The Visitors

I was prepared to cringe...and it never came. I enjoyed it, and got a bit heavier than I was expecting too. Favorite track: Cassandra

Well I'm not like a major ABBA fan but I do love the hits, they're on my running playlist. So it was good to listen to some of these less known ones (to me!) There's a sweet ABBA spot for me that's not too cringe and ballady, I guess their stuff that airs on disco - this album didn't hit that spot for me I have to say. But I enjoyed it enough!

Musically I thought this was kind of boring. The lyrics seemed more interesting.

This started off really well. I loved ‘The Visitors’. But the second half sounded like a musical and I’m not in to that. I think ABBA are maybe more a singles band

its ok. I mean disco or Scandinavian pop is not really my jam

I’d give this a 3.5 if I had the option.

ABBA-ZABA, You're my only friend...

Not many bands hit 50 years. Kinda feel like it is 3 stars for longevity, but not enjoyability.

good

This is a good album on the whole. These guys really know how to write a song, with plenty of catchy tracks on here. I like the driving rhythm on a lot of songs. Especially towards the start of the album, I was tapping my foot a decent amount. There's some good synths in here, some nice piano and violins, and generally pretty good production. There's also a bit of atmosphere on a number of tracks. It's not my usual go-to, but it's pretty good. I felt like the quality fell off a bit from about the half-way mark, but it's still quite solid. 3.5 rounded down.

not my thing

dreamy and abba-rific. 3 stars.

Good

7/10

It's ABBA. More fillers than bangers though.

Meh

Big dark pop, still mostly in the disco era but dipping its toes into synthpop. It’s soft in the middle but makes up for it with some great top tracks. A unique vibe executed with the signature ABBA polish and hooks. Best song: Slipping Through My Fingers

I love ABBA. But I really just know the hits, and was surprised to not recognize any of the songs on this record. Reading about it, it makes sense, this was their last record while they were together, and it definitely is more complex and mature than their previously lighter pop music. The complexity hits you from the first track and the record immediately demands your attention. Really enjoyed listening to this.

Artist is talented music was ok and mostly enjoyable. At some point I just was hoping it would end so I could listen to something more upbeat on the drive to work.

Decent album, though I did keep finding myself waiting for it to be over so I could listen to something better. 3/5

Fine and dandy

There comes a time in every man’s life when he has to admit to himself that Abba is good. I’m not familiar with this album and it doesn’t have any of the bangers that I’m familiar with, but it’s a sweet album.

Second listen. Favorite song: “Two For The Price Of One”.

After a promising start this drifted a bit I thought. I like Abba, but I still reckon their best album is always going to be a greatest hits compilation.

Not many hits but classic ABBA sound. And, listed in Sweden!

Want to rate this higher for that bass tone alone. But, while everything on this album is fine, nothing stands out as anything above average.

uhhhh, its fine?

Darker than i was expecting, but i liked it overall.

Sorry mom: ABBA is good. This is so different than a lot of the popular ABBA songs and I believe represents some of the tenser moments of Mama Mia. It has a gothic/baroque quality to it and is soaring with emotional turmoil.

​When I first pulled this I thought it was a very perplexing choice - it features none of their MAJOR singles and was, until very recently, their final album. Finally getting to it this morning, I think I can see why it's included here - it definitely feels like a more mature album than their previous disco-pop outings. It's still very much an ABBA album but it feels like there is more substance and complexity here - the militarism critique of "Soldiers" is not something I would expect from ABBA, so that's pretty cool. I unintentionally listened to the extended version and my favourite song of the outing doesn't actually appear on the original release but as a B-side to the "The Day Before You Came" single. "Cassandra" explores the Cassandra metaphor and may well be my favourite ABBA tune, which I never knew existed before this morning!

They gave us an ABBA album with none of the hits. It was better than I was expecting. This concerns me that we may see another ABBA album though...

Some of it's alright, most of it I've forgotten already.

