Reviews (page 3 of 9)
Hauska levy, mukavasti rullaavaa poppia
Your New Cuckoo - 3.5/5 Been It - 3.5/5 Heartbreaker - 3/5 Happy Meal II - 3/5 Never Recover - 4/5 Step on Me - 3.5/5 Lovefool - 4.5/5 Losers - 3.5/5 Iron Man - 4/5 Great Divide - 3/5 Choke - 3.5/5 I'm probably too young since I think of these guys as just one-hit wonders with Lovefool. I was definitely surprised when the rest of the album was sort of the same vibe as Lovefool, including a really interesting cover of Black Sabbath's Iron Man (in a good way!). Probably more of a 3.5 to me but I'll round it up for the vibes. Overall: 4/5 Favorites: Never Recover, Lovefool, Iron Man
Oddly enough, their best-known song was the one I liked least on this. Their interpretation of Iron Man was great, although I can hear lots of Sabbath fans screaming about that. Overall, had positive elements of Portishead, Garbage, and Sun 60. Might warrant a second listen some day, just maybe not today.
An art house album, with the lead leaning into a breathy vocal most of the time.
When I first heard the song Lovefool back when it was a hit I fell for it immediately. It was a total earworm then (and is still as I now have it stuck in my brain again). I got the CD right away and enjoyed it very much at the time, but then it sat un-listened to till today. I really enjoyed digging into the album. I love the music throughout, as well as the vocals. Some songs work better than others, but I don't think there is a bad song on the record. I remember back when I first listened to the CD being surprised with their version of Ironman, in a not good way, but I really liked it today. I was out of the country for the past week and took a break from this project while I was gone. As I jumped back in there was a sense of foreboding, as I hoped my re-entry would be a smooth one. I am glad to report that it was and I'm now ready for what tomorrow brings.
Scandi pop, But with a dark tinge. The band are serious musicians and the lyrical content has adult themes. Their later work is even better. Grand tourismo is great and Long gone before daylight is 5 star for me, a album I just keep going back to.
I LOVED this album when I was young and getting into music. I still have the CD somewhere. Nina just seemed so cool to me and I loved her singing style and general vibe. Are all the song fabulous, no. But I still think this is a great album and points to Nina for taking up space in a genre dominated by men at the time.
Скоріше 3.5. Хороший поп-рок альбом з акцентом саме на поп сторону. Lovefool супер хіт, пісня яка засідає в голові.
This started off interesting but the last track and the Iron Man cover kind of killed this for me. Was thinking high 4 early on but going high 3 total
The Lovefool band? Ok I’ll bite. If you’re like me and only know Lovefool, this album is not like that song. It’s much quirkier and less poppy. You think you hear Black Sabbath at one point but you dismiss it as it’s only for a few seconds and may just be a coincidence. Then, they cover Iron Man and you just have to laugh because it comes out of nowhere. Really interesting album today.
Really fun, such a great time capsule. Lovefool really is that good too.
Whimsical and playful, but with layers of heartbreak sprinkled throughout. There are layers to the instrumentation and vocals that make it feel deeper and more thought out than a lot of other pop records. Also fuck the haters, I dig the Iron Man cover!
Surprised how much I enjoyed it!
No es pop clasicista, sí preciosista, y sueco, muy sueco. “Lovefool” se come el disco entero, aunque sacaran un par de singles más que no le llegan a la suela en mi opinion. Al final se test de un buen disco de pop que se quiere distanciar del mainstream pero acaba pegando el petardazo y siendo escuchado a todas horas en radio y televisión. Y el éxito siguió en su siguiente disco, pero luego se fueron estancando. No es que descubrieran la rueda, pero nos dejaron una buena colección de canciones sofisticadas y elegantes con la sensual voz de Nina Persson, todo un regalo de la naturaleza y pieza que sustenta gran parte de su éxito estética y musicalmente.
Glad to hear some new goodies, but wasn’t moved by the album as a whole
I really liked this, super cosy vibe and such a soft and sweet voice.
Forgot what a classic this album is. Great listen.
Cute. Songs that got popular got popular for a reason, others are really alike so they kind of blend together
Poppige Rockmusik zum mittanzen. "Lovefool" als bekannte Hit-Single ist mein Highlight. 4/5
Very pleasant listening experience
I like it
Far more melodic than I remember thoroughly enjoyed
Wow, so I remember Lovefool vividly - it was infectious and inescapable, but I never thought about these guys beyond that. And was that really thirty years ago?! I was admittedly dubious when this popped up, but there’s so much more here than Lovefool (which is as catchy as I remember.) I was wrong to write The Cardigans off as a one hit wonder back then. I doubt this album would make the cut if I ever made my own list, but a very enjoyable listen for me nonetheless.
Just wonderful
Wow I enjoyed this so much. I would never have picked up a Cardigans album but I’m so glad I did and I already think I’m gonna be listening to more of them and that I’ve overlooked their stuff in the past! That’s why this is such a fun thing to do because I’m finding things I love that old wouldn’t otherwise have given the time of day.
I know their name is 'The Cardigans', but this album is genuinely like a wearing a cozy sweater. Really dig the vibes front to back, but the weirdest thing happens with their megahit Lovefool. All of the songs have this cohesiveness without being a copy of the other, but Lovefool, either because it is somehow vastly different, or huge, just sticks out like a sore thumb audibly among these tracks. That's not for better or worse, just so incredibly distinct I have to mention it. Love the Cardigans though
A cursory glance over some other thoughts on this album are getting me worried that I'm the only person who likes the Iron Man cover?
step on me & lovefool are the standouts of cooourse. The vocals and actual instruments are what keeps this album together, the lyrics can be wack sometimes.
really loved this one!!! very sweet but also very melancholy, all around a great album
i love the cardigans!! wonderfully consistent & twee adjacent with a little twist. amazing album <3
The lyrics are so depressing . This is all good. They sound like a Shibuya-kei band. THANK YOU.
A truly odd album. If it were in Swedish, I'd be like "how pleasant" but it's in English. It still manages to come across as secretly sad just due to sheer poppy sweetness.
This was enjoyable although Iron Man is a very...interesting choice. Overall more chill and loungey than I maybe expected.
Lovefool is a classic 90s song. Album is enjoyable. Cover of iron man is a bit odd..
I love Nina Perssons cute, sweet vocals. They fit the music perfectly. I have this album, so I know it well, but it was fun to revisit (heard it twice) and I added a couple other Cardigans albums to my ever growing Want List & also added her solo album. Nina Persson's voice is the star of the show as the music is just very well played indie pop/rock but nothing I would ever bother with if Nina Persson wasn't the singer. I love her Black Sabbath (I think she did an Ozzy song too) covers (1 is on this album) I think The Cardigans have done four. Not 3 not 5 but 4. I can't imagine anyone not liking this album unlike some bands (Throbbing Gristle, Einstürzende Neubauten, later day Scott Walker records like Bish Bosch, etc.) that I think it's amazing that anyone likes them even though I like some difficult music and in the case of TG I really love it. Hear this album if you love cute girly vocals! DO IT! P.S. I used to have singing competitions with my Barbies, and I always pictured them singing like Nina Persson even if I didn't know who she was back then. FUN FACT: I have well over 100 Barbie dolls in my current collection some rather rare ones before vinyl records Barbies were the number thing I collected- I even went to huge conventions! How fun!
I'm a big Cardigans fan, there are some songs on this album that I was obsessed with for a while. On the other hand Gran Turismo is a better release, this one is just here because Lovefool was their biggest hit (but I'm not complaining).
One of those albums that probably made the list due to it's one hit wonder, Lovefool in this case. Often those albums flop pretty hard but I'd argue that this whole thing stands up on its own feet pretty well. Did it knock my socks off? No. But I did enjoy the unique vocals and pacing. The 38 minute length of the album was just right. It reminded me of a new artist, Wednesday, that I discovered last year (2025). Good stuff.
