Reviews (page 4 of 9)
"First Band on the Moon" is the third studio album by Swedish band The Cardigans, released in 1996. It marked a significant departure from their earlier works, showcasing a shift towards a more polished and sophisticated sound, blending elements of pop, rock, and alternative music. Here's an in-depth review focusing on lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, along with the album's pros and cons. **Lyrics:** The lyrics on "First Band on the Moon" are often characterized by their poetic imagery and introspective themes. Nina Persson's distinctive voice lends emotional depth to the words, creating a sense of intimacy and vulnerability. Songs like "Lovefool" and "Been It" explore the complexities of romantic relationships, while tracks like "Choke" and "Great Divide" delve into themes of self-doubt and existential angst. Overall, the lyrics are well-crafted and evoke a range of emotions, adding depth to the album's sonic landscape. **Music:** Musically, "First Band on the Moon" showcases The Cardigans' versatility and knack for catchy melodies. The album features a mix of upbeat pop tunes and more subdued, introspective tracks, creating a dynamic listening experience. Songs like "Lovefool" and "Your New Cuckoo" are instantly infectious, with their infectious hooks and lush arrangements, while tracks like "Never Recover" and "Heartbreaker" showcase the band's ability to craft poignant ballads. The instrumentation is rich and textured, with layers of guitars, keyboards, and percussion adding depth to the sound. **Production:** The production on "First Band on the Moon" is polished and refined, courtesy of Tore Johansson, who brings a slick, radio-friendly sheen to the album. The mix is clean and well-balanced, allowing each instrument to shine while still maintaining a cohesive sound. Johansson's production enhances the album's pop sensibilities, making it accessible to a wide audience without sacrificing the band's artistic integrity. **Themes:** Thematically, "First Band on the Moon" explores the ups and downs of love and relationships, as well as broader existential themes. Songs like "Lovefool" and "Hey! Get Out of My Way" capture the intoxicating rush of new romance, while tracks like "Iron Man" and "Losers" delve into the darker, more painful aspects of love and loss. The album also touches on themes of identity and self-discovery, with songs like "Never Recover" and "Great Divide" grappling with questions of purpose and belonging. **Influence:** "First Band on the Moon" had a significant influence on the indie pop and alternative rock scenes of the late 1990s and early 2000s. The album's blend of catchy hooks, lush arrangements, and introspective lyrics helped pave the way for bands like Belle and Sebastian, The Shins, and Death Cab for Cutie. The success of singles like "Lovefool" also helped introduce The Cardigans to a wider audience, solidifying their place as one of the most iconic bands of the era. **Pros:** 1. Catchy melodies and infectious hooks. 2. Poetic lyrics that explore a range of emotional themes. 3. Polished production that enhances the album's pop sensibilities. 4. Versatile musicianship and dynamic songwriting. 5. Significant influence on the indie pop and alternative rock genres. **Cons:** 1. Some may find the album's polished production to be too slick or commercial. 2. The album's themes of love and relationships may feel somewhat clichéd or overdone to some listeners. 3. The Cardigans' departure from their earlier, more raw sound may alienate fans of their earlier work. In conclusion, "First Band on the Moon" is a standout album that showcases The Cardigans' evolution as musicians and songwriters. With its catchy melodies, introspective lyrics, and polished production, it remains a timeless classic that continues to resonate with listeners to this day.
Enjoyed this wat more than I expected. I was expecting an album of Lovefool type 90s classics, but instead it was surprisingly refreshing: almost twee indie at times. Reminded me of bands like Alvvays, Japanese Breakfast, etc. A simple sound made interesting with catchy hooks and almost dream like sounds, without getting too poppy. They also managed to make Iron Man sound way better than the original. A strong 4,5 from me, will be back
Pleasantly surprised, thought most of this was really good. Their songs had lots of ideas and changes and quite a few riffs. I like cardigans singles so maybe it shouldn't have been such a shock. The production was very 90s, think it would have benefited from having louder drums and guitars, though probably not in terms of broad appeal. The last quarter of the album was a drop off in quality too, everything from iron man onwards. Still, I reckon their greatest hits album must be pretty decent, and this one was well worth a listen.
Could have sworn they were Welsh. Lovefool is pretty great, of course, and I liked most of the other songs; Never Recover was the best of the rest. Interested if their other album pops on the list.
Another gem I totally missed out on at the time. Besides that one hit there’s some fun little tunes on here. Songs added to Spotify: 4
Really enjoyed it. All sorts of genres. Great fun.
The four stars might be due to the fact that this is the first female singer I've heard on this playlist in a long time
surprising and nice to listen to
LOVE ME LOVE ME SAY THAT YOU LOVE ME
Pretty catchy pop rock with good music and solid hooks. Lovefool was a huge hit, but a lot of solid songs that I didn’t know - including a bizarre but cool laid-back psychedelic tinged Iron Man cover. The vocalist has an alluring voice that fits the music well. Some cool basslines - sparse but a little funky and hooky. Not too many boring moments but also not too many peaks - a generally entertaining and fairly consistent album.
estuvo genial
Ganska bra mest för att de är svenskar
Of course I owned this CD for the single and of course I was disappointed at the time that not every track sounded like 'Lovefool.' In retrospect, I was really really wrong. Super fun pop rock, light & effervescent with a little edge, like a spiked La Croix.
01) Your New Cuckoo - 8,5 02) Been It - 7,5 03) Heartbreaker - 7,0 04) Happy Meal II - 7,0 05) Never Recover - 7,5 06) Step on Me - 7,0 07) Lovefool - 10,0 08) Losers - 8,0 09) Iron Man - 8,0 10) Great Divide - 7,5 11) Choke - 7,0 TOTAL: 7,73 (77/100) On this album I know only "Your New Cuckoo" and "Lovefool", I'm more familiar with "Gran Turismo" which I have on CD and which has a bit heavier sound than this one. "Lovefool" is such a classic even though it's overplayed. I like the Black Sabbath cover.
This was a pretty cool album. I’m glad I finally got around to listening to it. I recognize the cover, because I’ve been seeing it for years, but for some reason the thought of listening to it never crossed my mind. In certain ways, it’s very dated and definitely sounds like it came from the 90’s, but in a good way, but in other aspects they were about 10 years ahead of their time by doing a groovy disco sounding indie rock. Reminds of what a lot of indie rock bands from the late 2000’s were doing. Over all it’s a fun light weight album that’s good to play in just about any type of environment.
