Reviews (page 4 of 8)
#500 not mad at it, some classics
Really solid the whole way through with a couple great tracks. Only problem is comparing this to the high bar they’ve set themselves. Rating: 3.9
Very interesting and not what I was expecting, was expecting upbeat pop tunes but this mas a complex and layered album, very much enjoyed 4.3
искренне насладилась за утренним мытьем посуды этим прекрасным поп альбомом, который слушается легко и свежо спустя 40 лет.
Nice!
Some gems but not my favorite abba album right now
An album of isolation and sadness. It’s refreshing to see an Artist or Group pull of a change in tone swapping the light and infectiously fun side of pop for a darker and more mature side, reflecting ABBA’s (then) current state of affairs with the collapse of both couples marriages. The B- Sides to the singles should also not be missed out!
Best ABBA I've heard
This was great. I usually only listen to the hits for ABBA but it was good to listen to an actual album in full. That opening track was a banger!
Best song - Slipping Through My Fingers
Very different than the usual ABBA songs but I really really like it.
Head over heels is a banger. I also like two for the price of one. A lot of the songs seem more deep than their typical shallow pop hits. I like the underlying message of the day before you came.
Pretty damn good
This record doesn’t contain any of the hits but man is it a good record. Sublime songwriting permeates this album yet it’s rather dark - especially considering the saccharine disco pop they ABBA are normally associated with. The synths and the delivery product, dare I say, a bit of a post apocalyptic mood to the proceedings - and listening to this will running in post USSR Batumi certainly helped. Loved this record - it’s a serious piece of art.
ABBA’S final album (for forty years anyway) and a darker, more melancholy take on their signature sound. Surprisingly effective!
I guess since I hadn’t heard as much of this it didn’t sound tired and over played like a lot of their stuff.
abbaouté
76/100
The best way I can describe ABBA is if Halloween music had class. They had their own vibe for sure and it's not bad at all but it is very 80s intro movie esq.
Was wondering when I saw this album had none of their hits on it but it was a solid album.
ABBAsourdis
I turned my nose up when I saw it was a lesser known ABBA album. I was surprised that I really liked it. There’s some really catchy moments and groovy bass lines. Some of the stage musical sounding songs were a bit much but I enjoyed it overall.
A solid album with some really solid synth work and bobs.
Not my sort of music but undeniably very good
Always listened to the extended version with extra 5 star singles such as the day before you came and then you get a 5 star album. The original is a bit too inconsistent, but still my favouritr ABBA album: 8/10
Didn't think I would give four stars to ABBA. This sounds a bit more sophisticated than their greatest hits.
Наверно Arrival мой более любимый альбом (включая великие хиты), но и этот звучит по-прежнему светло и мило. Поставлю 4, чтобы чисто разграничить альбомы Алкоальбом: маргарита с лимоном
ну учитывая все истории, получилось норм
Fuckin love abba. It was very good. Very alieny
This review was written and edited by Dr. Kaitlyn Forney: I personally, would give this album 5 stars. As someone with a poor attention span, I value good production as well as songs all sounding unique. Unlike Bryce Mattson, I do not enjoy when albums have songs that all start to blend together. Even though I listened to most of this album through Bryce’s bluetooth speaker while hiking up a mountain (strenuous) I could tell that each song had its own unique sound and each one could stand out on its own. I would actually listen to this album again which is unusual for someone as mentally challenged as myself. Thank you Bryce for letting me collaborate with you on this review.
Pretty consistently good. The music can get pretty theatrical at times and those are probably my least favorite moments, but it’s ABBA so it has to be expected. I also can’t stop listening to Two For The Price Of One. The bassline when that chorus hits is TOO FIRE. Overall a pretty fun listen. “I let the music play” and “like an angel…” are the only skips here for me. 7/9 with one standout great track is good enough for a 4. Best: two for the price of one, head over heels, slipping through my fingers Best: IF YOU DREAM OF THE GIRL FOR YOU THEN CALL US AND GET TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE
Really enjoyed this. Originally thought this would be way too much pop for me, however I really enjoyed. 4/5
Album uit de dying days van ABBA. Het naderende einde van de groep is weerspiegeld in de erg sterke nummers, die al merkbaar anders zijn dan de voorgaande albums. Leuk album van de Zweedse popgroep. leukste nummer: Head Over Heels "Two For The Price Of One" gaat over man die een trio wilt met twee vrouwen, totdat hij Rupert Holmes-esque leert dan een de moeder is van de ander.
A more mature less disco version of ABBA. The song The Visitors sounds like a Sparks composed tune, which was a pleasant surprise. The rest reminded me of what you might see as part of a theatrical musical. Good but not fantastic. 3.5 stars.
It’s fine!
Great singers. Though this shows some flashes of the typical showtunesy ABBA I'm familiar with, there are some very cool songs on this album. Highlight is definitely the title track, which has an atmospheric and dark vibe I really got into.
Superior pop music. A bit formulaic maybe, but still the occasional surprise - 'The day before you came' is different and a great song.
Not their greatest, but i still dig this
Nice!! Jättebra bas
A hugely successful band get together for what turns out to be the last album they record, with a significant us of synthesizers. No, not the justifiably admired Abbey Road, but The Visitors. The usual mix of magnificence and tweeness in one album, with those synthesizers and the mature themes adding some poignancy.
Not bad, ABBA. Not bad. Liked it more than expected. It wasn't just cheap pop music. 3.5/5
Such a unique and adventurous album from one of the biggest pop acts of all time, with a massive musical theatre influence (it’s no surprise that Chess came just a few years after this). With the exception of One of Us, which has always been one of my least favourite ABBA singles (and it is such a shame that it’s the only song to represent this album on ABBA Gold) every track is fantastic, and the deluxe version with the addition of The Day Before You Came is just as strong
a darker and more brooding? sound than the ABBA I'm used to. would definitely listen to this again. somehow this album reminds me of 90s karaoke montages 3.75/5
Heard it before?: Yes Enjoy it?: Definitely, very strong across the board and has the best of Abba on this when you want to listen to the better less known tracks Favourite song: Track 13 - Under Attack
Deserves a 4 just for The Visitors
Would listen to some again
Their swansong, and not too bad either.
