The Cardigans

While there were few surprises to be found on the regular single-disc edition of the Cardigans' best-of CD (just a 22-song roundup that really did hit all the right peaks), the limited-edition bonus disc is an absolute eye-opener. Collecting the best of the band's rarities and B-sides, its 24 songs include no less than a dozen of the tracks that appeared on the Japan-only The Other Side of the Moon compilation, including a dynamic alternate mix of "War" and a superb visit to the always haunting "Carnival." An early version of "Happy Meal" and a stark demo of "Lovefool" (complete with outside traffic noise) are both remarkable inclusions, while fans who hanker for more of the career-best Long Gone Before Daylight and Super Extra Gravity albums will thrill to find the disc rounded out by all eight of the B-sides that accompanied the associated singles. One can nitpick, of course; the Cardigans' versions of Kraftwerk's "Das Model" and Black Sabbath's "Changes" would have made excellent inclusions here, especially as listeners really don't need two versions of "Hold Me" or, on disc one, the Tom Jones duet "Burning Down the House." Completists will mourn the absence of the "My New Cuckoo" single (alongside several earlier 45s), and so on. But until the day a Cardigans box set comes along, this package deserves all the attention you can give it. ~ Dave Thompson, All Music Guide