This one was awesome. Obviously knew Lovefool, but hadn’t heard the others. Really some cool things done musically that kept me guessing the whole album.
Nice album, great hit. Lacking a bit of oumph. 8/10
finally another female singer. this sounds surprisingly modern
Had no idea this band was from Sweden, but now that I know it, the ABBA influence is very apparent. Combining disco and 90s alternative gives this album a very unique, satisfying sound. The singer’s voice is beautiful, her melodies are catchy, and the album overall is flawlessly produced.
I remember when this album came out, and boy has it aged well. Good stuff through and through.
Really well crafted pop songs, love the cardigans but think more of my favourites are on Gran Turismo. Would definitely listen in its entirety again
7/10
this album wore me down to a 4 haha, I thought this was an easy 3, but the band sounds really good, the grooves were always on point. I didn't *love* this album, but definitely want to listen to it again.
Well wasn’t that just fun! Pleasantly surprised - album really grew on me as I was listening.
4/5
Very upbeat and retro It’s almost like female rock/jazz it has a beautiful aura and I added it to my morning playlist.
The Cardigans have such a unique sound... this one is just indelible in my memory from college.
Great album. Lovefool does stand out but the rest of the songs are very good!
This was surprisingly great. Lovefool is of course a classic, and cool hear to that same sound throughout the album. And who knew the Cardigans did an Iron Man cover? Inspired choice.
Brilliant album. I'd heard of the Carpenters but never really checked them out - my bad. I also knew the song "Lovefool"but never knew who performed it. Now, I do.
Very fun, laid back little album. As others have noted, the Sabbath cover is appreciated and gives a little more insight into the bands tastes and motivations.
Gran Turismo is still their epic, but this one is also good
it's poppy, it's got great vocals, LOVE ME LOVE ME SAY THAT YOU LOVE ME. FOOL ME FOOL ME. GO ON AND FOOL ME. rest of the album is also vibes but def not to the lovefool tier.
Amazing overall sound with a few standouts. Could just as well have been one continuous song for an hour though
I like this kind of music.
Her voice is so sweet and implies innocence, but then she sings about adult themes creating an eerie but compelling combination making me both want to listen and feel dirty. I have always loved Lovefool and play it for my kids when it comes on the radio. The music video was so 90s. haha!
What a joy! Dreamy and driving. I love the Iron Man cover.
The single Lovefool was my introduction to The Cardigans. Apparently, I was late to the party, because I immediately bought the album Gran Turismo, which had already been released, and loved it. I've now listened to First Band on The Moon in its entirety for the first time. It's a good album. Still, I like Gran Turismo much better. 4/5
i only know the hits of the cardigans so this was a fun listen. the production sounds very 90’s and a bit dated in my ears, but i like the songs. it’s got a nice jazz indie vibe to it. a very low 4. fave song: lovefool. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
4.5 Un très bon moment
Worthwhile
The Cardigans up until this point had made a minor name for themselves for the way in which they mix sweet and sour sounds. On First Band on the Moon they continue to drop little explosions of joy into a mix which is tentative and unsure in its happiness. The call-backs to the 60s girl groups are less pronounced than before but still contribute to a generally nostalgic sound. The second album amped up the sound, and this one amps it up further making The Cardigans more of a pop rock band. Lovefool is one of the obvious standouts, sounding nothing like the rest of the tracklist or any other song they’ve put out up until this point. It is the band in their most radio ready form and is quite deservedly a massive hit. Less chart worthy, but no less conspicuous is the Black Sabbath Iron Man cover which reveals half of the band’s unlikely roots in heavy metal music. It’s a fun and silly addition. Despite all the pop factor on display, it’s still a surprise that Peter Svensson has gone on to write mega hits for (/with) with Lizzo, Carley-Rae Jepsen, Ariana Grande, Elle Goulding, Troye Sivan, The Weeknd, Meghan Trainer, Avril Lavigne, One Direction, Leona Lewis and Justin Bieber. For my money The Cardigans sound more distinctive than the majority of those artists.
50 seconds into song 1 and I can already tell I am going to love this. After listening to the whole thing, though, I didn’t love every song. I still appreciate that they were trying something different here.
I really like this--Lovefool is obviously the stand out, but there's nothing like this out there (in the 90s anyway). Needs more listens, but it's a solid 4 right now.
I liked this. Lovefool is a certified banger. The Iron Man cover deeply offended me on first listen, I couldn't get over the kinky "ohhhhh, Iron Man" that she kept singing. I listened again and got over it. Cool cover. Cool album.
I’ve got a core memory of Lovefool coming on the radio in my Da’s old Astra as we drove into Dungloe during the ’97 summer holidays (Atlantic 252). Bonus star for that Sabbath cover, obviously.
First Band on the Moon is a fun indie-pop, indie-rock album with much more depth than its cotton candy sweet exterior implies. The song writing throughout is excellent. I appreciated the juxtaposition of dark lyrics sung, impressively, with the sweet and comforting voice of Nina Peterson. The instrumentation is more interesting and layered than typical in pop music. The production is outstanding. The indie-pop tunes are about as good as pop music gets, but I preferred the more subdued tunes that leaned further into indie-rock territory, but this is personal preference. The “Iron Man” cover was a riot with “Ohhh, Iron Man”, sung like Peterson was yearning for her lover. I’d previously dismissed the Cardigans as being too poppy for my taste, but my listens for this project convinced me that I was wrong. I fully intend to dive deeper into their discography and that it the part of this project that I like best.
It was really nice listening to the whole album after only knowing 2 songs from it for so long. I don't think the rest of the album quite lives up to the quality of "Lovefool," but it's still pretty good.
It was nice, “Step on Me” had those parts sounding like a hint of metal and then reading the band members backgrounds was fun. It has some interesting songs. If it comes on randomly i’d listen, but probably wouldn’t seek it out. 3 or 4
Surprisingly great album, very interesting and varied throughout
This album is shockingly good. I only knew Lovefool but this whole album is really solid and has a lot of great songs.
Ok, on the record that features "Love fool", I did not expect multiple instances of Sabbath worship! Outside of the well known hit, this record is packed with hooks and bits of cool lines.
Virkelig godt album! Fed vokal og dejlig upbeat - lovefool er åbenbart ikke deres eneste sang hahha. Mag Bay har stjålet 🧘♀️🧘♀️🧘♀️🧘♀️🧘♀️
Love the cardigans and this album is fantastic but I think the better album is Gran tourismo ,
Really great wasn't quite sure what to expect. Singer is great and is really good at making memorable parts and choruses and stuff. Seemingly quite a wide range of styles from sort of funk stuff to some more orchestral atmospheric stuff, which I think is all great I love the Iron man cover, cool to hear it in this so different style, there's also some other part in another song where they start playing Black Sabbath by Black Sabbath. Had so idea the lovefool song was them until it came on, but it is a really great song. I love the strings on the great divide. Not too much else to say just pretty solid. Some of the songs feel quite similar but I guess that's not necessarily a downside. Favourite songs: all but never recover and choke. Overall around 7/10
Chill, easy to listen to album. I liked the iron man cover.
If I was alive in the 90s this would be one of my fav albums. This is angst, softness and soul all in a very well produced package. Very good.
Fun, groovy, atypical, pleasant. Feels like a direct predecessor of Magdalena Bay which I love.
I've never listened to music by The Cardigans other than their one-hit wonder Lovefool. Lovefool is kind of an anomaly on this album. There's a lot of Black Sabbath influence including a cover of Iron Man and some very Sabbath riffs in Choke. I don't hate it, but all of their other songs are sort of disappointing and overshadowed by Lovefool.