The album cover is really hot Enjoyed it! Head over heels and under attack were fun. I want to look into the socio-political context that everyone keeps talking about! nothing really nuanced to say- this album is less disco pop fun dance music than other ABBA albums. It seems more “mature” but stays true to the ABBA style of harmonization and such. I think I was listening to it when my vyvanse kicked in so now I have to listen to it for the rest of the day. I’ve listened to it 2.5 times already. Ha ha hahahaha hahaha
I LOVED SLIPPING THROUGH MY FINGERS This album is just a ton OF SAD GORL DANCING BANGERS AND IM HERE FOR IT Didn’t pay too much attention to the nitty gritty cuz work was a pain today but I really liked it. ABBA songs kinda blend together so much so maybe not as much variety as I’d like. BUT can’t say i was ever not shaking it while listening. TBH I hadn’t heard a lot of the songs on this album but liked them WAY more than most other abba songs i’ve heard (not that i got anything against abba) In listening to all of these older albums. I have to say they really pack the good stuff in the beginnings
amazing.
Un d’aquells discos on la paraula maduresa cobra sentit. Les trifulques i desamors entre els membres es deixen sentir durant tot el minutatge i les melodies festives marca de la casa deixen espai aquí a cançons més complexes que donen una nova dimensió a l’univers musical dels suecs. ‘One of Us’ és el hit del disc, i molt bon representat de què espera a qui s’adentri en la resta del treball
If I had a nickel for every time I wrote, "this is not what I was expecting," on this site I'd probably have enough for a soda. That being said, it's a darker record than I expected for ABBA, which maybe a touch more progressive pop. It's still just as grand as you'd come to expect, though hits a lull through the middle. Call it 3.5. Favorite tracks: "The Visitors", "Head Over Heels", "When All Is Said and Done"
nice, I like Abba and this album is more "mature" than some of their earlier work.
A mature late career ABBA who, at this stage, comprised four divorcees rather than two young couples. Unsurprisingly, the music is not as unashamedly joyful as their early work. However, the album is still jam packed with irresistible melodies and hooks. Their last album before a 40 year hiatus, the lyrics and music work in unison to create a reflective mood that feels like the final chapter or epilogue of a story (until the 2021 reboot). Rating: 3.5/5 Playlist track: One Of Us Date listened: 13/02/23
The greatest pop band ever. If you can't appreciate ABBA, you're dead inside.
Meaui
I really like ABBA - even went to their museum in October - but I just don't love ABBA. 4.5
Thought I didn’t know any tracks from this until “One of Us”, one of my favourite ABBA songs, rose from the mist. The synth orchestra is a little goofy but doesn’t detract from my enjoyment of The Visitors. Knowing the band from their Gold compilation alone, I know there’ll be days where I vibe to these (relatively downcast) songs more than Dancing Queen or Take a Chance on Me. HL: “Head Over Heels”, “One of Us”, “Two for the Price of One”, “Like an Angel…”
Liked this album a lot more than I thought I would, actual interesting music and not just fun chanty tunes like Abba's more popular discography. 8/10
A new ABBA album for me! Features some of their best, but also The Day Before You Came. Usual mixture of bops and slower ones and I never like their slower ones so much.
Fun, good pop music
Pretty good. Really liked soldiers and slipping through my fingers. 7.5/10
Truly EPIC lol but really was… made me feel chills
at first I didn't like it. But it grew on me
Not an album I'd listened to before and not many known tracks but I definitely enjoyed it. Some mature, interesting tunes. I particularly liked the line from 'When All Is Said And Done', "Slightly worn but dignified and not too old for sex". Solid 3.5 that could probably make it to 4 with another couple of listens.
Not Abba's most known album but still a good time. I believe only one track from this record made it into Mamma Mia
Nice. Quite some songs I didn't know. Clear ABBA sound (but somewhat more matured) throughout the album. This album shows that ABBA has great musicians!
Beautiful melancholy songs.
Didn't know This ABBA album but starting to seriously doubt whether they have any bad songs, Don't like it as much as Voulez-Vous but it's still really good
Wonderful! Had to spin it a few times for the songs to land, I'm not used to Abba beyond the hits. Much less upbeat and much more melancholy than what I'm used to from them. Works like a charm
i love ABBA so so so much so i was very excited to finally sit down and listen to this full album. i wanna start off with the album cover because it’s literally gorgeous and i think it perfectly encapsulates the colors of the album: deep, warm oranges and reds. my favorite songs are: Head Over Heels, When All Is Said And Done, I Let The Music Speak, Slipping Through My Fingers, The Day Before You Came, and Under Attack. if i had to choose a least favorite song it would probably be Like An Angel Passing Through My Room but regardless i really liked this album!! :)
3.5/5
Suprisingly, I am really enjoying this. It's at time a bit too sweet but still a very solid album. From what I've read, this is the last album of ABBA recorded during the time when not only the group was falling apart but also the marriages of the members. This is reflected in the lyrics, most notably in One of Us. I like the theatrical I Let the Music Speak, which also foreshadows the next projects of the men from the group, who went into musicals. I also feel like Weyes Blood must have listened a lot to this album when making Titanic Rising because I hear a lot of similarities here and I love it. One of Us and Head Over Heels are great pop songs with incredibly catchy hooks - still ABBA's magic showing through. Also, One of Us makes me thing of The Sign by Ace of Base (notabene also a Swedish group) - pay attention to this little backing voice part in the chorus that sounds exactly like "life is demanding without understanding". Bass line on For the Price of One makes me think of this obscure Polish song from the 90s about animal rights (Buzu Squat - Nasze Przebudzenie). Again, sometimes too sweet, especially Slipping Through My Fingers (though the lyrics are really touching, reminiscent of She's Leaving Home by The Beatles). The cover art is beautiful and reflects perfectly the contents of the album. 4/5 - will be definitely coming back to this one.