Funny, I was about to listen to this record of my own accord the day before it was selected but at the last moment decided not to. I enjoy this album. Has a different sound and feel from its contemporary class. Having said that I don’t see it as a 1001 record. Not sure that it is different enough to really make this list nor do I think it had a lasting impact on other artists. Still I rate it highly as I enjoy it a lot, just question 1001.
That was very different to what i was expecting wow. A deserved 4 I can see myself revisiting this one
4.0
I liked it and the way all the songs sounded similar and worked nicely with each other.
This is way more than Lovefool. So much speaks to the difficulties in reaching American audiences and I’m not just nostalgic for my childhood or the 90s. It’s a question of how well structured this album is and the intensity and depth of many songs. Songs flow well and album ends nicely after a through beat of understanding their style.
The vocalist was a huge standout here, with her soft, airy-yet-lilting voice that brought a great atmosphere to each track. I do imagine her vocals, and the absence of any others for contrast, might get stale for listeners after a few album repeats. The 90s sound is also a little dated. And yet, every track was great (or at least good). The Cardigans managed to grab the listener immediately with cool chord changes and fresh, modern instrumentation. I think they mostly used acoustic instruments, but I wasn't paying too much attention to that. The compositions were just so fun and creative that it wasn't too hard to ignore any downfalls. Also, that Iron Man cover shouldn't exist, and yet it does. (Why did they try to make the song seductive?) It's brilliant. Key tracks: Iron Man, Step On Me, Lovefool, Choke
Completely forgot about Lovefool. Used to be really into that song when I was a kid, but never went deeper into The Cardigans. Album begins with Your New Cuckoo, which has an almost disco flair about it. Production of the drum, bass, and guitar is fuzzed out with some clean flutes and strings. Fine enough, if forgettable, little ditty. Smooth transition into Been It, which has a bit more up front attitude to it. I dig it. Heartbreaker is kind of wild. Opening bassline reminds me a lot of the demonic progression of Black Sabbath mixed with Portishead, but the vocals guide it in a different direction. Some tasteful theremin in the midsection as well as some 60s reminiscent harpsichord. Makes for a delightful psychedelic indie adventure. Lovefool stands out of this record. Very clean and well-layered production with a bright and catchy synth line coupled with a bouncy drum beat verging on EDM. Always have found this song to be an earworm. A dubbed out cover of Iron Man was unexpected, but I honestly loved it. The syruppy, skittering guitar lines with the laid back rendition work so well and make for a completely different song. I found the closing track to be a bit thin, wasn't the biggest fan. All considered I found this to be a very enjoyable record with nice production and plenty of standouts that I could sink into. Some of the songs parallel early Japanese Breakfast to some extent (which for me is a positive comparison). I'll definitely be back for more. 4 / 5
Her voice kind of weirds me out. Ah I thought I recognized the sound of this band when Lovefool came on. That may have been the strangest cover I have ever heard when they did Iron Man, but I honestly respect it because it is so different from the original. This was a tough one for me, at first I was not enjoying it too much because I was focusing too much on her voice. But by the end I was really digging the whole band and the crazy sounds that they were making. 3.5 but rounding up because of the cool Iron Man cover.
Her voice reminds me of the chick from L’Imperatrice in some songs. Beautiful voice. Some really fun stuff happening in these songs. Really digging Happy Meal II. Lovefool is the first I recognize and it’s a BOP. Kinda No Doubt sounding. What a random Iron Man cover. Not mad about it I think they did a great job giving it a life of their own. Very pleasant. This was a surprising 4 I actually really dig it. Each song took on a life of its own and the vocals fit so damn well with the music.
Kinda whimsy. I enjoyed this album more that the first time I listened
Enjoyable. Worth another listen.
The first cut sounded like something you might hear on a '60s variety show. But then it got more interesting. The lead singer has an ethereal quality about her voice. I am seldom pleased about music that surprises me, but I really liked this. Doing a cover of a Black Sabbath song, Iron Man, is audacious. And of course, Lovefool was a big hit here in the U.S.
Nice. Pleasant.
I kept thinking they sounded familiar and that I knew them from somewhere. Then Lovefool came on and I knew why I recognized them. This might be the most 90's pop album I've listened to in a long time. I enjoyed the singers softer voice paired with various instruments they used. Overall a solid album and one I know I will hear songs from going forward.
A fun, odd collection of songs. Stylish and unique.
Really like the cheery vocal delivery combined with really organic-sounding instrumentation. Especially love the bass playing.
Good album! Reminds me of a more mature Combustible Edison, less erratic.
a pretty fun album! obviously i knew the big song off of this but didn't know what else to expect. it's a fun, sleek, pop rock album. very clever and the arrangements are great! i loved the sound of this one. the cover of iron man i could have done without, it was goofy and i felt like it didn't fit the rest of the album, but otherwise, i had a pretty good time!
I was waaaaay too cool for this band in 1996 but that single was everywhere. Now, I kind of like this whole thing. I think the down tempo tracks drag a lot but I really liked the instrumentation. I am okay with the slight disco flavor of some of this as well even though disco sucks.
Iron Man doesn't seem like an easy song to cover so I really respect that they tried it and it actually sounds pretty decent!!! Some bangers on this album for sure. Step On Me ❤️❤️❤️ Choke 💜💜 Lovefool 💜💜
Thoroughly enjoyed this one. Random Black Sabbath licks are an easy way to my heart.
Strong 4
The only song I've ever heard by the Cardigans is Lovefool, so I was expecting a full album of bubblegum pop here, and while I like that song, I thought I would get bored real quick. This was very good, and surprisingly not quite as pop-y as I expected. Step On Me was even a little grunge-y at times. I feel like it could've worked as a Pixies song. Highlights: Step On Me, Lovefool, Iron Man
I didn´t but this album when it came out and I have no memory of listening to at a friends place or anything like that. Yet I recognized every last song of the album, not just the singles. I guess that´s a testament to how ubiquitous The Cardigans where in Sweden in the nineties. I actually don´t remember why I didn´t buy this one. I bought and loved both Emmedale and Life but I guess they where one of those bands that kinda drifted away from or maybe it was more "I loved them before they where famous"-type of thinking. Anyway: I realized that I really like this album though. It has that jazzy pop feel that I liked from the earlier albums. It feel a bit like summer and that is something I really want right now in a cold january.