Actually quite liked this
I was alive in 1996, so I knew Lovefool by heart. I knew zero other songs by the Cardigans prior to today. This was a really good album and as a fan of Alvvays and other dreamy-pop bands like Belle and Sebastian as well. I am surprised I had never heard this entire album, and if I have, then I don't know why I can't remember hearing the album. First Band on the Moon was everywhere, but I chalked the Cardigans up to being a one-hit band. Not so much. I think the 3.28 cumulative grade for the album means I am not the only one who enjoyed it. Female-led dream-pop bands are a bit of a musical fetish for me and so this one was right down my alley. I thought the songs would be a bit dour and there wouldn't be much weight to them (based on Lovefool) but that was incorrect as well. My favorite songs were: Your New Cuckoo Been It Happy Meal II Never Recover Step on Me Lovefool Great Divide
Honestly one of the most refreshingly surprising albums I've had. Yes 'Love Fool' catchy, overplayed, pop smash. But the rest of the album is nicely all over the place and fresh, a bit weird and overall just enjoyable. It's a 3.5 but gets rounded up because it was way better than I expected.
Polished, weird, catchy, innovative, poppy and with a subtle acid edge. This is masterful. It's all more or less encapsulated on their 'Iron Man' cover: structurally the same, sonically worlds away. This is a band winking at an influence but turning the whole thing to their own uses. It's an acknowledgment and also a statement about how deeply buried our influences can be. The result is a lounge/pop/sitar cover re-keyed to nearly obliterate the proto-metal sound of the original. Like Cake's take on 'War Pigs' but a little less silly (which is just a part of Cake). You may very well hate it. If you're a millennial, you'll recognize Lovefool. The whole rest of the album is excellent, though. There's a whole world of brilliant, subversive music from the 90's that kind of flew under the radar because of the particular way corporations dominated the music scene at the time (they still do, just in a different way). First Band On The Moon is a melange of influences, originality and slick melody writing (and utterly compelling lead vocals from Nina Persson). What keeps this from being a 5 star album in my books is just the empty emotional content for me. Part of the ultra-clean production (technically, a huge accomplishment) and primarily sunny-keyed pop style is that it slides off me like oil on Teflon. It's gorgeous, it's clever, it does have dark undercurrents but I will absolutely forget about this in four hours.
10/27/25. One thing I appreciate about doing the 1001 album journey is diving into an album beyond the famous single, and now I have a taste of who The Cardigans are. Very cohesive and I think they carved out an identity in the crowded 90s alternative space. Also enjoyed their cover of Iron Man.
Obviously aware of the band but never listened to anything they’ve done before. Recognised the big hit, but enjoyed the rest. It’s of an era, but doesn’t sound dated. Pretty decent on the whole and somethingvI’ll listen to again.
Making a funk/psychedelic rock album in 1996 was a wild choice, but The Cardigans totally made it work! Interesting and infectious pop grooves mixed with a little disco and funk, this album was a true throwback in the best way. 'Lovefool' is the obvious standout, but there wasn't a bad song on here IMO. A solid 4/5
very fun and 00s vibes with some weird twists. quite enjoyed!
I just want to say that I love it when I get an album from an artist with only one entry on the 1001 Albums list. It just displays so much confidence, as if Robert Dimery is saying "This artist is pretty good overall, but they've got one album you HAVE to listen to." Assuming it's something I actually enjoy, it also gives me a good excuse to dig deeper into their discography during my free time without feeling like I'm spoiling anything I'm going to have to listen to later on. The Cardigans' First Band on the Moon is a great example of this sentiment – they're quite literally a one-hit wonder and the album surrounding that hit ("Lovefool") is something I likely never would have listened to if I hadn't started this challenge. It would have been a shame to have never heard the rest of the LP because it’s actually quite good! The Cardigans’ Spotify bio describes the band as specializing in “sugary confections that would grow annoying very quickly if they weren’t backed by solid musicianship and clever arrangements.” I almost can’t believe they would willingly admit that, but yeah… it’s pretty much spot on (at least, when it comes to this album). First Band on the Moon could have easily fallen into a sea of ‘90s pop schlock with these kinds of vocals, but the grooving bass lines, witty lyrics and compelling compositional choices really elevate the album. Songs like "Been It" and "Step on Me" even sound a bit ahead of their time – they could sit alongside recent Sabrina Carpenter releases completely comfortably. I was originally leaning toward giving FBOTM three stars, but I willingly let it loop back to the start and kept listening to it (even enjoying most of the songs more the second time through). By my own standards, I think that makes this one at least a four star album. Moments like these really make me wish the Generator’s rating system was a bit more granular – at least give us the option to do half stars! Highlights: Your New Cuckoo, Been It, Never Recover, Step on Me, Lovefool, Iron Man
Amazing memories of high school, thinking we were better than everyone else in our class because we listened to Swedish indie rock.
I actually feel like Lovefool doesn’t fit well on the album. I really enjoyed all of the other songs. Maybe it’s just because I was familiar with Lovefool but it felt super jarring in the middle of an otherwise fun and unique album.
7/10 ok, I like it. 10-8-2025
- 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 - 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
amazing!!111111!!!!
good album.
Your New Cuckoo and Step on Me were good and the whole album was enjoyable. It was weird having Lovefool in the middle of this album of songs I didn't recognize at all. The band had an older sound on some of their songs. It's not as strong as some of my other preferred albums but I think I would give this another listen.
Favorite tracks: Lovefool, Been It, Iron Man Who hurt this woman? They did an excellent job of making sad lyrics into complete bops. Will definitely listen again! Also, I'm a complete sucker for covers that cross genres.
I knew the hit back in the 90s but nothing else about The Cardigans. I liked the hit but did not explore. This was my surprise today! Delightful. New take on an old gem-Iron Man. Well done!
this was so fun and refreshing! i want to give it a 4.5 but in the spirit of saving my 5's for the truly exceptional, i'll go with a 4. but i loved it!
Really enjoyed it. Good vibes, different to the other music on here. Cover of Iron Man was really cool.
Really enjoyed this, a bit of a dip in the middle but the cover of Iron Man was really original which I liked. For some reason I thought Lovefool was by Kylie. I’m silly sometimes.
For those who were on the Cardigans bandwagon since Emmerdale, this album takes a turn from inner ennui to full blown outer melancholy about dissatisfaction surrounding unfaithful lovers. The Iron Maiden cover isn't evenough to perk things up, this is a sad record, even the relative upbeat "Lovefool" is loaded with dark lyrics of unrequited affections. Me? I'm just sad we're approaching 20 years without a new Cardigans album.
What happens when a bunch of metalheads recruit an artist with dimples to sing for a pop rock band? The Cardigans’ delightful cover of “Iron Man”, of course. Yes, that “Iron Man”, the one by Black Sabbath. It’s such a 180 in terms of vibe, but it works so well because the band knows what they are doing. As is the case with songs like “Heartbreaker”, the international hit “Lovefool”, and “Choke”. Like many teenagers in the mid 90s, I was introduced to the Cardigans via that song and its inclusion on Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet soundtrack. I’ve been a big fan every since.
I used to hate this band, and especially this album, because Lovefool was played way too many times on the radio, and it seemed so sickly sweet. And then I discovered Gran Turismo, Long Gone Before Daylight and Super Extra Gravity. And then I revised this album and have to say... Great album. Even Lovefool is bearable in the context of this album.
The high points are high enough to warrant giving this a 4. I don't think it's great throughout but the strong opening couple of tracks, the great finish and the weird cover of Iron Man made this memorable.
A nice chill album. Definitely gonna pick this one up in vinyl at some point. Sick Iron Man cover too. Favorite songs: Lovefool, Iron Man, Great Divide
A cemented 4/5. It's a great album, with the most unexpected Black Sabbath cover (and it works really well). The only thing that's keeping it from 5, is personal taste, but if anyone ranks it as 5/5, I can't complain. The singing is great, the musicianship is great and the songs themselves are constructed perfectly.