More enjoyable than I expected
Ohh boy, more 80s music. That's what I thought after the reveal. But to my surprise, I got full chills down my arms in the first minute of "The Visitors". By the line "Now I hear them moving", I was literally popping my elbows out and shaking my booty all around the apartment. This full-on body excitement was a bit short lived, though. When I realized the second song "Head Over Heels" was basically an 80s-style Bolero-Mambo song, I found a little kernel of skepticism forming in my gut. And when I heard "I Let The Music Speak", I had to fight the urge to hit the "next" button to get me out of weird-80's-musical-theater-land. After that, I had a bit of a hard time getting back into the album. I had another booty-shaking moment during "One of Us", but for the most part I struggled with the more saccharine, balladic moments that were scattered throughout the album. I thought "Slipping Through My Fingers" was an exception; despite all the drama in the verses, that chorus melody and those thick vocal textures felt just right to my ear. "Cassandra" also seemed to strike a good balance between the nearly-too-sweet delivery of the verses and breakout triplet gallop and polychromatic textures of the chorus. In fact I noticed that same interplay throughout most songs on the album: single-vocal verses delivered in an almost uncomfortably earnest recitative style, offset by choruses full of surprisingly rich and electric vocal textures and rhythmically driving, well-sculpted melodies. This latter feature is the thing that kept me tuned in. In general, I was impressed by this album's leaping melodies, unexpected harmonic shifts, rich vocal textures, and crisp grooves. And even though I couldn't get into the musical-theater-style verses and the over-articulated vocal delivery that characterized much of the album, I think "The Visitors" is well-crafted, earnest, colorful, and at times surprising.
Oh man, I love ABBA. I saw a Philly ABBA cover band last year and they were fantastic, so I can safely assume real ABBA would blow my mind. I can’t help but bop my head when they come on. This isn’t my favorite ABBA album by a long shot, but it has a few stand out songs. I listened to it in the car with Jacob and he was complaining about the album the whole time (occasionally moaning “no, no, no”). Dispute his whining, I was able to thoroughly enjoy ABBA’s magic. The title song, The Visitors, starts off the album with a new energy and twist. Head Over Heels keeps the momentum going and feels a bit more classic ABBA to me. When All is Said and Done is another banger. I Let the Music Speak is really odd—Klezmer-influenced! I can’t help but sing along to One of Us. It’s cheesy, it’s all cheesy, but I love it. But Cassandra has to be my favorite. Some of the tracks (especially parts of Soldiers) sound like Andrew Lloyd Webber could have written them, which is good or bad depending on your penchant for slightly broadway-style vocals and early 80s synth. All in all, great album, great fun listening to it. Great fun witnessing Jacob angrily heart most of the tracks after declaring he “can’t do ABBA.” 4/5 for me!
This felt a lot like abbas kid a. It was wildly different for the first song and they definitely tried something completely different for the album but at the end of the day you can still tell what band it is. The album itself is great too with Abba delivering yet another album where there aren’t really any skips. Slipping through my fingers is still a standout and so is the first song + the day before you came just because they’re so different from typical abba
7/10. I like ABBA. But why this album?
Had some enchanting disco moments but dragged a lot in the middle. 8/10
Haven't quite finished, but really good so far and I really like the song "Head over Heels".
ABBA's final album does not disappoint, with infectious rhythms and catchy hooks that make you want to dance, regardless of your attitude.
The first album on here I've actually heard all the way through before this when I was going through all of ABBA's discography, but I'll listen to it again to freshen up my opinions. While not my favorite ABBA album, it is certainly up there. It's such a change up from usual tone of an album by the group, being far more open to minor keys and more "darker" subjects (not that the album is deeply psychological or anything), and I think it benefits from it. It certainly has that "final album" feel to it, which is why their new album, Voyage, is such a huge disappointment to me. Head Over Heels is a huge standout to me, which seems to not be the most popular song on here judging from other reviews, but I see it as a top five ABBA song easily. It's an album that shows ABBA is capable of a lot more than just generic pop like many seem to think it is. You can especially tell in the reviews who didn't bother to listen to the album (why bother rating it?) and who did. Oh well, very enjoyable. Perhaps not as good as I remember overall, as I don't return to listening to songs off this album as much as stuff like Voulez Vous, but still good.
This album was more interesting than I expected. Though the disco groove was present, the music itself was more mature and the lyrics dealt with Cold War issues the dissolution of relationships, which was reflected in the band itself.
A refreshing departure from the usual radio-friendly disco tracks which catapulted ABBA into music stardom. Everything is still thoroughly composed on the album, but the tracks seem to have more air to breathe and space to develop in. The songwriting is of course extraordinary with the title track providing a strong start while warning the listener that this is not your usual ABBA endeavor. Good stuff.
If you’re expecting another ABBA album for your nights of partying, you’re sorely mistaken. Like the title suggests, this feels like an alien that tries to blend in with the ABBA discography - in the best way possible. I mean, who would’ve thought of an ABBA record containing lyrics about nuclear war in 6/4 and strong Cold War references? While not being their most catchy album it is by far the most interesting album by the group and it solidifies Andersson and Ulvaeus’ exceptional songwriting partnership.
Weirdly was in an ABBA mood before getting this despite not listening to them for years. Their hits are usually good but can be too happy, poppy, and slightly annoying to listen to reguarly. So getting an album with dark, introspective, somber and melancholy lyrics with some intriguing instrumentals caught me by surprise. The title track was a great start and didn't get eclipsed until One Of Us, although the songs in between were still good despite having a bit of that overbearing shininess. The final two tracks of the original release were a dark note to end on but left a memorable impact. The b sides and the 1982 singles were good too, Under Attack being the highlight. If you're not a fan of ABBA, this is probably going to be either the album that cements your distate, or gives you enough insight and appreciation to know how great they were/are. I'm definitely in that second camp.
Great vocal group, upbeat energy
These aren't the songs you'll see being sung on Greek islands, but they are about girls getting out and getting it. Love.
So fun, easy listening, some songs sound quite #phantomoftheopera-esque
Yeah this is a fun album. Classic remnants of the 70s/disco/OG ABBA sounds carrying over but introducing the new cheesy vocal arrangement starting to become popular in the 80s. One Of Us is a great highlight of the fantastic bass work by Rutger Gunnarsson. I am glad to have gotten this one under my belt. It's a unique pivot from their preceding albums, and definitely not in a negative way. Everybody loves the hits but this album encapsulates the band fairly well. The closing track Under Attack is a fitting way to end as it touches on the classic poppy sound we want in ABBA, hooking you into exploring the rest of their discography.
Jedan od najboljih njihovih albuma.
Super based album. Much better than the usual ABBA fare. This is going into my regular rotation.