Love me love me. say that you love me. Like cotton candy.
nice beat! favorite songs: your new cuckoo, lovefool, choke
The Album got really good after Lovefool for me! Losers and Choke was great and enjoyable! Early Stage of todays Indie Rock imo
Good pop rock. Unique enough to not fall into the pop category too much and keeping the songs captivating.
surprisingly great
the cardigan's first band on the moon has such a cute title, but it's also a light-hearted, charming album. a lot of albums on this list have been weird or challenging, and it was refreshing to have a pure poppy sound! even without comparing this album to others, it is still such an easy going listen. i found the "iron man" cover fascinating! i'm a sucker when an artist covers a song in a completely different manner: genre, pacing, etc. without the title, i'm not sure i would recognize it as a cover. also, "lovefool" is an absolute bop.
Better than I was expecting! Gonna have to revisit this ine
Cardigans are legit! Don’t miss out
Jätteswag
First person to claim that "Lovefool" doesn't bang gets shot to the Moon in a comically oversized cannon. This album feels like getting into bed when it's freezing cold and snuggling and giggling like an idiot.
Y'know, it's really not as bad as the single might suggest!
Lovefool stands out as the most obvious single - although I'm less sure it would if it hadn't been such a big hit! The cover song (no spoilers) is mega surprising, but still works (sort of). A pretty consistent effort, and I love Nina's voice, but it's mostly background music for me - albeit very good background music.
Ef cozy indie væri an actual thing, þá ætti það vel við um þessa plötu. Fíl´ana.
yeah I can get behind this
Listenable and fun
Was going to give it a 3, but lovefool takes it to a 4
4/5 I liked this more than I thought I would. It’s poppy.
Ziemlich schön eigentlich. Gefällt mir. Insgesamt bleibt es gut und der Hit („Lovefool“) ist natürlich einfach einer. Gefällt mir alles.
Great album got some underrated tones
The second half is much much better than the first half. Redeemed by the second half.
Unique sound and I think I unironically really like the Iron man cover.
An interesting bridge between Sixpence None the Richer like alt pop into more twee indie pop merging into some baroque Stereolab like territory. An enjoyable album with some nice lyricism and arranging while wishing it leaned heavier on the punk spectrum. Some surprisingly dark moments sprinkled throughout and an oddly sexy/alluring version of Iron Man. The mild radio hit is good but I personally like the rest of the album better.
It was lovely to hear a whole album by these folks. I just love Nina's voice, the funky bass, the flutes, the kooky lyrics. A nice time capsule from the era of gentle Indie.
I honestly never listened to this because while I thought “Lovefool” was fine the band probably didn’t have much else to offer. Boy, was I wrong. I could have done without the Sabbath cover, but everything else feels incredible fresh with Nina Persson’s vocal being the finishing touch.
Lovefool is just lovely, the rest easily dreamy.
I've always heard that The Cardigans shouldn't be judged by Lovefool, but I think Lovefool is actually a pretty appropriate representative of this album as a whole. Just a chill alt rock album with some funky undercurrent. What a well-composed piece, I really enjoyed the whole thing (except maybe the Iron Man cover - that was a bit much.)
I'm a fan of the style of songs, I also recognised Step On Me and Lovefool. I liked Choke and Lovefool the most.
didn't expect to like this at all, much more off-kilter than I anticipating and a slightly horny vibe to it all - good stuff
Surprisingly upbeat and easy to enjoy. One or two tracks I have heard before but context is always good. A three.five
It was an enjoyable album that had some very interesting smart music
This was an absolute treat. Such a strange but perfect combo with eerie, distant-sounding instrumentals behind very intimately-mic’d lullaby-esque vocals, producing some very off-kilter indie rock and pop until bam, Lovefool kicks in out of nowhere and the vibe completely changes. But it still works. Even when they throw in a lounge-jazz-ish cover of Black Sabbath, it still somehow works. Great stuff
What can I say? It's a really well made, beautifully crafted, charming indie pop rock album. This isn't just "the album with Lovefool in it". First Band on the Moon really sounds like the quintessential 90s indie album. Best song: Been It
This takes me back to high school. I’d never heard the full album before… I liked it!
achei bom em geral, calmo e talvez um pouco nostalgico. 7/10
Solid 90s alt rock
This album is incredible. Musically, it's so complex and interesting, you can hear how tightly arranged everything is, and every instrument has a purpose. Lovefool is a classic for a reason, and this is one of the most mellow covers of Iron Man I've ever heard. Blown away.
Belles chansons très variées, what a surprise
PREFS : Your New Cuckoo, Been It, Heartbreaker, Happy Meal II, Never Recover, Lovefool, Iron Man, Great Divide, Choke MOINS PREF : Losers
Charming and fun with sugar-sweet hooks. Vocals from Nina Persson define much of the album's personality, with the band backing her excellently. Lovefool is the obvious standout song, with it's instantly grabbing chorus (love me, love me, say that you love me). It pulls a disco beat and builds it's indie pop sound on top of it, leaving a playfully lovey song that landed itself on the Romeo + Juliet soundtrack. The album hits some peaks and valleys (both in pacing and in quality), but First Band On The Moon is more fun than not. Also features an interesting rendition of Black Sabbath's Iron Man. I'll also say it ends on a high note. Very enjoyable.
Really sweet. Went by fast, but had a cool vibe. Lovefool is obviously a great bop. + Lovefool + Your New Cuckoo + Happy Meal II + Never Recover
I’m usually not a fan of female vocalists but this isn’t bad, a few catchy songs with Lovefool of course being the most catchy.
Lovely cut of indie pop
Enjoyed it a lot
first listen fun little swedish twee pop journey
First Band On The Moon is the one album I've heard from The Cardigans, but I've heard at least a few other tracks from the band. I like the band enough that I will check out the occasional track from the band when they come up. It's been a decade or two since I've listened to this album. I like the pop-sensibility of the music with an underlying darker tinge. The music sounds like pop, but there's something bordering on sinister in many of the tracks. "Lovefool" is a classic track, but I have always liked what they decided to do with Black Sabbath's "Iron Man" to make it their own. I could come back to this album again, because ¿why not?
