The Cardigans
THE CARDIGANS
Swedish band, The Cardigans may come across as having all the aspects of the perfect pop-band; sweet, cute, bubbly. It’s true what they say, images can be deceiving. They are often described as the biggest thing to come out of the country since Abba.
They formed in 1992, by two heavy metal musicians; Peter Svensson and Magnus Sveningsson. They enlisted keyboardist Lars-Olof Johansson, drummer Begt Lagerberg and the lead singer Nina Persson.
The bands first album, ‘Emmerdale’, captured everything that is great about this odd mix of musicians. Nina Persson's breathy, girlish voice may seem sweet and innocent, but the words she sings often carry a unique gloom, worthy of grunge’s angriest vocalists. This album also holds a strange disco reinterpretation of Black Sabbath's "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath”, showing off the bands odd brilliance.
The more upbeat ‘Life’ followed, bringing with it international success. The band soon signed to Mercury Records, releasing their third album ‘First Band on the Moon’, which brought with it the smash hit ‘Lovefool’. 1998 saw the release of the band’s most well-known album ‘Gran Turismo’, which gave way to the release of singles ‘Erase/Rewind’ and ‘My Favourite Game’. The video was banned from MTV for featuring reckless driving, tut.
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Between 1998 and 2002 the band split to embark on solo projects, before returning in 2003 with the release of the album ‘Long Gone Before Daylight’. ‘Super Extra Gravity in 2005’ was released two years later, featuring more down-beat lyrically weak songs. The took a break from the music business shortly after.
Members include Bengt Lagerburg, drums; Lars-Olof Johansson, guitar and keyboards; Nina Persson, vocals; Magnus Svenigsson, bass and Peter Svensson, guitar.
Band formed 1992, Jönköping, Sweden; signed with Stockholm Records and released debut album Emmerdale, 1994; American debut, Life (comprised of tracks from first two Swedish releases), released on Minty Fresh label, 1996; signed with Mercury Records and released First Band on the Moon, 1996; song "Lovefool" featured on soundtrack of film Romeo and Juliet, 1996.
Albums:
Emmerdale, Stockholm Records, 1994.
Life, Stockholm Records, 1995.
Life (U.S. version; includes "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath"), Minty Fresh, 1996.
Gran Turismo, Stockholm Records, 1998.
Long Gone Before Daylight, Stockholm Records, 2003.
Super Extra Gravity, Stockholm Records, 2005.
Sources: Carly Page; Simon Glickman
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