4, Catchy
Abba, perfect pop songs and beautiful harmonies. 😍
What was, until Voyage forty years later, the last curtain call for ABBA remains a masterclass in bowing out with grace and integrity without looking and sounding as if they're running on fumes. The Visitors will always be ABBA's gloomiest album, as encapsulated by the spaces inhabited in the album cover by the once happily in love, now separated duos of Agnetha and Björn and Anni-Frid and Benny and the topics of the songs being sung for the first and, perhaps, only time. The Visitors shall be welcome without prejudices and fear, they shall do as they please and leave you wondering how they'd remain silent, having allowed the music to speak, for over forty years. Favorites: The Visitors, Head Over Heels, When All is Said and Done, Soldiers, I Let the Music Speak, One of Us, Two for the Price of One, Slipping Through My Fingers, Under Attack.
several classic ABBA songs
It's abba lol
Molto ABBA, non male
Poppy, but too much
Very good. Good balance of songs. Upbeat and slower
Nah cause why is this so good. Everything is so catchy and well done.
Pretty good. Cringe review :(
sometimes dramatic, sometimes nearly serene, always ketchy. but no dancing queen, 0/10.
Un très bon moment passé en la compagnie d'ABBA, j'ai notamment adoré trois moments: - la démonstration de saut à la perche de Vianney - l'entrée du lanceur de couteaux dans la salle de tournage - le cache cache avec Laurent Baffie Un épisode à mettre entre toutes les mains.
Excellent mostly
Influence Alert: Marina and the Diamonds totally bites a whole bunch of influence from ABBA, it’s so obvious after sitting with an ABBA album all the way through (having previously basically only known them from the Mama Mia soundtrack *killed by brick through the window*). I liked a few songs off this one, looking forward to hearing more from the generator
Pop de Abba. A veces parece un músical. Un 4.
pleasant and even album
Interesting
5/6/2022 - ALBUM #99 Today's Album: "The Visitors" by Abba - Abba is one of those bands for me that I never got into, but knew that as soon as I did I would probably dig it a lot. I knew the style of some of their bigger hits and just figured they were a pop band with great vocals and a soft-rock twist, but this album demonstrates some real song-writing maturity and has a lot of highlights. I think if there is one problem I have with this album, other than some songs just not peaking my interest as much as other, it would probably be with the overall flow of the record. I think the first track is pretty mediocre compared to a lot of the killer hits we get deeper into the record, and although I really like the closing track, it doesn't feel like a conclusion as much as just another one of the hits that they just happened to place at the end. It fades out in this really cheesy way that feels like it should be closer to the middle of the track list and it just sort of left an inconclusive feeling. Other than that, though, there are so many amazing tracks where the band is laying down an absolutely killer groove with lots of synths and electronic flourishes and the vocalists always giving top notch performances all around. I really like the track Two For The Price Of One. The groove is super funky, the chorus is absolute ear candy, and the vocal harmonies are absolutely beautiful. Like I said before, some tracks do sort of drag and really don't warrant their inclusion and given the 53 minute runtime of this project, all of them could have been removed and it still would have been a full length LP, but I really enjoy a lot of cuts on here and I would absolutely come back to this album. Overall, it's a really pleasant listen and was a great way to introduce me to Abba. Listen to this one if you aren't quite sold on Abba yet and I think you'll find they're pretty dang good. Highlights: Head Over Heels, When All Is Said And Done, Soldiers, I Let The Music Speak, One Of Us, Two For The Price Of One, Slipping Through My Fingers, Should I Laugh Or Cry, The Day Before You Came, Under Attack Score: 7/10 A bunch of great hits, but some minor pacing issues.
Not every track stands the test of time, but those that do are still outstanding!
ABBA is pretty great and there were a lot of songs on this album I hadn't heard before. Not their biggest hits and a little bit more of a serious tone than their usual stuff. "Two For The Price Of One" brought back a bunch memories. I haven't thought about that song in a while but I listened to it all the time as a kid. Would not have been able to tell you who sings it before hearing it again on this listen.
You have to love a bit of ABBA. Make sure to listen to the deluxe/extended version, the extra B-sides are actually some of the best material somehow.
Nice
Somehow I've never listened to ABBA, at least aside from the hits that we all know by heart against our will. This is really solid though, I did know a single song going in but I enjoyed quite a few. It's mostly good old-fashioned pop music, technically sound and often very catchy, and there's even some wildcard songs on here too. That kind of departure is always welcome in my eyes. I think the whole cult surrounding Mamma Mia had me avoiding ABBA like the plague, but I'm glad to announce that I think they're actually a good band and I no longer harbor any ill will toward them. In fact, I wouldn't mind another album. Favorite tracks: Under Attack, One of Us, The Visitors, I Let the Music Speak. Album art: I assume this is the band, scattered in a fancy art gallery type office. Their separation is telling because I think this was ABBA's last album for a while (40 years to be exact). Great shadows too, I like this one. 4/5 Favorite tracks:
Rather somber for being ABBA, which considering the timing of this album it is not too surprising, but the music is still quite good. I think I enjoyed the darker tracks more than the typical poppy style ones, but I can't say I disliked any of it. Unfortunately only a few tracks that really are worth coming back to, though. 7/10
It feels wrong saying it, bit ABBA are a really enjoyable listen. Wouldn't add anything off this to their greatest hits, but did quite like "I Let the Music Speak" and "Slipping Through my Fingers".
A weird pick for ABBA. This is one of their less popular ones with none of the big hits. But of course it's still good. My own mother would disown me if I spoke ill of this band. "Head Over Heels" and "One Of Us" are the standout tracks for me. The lyrics are darker than your usual happy poppy ABBA - both of the couples making up the band broke up, they were getting tired of working together and it's the Cold War. It made sense as their swan song. Until 2021. Haven't heard that new album yet. Heard it's nothing special.
very good album with interesting sounds.
Much better than expected.
Not being an ABBA fan, I was pleasantly surprised by this album. No major hits here, but some enjoyable toe tapping pop, albeit sometimes a little overcooked, from a band with swagger and confidence. The opening and title track has some cool futuristic synth sounds with a pulsing beat, One of Us has a peculiar reggae sound which they just about get away with and Two for the Price of One - well I’m still working out what the track is about but I defy you not to sing along to the chorus by the end. A fun album.
Not got all the bangers but a couple!
Classic Abba with an 80s twist. Somehow it seems darker than their earlier work, with no clear mega hit, but it still provides that punch of top notch pop songwriting and production.