Where a Swedish light-rock band fronted by a singer with a lovely and perfectly clear voice covers Black Sabbath - and crushes it. Obviously "Lovefool" was the big N American hit but I've always loved this entire album. I even formed a band trying in some ways to pattern ourselves after the Cardigans' template. 11 relatively short melodic pop songs but somehow/oddly never boring to me. Excellent musicianship without ever showing off; these guys were subtle about creating little melodic twists in nearly every song (e.g. "Choke" there's a little in-unison riff that starts the song then poof - into the song we go. It reprises a few times in the song and almost doesn't seem like it belongs... yet of course it does) that keep it all interesting. Maybe the <40 minute length was always the best part of it. TAKE NOTE: albums longer than 45 minutes were/are almost *always* too much. Hard to be in a bad mood listening to this album - love it. 8/10 4 stars.
I liked this more than I expected to. And that's knowing how good Lovefool was already. There are more gems to be found on this album, and the most weirdly good electropop version of Black Sabbath's Iron Man. A surprisingly broad and interesting listen and great pop and interesting fun.
Catchy driving tunes. A bit like the band Cake with sultry vocals. Worth a listen, but wouldn’t listen a lot. 3.5 stars
Simplemente genial (ONB) Una delicia para el viernes (PSP)
loved - wish i could have seen this album live
I'm into this, I think they have some cool elements that balance the sugary poppyness and their Spotify says that there's 2 metal guitarists in the band which shows a little in heartbreaker which may be my favorite. the horn solo is cool
Enjoyable
Surprisingly dense for being so sugary-sweet.
Kakkosraita erittäinkin hyvä, muutenkin mukiinmenevä levy. 4/5
Surprised how much I liked this!!
The Cardigans really do sound like the first band on the moon with some of the out-there sounds they explore on here.
I was lucky enough to go to Europe during the summer between my junior and senior years of high school, and Sweden was where I spent the majority of the trip. Then I got home and soon afterwards this album dropped, "Lovefool" was everywhere thanks to being on the "Romeo + Juliet" soundtrack, and I found myself with a timely new Swedish obsession: Nina Persson and the Cardigans. Their penchant for xylophones gives them a lounge-y feel at times, and Nina's voice is sweet as any confection, but don't underestimate this band. There's an undercurrent of darkness in their music that counterbalances the superficial cheerfulness. That's a very Scandinavian quality, now that I think about it—they're gregarious and friendly, but get enough mead in them and they'll grab an axe and bust some heads. Revisiting this album was a fantastic way to start my weekend. The nostalgia factor has me wanting to give it a 5, but I don't think it quite meets that standard. Let's call it a 4.5 for this kooky masterpiece. (And if you enjoyed this, be sure to check out "Carnival," their track from the "Austin Powers" soundtrack. Quality stuff.)
I was hoping for more from this album since Love Fool is one of the best 90s pop songs, but it fell a little flat. It was pretty voice music with not much to offer. I did enjoy Losers & an interesting take on Iron Man, but everything else was just ordinary. 3.5 stars.
I'd forgotten how much I liked The Cardigans. This was great to revisit.
Could of done without the cover of Iron Man, but overall a quite enjoyable album.
Really pleasant listening. A typical album of its time. And a great voice.
Not sure how to classify this album. It is definitely pop forward, but has some substantial jazz and lounge music influences baked in as well. It is pleasant which cloaks its sexually charged slightly masochistic and deferential vocals in a strange and disorienting veneer. The cover of Iron Man is probably the weirdest thing on this album. Even weirder still, it works.
Solid pop album, I probably prefer Gran Turismo, but I still really like this one.
The Cardigans and The Wannadies did indie better than the Brits thanks to the innate Swedish understanding of how to write great pop songs. The sweetness of Nina Persson's voice makes up for the insipid nature of some of the songs here.
surprised how much I liked some of these songs - some edgier than I would have imagined
Nice album, shades of portishead
I’m a little familiar with The Cardigans, in that I’ve heard the main big hits that still get radio play. I really enjoy the songs I’ve heard, so im excited to hear more. Let’s listen! Songs I already knew: Lovefool Favourites: Lovefool, Iron Man What a fun album! It’s a mix of alt and pop-rock, and I love the soft singing and how this is mixed with the music. I would love to hear what other people think of their cover of Iron Man - I was excited to show it to my partner as I thought it was amazing! It is very different to the Black Sabbath version and they really make it their own. However, my partner said she thought it was terrible and far too different from the original. Feel free to tell me that I’m right and she is wrong! Overall, a very easy album to recommend.
Surprisingly enjoyable. Lovefool was played to death back when it was new and I thought it was just okay back then. The other songs were not quite what I was expecting and I really liked that. They did a Black Sabbath cover, that's worth something for sure. I enjoyed it at about a 3 level, but the surprise factor is bumping this to a 4. Good job, Cardigans.
This is a pretty good album. Everyone knows the single Lovefool, but the rest of the album was surprisingly solid. Easy 4
4.5
Above all, the production was fantastic. Great songs and writing, and unique. Her voice grates after a bit in a some spots.
Pretty good, actually a much better album than I thought.
I haven't heard a full album by The Cardigans before although I knew a couple of songs from them. It is a good alt rock album which didn't seemed to be long when I listened to it. I guess it means it is a good thing.
A near-perfect confection, but tartier and spikier than the surface sweetness and light suggests. “Lovefool” is nearly the Platonic ideal of a pop song, but the “Ironman” cover puts this over the top. Great record, masquerading as a trifle.
Pleasant pop
Love the Cardigans. the band sounds great, and the lead vocals are delightful.
Pretty damn fun, and with one of the best radio singles of my youth no less.
I think these guys are underrated as musicians
First time I've listened to this full album. I like all of the Black Sabbath nods; intro to Heartbreaker using the opening riff from Black Sabbath was a cool surprise. The album is super pop-y, but luckily it's not all as disco inspired as Lovefool. I like that song, but I really enjoyed the variety of styles across the album.
