It was with their third album that the Swedish band the Cardigans had their first hit single. Actually, come to think of it Lovefool is to date the band’s only real hit single. In any case, the song was everywhere—on MTV and radio and in advertisements. Little did listeners know that just beneath the cherubic smile of blonde singer Nina Persson laid a band who had already released two albums. Not just that, but the Cardigans also have a penchant for Black Sabbath.
The Cardigans shouldn’t have ever been written off by anybody. I wouldn’t go so far as to say that everything they’ve done is perfect or even close to perfect but the fact remains that their most excellent album Life (1995) was released one year prior to the popularization of First Band on the Moon. Life was a coy, campy sort of affair rooted in pop but peppered with an incredible range of instruments from a flute to a saxophone and from a trombone to a cello. Fortunately for the Cardigans, the album in the end sounded less like the joke (as it was intended) and more like a decent genre-bending pop gem (albeit a semi-precious one)
Carefree and shimmering, Life cemented the band into the minds of folks around the world with enough foresight to realize that this was a band to be watched. Not that I’d ever say that the Cardigans are universally appealing…they are not. Life is much too sticky-sweet for listeners who’d prefer a brooding opus or rock guitars. But if you’re not turned off by the idea of partaking in a little Sabbath Bloody Sabbath ala Cardigans then by all means pick Life up and once and for all drop all preconceived notions.
There’s more to Life than just Black Sabbath covers though—and Persson, Lasse Johansson (guitar, keys), Bengt Lagerberg (drums), Magnus Sveningsson (bass), and Peter Svensson (guitar) are here to prove that they don’t mind being a bit kitschy now and again. Considering the light-hearted feel of the whole affair it is refreshing that the band doesn’t pretend to be serious. But at the same time, they don’t make a mockery out of music. Life is good (yeah, I know--bad pun).
Life has excellent moments scattered throughout. There’s no individual song I can point to and say “yeah, that’s wonderful” or “yeah, that should have been a hit” but by the same token I can’t say much at all negative about the Cardigans album either. It’s mostly just off-kilter and retro and groovy pop. Carnival starts everything off on a high note. Persson’s smooth, detached vocals are neatly laid atop catchy beats. And just FYI, Carnival was featured on the Austin Powers soundtrack—and considering the retro appeal it was a perfect fit.
The energy and appeal sweetly drip from out the chords of the songs. Not a one lacks energy and not a one lacks appeal. There are but two qualms I have with the life. The first is definitely the fact that the Cardigans are at times too damn sticky-sweet. The second is that the band’s unique sound grows tired after a few songs. Therefore, my advice would be to buy Life but to enjoy it only in small doses rather than in one gluttonous rampage.
As the album continues I am impressed by a few songs. Daddy’s Car, Rise and Shine, Sick and Tired, Gordon’s Gardenparty, and Hey! Get Out of My Way are all worth checking out. Also of note because of the strangeness factor is of course Sabbath Bloody Sabbath. I have problems trying to nail down what it is exactly about these songs that make them stand out from the chipper crowd. All of the songs are well-produced and impeccably arranged but these jump out. I also refuse to talk about the tracks individually—they all are very much similar to the aforementioned Carnival. Some are a tad faster; some are a tad slower but all are in the same cheesy retro-pop vein.
The songs that lack appeal (Fine and Over the Water are included in this bunch) are best described as ready-made Muzak. I want to like Life more; I want to revel in the exuberant joy of the band’s sophomore album. I want to find perfection in the melodies and the songs. But I can’t completely—I’m bored by the repetitive musical style and I find the sweet act to be overpowering when stretched across fourteen songs. In fact, I far prefer First Band on the Moon to this effort. It was darker and richer than Life. In fact, it was Life that was the departure.
I don’t love Life. It’s merely okay. There are better things out there from the Cardigans not to mention a host of similar acts (Belle and Sebastian, Ivy, and even Garbage). If you like sweet, unconventional pop albums than by all means pick Life up. If you enjoyed First Band on the Moon, then you may or may not enjoy Life. If you’re disgusted by all that I’ve said then I highly suggest you not get Life.
Rating: 3/5 stars
Track Listing:
01. Carnival
02. Daddy’s Car
03. Fine
04. Rise and Shine
05. Our Space
06. Celia Inside
07. Over the Water
08. Tomorrow
09. Sick and Tired
10. Beautiful One
11. Gordon’s Gardenparty
12. Hey! Get Out of My Way
13. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
14. Happy Meal
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