This is another one I didn't expect to enjoy but did. ABBA are a hit or miss singles band to me but this album of theirs turned out to be halfway decent.
I only casually knew Abba. Turns out I like them. This was a fun album and their vocals and music were great.
Identifying ABBA : it’s ABBA! Couple of hits and a whole Scandinavian easy listening experience
"Late-era" ABBA is kind of an enigma to me (and also not so late era now!). Lacks the hits and compulsive singalong quality of early ABBA, but they make up for it with rich melodies and complex beats. I'll take it!
love the visitors, should i laugh or cry and two for the price of one
Underrated album but the greatest pop band in history
Very attractive sounding album, with some sweet melodies and creative lyrics (even if they're all about the same thing; dysfunctional relationships). Great record, but not the best collection of songs that ABBA had to offer.
Visitor? I hardly know her!
ABBA! There is so much range in this album. "Slipping Through My Fingers" still makes me cry sometimes thinking about my relationship with my mom :') Other favorite tracks: The Day Before You Came, Cassandra
They sound a bit tired here. Everything is mid-tempo, a little sad and gloomy. But there are still enough flashes of the old magic to make this one worth a listen, even if it doesn't feel like the pop juggernaut of old.
Holy fucking shit The Visitors (song) is fantasmagoric! It’s so good, it almost ruined this album for me. No joke. The rest of the album is a let down from this track and it skewed my overall opinion downward. I re-listened to the album starting from Head Over Heels (track 2) and then added The Visitors to the end. A marked improvement psychologically. I totally understand why it’s the first track because it was the first thing one hears when playing the LP and people couldn’t skip around like we can today. They wanted to hook the listener from the get go. I hearby officially petition the next re-release of this album (it would be the 5th release) to consist of the original album, starting from Head Over Heels, and put The Visitors last. What a fucking way to end an album! The Visitors (song) reminds me of Goldfrapp’s Head First album, which by the way also kicks some major ass. Hellyeah! The rest of the The Visitors (album) is solid, other than I Let the Music Speak, but not elite. On their own, tracks 2-9 would be borderline 3-4 star.
I can't keep on giving ABBA 5, but it's so tempting.
4/5
Similar tone across songs, always upbeat. Classic
Perfect for a grey dreary day.
ABBA always sounds like they are having fun, which I love.
The more I hear this album (over the years), the fonder I get of it. Interesting part for me is with the tracks, midway the general tone changes, and I think about how vinyl LPs were the main distribution medium back then, the A-sides/B-sides. I wonder how much the distribution medium influences the end product... and how well that translates to 21st century music streaming.
This was fun. Mostly these are songs I either don't know at all or don't know well. Stand-outs were the catchy, danceable title track and the theatrical I Let the Music Speak, a glimpse into what B&B had in store with the musical Chess (which I love). I didn't find much else that was very distinctive on this album but even a run-of-the-mill ABBA song is nice to listen to. I listened to the Deluxe edition with seven additional songs. I don't feel like those added much. A friend mentioned that he liked how the original album ended so I listened again, stopping at the end of Like an Angel Passing Through My Room, and I totally agree: that's how the album should end. There've been a lot of albums in this project where the version I find streaming is a Deluxe version and that's clearly not always good --- it matters how an album starts and ends and what order the songs play. This is a reminder to try to find the original version whenever I can.
I liked it, odd that I’ve heard almost none of this one. Wouldn’t call myself an ABBA fan exactly but it’s been around. It’s a good listen
I wasn’t sure at first but I do like this album. Bit more theatrical than their other stuff. Enjoyed Soldiers, slipping through my fingers
I wasn't familiar with any of these songs but I thought this was a great album. Dramatic and interesting.
You can't really get better than ABBA for pure pop perfection. No one has come close to touching what they created, even as pop styles continue to change. Nowadays you need a team of producers and auto-tuning to sound half as wonderful as they do, while ABBA just makes it sound so effortless. ABBA is always such a joy to listen to and this album is no exception. The songwriting is a bit more mature, along with a shift in musical style befitting a change of decade. The vocals are absolutely angelic. The arrangements are melodic and elegant. Musically, the vibe here is crisp and clear, very much in line with what was going on in the early 80s, maybe even a little ahead of the game. This album is a deep dive for anyone who hasn't gone further than the ABBA Gold hits, but what an enjoyable dive it is. It's unfortunate that songs this wonderful aren't more widely known. Fave Songs: The Day Before You Came, Cassandra, Under Attack, The Visitors
Great first half, weaker second. Still very enjoyable.
Solid variety of style and themes but front heavy with the hits. Some experimental sounds and voice effects feel appropriate for the early eighties. They deliver upbeat as well as anyone but had some solid slower/reflective jams to. The visitors, head over heels, when all is said and done, soldiers, one of us. 3.5
I actually enjoyed this, I was dreading it.
Amazing. Couldn’t believe how much I loved this album.
ABBA is amazing. Hands down. Known as their last released album, it went a different direction from their poppier, earlier stuff. But it was still artistically done with that amazing ABBA feel. An awesome album.
Absolutely solid, Abba have undeniable songwriting skills shown throughout this album
Abba is een van mijn all-time favoriete bands. Ik weet dat sommige mensen het zo ontzettend gay vinden, maar het is gewoon vrolijke no-nonsende muziek die verdomd goed in elkaar zit. Dan nu het "The Visitors" album ... Heel leuke elektronische snufjes in de liedjes, maar de echte Abba feel-good sound mis ik toch af en toe. Waarschijnlijk ook omdat de relatie niet meer zo goed was destijds. Het nummer "Two For The Price Of One" is het nieuwe pareltje dat ik dan toch weer ontdekt heb. ****
Great sad album, Dancing Queen this most certainly isn't.
Was moving and grooving then Slipping Through My Fingers had me sobbing on the ground under my desk. Boppin album.
Pop perfection.
it's pretty good
I dig this. ABBA pretty consistently delivers and this is no exception. It's definite '80s glorious synth-cheese.
Party disco. Absolutely.
I NEVER thought I’d vibe with an ABBA album this much, but alas this thing is great. Best song is that first tracks so good
A different sound for ABBA but the same result. Good stuff.
Enjoyed this album more than I expected.
