Reviews (page 8 of 9)
It was perfectly fine but totally inessential.
Disappointing lack of 90s indie gems (e.g. Carnival). Fine enough
Not an album I’ve heard previously and not one I’ll be listening to again, but nice enough in parts and two stars for there being at least a couple of songs better than the single, although these may have been released as singles too I suppose, who knows/cares? Tom.
Only a couple of songs and some interesting instrumentation keep this from being a one-star. It was a hard listen. Cardigans have such strong songs; this is insubstantial, bordering on irritating (her thin, twee voice and terrible rhymes). Maybe it was of an era. If I'd bought this instead of Frenté (same-same) I'd probably have loved it. Tried.
This was a good listen and I believe it is a necessary inclusion as not many female-fronted bands appear in such a list. It reminded me in some of the arrangements to other artists such as Shiina Ringo and Weyes Blood. While it is not an otherworldy record, it feels like a landmark moment somehow. Extra point for not being from the UK. 7/10 [KEEP]
That filtered fake old timey vocal effect gets pretty annoying fast. I suppose on this album they were the band to make the whole 90s Easy Listening fad really pay off as a group with (mostly) original songs. Personally I find it all a bit too contrived, bland and boring.
4/10
Whole album of earnest twee crap built around worldwide megahit that seems out of place and is now sickening beyond the first chord
I’m sure I’m going to say this a lot as we move forward, but how on earth is this on a best of anything list? A bunch of forgettable songs with no real discernible style, other than ‘not very good’ and horrible over-bright production. At its worst when it verges into an odd Stereolab-ey psych sort of thing.
I don’t have a copy of the book this 1001 Albums list is based on, so this is speculation, but I imagine it went something like this: a guy had an idea of writing a book about a thousand and one albums that anyone who cares about music absolutely needs to hear. And so this guy started brainstorming albums, he had some friends around and they named albums released throughout the decades, they had heated debates on the merits of them. And at a certain point it fizzled out and they just started naming things to get to that 1001. Because I don’t really see why this album is worth listening to. The Cardigans had one mega hit from First Band on the Moon, and the rest of the album isn’t bad, The Cardigans are fundamentally not a bad band, but they aren’t anything special either. The biggest takeaway from listening to this, particularly as it sometimes veers into that lounge-adjacent thing that had a moment in the 90s, is that Stereolab did that thing WAY better and I’d rather be listening to them.
So many good indie pop records out there. No idea why this mediocre, insignificant album is on the list.
Another band I know well, but the album here isn't the album I would have put here.
**An ok album
Why would anyone whose been in a drugstore in the last 30 years choose to listen to "Lovefool" on purpose? It will be on next time you need Valentines candy or a phone charger.
I found this album uninteresting but benign then I got to the cover of Iron Man which is malignant. The little girl sings pop vocals get a bit jarring by then and that song is just so bad.
Woof what a boring album. That Iron Mam cover can't be serious.
No está mal
A very distinctive sound. Enjoyed listening to this album.
Not my cup of tea.
Couldn't get into it
Whatever man
Not a fan of the Iron Man cover & in general just not a fan of the lead singer's voice it's a bit too breathy for me.
Very smooth and catchy tunes, the album flows very easily but the singer's voice starts to be redundant and annoying in the end. Of course one huge hit that gives it more rythm but it's also not my style ... Cover : Like the font and style, not very original though !
This was fine but it didn’t do much for me
I hated this band as a teenager when it came out and this album isn't my cup of tea at all. But being older and wiser, I can kind of appreciate the humour in it a bit more. It's still a 2 because it kind of annoys me musically, really jars to listen into if you are just not into whimsical stuff. The Cardigans have at least two 4 star albums (long gone and Gran Turismo are excellent) but I just don't get early Cardigans stuff.
Kind of whiny, but was she prescient about "I am Ironman"?
No llegue
This is incredibly forgettable, generic 90's pop.
Gran Turismo has everything I like about the Cardigans on it, this one had everything I dislike. There's cool influences here, the album sounds almost Jazz-esque at times. It's fucking boring though. The vocals can put me to sleep and the gentle way in which the entire album plays out doesn't help. The Iron Man cover is a fun gimmick and all I'll probably revisit here.
It is objectively not a bad album but it just isn't for me. 2/5.
Este sí que fue su mejor disco, la fama les llegó después pero aquí estaban al nivel de los mejores Cranberries o Saint Etiene (estilos muy diferentes tanto los ingleses como los irlandeses pero con algo en común). Luego ya con el siguiente Gran turismo y sobre todo con My favourite game terminaron por arrasar, pero el bueno es este. Los anteriores no son malos ni mucho menos. De aquí, Lovefool fue su tema más conocido, peor hay mucho más (sin llegar a este nivel). Con Nina Persson como mascarón de proa. Ya desde Your new cuckoo que podrían firmar Club 8 o cualquier grupo de sellos como Sincerely Yours o Labrador. Been it ya muestra un sonido más duro que su anterior Emmerdale pero lo que nadie podía sospechar es que incluyeran una versión de Black Sabbath y además salieran airosos: Iron man , nada menos que de Paranoid. Cierto es que Svensson y Seveningsson venían del hardocore. Heartbreaker incluye citas a estos padrinos del heavy, si bien el tono es mucho más reposado. Gran contraste. Losers es otro gran tema, a medio camino entre la balada clásica y el pop. Camino que sigue en otra de las puntas del disco: Great divide, más tirando hacia el clásico que hacia el pop inane. Choke es un tema que resume perfectamente el sonido del disco: pop, bien compuesto e interpretado, con una base con mayor chicha de la que parece y sobre todo tarareable. Gran disco.