Basically everything I know about The Cardigans comes from Todd in the Shadow’s brilliant video about them, primarily their big hit “Lovefool” down to their history of dreampop-inspired Sabbath covers. So this is my first time listening to one of their albums, particularly the one with said big hit, and I loved it. A good mix between low and hi fi, they sound quite groovy and charming. I kind of hope their next album is also featured, since I believe that’s a bit of a 180. B
This is a fun album. I love Nina Persson's voice and Magnus Sveningsson's bass playing. I'm only familar with the Cardigan tunes played on the radio. Even though I wasn't familiar with most of these tunes, I felt connected. "Lovefool" was actually the only song I recall having heard before. Well... except for "Ironman" which I knew all the words. I love when someone covers an iconic tune from a different genre and pulls it off. This one falls in between 4 and 5 but I'm going to remain conservative since this was my first listen to the entire album. I will add this to the basslines I should learn and revisit this album again.
I wasn't really enjoying this when it started. Was wondering why it was even in this list. But t got a lot more interesting from Heartbreaker onwards. There's still of core of sappy indie songsmithing in there, and am not a huge fan of the vocalist (although the vocals do fit with the band rather well in places), but some of the instrumentation is lovely and really not what I was expecting after the first two tracks (& that single). I really like the kosmische feel of some of the backing (although it does get a little prog in places). Not consistent enough for me to give it any more stars, but as I say, was pleasantly surprised overall. And an extra star for the cover of Iron Man. Although given the heavy metal influence in the band, this makes total sense.
There were some good songs and I like the cardigans
I knew this group had more in them than Lovefool but there are some real bangers on this one.
ok
Deceptively bubblegum with a punk center, the Cardigans bring an edge to their work that sets it apart from similar American groups. Lovefool will forever remain their signature tune, but songs such as Been It, Choke and their spaced-out take on Iron Man are just as fulfilling to listen to.
Liked this a lot. Understated, cool indie-pop
Only ever heard the cardigans hits, ie love fool from this album. This album is really good great 90s pop rock, deserves it’s place on the list. And personal enjoyment levels earns it 4 stars.
This was great, will definitely listen again, although I might give iron man a skip, bit odd
Relaxing, with a few bangers.
very good. Superconocida la de "Romeo & Julieta" "love me, love me, pretend..."
Dromerige folk-pop-rock. De 'iron man' cover heeft me wel verrast
A really fun album I should've have ignored for years.
Me gusta mucho. Very fun.
Not as good as carnival but very well constructed pop with some very tasty licks
Enjoyed this more than I expected, considering I only knew "Lovefool" going into it. Really nice chilled vibes the whole way through it, but some surprising dark lyrics too. Musically it's really well put together, although very "of its time" in some ways (I'm picking up some Stereolab and Air vibes). Favorite songs were Lovefool, Loser, Your New Cuckoo, Happy Meal II, Step On It, and the weird but great cover of I-ron Man.
Genuinely shocked at how much I enjoyed this, some great 90s rock here.
Nice. Easy to listen. I like the bass parts! Kudos for the little guitar riffs throughout the album that makes it interesting. Simple, but effective.
Pleasant surprise. Kept me interested throughout most of the album for a couple of listens :)
Man, I love this album. Only Cardigans album I know, but it stays in pretty heavy rotation for me.
Nice melodic quirky indie pop. Still sounding surprisingly fresh.
I like it
Descoñecidisimo para min e un descubrimento xenial.
Thought this album was dope! One big hit, but all the others were good and it worked well as a complete album and love her voice.
I really like this 4/5
Not exactly my cup of tea, but I could clearly hear the influence it would have had on future artists due to the dance-pop grooves.
I love the song Lovefool, after covering it in a band. It turns out the rest of this album is much more eclectic than that pop gem might suggest. Apparently the guitarist and bassist previously played heavy metal, and it shows in some "post metal" explorations here, as well as some specific Black Sabbath allusions. But there are many other influences evident, reflected in widely diverse arrangements from super-sparse to lush. And then there's the cover of Iron Man, one of those great covers that sounds nothing at all like the original but is delightful in its own way. I didn't have long with this album - skipped through some of the tracks after getting the gist - but this time I do think I'll be back for more.
I am most likely one of the first people in Australia to hear this ablum and possibly the only perto review it ahead of it's release. From memory the albums release got put back from around June to September and missed the memo so we ran the review early. No great landmark as it was for an unknown teen Mag that had a readership of maybe 12,000 on a good month. By the time the album came out I had been telling people about this amazing Swedish band and how their song Lovefool eclipsed 99% of the pap masquerading under the banner of Britpop. I gave my copy of the CD to and indie DJ in the hope she would play it. She did eventually but that was after a certain movie was released. I remember saying in my review that whole it was easy enough to slot the band as saccharine heirs to the crown of ABBA but their Black Sabbath influences gave them a hard edge under the sweet appearance
Gran Turismo is better, but this is good.
"Been It" fucking slaps. The vocal and the lead guitar sound so good together. There's also a bouncy, melodic bass which I fall for so easily. This could be a Jellyfish song. "Losers" is another strong tune. The tumbling vocal and drums in the chorus contrast with the dreamy verses. The "Iron Man" cover is weird. I bought this album when it was first released after becoming enchanted by the song "Carnival" from their previous record. I never gave this album too deep of a listen back then and I'm surprised to see it on this list. All in all, it's a solid alternative rock/pop album that captures where popular music went after grunge yielded to other sounds.
Before listening to the album, the only song I was familiar with was Lovefool. It's a fun album, and I enjoyed it thoroughly. I also really like Nina Persson's voice. Favourites: Your New Cuckoo, Never Recover, Lovefool, Great Divide, Choke
Znam samo lovefool i my favourite game od njih al sam odma znala da ce mi se svidit ovaj album. I je. Godi srcu. Ovaj iron man cover je bio ugodno iznenađenje
Nice
Great album, sometimes too popy.
Yeah, it’s good. Obviously one massive smash hit. But I really liked the vibe of the whole album. I’d forgotten how funky it was with those cool bass lines.
I like the Iron Man song the most; it's very chill.
There's a cool Iron Man cover here.
Thats a 5 Maybe just 4 Didn't expect the Black Sabbath cover
I rather enjoyed this. I mean, it's impossible to anything about this album without mentioning Lovefool, which is one of the biggest singles of all time, ever - ever! 4. It does lean slightly towards samey, but it's enjoyable pop so you can kind of forgive it.
very cool!
What a funky album.
I really enjoyed this, I liked the vibe and lots of different themes and that. Nice one :)
Yeah pretty good, such a 90s feel
I loved a lot of these songs. I can't believe I hadn't heard this album before.