This album was full of great songs executed beautifully, medoldies were nice and the vibes was chill. Definetly want to check our more of their stuff now
babngers bangers bangers
I loved the vocals and chill vibes
I knew fool but had not listened to this or any other Cardigans album. This was pleasant, eclectic in sound yet remaining effervescent which is paired with often times very dark lyrical content and the juxtaposition works. Will be returning.
4/5
Great fun. A little more upbeat and energetic and would have gotten a five for sure.
I didn't immediately recognize the band name, but after a couple of tracks, I recognized the singer as the "love me, love me" singer (didn't know the song was called Lovefool). You know, this is a pretty solid pop album. Maybe Lovefool got overplayed back in the day, but it's a well-constructed and very catchy song. The stuff afterwards wasn't as good, though the cover of Iron Man was certainly interesting. And the last track, Choke, had a riff that to my ears sounded like it was taken from Iron Man as well. Best track: Yeah, probably Lovefool
Had more fun with this one than anticipated
<3
Lovefool is worst song on that album.
Happy meal II - the instrumentation is great but lyrically it falls flat for me. Fav Tracks - Been It, Lovefool (when this came on it took me but surprise, was not aware this was The Cardigans, a classic!), Iron Man (what an exceptional cover)
I bought this album after hearing Lovefool in Romero+Juilet. Buying an album after only hearing one song was always a risky proposition, but this one was definitely worth it. The whole album is full of fun and whimsy. Very very close to 5 stars.
I really like this album. It's a perfect chill vibe without being boring. I appreciate the mixing on this record giving the vocalist a clear front and center feel. "Lovefool" is classic, but I was blown away by the "Iron Man" cover. What a unique take. 9/10 for me.
8/10 - I liked this album all the way through. There were a lot of parts of songs I really liked. The main problem was I did not like the whole song for anyone but the last one. There were always parts that stood out as particularly bad.
I liked it
Se sintió como un angel cantando como mi relacion se cae a pedazos
I liked this more than I expected I would. Her voice put me off initially, but the melodies and blunt, focused lyrics pulled me back in. The arrangements and production spill over traditional pop fare into something bright and dynamic. I feel like there are several contemporary indie pop bands who owe this band some flowers. I couldn’t remember “Lovefool” despite it being the big hit. Then the moment it started I went “Oh, this song. That’s right.”
I was surprised by this. It’s a lot of fun especially when it gets crunchy. Glad I gave it a try.
First listen round felt a bit bland, but I warmed up to the album and apart from the monster hit, lovefool, i enjoyed the delicate vocal & wonder why i didn't listen to this back in the day
Love me love me… oh I do, well at least that song
Fun piece of Indie-Pop. Nice nod to Black Sabbath not only in their cover of Iron Man but also in Heartbreaker.
really cool vibe some songs added to my playlist 😁
I think this one just hit me in the right mood today, because I thoroughly enjoyed this from beginning to end. I was familiar with the singles from this album (especially Lovefool) but this was the first time I'd heard most of the others and was pretty impressed.
cool groovy
pretty good 7.5/1O
Fun and surprisingly good.
My wants in life, summed up by track 6.
Lovefool!
Lovefool!
Bom album, duas ou três musicas incríveis, as outras bem ok
That was fun.
Brutal sweetness
Gorgeous Nordic power-pop, powered by Nina Persson's smoky vocals. Somewhat unfairly bundled in with the Tier 2 Britpop bands (largely because they would have played on TFI Friday a lot)
Enjoyable pop rock
A fun revelation—Iron Man and other heavy metal moments done in Swedish pop style. Not just a one hit wonder, but an interesting and dynamic band. Excellent vocalist. Why don’t rock bands have female vocalists? This one does and it’s all the better for it.
loved it!!!! angelic voice, simple songs, the ‘iron man’ cover???? calm and charming album, would add it as a soundtrack to locoroco. 4.5
Heard LoveFool before and always wondered why I'd heards much other Cardigans before. Pleasantly surprised with rest of the album and will definitely put into rotation in my playlist. Her voice is so clean and expressive and I really like the backing instruments that supports the song.
Enjoyed this. Iron Man cover was awesome!
Wow this is really good! Zero expectations coming in but there's some great hooks and vocals in here.
Vous serez surpris (moi-même le premier(est-ce que ça ce dis? (il est tôt, laissez-moi écrire svp))) d'apprendre que j'ai pas mal aimé ça! D'habitude, ce genre de soft pop-rock fin 90 avec une chanteuse possédant un fin filet de voix digne d'un bébé angelot me gosse super fort, mais là, je sais pas, ça marche super bien (ça court même!) Donc, un ptit 4 pour la surprise
very very cool album. love the narrative.
I'm a third of the way through the list! I've already listened to this album, so it's a nice little checkpoint where I don't have to fully lock in. Love The Cardigans. Those silky sweet vocals always put me at ease.
In che senso lovefool non è una canzone del 2020?😭 ecco perché la voce era così familiare. Ero abbastanza deciso sul 3 ma lovefool è una hit e le vibe ci stanno
Oh hell yes. I've had a blind spot on this album forever. I loved "Lovefool" then and I love it now. There's nothing at that level of pop perfection here but this is still very satisfying. There's a very unique aesthetic going on here that sets it apart. The diminished chords. The vocal effects. The almost-complete lack of distortion. The swedes know what they're doing. Even though I was alive through it, it's hard for me to wrap my head around this strain of alternative music in the late 90s that was loungey and spacey and eclectic. Hard to pinpoint where it started (Stereolab maybe?). I guess having a flute on a rock song was probably considered cool around this time. LOL this "Iron Man" cover. Such a 90s move. I'll definitely be coming back to this. Great album title too!
I like that they foreshadowed the Iron Man cover by playing the Black Sabbath riff at the end of an earlier song. And speaking of that cover, I love when a band really makes a cover their own, and boy did they do it. Lovefool is infectious and groovy even if it’s been overplayed at this point. Overall a pretty solid album.
Ooh go on then. Nice to have a pop album. Or pop rock or indie pop or whatever. I'm only two tracks in but I like this. Very 90s but like a really fun blend of 90s. Would probably be dragged under the britpop umbrella if they were british but there's a proper rock grunginess here. This might be down to my spotify settings in part but I love the zero gap between tracks. No you aren't stopping to think here's another song. Thinking lovefool is to blame for the pop label bc this is not 90s bubblegum at all... like some of the vocal maybe? But not really. It's having sore thumb syndrome obviously but fuck it's good. I don't know the original iron man well enough to comment on the quality of the cover but I know I'm enjoying it. Yep this is solid. Don't know that I'll put the whole thing into rotation but I've saved a few songs and developed a new respect for the cardigans.
Love The Cardigans - Lovefool and Step on Me are such feel-good pop songs. Would say I like the album Life much more. Fave song: Step on Me
Kinda cool how each track flows into the others so well. Also like 3 of these songs are insanely good, very close to a 5, just not feeling it today
I really like her voice
Idk what it is with me and female vocalists and janky production
Just great. "Lovefool" is just about as good as a straight-up, lightweight pop song can be. The Black Sabbath cover is sublime, utterly.
Loved the vocals, cool stuff overall. 4 stars
This feels like the midway point between the kitschy 60s pop of Life and the rockier sound of Gran Turismo, and for me that’s the Cardigans’ sweet spot.