Its ok. Its not horrible. Just a bit bland and twee. And I really hate their cover of Iron Man which cost them a point. Not my thing and if anything it irritated me. 2/5.
Not a fan of the vocals or the 90s indie rock.
The Cardigans were always a little too nice for me. I prefer music to be slightly nasty, music you wouldn't strike up convo with in a pub. These guys would be among your best friends after one friendly chat. It's not bad, there are a ocuple of wonderful tracks, it just doesn't really stir any depth of feeling beyond the pleasant smile on the surface.
This isn’t great. The vocals become really irritating after a few songs and musically, there isn’t much going on here. Everybody knows “Lovefool”; I remember thinking it was nothing special when it came out and it hasn’t aged well. There is not a single song which stands out and deserves to make my library.
So-so indie pop that occasionally tries to become the worst heavy metal you’ve ever heard (I swear, something must have been in the air in Scandinavia in the 90’s that just compelled all of them to take a crack at metal). Still trying to decipher whether or not the vocals are bad, or if they just aren’t utilized as well as they could be.
The cover of "Iron Man" included on this album is a crime against humanity.
So painfully average. Fluff. Sugary pop with guitars.
Meh
Could not get into this. Lovefool is obviously a banger but the rest of this album is pretty annoying with the exception of the trip hop Iron Man cover. Lastly, I do appreciate the flute appearing here and there on songs as well, but not enough to get anything more than a (2).
Överlag drar Cardigans de 60-talasdofande easy listening-pastischerna för långt. Resultatet blir elva rätt platta och intetsägande låtar. Möjligen Sabbath-covern Iron man och No recover undantagna. Nina Persson låter också otroligt blasé och oengagerad. Säkert ett stilgrepp, men det blir mest tråkigt. I min bok är debuten Emmerdale bättre, med starkare melodier och mer värme.
Opening track exactly as I would expect from The Cardigans. Nothing special. Fairly insipid second track. By the time we get to Heartbreaker her voice / vocal style is getting on my nerves. Never Recover was ok with an increased pace. But then Step On Me was just poor. The single is an ok pop song. Don’t see this as anything other than average. 2.49. Didn’t know there was a Black Sabbath cover involved.
It’s like Sims 2 university band music, only ruined with English lyrics.
This occassionally rises to acceptable.
voice is killing me man
This was fine, I guess. I got a little tired of her voice. Not for me.
I don't find her voice too pleasing. Some of the songs had me tapping my toes.
Perfectly fine
Well that was kind of annoying.
Perfectly acceptable pop rock. Unobtrusive and as a result, quite bland. Nothing here that is earth shattering. Not that there needs to be. Nice reference to Black Sabbath in Heartbreaker. Not sure about their Iron Man cover though. Lovefool is obviously the standout track.
Unremarkable apparently bc I listen to it but don’t remember it at all
Njen glas mi je vsec ampak cek cas k sm poslusala mi je slo mal na zivce vse skupi, vrjetno je blo sam pac tako jutro
Enkele nummers wel chill, maar als heel album niet zo leuk.
Pleasant enough pop, nothing particularly interesting about it. There is a cover of Black Sabbath's Iron Man so I'm sticking it out to hear that
One hit wonder album 🤷
Nothing too interesting.
One hit wonder. 2.5
It's got a very 90s sound. Less grunge more female constrained noise. Unlike the Alanis Morissette or Jewel purpose which was more feminist power this is more soft touch female. Which, fair, but if we're doing soft touch female voice, give me the spark that other artists brought forward over demure female.
Spent the first six songs of this album being that annoying guy at the gig who keeps shouting for them to play the hit. Lovefool is still a banger, but nothing else memorable here
That voice sounds too much like a 10 year old
Completely forgettable and uninspired, but not complete trash
This was a slog. Dreamy and pleasant and an aptly named band giving me tooth-decay. Definitely well played, with some interesting stuff happening musically, but ultimately elevated candy sweet pop is still candy sweet. Lovefool is a real earworm but Iron Man sucks, so they cancel each other out. Can't cosign this.
Are they Swedish??? Not as banging as Gran Turismo
Inoffensive pop. Nothing wrong with it, but for me it just lands with no more weight than 'meh.' Now, that cover of Iron Man, well that was different and unexpected, not great, but different and unexpected . . .'oh, Iron Man.' I like Huh better than Meh, so that earned an extra star.
Trying to be cutesy with the baby voice singing, instead it was mostly an empty experience
Sickly sweet pop rock so saccharine you'll need a dentist.
I didn’t know the name of the song Lovefool and I didn’t and I certainly didn’t know that it was from this band so that’s cool… It is a very slow paced I like the instrumental way more than the singing style and I don’t really get the lyrics The coolest thing is, if you listen to the whole album, you notice the transitions between songs and it gives a very modern feel
dat mens kan een stukje zagen...
Bleh. It was ok, and it was perhaps better than expected, but wouldn’t go as far to say I enjoyed it.
There were glimmers of hope but actually simply I didnt enjoy this. I tried, I listened carefully and the package is just dull in the end. Can I just not explain myself and move on I just dont want to invest in this.
Off to a bad start when the first track sounded exactly like the music from The Sims setup menu. The album then settled into some more traditional pop-rock sounds, albeit with some pretty sickly sweet vocals. That pretty much sums up the whole album, pretty middling pop rock with some eventually quite grating Disney princess vocals. It has one single, 'Lovefool', which I remember being in the charts and I suspect this is another example of an album making the list on the basis of one hit song. The best track on the album is actually a low-fi Black Sabbath cover that was surprisingly enjoyable. Not terrible, just a mediocre album that wouldn't be notable if it was made in any other decade but the nineties, a decade where we seem to have collectively abandoned musical taste.
