In Honour Of The Plummeting Temperatures

The Cardigans. Possibly my favourite band just for enjoying every iteration of their development.

1994 – “Rise And Shine”

It’s Sweden, it’s sunny, let’s all enjoy a smorgasbord of cabbage and forget our troubles!

1996 – “Lovefool”

Taking the delightful pop and merging it with the kind of desperate and awkward romanticising that was part of everyone’s 90s experience. Shakespeare didn’t hurt, either.

1999 – “Erase/Rewind”

Pop sensibilities with an edge for their infinitely listenable turn-of-the-century release Gran Turismo.

1999 – “Burning Down The House”

Same year, different sound – and probably the best cover to surface from that Tom Jones resurgence. Remember that?

2003 – “3.45 : No Sleep”

The closer of their under-appreciated but phenomenally good low-key record Long Gone Before Daylight, No Sleep is the soundtrack to shuffling around the kitchen at god knows what time of night.

2005 – “I Need Some Fine Wine And You, You Need To Be Nicer”

A tongue-twistingly titled foray into a rougher sound, and a delightful “fuck you” to every shitty partner in the history of the world.

Right then. I’m off into the Baltic fucking Toronto Winter.