I think I was so used to "Lovefool" that I thought all their songs would sound like that. But I was pleasantly surprised! I know I say that a lot on these reviews, but I really did like what I was hearing here. Loved the production and instrumentals. Lyrically, it was a hit or miss, and some songs didn't quite click with me. Overall, though, would definitely listen again!
Great collection of songs. Solid throughout, I especially liked the Iron Man cover took me a minute to pick up on what it was.
i liked that all the songs had a unique sound!
Very nice
Enjoyed it. Never stopped to listen a Cardigans album.
I was pleasantly pleased with this album only going in knowing one song. Great song for the 90s that bridges the gap between pop and rock, and also have a cover of iron man.
I was preparing for this to be one of those albums that’s only on here for the one popular song but I was pleasantly surprised. Lovefool almost got completely outshined by step on me and the iron man cover was super interesting and fun
Wasn't expecting an Iron Man cover, it has no right being that good. Losers was my fave track but honestly, this whole album is 🔥
The first half of this album was way better than I expected. Kind of a drop off after lovefool, but changed my perspective on this band.
4/5
This is a very nice album. The vocalist has a lovely child like quality that reminds me of Andrea Lewis of The Darling Buds. Songs are good, the melodies tight and the arrangements are fresh and tasteful and really well executed. Interesting to me is that the only song from the album that I recognize; Lovefool is, I think, one of the least successful on the album. A very nice album . 4 stars
Fun
Loverfool is enduring and it includes yet another Black Sabbath cover (Iron Man). It is very good well made 90s pop with some creative and very interesting arrangements. This holds up better for me than many other works from the period.
Not familiar with this band other than one song on this album. Never would have recognized the cover of Iron Man, but I thought it was really interesting. I think this is pretty good pop/rock and would isten again.
This was a cool album with lots if interesting sounds. It contained one of the most interesting covers I’ve ever heard (Iron Man) and plenty of other catchy songs.
Tout ce qui sort des années 90 n'est finalement pas à jeter
Amazing
Lovely and weird, but also engaging and poppy.
It's weird that this band is a one-hit wonder because this whole album is great!
I loved this. Lovely tunes, lovely singing, lovely music, lovely album. Lovely.
Bumping
Everybody knows "Love Fool" but there were a few others here that are worth knowing! Unexpectedly good album.
Good album, enjoyed it more than I expected and actually knew Lovefool (classic 90’s single)
Swedish, good song on it, kinda monotone in sound. A little samey
skemmtileg plata og lovefool insane catchy dæmi
Pretty cool. Interesting spin on alt/punk making it almost twee.
It was good. I didn't like all of the songs, but the second half was way better than the first.
Quite refreshing
not bad at all. 4/5
How fun! Obviously I've heard "Lovefool" many times on the radio, but I had no idea there was a worthwhile record behind it.
First off, I believe this band's moon landing was faked. Called it. All in all this was a pretty weird one. Quite modern and quite oldschool at the same time and pretty quirky all around. I enjoyed it, although it's hard to say how much I enjoyed it and that seemed to change with every song. The songs that stood out most were the opener for making me think "I don't know what this is, but I like it", Lovefool for making me think "Ohh I've heard this one before, but never the original, I believe" and Iron Man for making me think "This is a pretty weird cover, the style really doesn't fit the song".
smooth and pleasant
Me encantó es un disco para ordenar la casa un sábado c la yarda, con sol
Great from start to finish. A very solid effort. Could have done without the iron man cover tho.
Killer 90s alt with gorgeous lilting vocals. Love it.
Surprisingly good - and Lovefool is excellent.
Underrated band. I prefer the darker sound of Gran Turismo but this is a decent album too. Sweet, smart, sugary Swedish indie-pop goodness, and they've put some effort into the sequencing too which hasn't gone unnoticed by this reviewer.
I like the cardis
The vocals don’t work on every track, but when they click it totally sings.
So much to say about this album! I thought I had never heard a cardigans song until I listed to Lovefool. I had no idea that was the cardigans and think it's the worst song on this album! Unsurprisingly, I loved Heartbreak, was completely taken by the Iron Man cover and think the Great Divide is a perfect break-up song. I love the title of the album and, with it's unique percussive sounds, it rings true to the mood they were trying to create here.
Love Fool wins probably for nostalgia purposes, but a lot of tracks have similar energy and instrumentation (in a good way). A fun listen.
I was a little worried this would be Lovefool plus a bunch of fillers, but I mostly liked this album. It had a definite groovy pop feel of 60s nostalgia, which makes sense for mid/late 90s. But I could have done without the dumb Iron Man cover.
We all know the "hit". I played it for the Mrs. and she said "Oh, I liked her better in No Doubt." Me: "That's not Gwen Stefani." Which tells you either the generic-ness of this song or how little my wife can tell about singers. I am going to go with column A. Anyway, the songs grew on me after a while "Choke" to close out the album was really quite good. Definitely better than I was expecting, considering the "hit". I'd probably give this a 3.6, rounding up to...
Strange, for some reason I always thought that they were an Irish band. Turns out they're Swedish. Anyway, this was a solid album. Good lyrics, with some nice wordplay on some of the tracks. I'm probably in the minority but I also enjoyed the cover of Iron Man because it's so different than the original. Lovefool is a classic the I still enjoy. My only real criticism is that the drums on Heartbreaker sounds like it was recorded back in the 70s. Maybe that's the sound they were going for.
Very good album, with a nice amount of variety. Your New Cuckoo makes you think you're about to hear a disco-redux album (not in a bad way - it has some nice twists), but then Been It has a cool hard edge. Their chill cover of Iron Man somehow works. Losers also caught my attention every time I listened. And of course Lovefool is a great song and was rightly a hit. The album doesn't blow me away but I enjoyed it and would definitely listen again.
The first song has a nice 60s folk-pop, Brazilian acid-jazz feel. I like the flute. Bright, jangly (Johnny Marr-ish) guitar throughout and Nina Persson’s vocals over top give things a moody feel. There is enough variation in song structures to make it interesting for a full album. A bit of Black Sabbath channeling going on, which of course I’m not going to complain about.
Such a good album
Wow. I'd heard Lovefool before but that might be the worst track on here. Good stuff.
Was prepared to hate this. I've heard the one song so many damn times but I really loved this one.
