The Cardigans

One of the most pleasing pop groups of the '90s, The Cardigans specialize in sugary confections that would grow annoying very quickly if they weren't backed by great musicianship and clever arrangements. The band's 1995 breakout album, Life, reflected The Cardigans at their most saccharine -- the sunny disposition of vocalist Nina Persson being the major argument in favor -- and critics inserted the group into the space age pop revivalist camp. The Cardigans later proved that they were more difficult to pigeonhole, however.