Dosadnjikav album, iako mi nisu oni generalno loši. Očekivala sam više, nisam slušala album u komadu dosad. 2/5, 4/10
Really far too twee for me.
Eh...
Generic 90s pop. Propped up by a genuine classic surrounded by dull pop rock. That Iron Man cover is awful.
Painful to listen to
Maybe it will get better with to
The baby voice gets grating after a while, and love fool sounds out of place on this otherwise bizarre record
Until 'Step on me' nothing had really grabbed me, only reminding me of how the psychedelic 60s were revisited in the 90s. Peaked with 'Lovefool'.
Nice enough. Lovefool is a great track, but other than that most of the album lacked oomph.
Ok
Probably better suited for their hits rather than full length albums
Pleasant enough, but outside of Lovefool, it doesn't do much for me.
Stimme war mir zu arg
4/10… Pop Rock/ *1996
I knew1 song the rest wasn’t good. High pitched out of key singing
Each song very samey...
Fun falls flat
Bit of a nothing album built around one song that doesn’t really fit with the rest
Some interesting songs and might be a grower. But docked a star for the most criminal cover of a rock classic other than the Scissor Sisters' Comfortably Numb. What were they thinking?
I remember some of my fellow record store employees were absolutely gaga over this album. Years later, it's still just a little too cutesy for me.
I only know the one song from GTA V, but other than that album is pretty forgettable. For the exception of the Black Sabbath reference at the beginning, and then the full cover of Iron Man. Not sure why this band seems to be obsessed with Black Sabbath. I guess that just shows that Black Sabbath will always rule them all and no one will remember the Cardigans.
Kind of soppy sweet pop music. But maybe the most jarring cover I’ve ever heard. Hearing “I am Iron Man” by what sounds like a 12 year old girl huffing helium certainly caught my attention. Not sure whether to add a star or subtract one.
Really not into this one
The was pretty meh. Recognized the hit, but nothing else drew me in
It's giving 70s pop, but also 90s pop rock. Lovefool is from them? I always thought it was Gwen Stefani singing. Kinda meh. 2* Highlights: lovefool
Overproduced Synth/keyboard-drenched pop music with a wispy singer that gets annoying before the end of the record
oof, this is really annoying Best Song: Lovefool Rating: 4/10 Stars: 2
Fun
Meh.
Too saccharine for my tastes
One or two good songs. That's about it.
The worst cover of Iron Man ever! Wasn’t that bad until this abomination came.
This was very meh, apart from lovefool
Not really my jam.
Would give 2.5 if I could.
Mixed album here, some great tracks e.g. lovefool but possibly the worst cover of iron man I have heard and lots of stuff that just blended in. 2 or a 3 I was thinking and have gone for 2
Interesting that the rest of the album is a bit different than the One Hit this band is a wonder for. Her voice is great, but that's about it.
It's okay, but for me this band remains a one hit wonder. Not bad, just not great.
This is a weird coincidence or something....this album has the shitty cover of Iron Man on it, and my Fatboy Slim album yesterday had a song on it (The Weekend Starts Here), that samples the intro to Sabbath's song The Wizard .....Both albums I've had since Ozzy's death feature songs that in some way sample or cover his work .....weird These guys had that one hit, Lovefool, in the 90's....but one good song does not a good album make... These guys were part of that weird alt pop movement of the 90's that included bands like Sixpence None the Richer, and No Doubt (without the shitty ska backing). Favorite songs: Lovefool, Never Recover, Iron Man Least favorite songs: Heartbreaker, Happy Meal II, Step On Me 2/5
OK pop. Seems like they poured all of their effort into the hit song because the others sound the same as each other and not well crafted.
If you needed to explain pop music to an alien, this might be the band to do it. The lead singer's voice is a little distracting, like a baby girl version of Aimee Mann. Speaking of Aimee Mann, I could see this being the soundtrack to a Paul Thomas Anderson movie. This lady gets around. There's a throwback quality to 60s pop music that wear thin pretty quickly. Lovefool is the one hit for these wonders...thank you for this earworm Baz Luhrmann. It's not a terrible song, it was everywhere in 1997. The Iron Man cover is another story...no one asked for this.
90s alt-rock / jangle pop mixed with a little French pop. I mostly found it pretty irritating. I kept checking to see how much time was left in the songs. It’s too twee for me. They even manage to turn “Iron Man” of all songs into a cutesy little number. “Lovefool” is the exception. It’s different than the rest of the tracks and a major earworm. A 5/5 track and a personal favorite. “Losers” was good too. Sounds like an Elvis Costello song in the style of The Beatles in psychedelic mode. 2.5
Soft mushy rock
*It’s like 90s ABBA… but not as catchy. *Only knew Lovefool. Whoever identified that as a single among the rest of the meh songs really struck gold - I had tuned out by the time this one finally rolled around toward the end of the album. *Not terrible, just not very exciting. RATING - 5.5/10
not for me
im gonna lie ts was good
Borderline unlistenable
Until today I couldn't say who that Lovefool song was by. Deservedly a hit. Not sure this album deserves to be on this list though - UK 90s/00s overrepresentation continues.
Too many sad and tattered sweaters.
