This early Cardie's release (their first) is an unknown treasure. It is unlike any of their other albums, although you can hear signs of things to come. The cool, jazzy tone of many songs lends a warmth missing from some of their more aloof outings. This LP is mysterious, inspiring and inspired. The new reissued version comes with a fantastic bonus EP of songs from the European version of 'Life' that are as good as any of the remaining tunes on the US version. If the rousing 'Closing Time' doesn't move you, please have a friend check your pulse, you may be dead and not even know it. Long live The Cardigans!

At first listen, you may hear the Cardigans' jazzy arrangements, kitschy keyboards, and wispy vocals, and think of it as a light, airy, piece of fluff.

But listen closer, and you'll notice a dark cloud befalling the music. This fog of apathy, betrayal, misery, and depression is what makes this album work, and this is why I gave it five stars. The surprisingly downcast lyrics on this piece of music elevate it above many other pop albums today.

Though the album does get dull during some of it's songs, some high points include: the orchestral complexity of the guitars in Sick & Tired, lead singer Nina Persson's dreamy depression in Black Letter Day, a slightly disco version of Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, and the sugary sweet Seems Hard fades into chaos.

Also, the overwhelmingly sad album closer (appropriately titled Last Song) is one of the most haunting songs I've ever heard.

The bonus EP on the U.S. version is also filled with pure, bubbly sweet pop songs, and is a personal favorite of my younger relatives.

A great album, worth your money and time.

The Cardigans were not even twenty years old when " Emmerdale " was released in Sweden yet they were already able to write lushious , well-crafted pop gems . What was most striking about them was that sense that these kids were like...living in another time - maybe the 60's . Just remember the video-clip of " Sick And Tired " : the long-sleeve shirts , the flower mini skirts , them having a quiet pic-nic by the sea . It was full of images as far as possible from celebrity-like attutude and pop stardom .

What about the album now ? Well ,lead singer Nina Persson looks and sings like an angel and combined with Peter Svensson's first class songwritting , the results are mostly exceptional . Already widely known hit singles " Rise And Shine " and " Sick And Tired " are pure pop perfection while " Over The Water " has this fearless carefreeness in it , it's almost magic ." Cloudy Sky " 's daydreaming ( " ...i've wrote some poems for you " ) and " Our Space " with it's hypnotic , somehow psychedelic rythym also stand out .

More than a decade later the Swedes are still on top form . Their latest offering " Long Gone Before Daylight " is another elegant piece of pop and rock music . Their sound has a new texture and Nina's lyrics ( " these are the promises i can keep / to live like i must / and ride with the dust in my face ..." ) display the fact that they are in a totally different life phase right now . Each and everyone of their releases though has it's own seperate music value and all together are the pieces of the bright career of five hard working , highly gifted musicians .

At first listen, you may hear the Cardigans' jazzy arrangements, kitschy keyboards, and wispy vocals, and think of it as a light, airy, piece of fluff.

But listen closer, and you'll notice a dark cloud befalling the music. This fog of apathy, betrayal, misery, and depression is what makes this album work, and this is why I gave it five stars. The surprisingly downcast lyrics on this piece of music elevate it above many other pop albums today.

Though the album does get dull during some of it's songs, some high points include: the orchestral complexity of the guitars in Sick & Tired, lead singer Nina Persson's dreamy depression in Black Letter Day, a slightly disco version of Sabbath Bloody Sabbath, and the sugary sweet Seems Hard fades into chaos.

Also, the overwhelmingly sad album closer (appropriately titled Last Song) is one of the most haunting songs I've ever heard.

A great album, worth your money and time.

This is a great CD and comes with a bonus disc of unreleased material. If you like The Cardigans' LIFE album (and I think its one of their best-as well as one of the best albums of the 90s), Emmerdale is a must have.