem de dizer que essa banda é one hit wonder. O album todo é consistente em instrumentalização e nos vocais. Foi um daqueles discos que tu ate deseja que fosse mais longo, que você simplesmente não quer que acabe. Analogo a um abraço, ou talvez a um bolo de cenoura com cobertura de chocolate. Coisa assim. Não consigo apontar nenhum defeito ou desavença pessoal minha então: 5/5

I was blown away by this, it is a really clever and creative album. It’s quite jarring to hear lovefool amongst all these songs I’ve not heard before. It is a great pop song and if id known how cool this album is i would have listened to it sooner. It covered loads of genres and went to some weird places, looking forward to my next listen

Nina Persson has such a beautiful voice, and anyone who likes this should definitely check out their later albums. This is nice in a frothy pop way, but the later ones have some great mature themes and writing (and bit like A-Ha's trajectory).

With th exception if the needless and Nouvelle Vague-esque Iron Man cover, this really is a marvelous album. It hits its mark pretty much without fail time after time; knowingly twee in places but offset with a little dusting of rock guitar, minor chords hooks and sweet melodies. And Nina's mellifluous voice.

So many great and diverse songs on here that I didn’t know. Should have been more famous. A modern day ABBA.

Dreamy pop, wanders through various flavors from bubblegum to folky to reggae/surfy. Great variety

lounge-y indie pop with subtle electronic influences is my SHIT man. love this! I've heard lovefool a million times, never knew they made it, such a great song. the trip-hop rendition of iron man by black sabbath came out of no where. so strange but I love it. i think part of the reason i loved this album as much as i did was because spring is starting and it was sunny and 12 degree celius, which is lowkey cold asl but its okay because its better than -5 degrees with snow everywhere god i hate winter so much. this album matched the sheer joy and whimsy i was experiencing today and for that im thankful

Took me to the moon with this album.

Well, that’s a 5. Been a while since I’ve had an, “oh, this is THAT song” moment, but I sort of felt it coming with the 754 million plays that “Lovefool” has on Spotify. Truly cannot believe that wasn’t in my big playlist until now. But, hey, that’s just one of the 11 tracks on here – how do the rest hold up? Well, I can safely confirm that, for my ears, this is the type of “fun” album we haven’t really gotten since that Scissor Sisters album, or at the very least, the type of instrumentation that’s just bubbly & happy, mixed with some rather sad lyricism full of self-doubt. I love a good “happy song / sad lyrics” combo when it’s done right, and the Cardigans know how to do it really well. I genuinely thought I hadn’t heard of them at all until now, but again, “Lovefool”. There’s some super good standouts here for my ears – “Your New Cuckoo” feels like a super genuine opener about 2 people just falling in love with some city pop vibes, and I’m ok with buying into that. “Been It” is really catchy, reminiscent of “Girlfriend” by MJ, though it’s a bit repetitive over its last 90 seconds or so. “Never Recover” is awesome; big Teen Titans energy with a 60s feel, and it’s really easy to get caught in the groove of it. “Step on Me” has some devastatingly sad lyrics, but the instrumentation makes it feel really modern and a great listen. For some reason, the elevator music / hard rock structure of “Losers” really worked for me. I think that cover of Iron Man deserves its own paragraph – it’s a super bold move to take such an iconic heavy metal track (which I’ve only really heard in passing, without paying super close attention to; it’ll be in the list, I’m sure of it) & make it a lo-fi lounge-y track that you might hear in a modern cozy indie game about like, serving coffee or something. I thought it was cool as hell, & for 1996, feels insanely timely for 2025. That exact style of production feels more relaxed & normal now, & I really wonder how they settled on that nearly 30 years ago. I would’ve flipped “Great Divide” & “Choke” – “Choke” is a really nice track, and it has a bit of a “Billie Eilish does Mr. Blue Sky” vibe going for it that I think works great as a closer… if “Great Divide” didn’t exist. I think the glittery instrumentation on that track is lovely, I think the Sinatra-esque tone to the vocals and structure works really well, and as a sort of narrative ending to the abusive relationship talk that permeates this album, ending on a track that finally has some sort of happy positive conclusion would’ve felt satisfying. Regardless, I really, REALLY liked this – it’s a breezy 39 minutes, a welcome pop cleanser with a hint of edge, & another one for the “this is THAT song” pile that will certainly continue to grow. It’s a super easy 5 for me, and I’m very glad it’s in the list; super deserved, and highly recommended. Great, great stuff here.

That cover of Iron Man is one of the coolest ever.

I wash shocked and how creative this record was only knowing this bands lead single. Feels like if stereo lab became a 90’s alt rock band (at least with the amount of vibes/marimba playing). Some cool brass/woodwind incorporations too throughout. Lovefool is essential, first three tracks are great. Honestly no bad songs or playing to me such a cool discovery!

Good shit

This is a masterclass in pop music and I fully admit as a middle-aged, straight, white man that this is and has always been one of my top albums of all time! I can't call it a "guilty pleasure" because for me it's 100% pleasure and 0% guilt. Production on this album is delightfully eclectic with a different approach to the mix and unique drum sounds on on every track. There's great variety from song to song with some bubblegum pop, some retro 70s vibes, a creative Black Sabbath cover, and more. The only real common thread through this album as a whole that brings it all together is Nina Persson's sweet and charming vocals. Most of the songs are themed around love but the tone shifts from song to song with new infatuation, being vulnerable, emotional manipulation, insecurity and desperation, power dynamics, feeling trapped and becoming disillusioned. Favorite Tracks: Heartbreaker, Step on Me, Never Recover and Choke

Sure it's bubblegum pop, but it's difficult to believe how many absolutely fantastic vocal melodies are on this album. Combine that with clever, succinct songwriting and unusual instrumentation, and this is one of the very best albums on this list. The nods to Black Sabbath (both the cover and sneaking the riff to "Black Sabbath" into "Heartbreaker") are nice, totally unexpected touches.