For an album that has zero ABBA songs I've heard before, it was pretty good.
darker abba? don't mind if I do
At first I thought "second ABBA album this month, basically no hits again...", but this is amazing.
Album Song Ranking: Should I Laugh Or Cry Slipping Through My Fingers (H.M.) Under Attack I Let The Music Speak (H.M.) The Day Before You Came (H.M.) Like An Angel Passing Through My Room The Visitors Soldiers When All Is Said And Done One Of Us Head Over Heels Cassandra Two For The Price Of One Additional Comments: This album was hard to rank. I really enjoyed it overall. The first half I didn't enjoy as much as I did with the second half, but it definitely left a mark on me. Very nostalgic and overall great album.
Not my favorite ABBA album but...it's still ABBA so 4 stars it is!
This album, by Swedish Pop Sensation ABBA, is amazing, as all ABBA albums are!
A primeira coisa que lembrei-me com o nome do álbum foram os alienígenas do South Park. Este álbum não um de best of, não tem nenhum dos grandes êxitos dos ABBA, mas mesmo não tendo as músicas são muito agradáveis e é um álbum que se ouve muitíssimo bem valendo muito a pena. ABBA soa a ABBA e como todos sabemos eles soam muito bem. Destaco a cantilena Slipping Through My Fingers. Nota: 7/10 07/06/2024
I already know ABBA, there were less knnown songs, which I also enjoyed.
A B B A ! ! !
Nooit gedacht dat ik een volledig ABBA album leuk zou vinden.
Geen nummers van ABBA die ze vaak op de radio spelen. Maar wel heel herkenbare sound. Heb er wel van genoten
Only listened to one song, it was good.
Listened to it off and on all day. The right vibe for just about anything.
I love ABBA
Abba goes nu-wave
Yeah so a bit of Belgium craic I got really blocked with my mates a few weeks ago and did Slipping Through my Fingers on karaoke
enjoyable.
Reminds me of Maddy strongly. 'One of Us'
Great
I honestly liked this way more than I expected to.
The birth of pop
abba is way better than i thought
More depth than I expected; will have to revisit.
I love ABBA, but I've only ever heard the greatest hits. Super fun to explore an album, and it ROCKS!
I hadn't heard this particular ABBA before, but I'm into it!
Erittäin positiivinen kokemus. Mielikuvat ABBA:sta koostui lähinnä puhkikuulluista hittibiiseistä, mutta nämä vähemmän tunnetut biisithän toimii oikein mainiosti. Levyn hitti One Of Us on myös eräs niistä vähemmän ärsyttävistä hittibiiseistä. Tätä tulee kuunneltua toistekin.
Even on an album where it's a complete body of work, they can still write absolute rockets. 'One of us' is officially my fave ABBA tune. Wow, what a feeling listening to this band.
I had no idea whether to rate this a 3 or a 4- The Visitors is a great opening track, and honestly I enjoy the most of the A Side? B Side not as much. I feel like it's the low-end of 4, but yeah, fuck it, I'll give it a 4!
I like this album more than I thought I would. 4 stars
Decent, not my type of music tho
Actually pretty good, I didn't know I could enjoy the overhyped ABBA
1/22 Swedish "Devotion." Standout Tracks: When All Is Said And Done, I Let The Music Speak, Two For The Price Of One, Like An Angel Passing Through My Home
Visitor queens
Great production. Great vocals. I'm a little surprised at the selection - given that they had so many hits, and none are from this album. Just not a style of music I particularly enjoy.
ABBA is more of a greatest hits band to me ... they have 2 or 3 good nuggets on each album, but the rest is just ok.
Have never been that convinced by ABBA's popularity. I think they have some decent pop songs, but nothing that really compelled me to listen to a full album. This is decent, the production is lovely and the harmonies are beautiful, but it still leaves me just a little cold.
Mycket abba jag inte hört förut
"Slipping Through My Fingers" is doing A LOT of heavy lifting here on this album. This could've been shaved down and still showcased ABBA's charm.
I don’t mind ABBA, they’ve got their place in pop history and certainly had plenty of bangers. I liked some of this but equally parts of it that felt like a bit of a drag to get through. A decent effort though.
Hard not to sing along to some of these well written songs. This one definitely has a bit of 80s influence and I can’t decide if that is a good or bad thing.
Given they are arguably the greatest pop act ever, this album had all their underlying quality and build up, but lacked their classic catchy choruses. Lacking a finisher basically [insert football club comparator of your liking].
Stayed too long
J'aime beaucoup trop ABBA quand c'est bon, et ça me fait grincer des dents quand ce ne l'est pas. Mais objectivement, c'est jamais vraiment mauvais.
3.5
Certainly a more “adult” ABBA but still very much ABBA. Less catchy than earlier stuff.
The intro starts out so strong (and the first track in general) that I was prepared to really like this, and ended up feeling by the end that it was just OK. Some cool synth flourishes throughout like on Should I Laugh of Cry, but bogs down in the typical ABBA schmaltz at various points. Under Attack is kind of a cool closer, but ultimately ended up being a forgettable album despite a good start.
Arrival is saccharine, danceable 70s disco music and the Visitor is darker, more complex 80s dance music. I enjoyed both more than I expected, but I still don’t think I’ll be returning to either of them.
I read some of the reviews of this album before listening and I have to admit I was looking forward to it. Many suggested that it is a swan song to a brilliant run of music and this album hits different as it’s the last and they were Fleetwood Macing it relationship wise but ultimately it’s Abba in it but without the ABBA magic I feel.
Too long and I prefer the earlier albums
I’m not really an ABBA fan. I don’t generally tend to listen to radio stations that play them and if they do I usually turn over. I read some reviews before listening to this saying it’s not the usual ABBA fare, and they were right. It’s still not my cup of tea, but I didn’t actively seek to turn it off.
In the USA, ABBA was done by 1981 and Frida was about to go solo because the writing was on the wall. At first glance, the listener counts are super impressive for an album I've certainly never listened to. The music is tight and polished, the vocals, as expected, are finely tuned. 338M people listened to "Slipping Through My Fingers" (a lovely song, Snow White would have loved it) and 132M people have heard "One Of Us", that's a hit album considering every other song has 30M, 50M, 47M... but no fewer than 5M listens. "Under Attack" sounded like the ABBA my parents forced me to listen to. There's definitely an audience out there and I respect that. I wish there was an explanation by the author on what merits this album has to justify including it in a Top 1001 list. I feel ABBA had bigger, better albums with hits, diversity, and more influence on pop & culture. I didn't mind it, I just didn't drop my jaw or decide to listen to any song more than once. It had a bit of a Disney Soundtrack vibe, theater-ish songs that weren't quite pop radio friendly. So much of it sounded the same. 3 stars but I won't be throwing this one on at any point in the future. Now I know why Frida went solo ("I Know There's Something Going On" blew this entire album away, and it fit the 80's so much better).