I do like syrupy sweet pop music at times but just never was all that interested in ABBA, in fact, this was the first full length album I've ever heard by them. Overall, it's pretty decent but not really my cup of tea, but I can see why it did influence a lot of future musicians. I do like the musicianship overall, and certain more synthpop type songs, like The Day Before You Came were good.

I was really looking forward to getting stuck into the disco poppy glory of this. Late stage ABBA is not what i want to listen to though. looking forward to the next one.

Album 32 of 1001 Abba - The Visitors Favorite Track : Slipping Through My Fingers Rating : 3 / 5 A fine listen. I never find an Abba album to be mind blowing, but always are an enjoyable listen.

Great vocals Excellent song writing

I’m not the biggest Abba fan besides enjoying their singles somewhat. So this one was gonna be interesting. But I kinda knew what I was gonna hear. You can’t deny their skills at writing and composing, the songs have a nice feel. But the mostly jolly vibe throughout their mmm mis album is hard for me to connect to. That said, I can see why they grew so big and have such a huge following. 6 out of 10

I guess this is almost experimental for this band?

Störande ibland men flera bangers

Fine, I prefer their disco work

There are some really lovely songs on this album, it sounds like a musical theatre soundtrack though... It was a treat to hear Abba songs I had never heard - I think this is their last album, and it has a sadness, a melancholy about it that I quite enjoyed.

A bit more atmospheric/cinematic feeling than the last Abba album

притти кул; люблю уан ов ас. в целом тяжеловато много аббы подряд

Catchy, poppy, and over the top. I actually kind of dug it! I wouldn't say no to a second spin of this further down the road.

ABBA is another artist I don’t get. I find their work too refined, too perfect and somehow hollow. But I can admit that this is very well written, performed and produced pop music, just not to my liking at all. D+

Not a big fan of this to be honest. Fine singing, but only one song was memorable/popular in "Slipping Through My Fingers". Outside of that, no songs were very memorable. 6/10.

Sure it doesn't have anything I know but it's still varied and catchy, in parts sounds like there older more well stuff but in parts they defiantly went in their own direction or maybe i'm not that familiar with their catalogue. Some songs sounded almost pet sounds with the instruments and arrangements. I quite liked it.

Enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. I appreciate Abba's hits for what they are, but never really thought of them as album artists. However there are some great moments on this album, particularly the first few tracks. I found it dragged a bit in the second half, but rallied on the last song. The cover art is beautiful also.

Not my favorite but still good

Catchy disco tunes. That's what's ABBA is known and loved for.

The descriptions on Wikipedia sounded promising: ABBA but darker and more ambitious than usual. That promise apparently needs to be judged in relative terms. The album didn't have any really annoying songs and was absolutely fine for background listening, but nothing more than that.

2,5 Slipping Through my fingers / temaiken

3/5, ABBA is ABBA but there are some surprisingly listenable songs on this album

I don't see myself as a particular fan of ABBA but this was better than I expected. The songs have a way of dragging you into them by the end. Felt less cheesy than a lot of the ABBA I know which was good too. Also the album cover is awesome

Some good stuff in here, but some that just kinda dragged. Some songs I’d definitely like to hear again and I hope to come back. 1 - bad 2 - average 3 - good 4 - great 5 - outstanding

Side A is good, side B sounds like a bunch of Casio piano presets.

I love the vangelis-esque synths in the first song around 1:30 in. I don't remember ABBA having these kind of sounds in the background of their tracks. Fun chromatics in track 2 around the 00:30 second mark. The star of this record as I'm sure is the same for every ABBA album is the vocal performances. I liked this album but I suspect that ABBA shows up again on this list as this one doesn't even contain any of their huge top 5 (or top 10?) hits. Plus, "Waterloo" deserves a spot on this list even just for the solo song itself and that's not on this record soooo....

Not my style but typical of Abba.

I enjoyed listening to this but unlikely to be spinning it again.

I am most impressed with how clean and loud the production is on ABBA albums. It's always so crisp

Not my cup of tea

I had never heard any of these songs before listening, only knowing the older hits from the 70's... The album starts out with a banger but doesn't quite keep that momentum going the whole way through... Still good, glad I listened! Abba is cool! Synth is cool! 3.5/5

This strikes me as a very unmemorable ABBA album. Completely fine, but why is on a "you must listen to this" list?