Lovefool is a very good song. The rest of this album doesn't sound like lovefool. Maybe better on the RS 500 all time songs. Personal enjoyment: 3/5 Relevance to this list: 1/5
I tried to like this but it's very meh. It has all the ingredients of things I do love, but it somehow doesn't work. It's wishy washy, loungey kitsch. I never need to hear "Lovefool" again. I give them credit for skillful playing and off-beat rhythms but I don't like the vocals or the lyrics. Credit for incorporating flutes and violins, minus points for very lame album art. 1.85.
Not the best thing to come out of Sweden but an ok album. First heard The Cardigans on the Austin Powers soundtrack with the hit "Lovefool." Always thought they were a much older band from like the 60s with their psychedelia sound. Nina Persson has a child-like, playful tone that makes the songs a little more fun. She's totally a Kristen Bell doppel too. F BOTM gets a 2.30.
Other than “Lovefool,” which still works in that late-’90s prom montage kind of way, the rest of this album is a shrug in musical form. Nina Persson’s voice is lovely — cool and detached in a way that hints at something darker — but the songs themselves blur into a polite, forgettable haze. It’s all pastel pop with no punch.
Kinda seems like this is on here as a result of a single. A good song doesn't make a good album. This is also a very tinny sounding record. It kinda hurts to listen to.
well structured pop, with annoying, mannered, fey vocals
Grating, chirpy indie pop with totally unnecessary strings 'n' flutes layered on top. A mostly predictable retread of British indie rock and pop from the 80's, there are very few surprising or innovative moments on this album (unless you consider randomly aping Black Sabbath riffs groundbreaking). In addition, the poor mix reduces vocalist Nina Persson's voice to thin whisper most of the time. In the midst of all this, there a couple of standout tracks. "Step On Me" actually has some muscle and a decent chorus. "Losers" has a solid melody and a dramatic arrangement that thankfully ditches the twee sound that plagues the rest of this record. 2/5
100% innessential
2.4 Dull dull dull. Other than the intriguing cover of Iron Man, the rest of a massive disappointment. My only knowledge od Cardigans going into this was Favourite Game, which I loved as a kid, so my hopes weren't set too low. Turns out I also knew Lovefool, but my god is that song annoying. It's basically lounge music with a slightly grating vocalist on top. Why were these popular again?
Weak…Lovefool was a complete anomaly apparently
poo so it gets a two
I knew Lovefool, and the rest of the album played out as expected, breathy, slightly sickly vocals over bland music. The cover of Iron Man was pretty awful, but was also one of the high points of the album for me. This barely scrapes 2 stars.
ok
So, the Iron man cover was cool. Otherwise, not sure why this is on the list.
Poppy!enjoyed
Not groundbreaking enough to justify being on the list. One certified hit and an indie/Caribbean take on Black Sabbath's Iron Man are not enough to do it for me.
Her voice gets annoying after about half a song. Love me love me say that you love me will now be stuck in my head all day.
The Cardigans moon landing was an elaborate hoax. Although, if you consider the vacuum of space, and the supposed existence of man (or men) in the moon, you have to believe that these moon people would get a little chilly. Perhaps in their misunderstanding of human music and naming conventions, the moon people requested the largest cardigan they could find, only to be delivered this band. Maybe it was real. Will I wish they burned up on reentry? Play that melancholy music, white boy(s). Ooh my new clock is here. Time to ring in 9:14 in style. I’m hoping this is ironic, post-modern indie bro fake disco. A GIRL?????? Putting the (wild)card in Cardigan. The flute and guitar sections are ok, but overall? This cuckoo song sounds like Gwen Stefani on quaaludes. SOME doubt about how this puppy will continue. I’ve got a pocket, pocket full of sunshine. Whoa. There we go. That’s a fun riff. The music fades between this heavy riff and a late 90’s radio pop song. Taking me out of the interesting good stuff makes me want more of it, that’s for sure. Fascinating song. I mean, not a bad song to rip off with that opening bass line. Black sabbath’s titular debut?? Sweet. Oh yeah, I can’t say I love the vocals still, but she’s not ruining it entirely. SHE SAID THE THING. “Oh please god help me.” I do know some things about music! Cool song. Happy Meal II: The Stuart Little Car. Stay tuned for Happy Meal III: The Abhorrent Amorphous Mass. Strange song. The sweet vocals are still not the greatest but I’m hanging on here every word. The least interesting song to me so far. The percussion sounds like a large gathering of people in an apartment above you. Well, at least that is different. The vocals again attempt to kill me. I’ve heard this song before. It’s not bad. Certainly even more poppy than prior tracks. The big hit. How have I only heard the chorus for this song. This is a big stinker and bringing down my internal rating immensely. This sounds like it spawned from the remaining members of No Doubt and current members of Maroon 5. Nary a more twisted combination hath existed. Boring. Of course, it’s the one everybody liked. No swears, come on Swedish Gwen Stefani. Yeah this thing is derailing fast. Like a train set out with good intentions, More Black Sabbath?? Never thought I’d stumble upon an indie cover of Iron Man. I suppose it is the first song anybody learns on guitar. This has the benefit of being based in a great song, but obviously this loses some (all) of the terror that song invokes. With all of that said, this is still pretty fun. Well. The goodwill has been shattered. The Swedish sweater patrol has punished me for enjoying the oddities of the first few tracks. Bored 2 Tears. The new project from Sweden’s preeminent alt-pop outfit. Well a return of the flute and the riffing feels too little too late here. A musical cue that everything in the sitcom universe has returned to stasis. Everything as it was before. I can’t say I won’t remember the Cardigans. For the odd jazzy moments near the beginning of the album and the bizarre concoction of genres that scored the titular voyage to the great cheese in the sky, I give them two spaceships up. The blatant appeal to radio listeners and sugary sweet vocals that veered into sickly territory dragged this album back down to earth. We’ve managed to avoid a Challenger disaster on this one, but we were unable to bring back the cultures that prove the moon is indeed, a large cheese wheel. I think that’s the saddest part of all. 2.5 HIGHLIGHTS: Been It, Heartbreakers, Iron Man,
One radio hit, one weird Black Sabbath cover and a bunch of bland 90s pop music.