-good bassline in "Your New Cuckoo" -"Never Recover" is quite catchy -Probably the chillest cover of "Iron Man" ever made, I also like the Black Sabbath reference in "Choke" -Solid drumming throughout -I feel like usually this would be too chill for me, but it was either just upbeat enough, or maybe there was just enough going on to make it interesting
Simple pop rock album
Yeah, this is more my kinda thing. Nice 90s indie vibes.
I really liked this one. I thought to myself "yo this album fucks." I don't super know what that means, but I liked it.
Fun twee pop
The 90s are alive. Lovefool is on every 90z playlist. Iron Man cover is pretty cool. Otherwise, not bad
Some decent songs here. For years, I thought they were just "Lovefool" and nothing else. This is a really good album and shows their metal appreciation. Pleasantly surprised!
Enjoyed this one - liked that it started with a disco feel on the opening track. Lots of cool guitar and bass parts to listen to. Only heard "lovefool" from this album before and the rest was pleasantly surprising.
Phenomenal 90's pop-rock.
Very interesting vocals. Nice and cheerful. Really liked the Ironman cover
Great performance, and the surprise Iron Man cover really sealed this up for me
This is nice. Just chill and light with a great vocalist.
This a great album to listen to. I appreciated the vocals, but over time it can get a little boring and repetitive. However, if you are listening in short/medium bouts, it will be a great album to put on.
good
Done. Would listen to again.
Bastantes temazos indiepop que entran muy bien
Rating: 8/10 Best songs: Your new cuckoo, Been it, Lovefool, Iron man
complicated, breezy, curvy, adventurous, catchy, fun, some good pop hooks and also surprising compositional twists, re-listen for sure
Love me some female vocals GREAT
Really enjoyed the flow of the album, instrumentals are great, voice is also nice, 4/5
Great representation of the 90s. I've heard it before but it's been many years. I'll probably listen to it again someday or possibly other albums from their discography.
O cover de Iron Man é excelente. Choke é uma música curiosa, com os acordes de Iron Man. Muito bom
the singers voice is really nice and the album has good vibes
Nice voice, very cute good vibes.
LOVEFOOL behöver jag säga mer? Superduperbra. Gillar Been it också, generellt känns alla låtar nostalgiska trots att jag inte hört majoriteten av dem. Tänker att den ligger på 3,5/5 eller 4/5
Didn't know Lovefool was by them. This album was pretty good, wish I could give a 3.5, but I'll round up.
I can't rate this without significant bias: 1) I'm coming right frim Cheap Trick which, in conparison, makes this look like gold. 2) The singer's voice is intoxicating in a good way. The kinda voice I'd rather hear sing, even if the music isn't... good. 3) Lovefool is on this album? Thats an insta point. 4) 'Your New Cuckoo' is particularly intoxicating. 5) The music part is not something I'm immediately comfortable just rating. Its multifaceted in ways that I'd need to be more attentive to. It is mostly entertaining to me though. 6) Its a... girlpop. so... I'm gonna have to say its just good!
Definitely a fan! Really interesting! Some not great lyrics but overall loved it!
Nothing else really sounds like this, I love hearing rock with a feminine edge to it. The sonic palate is so comforting
4/5
Only bc lovefool is the song.
Actually really enjoyable, I like how her voice floats over the music effortlessly. 8
some of these sound like songs that would be playing softly in department stores. Still liked it!
I overall liked this album. Lovefool is a fun song. Lost some steam in the back half, but that was a weird iron man cover
Rock muy suave, melódico, agradable de oír. Buenas melodías y bonita voz.
Didn’t realize this is the band that made Lovefool. Singer has beautiful vocals, love the tempo of the entire album. Last song feels like end credits 4.2
Surprisingly I liked a few songs off this album!
oh, THAT's the cardigans. yeah, got it. i do love her voice, and the giant hit of theirs was actually ok to hear again - i guess it's been long enough. they're better than i'd expected
Surprisingly really good
I liked this one pretty well, though I don’t know that I would look up more on purpose. I wouldn’t turn it if it came on, though. This is in my wheelhouse era of music, so I was pretty sure I would like it.
Before I get into my review, is that Hector Salamanca in the music video for "Your New Cuckoo"? I was genuinely suprised when I heard the funky bass line and dance drums at the beginning of this album, I was not expecting it, given the album cover, then I realized that this is the band that made "Lovefool" (which is a fantastic song) so the funky vibes started to make sense. The vocals on this album remind me so much of Mars Argo, and both bands even have the same kind of baroque quirkiness to them. I love the unconventional instruments used in these songs, ones that weren't too popular in the 90's rock albums like strings, flutes, trumpet, even the theremin. The melodies on this album are very modern sounding, I had to go and double check the year this album was released because it sounds very 2010's, especially the iron man cover. I really enjoyed how funky and jazzy this album got while maintaining an overall indie-rock kind of feeling. I wish the album was longer because I would have liked to hear some more of these ideas fleshed-out, but I love what we got. This is going onto the list of albums I need to re-listen to. Favorite track: Your New Cuckoo - Least favorite track: Losers
Very good
First song got me hooked; liked the disco-meets-indie rock style. I liked how the songs segued from one song to the next. Thought it sounded like an often-played radio song from the 90s, then I wasn't surprised when Lovefool came on! Highlights: -Your New Cuckoo -Great Divide -Choke
8
Originale Version von Lovefool. Ich mag den Sound.
Lovefool is still a complete ear worm. Rest of the album is pretty enjoyable
Very positive, yet lower-key alternative rock album. "Lovefool" is a classic from the album, but the other songs blend together nicely and have a good sound to them.
While definitely not something I could listen to any day, it's something I surely would find myself revisiting whenever I'm in the mood for some more lighthearted, perhaps even saccharine tunes.
An album that I'm kind of surprised to see here (The Cardigans are considered a one-hit wonder, after all). Went into it thinking my mind wouldn't be changed, but this is a great pop/rock record with some fun disco and grunge influences. The "Iron Man" cover is super fun, too. Favorite tracks: "Been It", "Lovefool", "Happy Meal II"
Only knew two songs of the album. Some of the songs fall quite short but still enjoyable
Again... on the beach this is lush! Pleasently surprised by this one - lots of song I didn't realise were from this album, so that was fun to hear. I really liked the transition between the songs and the orchestral stuff. Lots of bangers. I liked!