Itza ok

My first real exposure to ABBA. First song was the best and the rest was fine. Just short of a 4 for me.

Meh. This was alright. Not the best ABBA I've heard.

Much better than the commercial Abba songs I was expecting. 3*

Enjoyable. Some lesser heard Abba.

I thought it was okay. I can't really say I've ever liked ABBA that much unfortunately, and that didn't really change with this one. I just find them a bit samey and boring in most cases. Somehow there wasn't a single song on here that I've heard of before, but I still just zoned out of actually listening to it a lot of the time. There was some good instrumentation and lyrics, but it's just thoroughly not for me. Maybe I'll revisit it some time in the hopes of appreciating it more. Favourite: The Visitors

Not my favourite ABBA album, but still enjoyed it

its.... an ABBA album. i always thought of them to be a singles artist more than a projects one, but this is pretty cohesive. it's a lot less cheery compared to their previous singles, and there's almost an melancholy air to the tracklist. obviously cassandra is my favourite.

Should I laugh or cry и Slipping through my fingers (я думала она прошлогодняя!) - единственные две песни, которые не наводят советскую тоску В the day before you came есть пара проблесков. И вообще интересная ритм-секция почти в каждой песне, какая-то не в характере, жесткая, ершистая. В остальном тоскливая крипота

Ummm. It was all right, I guess. RACECAR!

Very good voices and musical arrangements. Broadway feeling or Disney type of music. Not what I look for.

I can't say I'm in love with this music, but it was a bit of a breath of fresh air given I was expecting that "more of the same" from ABBA that I'm used to (not that there's much wrong with that). Feels like this album was ahead of its time yet way behind on our current times.

First time listening to ABBA, and this album was enjoyable... But, I have a feeling that they can top this perhaps they have an album in their discog that i might rank higher than this.

One out of three songs here was really, really good. Interesting adaptation of their style to the 80s. The rest was standard 80s pop.

Perfectly enjoyable but not very memorable on this first listen. I liked “Slipping Through”

I don't think I've ever heard ABBA like this before. Nice surprise with fave tracks being Two For The Price Of One, You Owe My One, and The Day Before You Came.

It's quite pleasant to hear some ABBA that I haven't been sonically waterboarded with for decades! Fave track - "The Visitors" was the standout for me - would have liked more of the album to be like that. Also enjoyed "The Day Before You Came"...

2nd ABBA album so far. Enjoyed this one almost as much as I did the other one. Love the harmonies and orchestral pop of the songs

2nd January 2023 Listened in the morning while chilling at home. Went for a walk, read and did 2 Italian lessons. Bank holiday Monday. Lesser known ABBA songs and interesting spacey vibe they went for. But it has slipping through my fingers which is just a gorgeous song. 3.5 if I could.

A perfect expression of exuberance and fun. The ideal record for murdering a toddler. The soundtrack of my youth.

Having only heard the hits, I wasn't expecting to like this album, but it actually wasn't bad! 3+/5

Vibing and fun, if inconsistent. It was a good time while it was one, but it didn't ;eave much of an impression on me.

Solid abba, ikke de helt store hits, stadig udmærket

iloinen ylläys... odotus... PASKAA 0/5... ei ollut, alkualbumi vähän heikompaa musikaalityyppistä abbailua en tykähdy mutta puolesasvälissä alkaa ruti muuttumaan, ja muuttuukin paremman päälle. kiva, kiva juttu. two for the price of one

Listened to this while cleaning my apartment today and it was quite a hoot. I really like about half the songs on this album (admittedly in a guilty-pleasure kind of way). Those that I don't care for don't bother me. I'd gladly listen to them again. They're just a little operatic, a little Broadway for me. I much prefer the more straightforward pop and/or dance tracks. For instance, "I Let the Music Speak" clunks while, "One Of Us" gets me going. I don't have much context for the evolution of Abba's sound with this record, but this is certainly a more complex, realized piece than I had anticipated going in. Feels like a concept record in many ways. I quite like it.