Decent stuff. Nothing amazing
Can see how it was interesting in 1996
Recognise a couple of songs but underwhelming overall
Lì scota!
Maso
One hit, and a bunch of bland garbage.
Niet mijn ding.
I didn’t think the world needed an acid jazz cover of Sabbath’s Iron Man. I still don’t, but now that view is based on direct experience rather than conjecture.
To be honest, her voice is very annoying. And it gets increasingly bad throughout until the point you can’t take it anymore. I will give it a 2 because lovefool is just too catchy and the tracks have some catchy rhythms to them.
Lovefool natürlich fantastisch der Rest so lala
Für Lovefool, sonst hat’s mich nicht abgeholt.
Meh.
Had zero expectations of this album as I had only ever heard love fool. Some of it was actually init too bad. I really wanted to like it more than I did. Sownof iron man was good but the intro ruined it for me.
OK, but not one for me. Fave tracks are Heartbreaker and Lovefool.
Not actively bad but far too banal and safe for me to really like it
Something about the way the vocals are recorded drags the whole thing down. Wasn't expecting a black Sabbath cover though.
One song
I knew a couple of their songs. I like those. Only one is on this album. The album is not as good as I expected. Most of it sounds kitschy. It gets better towards the end. Favorite song: losers.
Iron Man cover was a surprise. Love Fool is a pop GOAT. Otherwise eh. High 2s
1. cuckoo - 1.5 2. been - 1 3. heartbreaker - 2 4. happy - 1.5 5. never - 1 6. me - 1.5 7. lovefool - 3.5 8. loozerz - 1.5 9. iron man - 0 10. divide - 1.5 11. choke - 1.5
11 mio. monatlichi???? drums töned ultra komisch sicher extra aber naja s erste lied isch ok been it chli nervig oh nei heartbreaker chli ihschlaflied aber hans eig na gern ahh lovefool kenntmer hä jo schono cool iron man findi seehr en geile bass also s letschte lied isch eig na cool gsi... 2 oder 3 sorr
I liked Lovefool, but I had to make an effort to finish the rest of the album.
Interesting for the iron Man cover alone.
A bit surprised this is deemed “essential”. Pleasant enough but not groundbreaking. And I’ve never really liked Lovefool. I remember enjoying the singles from their next album though.
No preconceived ideas coming into this, did they have a hit once being the only thing I could recall, well 1 hit song does not make an essential album. Lot of people on here really seem to like this but I just found it insipid. The baby doll vocals are grating and made me want to punch myself in the face. It's well arranged and produced and they do have 1 good song in them, that stands out a mile, listened couple of times but couldnt be bother at that point just find it dull and irritating.
Listened Before? N Pretty good mellow 90s album. The quality of the tracks other than Lovefool is lacking, though. It's fine. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Lovefool
Some great songs on this album, Lovefool being the best. I have listen to the cardigans a fair bit since they are from Sweden so this isn't a new listen for me. Good to hear some of the songs I haven't listened to a while tho.
Never got in to them. Tried again for this, but... Nah.
Mehhhhhhh twee twee twee
Kind of indie pop songs, quite boring.
Sometimes one wonders why albums even exist... The singer apparently did not plan to be a musician and only joined the band out of boredom - but then why is this music still so boring and same-ish? Every song sounds the same and not in a good way. They are all thirteen-to-the-dozen pop tunes. The single "Lovefool" is probably the most catchy one of the bunch. Still nothing novel or anything like that, and I am clueless why this is on the "must hear" list. I'll give it a 2* because some of the arrangements are quite good and it's not _that_ bad, just (or did I mention this already) boring. Sorry for the boring review.
# Album Name: First band on the moon # Artist: The Cardigans # Rating: 2/5 # Comments: Wow this one has not aged well. Its unbelievable to think lovefool was spawned from such an awful album if im honest. They absolutely butchered iron man. Honestly, i thought this was a dreadful album. Lovefool took it from a 1 to a 2. # Top Tunes: Lovefool # Would I listen to it again? No. Only lovefool.
Listen to this album for the one hit wonder, stay for one of the worst cover songs ever!
Really really bad 1.5/2
Highlights: Never Recover, Lovefool. In a nutshell: indie pop, Scandi style Dreamy whimsy pop, a little rock, baroque disco perhaps? Best known for Lovefool, a song many 90s teeny boppers treasured. As an album, it would be a grower. Is it essential? Not really. There's not much I took away from this album and I'd be interested to know if The Cardigans were indeed popular in Sweden before this album was released. Overall: 3/10
I hadn’t heard of this band before. I had heard the song Lovefoot on the radio, but always thought that was No Doubt. And I don’t understand their cover of Ironman at all. Another record that I don’t need to hear again.
Couldn't handle the multiple songs with the whiny fake voice. Poor Iron Man!!
Her voice is incredibly grating.