I DON'T LIKE ROCK
Actually really enjoyed this one.
Decent enough. Lovefool easily best song. Wouldn't listen to again
Unfortunately, their best known song is also by far their worst. This is a very good album, and as it turns out, a very good band.
There was a moment when this album really hit, but after listening to it three more times and getting use to it, I was slowly losing my interest on it. First of all, the main attraction of this record is undoubtedly Nina Persson. Her voice sounds incredibly soft, sweet, delicate and catchy. However, I wish she showed a bit more variety with her voice. She certainly doesn't sound exactly the same throughout the whole project, as there are changes in projection, with some soft spots (like "Heartbreaker" or "Happy Meal II"), and others where she sounds louder (like in "Never Recover" or "Step on Me"). It is in terms of melodies where the monotony shows a bit, as there is no real change in tone from track to track. Nevertheless, her voice is always really pleasant to listen to. Thankfully, the instrumentation does show more diversity, as it blends different genres like indie pop, pop rock, chamber pop or even lounge, and also has a nice range of instruments. Apart from the rock traditional set of drums, bass and guitar, there are some orchestral type of instruments, such as flutes, violins and horns. All of them accompany the voice incredibly well, both in the softer moments and the energetic ones. For example, in the already mentioned "Heartbreaker", the music is very quiet, the drumming is peaceful and there are a trumpet and a clavinet that make the song sound even more beautiful. Another case, but in this instance in the energetic territory, is "Never Recover", which has a fast and busy drumming and rapid acoustic guitar playing. Finally, I can't end the review without mentioning how incredibly catchy and memorable are the hits "Step on Me" and "Lovefool". The only reason I'm not giving this a higher score is for what I mentioned at the beginning. The more I listen to this, the less value I get out of it. Nonetheless, I still enjoy how sweet and pleasant it is.
I really enjoyed some of these songs, others not so much.
Great to hear this again. A 4 may be a little much but it was a great listen!
Bit more interesting than I thought it would be....not sure I need to play it again though! Lovefool carries the weight of the album, but losers, step on me and the great divide are decent songs, the iron man cover is though is awful. generous 3
Nice interplay of instruments. Always enjoy a flute or a piccolo or whatever it is Guitars sound good. Her voice is distinctive. First 4 songs good. Never Recover ruined it. Be better if My Favourite Game was on it. Got too Corny and shite lyrics got repetitive by the end. Iron Man was odd but A for trying summat different.
Lovefools good. Not sure on the iron man cover
Nice vibes but I've to talk about "Lovefool": I came in contact with it because of "Romeo + Juliet" (1996). It was always on the telly with the beautiful Claire Danes and the awesome young Leonardo DiCaprio.
Fine listening, but not mind-blowing in any way. Nice enough lead voice, nice enough melodies, but that sums up my thoughts on this album: nice enough.
The music is ok but it’s hard to listen to that little girly voice. A very generous 3.
Did recognise Lovefool. Overall a very poppy sound and the sugary sweet vocal wore thin.
Never heard of them until today. Pop with some bossa nova, some Black sabbath, some japanese indie rock and some more. Very creative.
Lovefool was a huge in 1996. Everybody loved it. Grandmas, little kids, soccer moms. It was a huge hit. It was on movie soundtracks. Just a perfect little pop song. And like all good pop songs, everyone got sick of it, but it’s probably been long enough that people like it again. The good news is the Cardigans didn’t let themselves be defined by Lovefool. The bad news is the rest of this album is kind of uneventful. 3.3
This is great pop music, top notch pop music. Usually pretty catchy. Sometimes pretty clever. But, with the exception of Nina Persson's vocals, there's nothing that really feels distinctive or interesting about it. Pretty good and enjoyable, but not great. 3/5. I suppose there's an argument to be made that this album really captures the time, the "mainstream indie rock" sound that this represents. Ok, but it's not on my list.
Ok - like her voice - Love fool a classic - not quite enough to be a 4, but decent nevertheless
I gotta give this another listen. It may be a 4 for me!
I like this, it’s nice
I didn’t know love fool was in this album. It was okay, sometimes her Hugh voice annoyed me and the whispers. But I liked the overall theme. Interesting choice to cover iron man. I think it grew on me a little more after the 2nd listen.
What a pleasant surprise. I was dreading the possibility of other albums where there is a one hit wonder and the rest of it doesn't work for me (looking at you, Madness) but this was a nice record. I like the Iron Man cover.
I didn't know the band. Good tune. Good album.
Not awful, but not great. Her voice is a bit weak and a bit whiny. Not my favourite.
This album is for sure great, and I would really recommend it to anyone who is trying to discover their taste.
I like the beats and energy and her voice got really old after a while, for me.
Bit too poppy for my sensibilities, but they're reeling me in with the black sabbath influence on Heartbreaker. I'll listen to that again. Great drum sound. I like that this sounds like a live band rather than overproduced silliness, but the jams are getting a bit repetitive. Just got to Lovefool and now realise why this album is on the list and that i have indeed heard this band before. Weirdly, this song does sound like overproduced silliness compared to the rest of the album. An actual Iron man cover - wild. Overall, this was alright yeah, probably wouldn't put it on again, but i didn't dislike it.
Pleasant but largely indistinguishable and overly loungey. I found myself craving a bit more grit and vinegar in the music or lyrics to offset the very sweet, dainty vocals. The glimmers of heavier influence are tantalising but not quite enough to cut through the sugar.
Well, apart from Lovefool I didn’t know/remember anything else on this album. Nina’s Marilyn Monroe-esqe vocals suit the tracks I suppose which are pleasant enough to listen to but nothing catchy enough to need to hear again. Left me wondering if Black Sabbath had covered Lovefool whether I would have laughed as much as hearing this Iron Man version! Have to admit I did listen to that song once again just to make sure I hadn’t been dreaming.
Album was enjoyable overall. Not takeaways and nothing crazy, but I did recognize one of the songs. Very light and fun.
норм, попса
Eh
meh. Meh. Meh. Oh? I RECOGNIZE THIS? Meh. Meh. Meh.
cool
Cutesy 90s alt rock that's soft as wet tissue paper, with one radio staple
I mean lovefool is iconic. I like the cover of iron man.
I don’t love the vocals but there are some great tracks in here.