Excellent album.

Solid album. Nice vocals. I enjoyed the whole thing. Not my usual listening but I wouldn't turn it off.

The Cardigans stand out as one of the few "twee" bands to make it (and not just indie circlejerk "make it" like Bull & Shitbastian -- actually make it). it's honestly hard to tell how they even DID make it. "Lovefool" was in William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet for like 10 seconds in a scene nobody really remembers, but the soundtrack sold well. i guess people were just drawn to the strength of the song. for a hot second, The Cardigans had a time in the spotlight, paced around a bit, and then walked back home. for a genre of snarky doofuses named after a type of sweater, this counts as winning the lottery. you could say they sold out with First Band on the Moon -- i'd argue their aesthetic choices are no more smooth than they were on Life. i'd also argue that there are multiple songs on the record that are as good, if not better than "Lovefool", like "Been It" and (as retroactively recognized by the internet) "Step on Me". basically, the past few years of my life have seen me falling in love with FBotM's space age continuation of the last album's globetrot. in each song, there's a delightful little hook and a mean little turn of phrase, said with a bitter smile on the lips. The Cardigans remain one of the few legitimate practitioners of the black arts of the 1990's best known as "irony". and the Sabbath covers DO make sense. what's more Swedish than heavy metal?

This album really got me by surprise, it was really great. Unique sound with the vocals and the instruments, feels very ahead of it's time. Everything about it was very unique, I feel like this inspired florence + the machine some and a lot of more modern pop like clairo

Wow what is this. Ever since I first gave "Lovefool" a proper listen as an adult, I've thought it was so cool, and the rest of this album matches that energy. I truly loved this album. It's weird in a unique way that is still accessible. The reference to "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" rocks, and the cover of "Iron Man"--a song I've always hated--is amazing. Loved it all.

For something that was definitely more in the one hit wonder camp (I didn't even realise this was the Lovefool band at first despite still hearing it regularly). I was surprised with how much of the album I enjoyed. The first few songs were alright and had me expecting this would be sitting at roughly a 3. But the album was surprisingly middle loaded and really got me hooked in the stretch between Never Recover and Losers. The last few songs (Iron Man - Choke) are all still good and I prefer them over the first few tracks, but the middle of this album does a lot of heavy lifting. I really liked the indie style on a lot of this. A really cool surprise of an album honestly

now thats what i call sex music

Saved Prior: Your New Cuckoo, Been It, Never Recover, Step On Me, Lovefool, Iron Man, Choke Not Saved: 11. Losers Saved: 10. Great Divide 9. Happy Meal II 8. Been It 7. Step On Me 6. Heartbreaker 5. Iron Man 4. Choke 3. Never Recover 2. Your New Cuckoo 1. Lovefool Overall Notes: I love these Swedes so much. They had the juice to make Lovefool, possibly the most perfect pop song of all time, but stayed true to their inner indie freak and recorded whatever they wanted to make. If that included a lounge Black Sabbath cover that kinda fucks then so be it. If The Cardigans have no fans I am dead.

One of the best pop albums I've ever heard. Every song is interesting and charming, the "Iron Man" cover is fucking awesome. Love the singers voice, it is very sweet. "Lovefool" is a banger and yet it possibly gets overshadowed by other songs here like "Heartbreaker", "Step On Me", and "Choke". What a killer fuckin album

I know several songs by The Cardigans and love them all (Lovefool is a spectacular hit) but I have never listened to a full album by this group. I love this even more than I expected to. There's the blending of pop and '90s indie rock that I expected, and Nina's voice is perfect of course, but the sum of it is really perfect to my ears - good flow track to track and no skips. This scratches my Rilo Kiley itch and makes me want to dig into more albums by The Cardigans.

I loved it. Even the Iron Man cover.

My uncle played this version of "Iron Man" for me when I was a kid, but I hadn't heard it since that time. 4 stars for dredging up a pleasant memory, and one more because the rest of the album is pretty great too.

OK, wow, I had a good impression of this album going into it but I didn't realize that it's wall-to-wall bops. A worthy addition to the canon.

Well that's some damn good pop rock, don't think there was a single track I didn't enjoy. The Black Sabbath cover somehow worked, and it was nice to find out finally where Lovefool came from.

Loved this. Instant 5 for me. Upbeat and catchy but also different. Lovefool is one of the best songs of the 90s but the whole album rips. Been it and your new cuckoo are great. Feel like an early progenitor of the theatrical art girl rock style mitski has gotten famous for

This album rules. I fell in love by the time I got to Lovefool and then wanted to marry this album. Great stuff. Call me Mr Rogers because I’m a huge cardigan guy now

Had a bit of trouble at first getting past what sounds like kind of a muddier mix? But love the songs - Sabbath references are fun. Step On Me was a highlight. Some sounds of Mitski, Beths, Big Thief throughout. So much more than just Lovefool.

Was nice, even knew some numbers