Had heard of The Cardigans in my past but if I’d been asked before today I would have said they were part of the UK late punk alternative movement. So when I read their Wiki page I was surprised they were Swedish. Nevertheless they were still classed has alternative/adult rockers so hoped for the best. One give away and cautionary tag in their Roon description was Twee Pop. By Jove was Roon right. A lot more twee than rock in my view. Anyway another musical lesson learnt and knowledge gained albeit if useless information. Album title caused me to stop and ruminate the concept of when and who will be the first band to play on the moon. And what will be the first song? If it were to happen today I’m sure Swiftie would be a strong candidate. But I don’t think present day spacecraft technology would allow for the expansive stage set used during her Era’s tour. Which led me to think that the lack of gravity would allow her to whizz around the set without use of lifts and motorised sleigh so that would save space. I then climbed out of that rabbit hole and played some more agreeable music. 2/5 11/9/24
A little too cutesy, but not bad.
Didn't love this album. Ok, but not great. 2.5
There are some okay parts to this album but there is way too much I don't like at all to rate it higher than 2 stars or D.
Ugh. I don't know if it's the falsetto pitch or the sugary twee-pop that gets under my skin so much, but I just don't enjoy this album. It feels all silicone and eyelash extender while trying to coax extra money out of daddy.
I wanted to like this more than I did. Lovefool is great and I hoped the rest would hit similarly but I was really underwhelmed by most of it. 2.5
Something about this grates on me.
Some interesting tracks. The first 2 being the best besides their mega hit
There's a Blondie vibe, without the edge, to this album that actually works. I was on the fence about how to rate it but they pushed me over the edge when they mutilated Iron Man.
I liked this a lot more than I thought I would! “Lovefool” was a childhood favorite radio-play of mine. I have fond memories of riding in a car, listening to it, while the sun danced on my closed eyelids through the trees. Nice trip down memory lane, but this album doesn’t hold much more than that for me.
Not my thing
Not my genre
2 stars
Leave Metal to those who know how to play it
Lovefool was one of my favorite songs growing up; it was track nr six on an Icelandic compilation CD, "Pottþétt 5" (I misremembered it as nr five, but it is pretty amazing. I almost remember that some 28years later). I'm not familiar with their other songs, but I listened to the Cardigans quite a bit through Icelandic radio, which seems not.
Just more radio friendly fillers. Next
Groupe totalement inconnu, à part le nom. Morceaux plutôt originaux, mais la reprise d'Iron Man m'a fait baisser la note.
Got a good sound, just felt kinda meh. Lovefool still slaps tho.
I can´t stand the voice. Over all quite boring. Just because of "Love Fool" I give them the second star. 1,5
Nah, not really for me thanks
This was just plain boring.
I absolutely hate the overly sweet half whispered vocals. The rest of the band could have been absolute magic, and I would still hate the album. As it is, the first few tracks are so incredibly annoying that I more or less checked out. Lovefool is catchy, but that has to be the worst Iron Man ever. The crowd on the cover cannot possibly be reaching to anything made by this band?
There is something about it I like but I don’t care for her voice. Actually, I don’t mind her voice at all but I don’t like it with this kind of music. I think I might enjoy her voice in a different genre. I’m torn. I do really enjoy parts of the music though. And it did grow on me quite a bit.
Diving into The Cardigans' "First Band On The Moon" felt like embarking on a journey of musical rediscovery. Having a soft spot for "Lovefool"—despite its status as perhaps one of the era's most overplayed tracks—I was excited. "My Favourite Game," another gem (though on a different album), holds a special place in my heart, largely thanks to its presence in a 90s dance pad game that gives me a lot of nostalgia. My expectations for "First Band On The Moon" were high—perhaps unfairly so. Yet, as I listened to its tracks, I couldn't shake off a sense of disappointment. The album, to my ears, unfolded in a manner more monotonous than mesmerizing, missing the vibrant spark I had hoped to find. Beyond "Lovefool," which still manages to catch my attention with its catchy allure and has undeniably earned its place as a classic, the album failed to leave a significant mark on me. Favourite Tracks: Lovefool
Average indie pop
Ah pretty unremarkable
Interesting listen, generally pleasant and easy to listen to, I’m afraid I just don’t really “get” it. There’s some interesting darker and heavier riffs mixed in there that don’t mesh well, a mix of naive innocent lyrics with the more explicitly sexual, it feels a bit like an effort to create something broadly popular while sneaking in some less marketable influences of the band. Not horrific, but it just confounded me . Top tracks: Your New Cuckoo, Been It, Never Recover, Step On Me
OK, with the obvious track being the standout
One hit wonder but they’re in the 1001 best albums ever???
The cloying pop voice, the music reminds me of the Monkee's. Like Greek desert, too sweet. Oddly subservient lyrics on some songs. Apparently they were big in Japan. Love foot is a great pop confection.The cover of Ironman is hilarious. Great Divide has a great melodic hook. The more of these albums I listen to, the more I think I own a better 1001 albums than are listed here.
I guess it’s good if you like pop. But it’s not my thing. I had no idea that the one hit song was there’s.
I've heard Lovefool. Definitely a song in random romcom or girly movies. The rest of the album was not my jawnt
I liked 1 or 2 tracks but most of it just flew over my head.
* sigh *
For some reason the guitar playing irked me
One hit wonder in my book.
И сказать нечего про этот альбом... Интересный вокал? "тви поп" здесь можно найти только в смысле "писали на отвибись". Лучшая песня - Iron Man.
Just really didn't enjoy. The quirky novelty and diminutive voice wore off quickly. Many songs sounded the same.
Lovefool is iconic. The rest? Not quite up to that level.
Putting a band on the moon would be revolutionary, this album isn’t. It’s nice but that’s about it 4.9/10
Laid back pop, but not very interesting or appealing. It's a, Yawn, 2
This album sounded like weak Shiina Ringo.
Was alright not something I would have sought out.
