The Cardigans S/D C/D

I find it odd there's no thread about them in ilx. I thought they broke up after 1998's Gran Turismo but today I found out they're still together and that they've released two more albums in the past decade. I don't really know much about them asides from their big hits.
Classic or dud? Anything worth hearing?

'Live and Learn' is my favourite, and sounds like Sheryl Crow to boot.

there are like fifty zillion cardigans songs on youtube if you feel like, i don't know, catching up or whatever.

There is :

New Cardigans sampler

I just heard "Lovefool" at Habit and thought this is the greatest pop song of the 90s! Without, admittedly, being a serious take. Was just so good but couldn't really put this in the CVS thread because I do hear it in the wild every now and again.

It's a perfect song and I've never gotten tired of it. Surprised Lana Del Rey or somebody hasn't done a moody slowed down cover.

‘Life’ is one of the few albums I’ve never burned out on, such a great album.

Having a bit of a Cardigans moment today. Revisited the early sunshine jazz-pop stuff. Enjoyed the shiny-sad electronic-rock of Gran Turismo. All very familiar to me.

What I hadn't heard before was the 2003 album Long Before Daylight. It's country-rock and it's remarkably good. This band were really something.

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

LGBD is a really exquisite album that seemed to divide audiences at the time ('desolate elegance' vs 'bit dull') but generally I think is pretty well-regarded now? Whereas almost no one seems to have a good word to say about final album Super Extra Gravity (apart from, like, Bob Stanley), which is essentially a more jagged-glam version of the same mood and is definitely also worth checking out. It doesn't settle into one sustained mood but it is warm and gorgeous: try 'Overload' and 'Don't Blame Your Daughter'

I remember Long Gone Before Daylight getting some good reviews at the time. I think it was Peter Robinson (of Popjustice fame) who gave it a good review in the NME and John Earls on Teletext's Planet Sound loved it. It did absolutely nothing commercially though. Thankfully ts reputation has grown in time. It's one of my favourite albums ever.

Super Extra Gravity isn't quite as perfect, but it is a strong album. I'm still mad I Need Some Fine Wine And You Need To Be Nicer wasn't a huge hit. It's such a brilliant single.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LJQVyvaQf-4

and also, yes, those final two albums are magnificent and totally overlooked