Album Review: The Cardigans, Long Gone Before Daylight
I know I let this place die. I'm sorry.
So, here to start of is a review of sorts of a recent-but-not-new, and definitely underrated, album. I'm not going to be timely about the music I post in anyway. I'll write about music I love or hate or sorta like when I feel like it. Anyway onto the review:
Lately I've kind of been obsessed with The Cardigans, to the extent of pasting quotes all over my main LJ. The reason for this is that shortly after buying it, and before I really listened to it, I lost my copy of Long Gone Before Daylight (, the 2004 (well, 2005 in the US) album that was also their first in 6 years. I mostly forgot about it, until I found it while moving.
And here's the short on it, if you didn't know: it's fucking incredible.
Firstly, it eschews both the synthpop touches of Gran Turismo and the self-conscious "quirkiness" (i.e. those kitschy Black Sabbath covers) of their earlier albums, in favor of simple alt-country-pop arrangements. Aside from the acoustic version of "My Favorite Game", this is the first time they've sounded nearly this intimate on record. Of course, this is also their most "conventional" sounding album, but as they were never especially avant-garde I do not consider this a weakness, not when the songs are as good as they are.
Secondly, they are indeed simply a great bunch of songs, with an emotional power that has simply been lacking in their songs for a while. They are, as usual, mostly love songs. What's different, besides the more traditional arrangements, is that there's enough passion in Nina Persson's voice to melt the Swedish winter. This is no collection of melancholy but detached songs. It's an album that, to me, sounds like actually being in love, with all the pain and confusion and yes, happiness, that that involves.
Opener "Communication" (a song that could very well describe my life) evoke the feeling of distance in passionless or long-distance relationships using an apt technology metaphor. "And Then You Kissed Me" unsettlingly combines passionate love with violence in an otherwise quiet and pretty song. "Please Sister" sounds like it could be a lost early-90s Aimee Mann song. Single "For What It's Worth" deals with the way love tends to sneak up on you when you least expect it. The acoustic closer "03.45: No Sleep" perfectly conjures up the feeling of being awake in the early morning.
As an apology for taking a whole year to release the album in the states / punishment for people who bought the import, it also comes with a so-so DVD called Up Before Dawn, containing music videos, poorly sound-mixed concert footage, and a minidocumentary. I'd say it's not worth it, but it's free, so why not?
It also comes with a U.S.-only bonus track in addition to the two that were on the UK version. The U.S. one "For The Boys" is slightly problematic in that it doesn't really fit on the end of the album, but it's still great. It's simply in the wrong place. Were I lastclearchance, I might count off for this, but a) I'm not and b) It's good enough that I don't quite care.
Don't take just my word for it on the greatness of this album, though. Listen for yourself:
Download "And Then You Kissed Me"
(note: download will only be up for 2 weeks unless someone can find me a better host)
In any case: Buy this album. It's amazing. I love love love it.
P.S.: Fuck number ratings. Those are for snobs, and beside the point.
So, here to start of is a review of sorts of a recent-but-not-new, and definitely underrated, album. I'm not going to be timely about the music I post in anyway. I'll write about music I love or hate or sorta like when I feel like it. Anyway onto the review:
Lately I've kind of been obsessed with The Cardigans, to the extent of pasting quotes all over my main LJ. The reason for this is that shortly after buying it, and before I really listened to it, I lost my copy of Long Gone Before Daylight (, the 2004 (well, 2005 in the US) album that was also their first in 6 years. I mostly forgot about it, until I found it while moving.
And here's the short on it, if you didn't know: it's fucking incredible.
Firstly, it eschews both the synthpop touches of Gran Turismo and the self-conscious "quirkiness" (i.e. those kitschy Black Sabbath covers) of their earlier albums, in favor of simple alt-country-pop arrangements. Aside from the acoustic version of "My Favorite Game", this is the first time they've sounded nearly this intimate on record. Of course, this is also their most "conventional" sounding album, but as they were never especially avant-garde I do not consider this a weakness, not when the songs are as good as they are.
Secondly, they are indeed simply a great bunch of songs, with an emotional power that has simply been lacking in their songs for a while. They are, as usual, mostly love songs. What's different, besides the more traditional arrangements, is that there's enough passion in Nina Persson's voice to melt the Swedish winter. This is no collection of melancholy but detached songs. It's an album that, to me, sounds like actually being in love, with all the pain and confusion and yes, happiness, that that involves.
Opener "Communication" (a song that could very well describe my life) evoke the feeling of distance in passionless or long-distance relationships using an apt technology metaphor. "And Then You Kissed Me" unsettlingly combines passionate love with violence in an otherwise quiet and pretty song. "Please Sister" sounds like it could be a lost early-90s Aimee Mann song. Single "For What It's Worth" deals with the way love tends to sneak up on you when you least expect it. The acoustic closer "03.45: No Sleep" perfectly conjures up the feeling of being awake in the early morning.
As an apology for taking a whole year to release the album in the states / punishment for people who bought the import, it also comes with a so-so DVD called Up Before Dawn, containing music videos, poorly sound-mixed concert footage, and a minidocumentary. I'd say it's not worth it, but it's free, so why not?
It also comes with a U.S.-only bonus track in addition to the two that were on the UK version. The U.S. one "For The Boys" is slightly problematic in that it doesn't really fit on the end of the album, but it's still great. It's simply in the wrong place. Were I lastclearchance, I might count off for this, but a) I'm not and b) It's good enough that I don't quite care.
Don't take just my word for it on the greatness of this album, though. Listen for yourself:
Download "And Then You Kissed Me"
(note: download will only be up for 2 weeks unless someone can find me a better host)
In any case: Buy this album. It's amazing. I love love love it.
P.S.: Fuck number ratings. Those are for snobs, and beside the point.