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Emmerdale

27/03/2011 21:00

Signed to the Stockholm label, `The Cardigans' debut album `Emmerdale' (1994) (named in tribute to the British television show "Emmerdale Farm" (1972) showcased Persson's sweet voice and Svensson's winning way with a tune. Much attention was focused on Persson's undoubted attractiveness, some interviews airbrushed the other band members out entirely. Persson found this sort of exposure discomfiting, being promoted as a pin-up was undermining to her real musical ambitions.

Though the sky is sunny on the cover, Emmerdale is quite a melancholy affair. First song "Sick & Tired" (the single) hints that all is not well in the Cardigans' camp, and later songs ("Black Letter Day," "After All...," "Cloudy Sky") also capture a depressed mood which conflicts with the mostly upbeat and positive arrangements. Of course, all but two of the original songs were written by a converted metal fan, bassist Magnus Svenignsson. In keeping with that fact, the cover of "Sabbath Bloody Sabbath" shouldn't surprise anyone, though its clever arrangement and the touching vocals of Nina Persson -- even though she's throwing around Ozzy Osbourne lyrics -- render the song practically unrecognizable. In the end, the battle between positive arrangements and melancholy lyrics creates a wistful mood that suits the Cardigans well

The album has sold over 1,100,000 copies worldwide. - John Bush, Rovi

Tracklisting: 01 Sick And Tired / 02 Black Letter Day / 03 In The Afternoon / 04 Over The Water / 05 After All... / 06 Cloudy Sky / 07 Our Space /07 Rise And Shine / 08 Celia Inside / 09 Sabbath Bloody Sabbath / 10 Seems Hard / 11 Last Song

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