The music itself wasn't terrible, but the singing really turned me off; the singer's voice just grated at my ears. I managed to get through it all and there were some decent tracks, but I doubt I'll return to any of this. 2/5
Other than the hit, nothing spectacular here. And the Iron Man cover? Please never again
So yeah, again one of those records that had a catchy single that was inescapable for a long time, perhaps too long. I may give this album another listen, but honestly, I had the same reaction to the vocalist that some folks have with Geddy Lee i.e. something about the tonal quality just grated. Second listen didn't go well. Ignoring the vocals as much as I could, I just didn't find the instrumentation, playing, or songwriting very interesting. Kind of amazing anyone thought this was anything special, honestly. It's not terrible, but boy, I'd rather listen to just about anything. Gotta say I really also don't like the drum sound. A lot of it almost sounds like they are hitting cardboard boxes... really lame, maybe they were trying for a subtle effect but it's almost like they are playing underwater or something. Ugh.
A bit meh for me. Lovefool is great, but wasn't in love with the rest.
not for me
Musica superficial de los 90s. Flojo.
Not my favorite sound but very reminiscent of the late 90’s/early oughts. Definitely wouldn’t sound out of place on The Gilmore Girls or something, but not something I’d throw on. Also, not a purist, but the soft version of Iron Man did make me need to listen to the original to feel clean.
pitää respektiä antaa jos konseptia löytyy... ja iron maan indie coveri olusi voinutnpaljon huonommin mennä, paskaahan se tosiaan on. ja instrumentosointi ei vaan napannut... kudoksia...annetaan silti kudokset tästä..poppibiisi paras lovefool
Sweet vocals, but find the overall sound a little boring.
Perfectly pleasant pop, at times (and dreary at others), but not exactly essential listening before you die.
I had the pleasure of seeing The Cardigans live earlier this year. During the setlist, they played their, now quite well-known, cover of a legendary Black Sabbath song - you guessed it, it was 'Changes'. The inclusion of the cover live felt just as pointless as their cute cover of 'Iron Man' on First Band on the Moon. The performance equally as dull overall as this record feels. Definitely a “Greatest Hits” kind of band for me.
I broke my leg in the summer this song was popular. I remember staying in the hospital overnight and just couldn't keep this song out of my head while in agonizing pain.
Not for me.
Interesting album. Well structured and easy to listen to. Probablt won't listen again.
In a word, bland. Not bad but nothing I felt the desire to revisit.
Gosh this is pretty just OK but it is really one of the 1001 best albums ever made? Slightly twee, very clean and in Lovefool an annoying earworm. Thanks Baz Luhrmann. Cue cliches about Swedes and their sturdy constructions from Volvo cars and Ikea sofas, ok maybe not Ikea sofas, to this. Can you tell I can't think of that much to say about this album.
One annoying hit and a lot of meh.
Meh. Good, not great! 2/5
Oh hey it’s that song! 2.5/5
This was not my cup of tea at all. Just pop, innit. Nothing exciting or groundbreaking? Hard to see why this is an album I should be listening to before I die? Less than average.
Not my thing
Woolly.
At least it’s not another Britpop Not much here Just because someone thought doing a smaltzy cover of Iron Man was a good idea, doesn’t mean you should do it However, for having the balls to do it I give them an extra star
Nice pop music, but really dirty. 2/5
Put on a sweater.
This is what I imagine Sonic Youth would sound like without the distortions lol. The vocals are annoying most of the time, although it sounds nice sometimes.
It sounds so wishy-washy that I almost forget I was listening to it until the third or fourth song. Then I enjoyed it a bit, but it still has a sound that harkens back to the less memorable tracks from the 90s. It's not the worst thing in the music world but it is entirely forgettable. PS: The "Iron Man" cover is on the edge of disrespect.
Meh
I found some of the songs really grating vocally. Didn't expect that.
Lovefool is obviously ingrained in my memory since I grew up in the 90s. I remember hearing that song on the radio, in romcom movies, in commercials… It’s not a bad song, and this isn’t a bad album. The music isn’t really my cup of tea, though.
Didn't do much for me
Yhh, ei. Vinkuva ääni, tosi ruotsalaisen ylituotetun kuuloista ja AIVAN liian paljon soinut joka paikassa. Ykkönen vai kakkonen, ykkönen vai kakkonen.
Not too keen on this. Lovefool drives me mad.
Ben halverwege in slaap gevallen. Weet alleen niet wat dat over de plaat zegt. Te weinig om er een goed oordeel over te vellen.
Are they called The Cardigans because they're a bit wooly? Defintely the strangest and most uninspired version of Iron Man that I've ever heard.
Nothing special. I always liked the sound of Lovefool decently well, so had high hopes. Disappointed again. 2/5
I actually like The Cardigans. But I really did not enjoy this album. It somehow did not come together at all - only thing it has going is the Lovefool song and that quirky version of Iron Man, which was bearely enough to push it to 2/5
Just one banger for me... not a fan otherwise
◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ~ W A N T E D ~ ◼️ ◼️ 🛡️ DEAD or ALIVE 🛡️ ◼️ ◼️ _____________________ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ 👨🦱🧔🏻👩🎤👱🏼♂️🧔 ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ✴ The Cardigans ✴ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ For the crime of butchering ◼️ ◼️ the song "Iron Man" ◼️ ◼️ ♢ ◼️ ◼️ Last seen on VH1s ◼️ ◼️ One-Hit Wonder show ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ REWARD: 2 Gold Bullions ◼️ ◼️ 🧈 🧈 ◼️ ◼️ ◼️ ◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️◼️
With exception to Lovefool, the album was a bit too slow and 'same' sounding for my liking. Next!
