Cardigans: From Swedish Metal To Lounge Tunes, More

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The Cardigans and Red House Painters, 8 p.m. tomorrow, Moore Theatre; sold out. -----------------------------------------------------------------

There's been a lot of publicity about the popularity of lounge music lately, but so far only one new hit song has come of it - the Cardigans' delicate, kitschy, soft-swaying "Love-fool," featuring the sweet singing of vocalist/co-lyricist Nina Elisabet Persson.

But the album that the song comes from, "First Band on the Moon," the second American release by the Swedish popsters, isn't totally lounge music - although the disc does have an overall retro feel. Only "Heartbreaker," with its beatnik/ jazzy vibes and cymbals, also fits into the lounge-music mold.

Formed five years ago by guitarist Peter Svensson and bassist Magnus Sveningsson, the group was inspired by the Beatles. And that influence is readily apparent on the new album in such songs as "Choke," "Been It," "Never Recover" and "Step On Me," which have the lightheartedness and pop drive of the Fab Four's "Rubber Soul" and "Revolver" periods.

Other songs have an easy-listening R&B feeling ("Your New Cuckoo") or an ice-cool pop sheen ("Happy Meal II," "Great Divide"). And there is one heavy-metal cover, Black Sabbath's "Iron Man," turned into a tame ballad with a slightly jazzy feel.

The song is a tongue-in-cheek reference to Svensson and

Sveningsson's past roles as heavy-metal rockers. As unlikely as it may seem - because their current style is so mellow - the two met while playing in a Swedish metal band in their hometown of Jonkoping. When they grew tired of metal, they decided to start their own band, one that would be completely different.

Recruiting Persson, keyboardist Lars-Olof Johansson and drummer Bengt Lagerberg (another original member quit to become a Hare Krishna), they formed the Cardigans.

Embracing traditional pop, the band released its debut Swedish album, "Emmerdale," in May 1994. The first single, "Rise & Shine," became a big hit in Europe. The next year, they released a second album, "Life," which was picked up for American release by Mercury (which added some cuts from "Emmerdale"). Touring Europe with Oasis upped the band's profile, and curiosity about the group had built by the time its third (second in America) album, "First Band on the Moon," was released.

Nevertheless, "Lovefool" was a surprise hit, because it's so different from most songs on the radio. Although it peaked about two months ago (it's since fallen off the Billboard Top 100 singles list), it's still a staple of adult Top 40 radio and the video for it is still being played on MTV. The success of the song probably helped pave the way for such similar off-the-wall singles as the Squirrel Nut Zippers' "Hell" and White Town's "Your Woman."

Opening tomorrow's sold-out Moore show is San Francisco's Red House Painters, the self-described "slow-folk" band well-known here for its many club appearances, as well as some solo shows by head Painter Mark Kozelek, known for his somber, poetic ballads.

The Painters took a left turn on their fifth and most recent album, "Songs for a Blue Guitar," released last year. Trading his dirgelike, highly personal tunes for some surprising covers, Kozelek somehow turned Paul McCartney's "Silly Love Songs" into an ominous ballad, slowed Yes' sprinting "Long Distance Runaround" to a walk, and transformed the Cars' "All Mixed Up" into a hypnotic ballad.