This was quite the pleasant surprise! I know my dad owned this CD growing up, but I've never much been a fan of "Lovefool", so I never thought to give it a shot. I imagine it'll be quite a hot take to say it's easily my least favorite song on the album, but I really dig everything else. Their arrangements are extremely interesting, and although the production is somewhat slick overall, it's still very dynamic, and maintains a relatively consistent thread of tasteful weirdness. I'm excited to spend more time with this one. 4/5
Another classic album where I've only heard the big hit, and now get to explore the other songs from it.
Lovefool is such a great song. The rest of the album was really good but does start to sound the same
90s power pop, but with some wonderfully crafted arrangements that recall the pop sophistication and songcraft of Burt Bacharach. And the “hey I know that song” moment of hearing “Lovefool.” Overall a strong album from a band I wasn’t familiar with.
Quite an enjoyable listen. Her voice is very sweet but borderlines with being shrill, but it keeps a nice tone throughout.
Good album, although I had gotten sick from the overplayed Lovefool in the 90s… low 4 stars
Really pleasantly surprised by the Black Sabbath cover. Who would have thought that Iron Man can be such a chill song? The arrangements and musicianship are astounding. Lots of neat references to the sixties baroque pop and quite a few jazzy melodies.
3 starts for the band name and an extra star for a solid album
THIS SHIT SLAPS 90s Magdalena Bay
I thought Gran Turismo was the only Cardigans album worth listening to, but this is a pretty solid album too
4 stars for a nice - sub 45 minute album and for lovefool. It’s the standout track on the Romeo and Juliet soundtrack. Fucking awesome!
Dear, I fear we're facing a problem you love me no longer I know I’ve often said the Romeo + Juliet soundtrack would be my desert island album, (I’m not sure that’s still my pick after this challenge?), all four stars are for Lovefool. An anthem of my first year at highschool and a track I still love.
Very smooth artpop sound and I loved her voice. Nice album.
Pretty great album from a band that’s been horribly underrated. For being a supposed one hit wonder, this album is full of potential hits. Don’t sleep on their take of Black Sabbath’s Iron Man.
There's always been a very big soft spot for Lovefool in my relationship and the minimal exposure to The Cardigans I've had otherwise has always gone down smoothly. The music is the right amount of fun and energetic where something sticks with me after a listen. First Band On The Moon was more of the same yet still better than I could have expected. The singles stand out but the rest of the album is mostly fun and solid. Not sure why but Nina Persson's vocals completely resonate with me and are able to elevate basically any song. I feel like I could listen to her read the phone book and find it kinda catchy. Not sure about the Iron Man cover but something about it worked I guess? This one was a surprise hit for me. 3.54 stars
Cool album, nice and catchy tune, very recognisable single. Alternative pop sound from Sweden, a little boring, but solid. Non-controversial 4.
It must be pretty annoying to have made an album like this that's pretty cool and interesting but forevermore have your legacy be ℒℴ𝓋ℯ 𝓂ℯ 𝓁ℴ𝓋ℯ 𝓂ℯ 𝓈𝒶𝓎 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓉 𝓎ℴ𝓊 𝓁ℴ𝓋ℯ 𝓂ℯ I hope it at least made them nice and rich from all the royalties.
A really nice album with a unique sound have listened to it many time over the years.
Man I loved Lovefool back in the day. 13 year old me had a huge crush on Nina Persson. Funny thing is that I don't think I'd ever heard this whole album before now, just Lovefool and Iron Man. If I had to describe it in one word, I think 'sweet' would do it. But sweet like in a candy sense. Like I feel like I have a cavity after hearing this record. But I still like it. The Iron Man cover kind of comes out of nowhere but it fits really well on the album and they did a fantastic job of making it their own. I like this record a lot and I can report that the 13 year old in me still has a crush on Nina Persson. 4/5
Of course I knew "Lovefool" 'cause it's probably one of the best hit songs to come out of the 90s. However, I have no idea why I assumed that those guys were just a one hit wonder—they're obviously way more than that. This album is really enjoyable and way more creative than the majority of pop rock from that era. Now I absolutely need to check out their other albums. Highlights: Lovefool, Your new cuckoo, Heartbreaker, Step on me, Choke 4 stars
Comfy.
This is just a fun album. Almost bubblegum-y with an alternative edge, with themes of love/affection/heartbreak among others. The Swedes know how to produce and perform their pop music. Nina Persson's warm & soothing vocals and Peter Svensson's guitar playing help carry things along. Highlights include "Your New Cuckoo", "Been It", "Step On Me", and of course "Lovefool".
Absolutely amazing album. Real rock and they single the slow song. This album is full of ups and downs and energy and simply great surprise. Im a fan now
Another nice surprise. I really like the singers voice, she reminds me of Joanna Wang. Nothing too over the top here but it just sounds nice in my ears.
Beautiful album
Really really good. Warrants another listen but very high 4 possibly 5
Nice looking, Nice vocal. Boring name. Boring album cover. Quirky songs. Ah yes, Lovefool I remember that now. And a superb Iron Man cover. I can't believe they are Swedish.. can't detect any accent. Yeah pretty good. 3½ Marking up to 4 cos she's fit.
The Cardigans are so cool. They have the best vibes. Lovefool is honestly one of my all time favorite songs because it's hard to be anything but happy when it's one. Iconic voice, unique sound. Well done.
Not my favorite. Competence gets a three, but this one also contains Lovefool, which is a singularly great song. The Cardigans' cover of Iron Man also deserves special mention. It covers my primary rule of covers, "If you're going to play someone else's song, make it your own." They certainly did that.
Hier had ik nu wel zin in. Ik kende alleen de single "Lovefool", die bij ons thuis helemaal grijs werd gedraaid door mijn zus. Veel goede nummers ("Your New Cuckoo", "Been It", "Iron Man") en veel bovengemiddeld goede tracks. Het geluid is ook mooi, qua afmix bedoel ik. Het doet me hier en daar denken aan een toegankelijkere Stereolab. Zeer consistent allemaal.
Very fricken cool, not exactly what a guy would expect from the mega hit single. I will listen to this again.
This was such a surprise. Going in, I’d never heard of the album or the artist though I later found out that Lovefool was a song I’d heard before but didn’t know the name of nor the artist! This was so much fun and I will definitely listen to it again. The cover of Iron Man was a surprise but I really liked their spin on it!
A perfect example of a band that shouldn't be just known for their singles. Very good!
Fun and soothing voice
really great listen
Great albums. Feel-good tunes, dark lyrics, some metal influences, loved it.
Didn't realize I knew Lovefool until it came up, and yeah I understand why that was the big hit off the album. But while that is undeniably the best song on the album, I feel like the rest of the album is more interesting. Very unique sound, basically funneling a 60's sound through the 90's, with a fantastic vocalist and great lyrics. Also, one of the most interesting covers of a song I've ever heard, covering Black Sabbath's Iron Man.
I was pleasantly surprised by this album. I always thought of The Cardigans as a bit of a one-hit wonder with Lovefool, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. Beyond Lovefool, there are some real gems on this album. Your New Cuckoo, Never Recover, and Heartbreaker stood out to me — all catchy and well-crafted. Nina Persson’s vocals are fantastic, and the band sounds tight and polished throughout. It’s a solid album that I’ll definitely be revisiting. Favourite song: Lovefool is a classic, but aside from the obvious pick, I really enjoyed Step on Me. Least favourite: Honestly, there isn’t a bad track on the album. Album artwork: Very cool cover — it suits the vibe of the album perfectly
Happy sounds.