Good album
some chill ABBA
slipping through my fingers is such a beautiful song, I can't stress this enough
Very vibey
Melancholy
This was more consistently thematic and dare I say, dramatic, than other albums from them. I’ll take it.
ABBA is better than I expected
This was an okay album. Where are the hits tho?!
I don't know what to do with this
It is weird that I got two ABBA albums in a row. I enjoyed Arrival more then the visitors, but still a very easily consumed album.
Started off really well. I sort of lost interest part way through though. All new to me I think apart from The Day Before You Came, which I mainly know through the Blancmange cover.
Having read a number of reviews that described this as the experimental and dark abba album- I was a little surprised to hear a slightly more downbeat but still essentially sparkly abba album. No obvious bangers but very well crafted songs and great vocals. Also contains possibly the cheeriest song about a threesome.
After listening to the original 9-track release, I was feeling somewhat mixed toward this. The A-side had some good energy, but the B-side started wading deeper into drama theater. For my second playthrough, I listened to the 16-track deluxe version, and honestly, all the best material is within those deluxe bonus tracks (though I'd skip the last track - it's just a bizarro 9-minute demo medley of the weakest track from the original 9-track release). I guess I'll have to stick with a neutral 3 here since that's the actual album on the list. If they had done some better shuffling and cutting of these 16 tracks into the definitive 9-track album this should have been, I'd have easily given it a 4 (maybe even a 5 depending on my mood at the time), but if wishes were horses and all that...
Solid pop, some songs are a bore and others are vivid stories.
Not as good as the other Abba album
Better than expected
Lo sentimos bastante nostálgico, no tan pegajoso, pero bastante emocional y pionero, de alguna manera bastante influyente y fuerte
Not as stacked as our previous ABBA album but still a good hang!
En zo luister je een hele ABBA plaat op de vroege maandagochtend. En gelukkig is het the Visitors en niet één van die happydepeppy mammamia platen die ze hiervoor uitbrachten. Dit is wat meer sophisticated en dus een 'serieuze' luistersessie. Blijft natuurlijk dat de stemmen van deze Zweden, met name de dames, wel erg associeert met de songfestival-abba. Maargoed, moet gezegd, dit is gewoon een interessante popplaat. Met variatie tussen de nummers en wel mooie arrangementen met synths en strijkers. Het is geen plaat die me qua muziek helemaal onverblaast maar opzicht verrast me de kwaliteit die ABBA aan het eind van hun eerste carrière hier op de mat legt. 6,5/10 Highlights One of us
Abba is so middle of the road.
Found this pretty boring for an Abba album
The title track is a banger but otherwise they seemed to have peaked in the 70s for sure. That said, ABBA till I die so couldn’t bear anything lower than a 3 💃🪩
Solid album
Hints of some truly great pop music but never becomes fully realized. None of the songs on this album are in at least the first 15 songs that you think of when listing off great ABBA songs.
Not bad, not the ABBA I was expecting
Typicke umele vytvorene zvuky, ale jinak fajnove
Surprisingly varied. Good and bad.
It’s hard to dislike ABBA
Not the best ABBA. Still very good
ÀBBA, but more world-wearied. Reflective and contemplative suits them.
I wasn’t expecting a dark, synth-heavy ABBA album on this list, yet here we are. The Visitors is a surprising departure from the disco-infused sound that defined much of their late-‘70s output, but it proved far more digestible than I anticipated. These aren’t songs destined for the dance floor, and the overall mood is noticeably more melancholy, but it’s an enjoyable listen nonetheless. Take that for what it’s worth. It’s still unmistakably an ABBA album, but with early-’80s musical influences woven throughout. For me, it landed miles ahead of Arrival.
Not bad. Oddly cohesive considering the state of the marriages at the time of recording.
Do you have ears and a heart? I do - so we all love this. It starts out strong, but I could have lived without songs like Head over Heels, I Let the Music Speak and btw: the bass player for ABBA, Rutger Gunnarsson, is a beast
I was a closet ABBA fan, since Waterloo. This album was billed as a departure from their pop sound…but, I LIKE their pop sound. This album is ok, but nothing memorable for me. I’ll give it a 3 for effort.
Didn't listen to all of it, but enjoyed what I did listen to far more than I anticipated!
I don't hate ABBA, I actually really enjoy their disco happy pop era stuff. This was them entering the 80's and at first it almost felt like an album full of lullabies, then they sort of entered back into their pop disco roots for Under Attack, but everything in the middle was just meh and blah. After a while the sickly sweetness of her voice just really drug on me and made me annoyed so not my jam. But I don't want to hate on it and give it too low because I feel like people really drag them, it was not unlistenable, just not something I would go to again.
Abba were a pop juggernaut at their best being light and fun this album is neither of those things. Feels like a sad attempt to remain relevant by have a "new wave" sound and missing the mark.
Listened Before? N This album sounds like a musical theater soundtrack- and it possesses all the good and bad qualities of one. Very mid, with some standouts. I really liked Head Over Heels and One of Us. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Head Over Heels
IT was OK Abba. Their other albums were better
doesn't take much to make you sick of ABBA. there's a reason the popular ones are the popular ones
It was fine but didn’t really have a whole lot that grabbed me unfortunately.
Its always great when an established band tries something new instead of doing the same things over and over. Its really fun hearing Abba doing something that I haven't heard from them before. Its not my favorite album of theirs and the songs wont reach their top 10 songs for me but at the same time it isn't bad in any way. For this list its a perfect fit for me as something new that I can also see why it has its place on this list.
I listened to the original release, which had nine tracks. One of them was familiar to me, maybe from a greatest hits collection. This album has the standard Abba sound, but the songs were not especially peppy like their earlier music.
1981 you say? Hmmm... While I couldn't name an ABBA song off the top of my head listening to this record feels like I am hanging out with my step-mom. 3.5/5
A song or two that stood out for me in an otherwise enjoyable album. Production and musicianship are great.