I must be missing something, but couldn't work out why this album was on the list! Middling pop with not much to commend it. 'Lovefool' is OK, but given it was played to death in-period, that feeling still carries over to now.
Hakee melodisuutensa iskelmäisyydestä, joten ei minulle. Lovefool? Ottakaa toinen tähti.
Une preuve que le classement a été fait peu de temps après parce qu'il n'y a pas grand chose de vraiment mémorable la dedans. Loveful, Been it, Never recover sont sympa.
Lovefool is a fantastic pop song. The rest of the album was easy to listen to. I enjoyed Iron Man, as it was a bit different than the other songs. Definitely not a ‘must hear’ album.
This was little too happy clappy for my liking. Plus it's not personal; but I had problems with the voice. Too sugary when I wanted a little more anger. I listened to the album whilst carrying out various online admin tasks. It completely passed me by from start to finish with nothing memorable. Inoffensive, but then so is marmalade.
2.9
Decent album, it doesn’t offend but it doesn’t excite either.
Quirky and catchy but lacking in enough substance to keep me interested. The vocalist started off seeming sexy and breathy but after the third song it began to sound cartoonish and over the top. Lovefool was a hit for a reason but too much of a good thing and all that. Hard no from me.
Is er ook een instrumentale versie van dit album?
So ‘90s but sadly a one song album. That song though is one of the best pop hits of that decade and an ear worm forever. They deserve credit for at least that.
not for me
I'm sure this album will appeal to someone, somewhere. In fact, I can understand why this album did, and still will, appeal to someone, somewhere. Just that I'm not that person. There's a point where wistfulness crosses over into whimsy, the charming into the contrived ... actually, this is ad hominem. I didn't like this, and I'm only writing this because I have to give the wretched thing a ranking before I move on.
It was hard to avoid hearing Lovefool back in the day & I have to say I never wanted to hear it again. There are a few tunes here I didn’t mind - Happy Meal II; Never Recover, which sounded like 60’s pop; and particularly Great Divide. The band were obviously talented but I really find the lead singer’s voice irritating. Blondie, they ain’t.
Pleasant pop music. The overwhelming twee-ness is wearing after about three songs. There are a number of songs I could tolerate on a mix-tape, but a whole album is too much. I have no idea what this album did to warrant a place on this list (apart from the 90s ubiquity of "Lovefool") but I'm not sure it has aged well.
Meh
meh. 2/5
I've always thought of The Cardigans as a novelty band (what if we had a lounge lizard act with twee vocals?), and this album didn't do much to dissuade me of that notion. I was giving it a fair shake until I hit the ridiculous "Iron Man" cover and I fell off the ride.
Nop.
too repetitive
one good song
don't really like the singer's voice, too high for me
I'm not sure why I disliked this album as much as I did. Possibly the vocalists voice, possibly because it was blamd enough to qualify as "hotel lobby music". I was really glad to get to the last track.
Zu poppig und lame und texte waren komisch.
Sometimes verges on kohl’s commercial music but has some psychedelic and noisy
First album that I haven't heard of before. It was okay. Not sure if I would go out of my way to listen to again. Iron Man was a song I was not expecting to hear so the surprise factor might have raised its ranking. 1. Lovefool 2. Iron Man 3. Your new Cuckoo
Getting credit for lovefool
Pop com voz feminina interessante, com hit de ŕadio e mtv, mas forçaram com versão "fofa" de Iron Man.
Bit fey. Light pop. Reminds me of St Etienne mixed with Stereolab. Wasn’t keen to hear Black Sabbath weakened. Just like soundtracks for John Lewis Xmas tv adverts!
It’s just OK.
This album is a good illustration of what the 90s considered catchy pop. But compared with the decade that directly preceded the 90s, this kind of pop music feels somewhat flat and uninspired, monotonous and boring even. The most well known (and best) song here is Lovefool, and Iron Man - a Black Sabbath cover, no less - works surprisingly well, but the remaining songs just fall flat. 2/5
If only all modern pop was more like this.
Bit more interesting and contemplative than Lovefool would have you believe. But not loads.
I was eating a lovely apple crumble for pudding at my parents' house whilst listening to this. I got so angry at what I was hearing, that I spilt it all down my brand new cardigan. It was hard to tell what was apple crumble and cream and what was the entire Chelsea first team and backroom staff's jizz.
I can't quite put my finger on why but I really didn't enjoy this.
I know Lovefool, the rest were new. Maybe too soon to judge. There were a few songs I liked but others I would never want to hear again. Songs I enjoyed the most: Heartbreaker, Lovefool, Great Divide, Choke Iron man. Ok, that was interesting. Good? I don't know if I'd go that far. Definitely different than the original! 2/5
ok but not very memorable
This album is fine. Quite why it is in the list of 1001 greatest albums, I don't know.
Genre: Indie Pop 2/5 Really wasn't quite sure what to expect here. The Cardigans did not make it out of the decade, except for the mega-hit, Lovefool. Upon listening, I was left uninterested, upset, and utterly baffled at how these guys are the ones responsible for said mega-hit, which is honestly one of my favorite songs from the 90s and one of the most infectious and groovy songs from that era. The singing on this is generally good, but the arrangements are not good, guitars meander through their solo sections with complete uninterest, and everything around Lovefool feels like a waste of time. If it were the other 10 songs on this album only, there would be no purpose for this album to be on any other list other than forgettable 90s albums, which it already should be on. 2 out of 5, but only because Lovefool is that fucking good.
Lovefool rocks
Eh. Not horrible, but not my thing. The cover of Iron Man was very unnecessary.