Yeah, that's a pretty good album. I'm surprised I don't have too much to say about it, either. Y'know, it's one of those fun 4's where I think it sounds good, but it doesn't really inspire any specific words. You'd think between this album having their big-ass hit "Lovefool" and these Black Sabbath references I'd have more I'd want to say, but... Nah. Not off the top of my head, anyway. Lemme try and force something through, though. Uhm... The keys. I really like the keys on this thing. There's a line on "Step On Me" that I really like. The "Iron Man" cover has some neat stuff, too... So does "Great Divide", too — it may be the best song for keys? And of course "Lovefool"'s keys are good, to bring that up again. The melodies are really good. Like, I guess I can't be too surprised that the Swedish have a good ear for melodies, but goodness me. It's really solid stuff, front to back. What else, what else? Uh... Oh, the vocals. Nina is a good vocalist. Sometimes her voice dips maybe a bit too close into "cooing baby voice," although I never think she goes far enough for it to be too annoying. There's a lot of great stuff happening on "Choke", particularly that riff between lines... Oh, and the flute! I dig the flute all over this thing. And going back to that "Iron Man" cover. On its face, it's ridiculous. To most people, it might not be any more than just kind of amusing. However, take it from someone who loves these kinds of genre roulette covers: it's legit. For serious. Gosh, honestly. As a whole, I feel like the second half of the album is the stronger half. That's where you get all of the songs I've mentioned above... Yeah, if I were to come back to this, it'd be the second side of the LP for sure. And... Yeah. I think those're all the thoughts I've had. I bet this is one of the most well-structured reviews I've ever done, ho-ho... But, no, for real, it's a good album, worth checking out for more than just the one big hit. A real solid 4. Not bad for what's apparently the first musical group to grace the lunar surface.
While familiar with Lovefool, I wasn't really familiar with the group the song came from, so it was kind of a pleasant surprise to discover that this album is actually pretty good on its own merits. 4.5 bumped down to 4.
Fun and bouncy sound
Great transitions. Easy listen. Summer album for sure.
Very 90s and very chill pop rock. I love the drum parts and I love the mix of instrumentation across the album. The cover of Iron Man and the use of the Black Sabbath riff on Heartbreaker were unexpected but interesting. And Lovefool is a 90s classic of course.
I like the light, whimsical sound of the album a lot
++: Been It, Happy Meal II, Never Recover, Lovefool, Losers, Iron Man, Great Divide, Choke +: Your New Cuckoo, Heartbreaker +-: Step on Me 8,2/10
what a fun album to listen to, i liked all songs on this
A surprisingly fun listen!
Lovefool is nice Album creates a pleasant atmosphere
4 - This had more depth than I thought and definitely gonna come back to them I think
Actually really enjoyed this. It was pleasant music to accompany a slow Sunday morning. Lots of nice melodies but also healthy dose of 90s lo-fi grit and self-awareness. The Iron Man cover is most amusing. Fave Tracks: Been It, Step on Me, Lovefool, Losers, Iron Man 4.1/5
Really really good. I really loved the sound of this one. It all blends so well together to create amazing pop rock. Especially the vocals, I love the way she sings. A lot of 4 starts lately, but they're all deserved. Standouts: Been It, Love fool, Choke
Today I listened to the most cute version of Iron Man ever! Jokes apart, that's a great album! Her voice is so soft and enjoyable to listen to. It's an album that I need to listen more times to proper digest. I'll give 4 stars today!
I found myself falling in love with the lead singer’s dreamy voice. When she sang “love me, love me, say that you love me”, I shouted back at the speaker “I do love you!!” I also really enjoyed the Black Sabbath cover - this is how all cover versions should be, they really made it their own rather than trying to imitate the original. I’ll find it hard to move on from this album and leave Nina Persson behind, so I will definitely give it another listen.
Great album!
8/10 Favorite Tracks: Choke, The Great Divide, Your New Cuckoo, Losers Least Favorite Tracks: Losers, Iron Man
No private session used for Spotify. I didn't realize The Cardigans were the first band on the moon, I will have to fact check that later. Nina has a very sweet voice and the rhythms are interesting. I remember Love Fool when was ubiquitous which is probably the embodiment of the mellow but catchy rhythms and Nina's voice. Also, I checked with ChatGPT, it said the Eagles were the first band on the moon.
I listened to (and IIRC bought) Gran Turismo back in the day, and rather enjoyed it. This is also good, though perhaps not overall as strong other than Lovefool. I quite liked the cover of Iron Man; I like seeing a cover that's so dramatically different from the original. Low four.
Surprisingly great! I only knew that one song, but really the whole album was pretty fun. Her voice is pleasant, the instrumentation is interesting (multiple flute solos?!), beats and bass are on point. And an off the wall cover of a Black Sabbath song? What? Good times.
7.5/10. Nice vocals. Mellow, but pleasant vibe. For some reason, I don't really like Lovefool. I find the cover of Black Sabbath's Iron Man to be rather interesting. The Cardigans also covered Sabbath Bloody Sabbath!!! :)
own
Wow, hat mich überrascht. Ok, die kieksig, flache Stimme der Sängerin ist gewöhnungsbedürftig. Beinharte Sabbath-Fans werden sich mit Grausen abwenden. Ich dagegen fand die Interpretation von Iron Man originell und gelungen.
been it isch seeeehr geil. tönt suuuper. hässig mit süessem gsang i love.
A rare gem from what could have been just another one-hit wonder band. The tunes are punchy and groovy. The album as a whole is not overlong and leaves the listener wanting just a bit more. The band here is playing to its strengths, but also allowing room for variety. The top-drawer production should have kept them on the radio for more than just the smash single, "Lovefool." Even the Black Sabbath cover, "Iron Man', comes across as a fresh reimagining of what could have been a cheap novelty. I expected this album to be a grind. Instead, I was pleasantly surprised by this record. They may not have been the first band on the moon, but they also deserved to be saved and brought home.
Terrific. Really enjoyed this.
Oh how I love this album!
First Band on the Moon represents the breakout moment in The Cardigans’ career. While its lasting fame is tied heavily to “Lovefool”—a track the band were never entirely comfortable with—it’s hard to deny its cultural significance. Most bands would trade a couple of kidneys to become a pop culture staple, as they did after its inclusion in Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet. That said, the album marked a clear shift from their earlier, whimsical indie pop sound toward polished, radio-friendly tracks. While it never quite reaches the giddy heights of “Lovefool”, it offers a compelling mix of irony, glossy production, and melancholic undertones. One of the album's most striking features is the contrast between its bright, catchy melodies and the darker, often sarcastic themes in the lyrics. For example, “Been It” explores disillusionment in a relationship with an upbeat melody that almost feels like it’s making light of the situation, while “Your New Cuckoo” brings a playful sound that contrasts with the themes of betrayal and confusion in the lyrics. The irony lies in how these seemingly carefree tunes carry an emotional weight that is often at odds with the sound itself, creating a sense of both humor and unease. As the old adage goes: an in-joke is only funny to those in on it. Sometimes it’s unclear if The Cardigans are laughing with us—or at us. Other highlights include the catchy “Happy Meal II”, with its quirky melody that delivers a perfect blend of pop sensibility and subtle dark humor, and “Never Recover”, which has a bouncy energy but explores themes of emotional exhaustion. Then there’s the absolutely mad cover of “Iron Man”—a lounge-pop reinvention that, in less capable hands, would have been a disaster. Somehow, The Cardigans make it work. The band would go on to perfect their sound with 1998’s Gran Turismo, a darker, more electronic album that abandoned much of the playful pop for brooding, cinematic textures. Tracks like “My Favourite Game” and “Erase/Rewind” cemented their ability to evolve. First Band on the Moon may not be their most cohesive work, but it’s a bold, ironic pop record that established The Cardigans as masters of reinvention. Did/Do I own this release? No, but I lost my virginity to the Romeo + Juliet soundtrack. Does this release belong on the list? It’s a fun listen, but I think it’s not even the band's best work. Would this release make my personal list? No, but I want to reevaluate Gran Turismo now. Will I be listening to it again? This was entertaining, and I can see myself returning to it once or twice a year.
