Rocktrospectiva: The Charming "Life" Turns 30

Released on 24 March 1995, "Life" was the second studio album by Swedish band The Cardigans, the album was an international success, especially in Japan, where it achieved platinum status. It was released as their first album: a compilation of tracks from both Emmerdale and Life, the album spawned three singles "Carnival", "Rise & Shine", "Hey! Get Out Of My Way", & "Sick & Tired".

The second album by the band was the definitive statement that launched them as a truly international force as well. This album demonstrated that not only did they have the multi-faceted writing skills to put them in the charts, but also they had the studio smarts to back the songs up as well.

Formed by two heavy metal fans, Peter Svensson and Magnus Svengingsson, the band had already caught the attention of the European market with their debut, Emmerdale. Two things made them stand out: The singing by non-professional Nina Persson and the music theory and jazz background of Svensson. This allowed them to be one of the first truly 'ironic' pop acts that could turn out charming hits that still had enough intelligence to appeal to a broader audience.

Life was to be their most optimistic-sounding effort, filled to the brim with gems like "Hey! Get Out Of My Way", "Daddy's Car", and "Carnival". Life was a platinum-seller on its own merits. What's more, as a cheeky nod to their founders' pasts they even managed to include a popped-up version of Sabbath's "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath". Talk about dextrous.

Even thought the world's press of course then had the band tagged as popticians and nothing more. Nevertheless, darker albums like Super Extra Gravity and Long Gone before Daylight would prove them to be more than a pop outfit, but even today Life remains a pop gem.

 

Life Track List:  

1. Carnival

2. Gordon0s Gardenparty

3. Daddy's Car

4. Sick And Tired

5. Tomorrow

6. Rise And Shine

7. Beautiful One

8. Travelling With Charley

9. Fine 

10. Celia Inside

11. Hey! Get Out Of My Way

12. After All

13. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath