New Cardigans sampler

"Lovefool" (obviously their signature tune)
"My Favourite Game"
"I Can Buy You" (actually Nina side project 'A Camp')
"For What It's Worth"

and yes, who's got something new???

Also I'M GAY!

y'know?

http://www.villagevoice.com/specials/pazznjop/03/voted_for.php?titleid=202937

Mark, you are my hero. It had such a difficult release here in the USA. Didn't come out til last year, but of course that means we got the DVD with the excellent videos - Nina looks so great as Loretta Lynn!

The last album was tricky in that the sampler basically contained the four weakest songs on the album and the rest was amazing (tho the US version which has "For The Boys" is better, and the full length "Hold Me" was far too good to be a B-side), so I'm a little suspicious that I love "I Need Some Fine Wine" absolutely off the bat.

It's a great month for pop singles.

What is interesting if you've got all their albums is how different they all are, there's a definite progression and they always try and do something different. I think they are a lot more interesting in this respect than most realise. I'm almost slightly disappointed in the new song because it feels quite similar to the stuff on the last album. Looking forward to the full album though. Certainly the cover if you find it doesn't indicate that it's musically like the last one, it's the cover of a pop record not an alt-country record.

Hey! Get Out Of My Way!
Never Recover
Step On Me
Nasty Sunny Beam
War
Paralyzed
Higher
Hold Me
Lead Me Into The Night
For The Boys

01. Carnival
02. Gordon's Gardenparty
03. In The Afternoon
04. Daddy's Car
05. Black Letter Day
06. Sick And Tired
07. Cloudy Sky
08. Tomorrow
09. Rise And Shine
10. The Boys Are Back In Town
11. I Figured Out
12. Beautiful One
13. Fine
14. Sunday Circus Song
15. Celia Inside
16. Over The Water
17. Hey! Get Out Of My Way
18. After All...
19. Pooh Song
20. Sabbath Bloody Sabbath

4 August - House Of Blues, Chicago IL
5 August - Navy Pier, Chicago IL (Cancelled)
7 August - Earthlink Live, Atlanta GA
9 August - Verizon Wireless Theater, Houston TX
10 August - Sunset Station - Lonestar Pavilion, San Antonio TX
11 August - Gypsy Tea Room & Ballroom, Dallas TX
14 August - Marquee Theatre, Tempe AZ
15 August - 4th & B Theater, San Diego CA
17 August - House Of Blues, West Hollywood CA
18 August - House Of Blues, Anaheim CA
19 August - The Fillmore, San Fransisco CA
21 August - House Of Blues, Las Vegas NV
23 August - Paramount Theatre, Denver CO
25 August - Orpheum Theatre, Minneapolis MN
27 August - Royal Oak Music Theatre, Royal Oak MI
28 August - Kool Haus, Toronto ONT Canada
30 August - Hampton Beach Casino Ballroom, Hampton Beach, NH
1 September - Webster Hall, New York NY
2 September - Electric Factory, Philadelphia PA
3 September - 9:30 Club, Washington DC

Those who don't like the production on Long Gone Before Daylight may be able ot find some solice within the fact that they've reuinited with Tore Johansson, who produced their first 4 albums (from "Emmerdale" (1994) to "Gran Turismo" (1998); and has since worked with people as far-ranging in genre as Franz Ferdinand to Melanie C). The new album is said to be similar to Long Gone Before Daylight, in the aspect that nothing but natural instruments have been used, no synth, no drum machines (which cluttered Gran Turismo to an almost-unbearable extent), etc. The nearest thing I could suggest you check out would be the song "For The Boys", which was recorded a year after the sessions for LGBD wrapped up, and was made specifically for the US version - because Koch Records needed a single. It has that type of sound - earthy, yet still uptempo and rocky... like a mix of "My Favourite Game" and "Live And Learn".

Toodles.

By the way, to the people that still don't like LGBD - put the CD into your player, and set the Play Mode to "Random". I'm beginning to think people don't like the album because of the running order.

Actually, this is quite true. Could do with a reshuffle, and maybe dropping "Couldn't Care Less" in favour of "Hold Me", then it'd be perfect.

Wow, I'm surprised I never noticed the similarities between a song like Lovefool and FF.

http://s25.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=1VM7K048PQ0GF268VGEO0NXEHR

(the cover design and photography for the new record is great too).

an interview with Nina:

http://www.cardigans.com/?sid=article&pid=read&id=3082

(this also tells you how often the 50-disc changer gets cleaned out; I tend to just yank things out randomly when I want to hear something)

But "Overload" is, as I said above, absolutely magnificent, though not quite as good as, say, "Paralyzed" or "Lead Me Into The Night".

i was scared to play it for the first week or so that i had it. it's their sixth album and i was afraid their music may have lost any interesting aspects by now, just since it's been so long. but nah, they're still great. one of my favorites.

oh, by the way, the single they have out now is actually, probably the least best song on the album. don't let that one detour your interest if you have any.

How long is "Drip drop teardrop" supposed to be, btw? iTunes suggests that the track is 3:22; the mp3 I have is only about 2:54, and ends quite abruptly, although it also sounds like it could be like that.

Bless your soul. Know the feeling

Funny thing. So I was revisiting Long Gone Before Daylight last week and all and it was great, as good as I remember - but something was missing.

And then I found it in a folder on my harddrive - the 2004 KCRW Morning Becomes Eclectic session. I'm ashamed of forgetting about it because christ, I must have listened to this acoustic set a hundred times. Gorgeous arrangements.

1. Intro
2. And Then You Kissed Me
3. Erase/Rewind
4. You're The Storm
5. interview
6. For What It's Worth
7. Communication
8. My Favourite Game
9. Outro

Highly recommend having a listen on youtube.

Good bside from that rec

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xv7yXB9iW5g

can we talk about the gorgeous irony in 'higher', wherein the lyrics sing of ascension while the bass line descends in contrast

i can't wait to see this album played live. not bought a ticket yet, but it's £40 - and most the videos i've seen of them playing live to date have been a bit disappointing... anybody seen them care to chime in?

I saw them on the Super Extra Gravity tour and it was incredible but then again I am a huge fan. They don't touch anything pre Gran Turismo now.

Holy hell, why did no one tell me how fucking good they were in the mid-90s??!?!

spun 'first band on the moon last night' for the first time. what a strange little record. 'iron man' cover is funny. i didnt realise how much i love lounge pop. always did like that 'vertigogo' song from four rooms, though. so so excited for next month

i had no idea they were playing again but a friend of mine mentioned a london show. the website I saw for them hasn't been updated in years.

yeah they dont really play at all anymore. such a surprise. maybe we'll have another LP at some point

"how I always memorize every single misery / and I seem to glorify everything inside of me!"

i've really rinsed gran turismo the past few months, and first band on the moon is so emotionally delicate in contrast to GT's cold, hard, clinical production. the drums are warm and buried, vibraphone and gentle tuned percussion everywhere... im just having so much fun exploring their catalogue.

Absolutey joyous seeing Nina bang a cowbell and command the stage last night. Her voice is just as good as always.

Plenty of Long Gone Before Daylight after the Gran Turismo run through so I’m a happy chappy .

Nitpicking the crowd was a bit flat at the Manchester Apollo, (imagine the Glasgow show will be a bit more fun).

Surprised the support was Jenny Wilson which was a v left field choice. Best light show I’ve seen in a while.

Jenny Wilson being the support act seems a difficult choice but I'm really excited to see her, she's the kind of act I've followed over the years with fondness knowing it's unrealistic I would ever get to see her so when I saw it revealed at the weekend I was gladly surprised.

i danced my ass off tonight in manchester. first night of the tour. they played the LP in running order then a lot of LGBD. new guitar player. crowd was dead, nobody knew the words - though of course everyone went crazy for 'lovefool'.

i hadnt been to an arena show in years, and found it so weird. mostly people talking all the way through. you paid £40 to be here. what the fuck? so many iphones in the air. its so weird.

this bootleg i took is dedicated to the sneering, arrogant engineer (who wasn't mixing for cardigans) who told me i couldn't place my field recorder on the table nearby his console: "what? who are you? no. no recording"

https://youtu.be/jugSNcJaoEc

tbh it was pretty daft of me to ask, i guess im just so used to it not being an issue at diy shows

The show was great - shes a real leader as well as a performer - and Gran Turismo sounded really good but it was the LGBD stuff that was incredible. I think its easy to overlook how great the two albums are that they've released this century

The crowd were so uninspiring though - no dancing, no energy, no fun. Even "Lovefool" and "Carnival" were met with seeming indifference, it almost felt like everyone there was attending by accident

BUT I am quite drunk and I got to meet Jenny Wilson and thank her for her amazing, fearless album so it was definitely a victory of sorts

yes! what a weird show. carnival was the last song? its the only one i didnt recognise. hope you enjoy the recording

it was the LGBD stuff that was incredible

omg i believe it

oh no wait that was No Sleep...

oh sorry yr talking about the show tonight i presume. my bad

well, we're never getting a new album, are we, but...

https://music.apple.com/gb/album/the-rest-of-the-best-vol-1/1764932320