First song was really strong, but then it became a bit too soft where I lost interest. Will still recommend highly for a car trip or those days where an album is needed.
Original and high-quality, Lovefool is awesome! 4
Lovefool is a worldie
A hot lead singer? That’s immediately a 2 star, unless it’s Grimes. Vocally soothing Musically pleasant, bordering on soft rock. Lyrically it holds up and doesn’t seem completely out there with good structure. Words aren’t sung just to make it fit. This was different in it’s time in regards to the sound that they put out. As in they had a distinct sound that could identify them to a person. There aren’t really any pauses in between songs, which I’m big on, for some reason….that’s another star from me. I’m easy to please. There are a few songs that take away from the pace of the album, it’s not perfect but it’s interesting to listen to. It’s not at all complex though so don’t think you’re getting yourself into an artsy album . You really just have to be accepting of a female voice longing for love throughout the whole album. She says “whore”, if you like a little edge in your female leads. Their worst song is a cover, so that says something. Choice cut: Choke
Super bright, on the nose album. I really enjoyed this one, it had me smiling throughout. Some good bops, but let's be real, the only reason this album is on this list is because of Lovefool, which is an absolute classic and a 10/10. Great listen, would do again. Not perfect, but I'm glad this was included on this list despite being a one-hit-wonder.
Like most people I only know the song “Lovefool” and I absolutely did not know the artist who performed it. This band definitely strikes me commercially as one hit wonders if they didn’t really have the mainstream legacy or longevity as an act, so I went into this assuming it was gonna be full of forgettable stinkers I would slog through never listen to again but I have to say this was a strong collection of songs that also have remarkable consistency as an album that most pop artists absolutely do not have. Just about every song here can stand on its own merits as a track beyond just the big singles. Instrumentally groovy and definitely projects the 90s low cut jeans type sound. The lead singers voice is pure sugar. My personal favourite track on this album was Losers, and my least favourite was that weird cover of Iron Man. This is the type of pleasant surprise listen to an artist I would never seek out otherwise that I wish this shitty list would give me more of rather than a 6th and 7th Bob Dylan album.
Crazy that this came out in '96 so insanely ahead of its time, sounds like the indie pop /rock of mid 2010s if it wasn't shit 9/10 Fav tracks - Your New Cuckoo, Been It, Step On Me, Losers, Iron Man, Choke, Least Fav - none really
The Cardigans are one of those bands I was well aware of, but for whatever reason never listened to them. I've read references to this band as influential to several female-fronted bands I enjoy and after hearing "First Band On The Moon" I have to agree. Their sound is a little lightweight, but I like girly vocals, unless it's too poppy and fortunately the Cardigans music is a smooth listen with a jazz, rock, pop mix. Most of their songs were bang on, with maybe the exception of their cover of Black Sabbath's, Iron Man, which I didn't care for. A good, decent 90's sounding release, though I've never really been a fan of groups from Sweden.
They made Cardigans cool before Taylor Swift
The Cardigans have faced an interesting resurgence of popularity within the last few years or so. Not to imply they weren’t popular in the 90s. Lovefool was still a big hit. But their presence on social media platforms like TikTok have really bolstered that popularity. I don’t even use the app myself anymore, and for good reason. But I can’t deny the effect that it has had, and will continue to have, on many bands and artists careers. I mean, I don’t think Duster would be facing nearly as much recognition as they are now if it weren’t for social media. I know I likely never would have found them. And I don’t think this is a bad thing. I don’t see why people feel the need to keep their favorite music under wraps, as if them becoming more well known wouldn’t be good for the growth of the band itself. Now I don’t really see that being the case with The Cardigans. They’ve been around long enough where anyone pretending they are still some underground band just looks silly. Before today, I’ve heard both Step On Me and Lovefool on many occasions. Specifically the latter. Where I find this album really shines is its deeper, lesser known cuts. This particular mid to late 90s indie sound is really something special. Records that delicately walk the line between indie pop and this sort of soft alternative rock. Everything I enjoy about this reminds me of what made me fall in love with Stereolab so much. Both have killer female lead vocalists too. Nina Persson is interesting to say the least. I really love her voice. It only adds to the warmth of the whole record. But her choice of words, plus her overall delivery, gives her performances this strangely seductive and sexual feeling that I’m not so sure about. It’s not enough to make me hate her presence on the album, but it’s also maybe a little too on the nose at times for me. Everything backing her is amazing though. Production was handled by Tore Johansson, maybe most notable for his work on the debut Franz Ferdinand record, and I love his style here. And man, the performances from each member, combined with the incredibly unique arrangements from Svensson, make for an engaging listen. The instrumentals are what really drew me into this, and all of the little touches are great. This is an album that thrives the most in its less popular songs, and even with its hits, I would potentially go as far as to say this is slightly underrated. Rating: 8/10
Kinda surprised this us here instead of Gran Turismo, and I kinda feel I'm rating the band rather than the album. It's good, by today's ear they don't sound much like a band because everything is so tight and well produced, I think the music scene is poorer for the absence of groups like this.
Day 56 - Oct 23, 2024 Go random white guy go!!!!! 4/5
Tosi hyvää pop rokkia. Kappaleet on tosi miellyttäviä, mutta samaan aikaan sopivan erikoisia ja mielenkiintosia. Laulajalla tosi pehmeä ääni. Lovefool tuttu. Parhaat: Been It, Step On Me, Lovefool
A fun surprise! Would definitely give a re-listen.
Lovefool rules the album the rest of the stuff is good but just not the same, except that iron man cover I just hate how loungey it is. 4/5
Saved by the 90s vibes and nostalgia and devoid of much other musically creative qualities. It's fun to listen to until you're forced to sit through a really crappy cover of 'Iron Man'. Just slander.
of course i didn't know this was the band that did the Love Me Love Me song. love the vocalist, such a cool voice!! Step on Me and Heartbreaker are my standouts.
Really cool pop album. One of the first pop albums I've heard that has strong musicality to fall back on. Really liked the Iron Man cover too. There was just one moment every song where I couldn't help but think to myself, damn this song is pretty annoying. It never lasted long but it happened every time. Maybe that's a limit of the genre for me, but I thought every song was a 4/5.
Wait, that isn’t a No Doubt song?
Interesting, pretty good. The Iron Man cover is hilarious, like something I would randomly do while messing around on guitar. First song is excellent.
Glad this album is on the list and not the follow up Gran Turismo which has My Favourite Game as not much else, but this is full of bright sparkly indie pop tunes that could put a smile on even the grumpiest of faces. Nina Persson's house is soothing & sweet and let's face it Lovefool is so good.
Jams Flows
Ég er náttúrulega með Svíþjóðarblæti fyrir allan peninginn þannig að plata eins og þessi sem vanalega fengi 3 stjörnur fær 4 frá mér og ég réttlæti það þeð stórkostlega skemmtilegri útgáfu af Black Sabbath laginu Iron Man
Catchy, rocks, good vocals. Thus far nothing to complain about, solid easy listening.
Apparently in the confines of 1990’s SW Denver Swedish Pop was limited to Ace Of Base, but low and behold there was more! If Brittney Spears and Radiohead had a love child it would be this album. Listening to Nina Perrson’s cotton candy voice against a barrage of historical influences created a contrast of themes, especially when referring to herself as someone’s whore in her babydoll voice. I really appreciated this album as a predecessor of late ‘90s-Early ‘00s retro-Ska movement. Key tracks included Been It, Losers and Great Divide. This is getting another listen!