3 1/2 Stars: About what you'd expect from Abba. Great vocal blends and a pop flair that makes it easy to listen to. It just lacks the hits that makes their catalogue so great.
Listen is it abbas best work no but like it’s abba isn’t never going to be bad
ABBA: really a group of singles. There's one stunning track here ("One of Us"), but yeah. Fairly dull fare outside of that. Harmonies and instrumentation are nice but nothing to write home about. "Slipping Through My Fingers" is a beautiful track, but, and I have no reservations, Meryl Streep / Amanda Seyfried did it better. Flat three, thank you!
I always prefer ABBA when they do maudlin. The day before you came is possibly my favourite song of theirs and it’s so emotionally heart wrenching. I’m not so into the rest of the tracks but appreciate the darker side.
Nice to hear this side of ABBA — ambitious, almost orchestral. Not saying I'm going to turn to this record as a regular spin, there's nothing here that appeals on a visceral level, but a step away from the Eurovision splendor.
Yeah, this was all right. I was unfamiliar with these songs but I appreciated their attempt at doing something different.
Good but ABBA is not my vibe
Never was a fan but is was ok
I saw ABBA pop up and was ready to rate it a 1 or maybe 2. I've never liked them, and I found out about them after I named my cat Fernando, which I'm sure didn't help. At any rate, this album was better than expected. It was a high 3/nearly 4 rating for the first half of the album, but then the second half got a little boring. Still better than I would have thought
Nothing exceptional and ordinary. Nice music.
This is considerably better than the other ABBA album I endured here but to me it underlines that they were a phenomenal singles band rather than an album band. The first song was great (and was released as a single...)
Not my favorite ABBA album, but middle of the road ABBA is still a good listen. 3.4
Overall Rating - 3.35/5 (6.69/10). It's clearly obvious that this is ABBA. The harmonies and music are very distinctive. That said, this is a more sophisticated, darker, more melancholy feel than the ABBA I've heard before.
AB on yhteislaulua ja aikansa uutta edistyksellistä musiikkia rytmikästä ja tanssittavaa.
Abba is fun. I really do think they have a good sound. I don’t know their discography well enough to know where this stacks up, but I enjoyed the listen. There are a few good ones, some have this spooky thing going on which is kind of dope.
Unless it’s Mamma Mia I don’t want it
An Abba song every now and again is a guilty pleasure. A bit of fun. Too much is like too much candy or chocolate, you go into sugar shock. 2.51 rounded up. 3.
Was only familiar with one song from this album before and I was wondering why the album is here because it doesn't exactly have ABBA's biggest bangers. But it's probably the best ABBA album I've heard? It feels like something fresh and interesting from them instead of the usual disco stuff 3/5
got jumpscared by slipping through my fingers. overall decent some misses in the middle however
5/10
I'm a big fan of ABBA Gold (who isn't?) but I wasn't really digging this. I'm going to go with a generous 3 here.
Starts strong with an underlying darkness and then the cheese eventually took over.
it’s abba, so not something i haven’t heard before. it’s decent pop music
I can take small doses of ABBA, but an entire album is just a bit too cloying. This wasn't bad though, it's different from their 70's work.
The breakup album. Darker, still disco but transitioning into a sound that was more modern at the time. If you are looking for, "The Hits", there isn't much there, if you like ABBA this is a good release to listen to when in a more somber mood, though it is harder to listen to some of the mid lyrics without the infectious upbeat bubblegum POP to distract you.
Favorite songs: The Visitors, Head over Heels, Soldiers, One of Us
Як альбом в цілому, цей працює трохи краще, ніж попередній. Але в тому й більше суперхітів було. Це трієчка з ухилом в 2.5.
ABBA poppier stuff absolutely rips sometimes, but this was way more interesting and ambitious than I expected. Could circle back to this.
Easy listen
What an interesting listen. Being an ABBA casual, this was much different than I expected. Kinda dark and orchestral. 3/5.
Not a big ABBA fan. Or to put it better, not an ABBA fan at all. This album was no exception for me. Even though the sound was a bit different from what I grew to expect from them, it was not enough for me. Some outliers though: - The Visitors - Like An Angel Passing Through my Room - Should I Laugh or Cry
I feel like a middle-aged lady going through menopause and having nostalgia and heat flashes. At least this is not based on singles or hits and has the feel of a concise album. A sad and melancholy album by the way. Not for me but it's not your typical ABBA album..
6/10 Esta bueno, no es una locura, pero me gustó, ritmos más fuerte
Not a big fan of ABBA. But I know the music is good, nay, even outstanding. It just isn’t my cuppa.
ABBA is always so fun and this record is no different. The sounds are bright and vibrant, welcoming to the ears. They really set an entertaining and engaging mood and it always sounds inviting. Disco was never my thing, but this is on the cusp of something different that is different enough.
Ok
I’d never heard any of these before! I know why lol
Works as an album but I am not a big fan of Abba. 3 stars or C+.
Has some fun moments. Great basslines. Not the Abba album I would put on this list though.
This is slightly more interesting than you might expect from ABBA. It’s much more downbeat than their typical hits (you’ll probably only know One of Us), which shows of their range a bit more. The other slide of the coin is that there is the absence of any earworms to stick in your head. It all becomes quite samey, and that becomes even more evident on a longer album.
A decent album overall. The title track is really strong, with a slightly sombre, ominous atmosphere quite different from the familiar ABBA sound. The same is true of ‘Soldiers’, my other favourite track. Other songs sound a bit more typical, but this isn’t necessarily a criticism. I really liked the tango-inflected ‘Head Over Heels’, for example, and ‘One of Us’. However, ‘I Let the Music Speak’ and ‘Slipping Through My Fingers’ weren’t as much to my taste, sounding too much like songs from a musical for my liking. The remaining tracks were all fine, but nothing exceptional. Textbook 3 stars.
I didn't know many of the songs but had an enjoyable listen. ABBA has a way of just working. Talented people making interesting music that pop-polished for enjoyment.
ABBA seems to exist in their own genre. Some soft rock, mixed with Broadway show tunes. Great songwriting and some good tunes on this. Not my usual genre, but I enjoyed it. Highlights: "When All is Said and Done", "I Am The City"