Too much sugar in this pop for my tastes, but I understand the appeal. I prefer the 90s indie-pop approach to feel either more like Saint Etienne who put a sophisticated wrapper around things or Komeda which takes similar ingredients but makes it weirder. The Cardigans covering Iron Man in their style isn't weirder, it's a clever content substitution. I'm half-charmed by it but it also reveals a certain kind of one dimensionality you can charge the band's output with: the cute idea amidst the gloss. But my least favorite tracks are the cute-forward ones. This cover, despite it not being among my favorite songs on the record, is a good example because it's less subtle than other times, here the cute idea is too front and center. More often, it's clever little twists in lyrics and knowing winks in the music like when "Heartbreaker" incorporates a musical quote of Black Sabbath's Black Sabbath (excellent). Or the subtle cuckoo/bird sounds at the start of "Your New Cuckoo" (mercifully brief, nicely sitting in the mix). Or a deceptive direction the lyrics take in a love song (the most enduring and endearing move). This is a low four or a high three star rating. The first couple of tracks are very strong. As you move through the record, the cleverness can pass you by in which case your impression might just be the shiny pop gloss and without picking up on some of the more interesting things about it. Even though this is a true Swedish pop mix with the vocals super forward I think the album benefits from being played loud. Put your pop on blast. Of course, Lovefool sparkles brilliantly as the gem of the collection. A near perfect pop confection, it raises the entire record a star on its own. And so, in the end, The Cardigans may not have made it to five stars but they did manage four and I guess that along with being the first band on the moon is not such a bad thing after all.
7.8
Banger, love the jangle pop rock feel.
Blondie meets the soundtrack of a Katamari game. Very 90s, very weird at times but some really great songs on here. Could be considered a one hit wonder album with Lovefool being such a massive hit but there are some other fantastic songs on here. Her breathy airy voice really works with the genre of music they produce, which I dont even know what to call it other than 90s rock pop? 8/10
Real fun, not just the mega-hit but good dancy pop. I will have to check out more.
Catchy tunes, peak pop and enjoyable throughout! Lovefool went on to become a very popular song, but I find some of the others a lot more interesting personally
Who knew a lounge cover of Iron Man could be so good?
Der Song "Heartbreaker" gibt einem das Gefühl auf dem Mond zu sein. Die Stimmer passt auch sehr gut. Insgesamt ist die Grundstimmung sehr angenehm, trotz anspruchsvolle Arrangements z.B Happy Meal II ist ein herausragendes Stück. Schöne Melodien in bunten Kleidern von kreativen Schneidern.
pink sabbath with sparkles 3.5/5
Molto ascoltabile, famosissima "lovefool". Carina anche la cover di "Iron Man"
Good album. I only knew a couple of songs by The Cardigans, but this was a nice find! 3.7
Great album. I do believe Gran Turismo is the better album, Not quite a 4. Probably a 3.8 but a very enjoyable listen with a wonderful playfulness. Tightly written pop-rock songs and always showing off their love of Sabbath. (Sabbath Bloody Sabbath is a delightfully playful upbeat rendering of the original)
Quite pleasant.
Lovefool is still ruined by overplay for me but this album is great.
good album from this pop band love rhe sabbath cover and the instrumentation
I always mix up their hit song with Ace of Base for some odd reason.
Surprise.
Really good listening experience
Those Swedes sure know how to make good pop songs.
Beautiful, lovely, sexy, incredibly European. Really liked this, I knew about Love Fool and their amazing cover of Iron Man. I think the only thing lacking here is a change up, I wish there was a little more variety on here. But over all it’s very solid
your new cuckoo- 7 or 8 been it- 7 heartbreaker- 6 or 7 happy meal ii- 6 or 7 never recover- sorry couldnt lock in because of faith 6 step on me- DO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO. 7 or 8 lovefool- lets fucking go. 8 or 9. bro i had to restart my computer in the middle of listening. losers- 6 iron man- i think its a funny cover. 6 great divide- lmao forgot 5 choke- 5 this album is kinda sad yknow theres lots of parts that signify how unhealthy the main character's idea of love is and how they have no self esteem. great music though favorite track- lovefool but step on me or your new cuckoo could become new contenders
Classic 90’s
Chad. 8.5
Very good
The arrangements and the vocals are the strong points here. Kind of sick of hearing Lovefool I'm confused by the Iron Man cover. I liked Been It,The Great Divide and Choke. I get why people would like this. I don't really have any strong complaints about the album as a whole. Just not something I see myself listening to very much.
Lovely female vocals and a bizarre cover of iron man
The Swedes 🫡
There’s good songs here, that’s a good Black Sabbath cover, just not like mind blowing it whatever. Vocals and lyrics are great though.
Really enjoyed this album despite never having heard of it. Felt original for the nineties and even for today. They have a unique feel I’ve not heard before. Instrumentation has a 60-70s California vibe that complements the lackadaisical vocals in such a way you get a feeling of unsettling joy. I also like how a lot of the tracks flow into each other. Very impressive. Only complaint was that it could have used more range. Almost tuned out until I realized they were attempting a cover of “Iron Man”. Shouldn’t have done that. Overall, I am very satisfied with this. 4/5
I saw that Step On Me was on this album, which I liked, so I was excited to listen. This album reminds me of more modern cutesy bedroom pop that is around now. I thought, “Man, this really sounds like that one TikTok song from a couple of years ago!” and then it played Lovefool. There was also a scat version of Iron Man here, which I enjoyed. This album was ahead of its time. Sounds new (which the 90s weren’t THAT long ago, but still), like it came out a couple of years ago. Great listen. Standouts: Your New Cuckoo, Heartbreaker, Step On Me, Lovefool, Iron Man, and Choke.
man Love Fool alone made this whole album for me, that Iron Man cover was just so strange, but the fact they tried something different was nice. I really enjoyed Been It, Choke and of course Love Fool. Its a strange fun little album.
Ok this album was a 3 until I heard that delightful cover of Iron Man. That plus Love Fool bump it up to a 4. Fun album
I had heard Lovefool when it was new, but never listened to the album. Pleasantly surprised. There's some good, creative stuff here.
Good stuff!
Liked more the I thought I would.
Been It Step on me Lovefool
Love the sound of this album. Nina’s voice is incredible.
I was only familiar with Lovefoool via the Romeo + Juliet soundtrack so I was curious to listen to this. Lovefool certainly stands out but there are a lot of nice surprises on this album. Faves Happy Meal II, Losers, Choke
I had a certain amount of trepidation going in, that this was gonna be a whole album of sugary straight-ahead pop like "Lovefool", and I'm not sure I woulda dug that. This was a much more interesting listen, though! The tone is sugary, but the arrangements are almost proggy! And then there's the weird metal connection (explained by some of the band coming from metal, it turns out!) - hearing "Heartbreaker" for the first time I idly thought "Huh, that almost sounds like they're borrowing from Black Sabbath" but dismissed that idea.... only for there to be a full on Black Sabbath cover later on! 😆 I gotta say, the first minute or so of "Iron Man" my psyche was rebelling, but it won me over - I dialed back in to the vibe. So yeah, great stuff - I'd go 4.5 on this one! Fave tracks - "Heartbreaker" and "Losers"
epic
I really enjoyed this album. I was only familiar with 'Lovefool' going in, but the whole album is quite a bit more edgy than I expected. It's pop, but in a very indie rock way. It's even got heavy moments. The vocals are such a contrast to some of the music, even the lyrics at times. I was very pleasantly surprised.
Very good
definitely not their best but Cardigans are great
What´s up with swedes and creating beautiful melodies? This is brilliant!
Good but feels dated
man, I haven't listened to the Cardigans in soooo long. So quirky and weird but a total pleasure to listen to.
I know of The Cardigans, and, of course, I know Lovefool. This is that kind of song you always hear on the radio over the years, and know it well, but somehow the title as well as the band aren't mentioned or you can't remember it. This changed now, at least for me. So at least one thing came out of this list. For the album: excellent production, Nina's voice is a perfect fit for the music, which is a refreshing contrast to all of that contemporary music then.