I’m so polarized by ABBA, and so gosh-darn ambivalent about this album! It’s probably been the hardest album for me to give a proper rating… for every individual aspect, I find things to both love and hate. At baseline, I’m just not an ABBA guy… something about the production feels fairly schmaltzy, and too “tight” in an uncomfortable way, like I’m hearing a MIDI recording, or the backing track of karaoke night. It gives me a headache if I listen for too long. It doesn’t help that so much of the more cheesy 80’s rock musicals seem to have taken direct cues from this. And the chorus/delay effects on the otherwise stellar vocals are just gratuitous and unnecessary. All I’m thinking is… if only this was recorded in a different decade. Any decade! That said… there are moments where the instrumental really locks, and it just surprises you! And there are a couple great guitar solos. Songwriting: some super moving songs, and wide open, creative structures. Love when the choruses take you by surprise! I’m much less crazy about the slight whiff of The Barber of Seville I get in most of these songs. When it works, it works, but many times it’s gratuitous or is at best a bad impression of the reference. I get the idea, but it seems to work as often as it falls flat for me. Still, I listened a second time, and I found more to like than dislike! Even if the more grating parts of the album bothered me even more. So I’m straight down the middle on this one! Hope I haven’t lost all of my friends.

Not bad but wouldn't listen to it again

I don't really listen to them, but it's always a treat of feelgoodness. Not their best work, but the first 2 songs are amazing.

Good

Weird listening to a whole ABBA album and not recognising a song. I'm not usually a fan, but this was better than I thought it would be.

Not the best ABBA

Some really good bass being played on this album. The album didn’t move me, but I appreciated the rhythm being laid down behind it.

This wasn't a bad album. I actually enjoyed it. I think it has a bit more depth than my perception of what an ABBA album sounds like; (finely crafted if shallow pop songs). 3.5 stars

Very ABBA. But had a disco 80s feel.

This is much better than expected. A very solid 3 and maybe in time it'll be a 4. I went in expecting to hear something similar to Dancing Queen throughout, however this was not that at all. Very good use of synth and vocals throughout. I'll likely listen to a few songs again. Pop usually isn't my kind of music though.

This.... isn't the ABBA we know and love. It still sounds like them on some level - Agnetha and Frida are pretty unique, so I *know* it's ABBA, but the music isn't fun. If I strain I can hear some "classic ABBA" disco beats here and there, but really only enough to make me wish it was one of their more iconic albums. Some of it starts to sound like generic 80s pop. Which is a shame, because I don't think their classics are gonna get much coverage here - I'm almost 800 albums in and this is only the second ABBA album. The only song I knew is "One of us" and it's not exactly a banger. That being said... it's still ABBA, isn't it? 3/5.

"The Visitors" is the eighth studio album from Abba and the last one before last years' "Voyage." The music was a move away from their more "lighter" pop to to something more complex and mature. Abba band members Benny Andersson and Anni-Frid Lyngstad (Frida) ended their relationship in 1981 and the other Abba couple, Agnetha Fältskog and Björn Ulvaeus, had divorced two years previous in 1979. The lyrics cover the end of relationships, isolation, regret and the cold war. Since I really haven't listen to their other albums (yet) I can't compare concerning the complexity but the lyrics are somewhat darker compared to "Dancing Queen" but nowhere near say a Nine Inch Nails. This music is fine....great vocals, production, lyrics. This was one of the first records digitally recorded and mixed. Ominous keyboards begin the first song "The Visitors" making it almost sound like a more-pop Gary Numan song. Frida's vocals are more muttled seemingly about secret police (USSR) taking her away. Also, Wilco must have been listening as there is a keyboard riff that sounds exactly like something off "A Ghost is Born." The second song and third single "Head Over Heels" marked the breaking of 18-consecutive songs making the UK top ten. An interesting and sort of mysterious keyboard intro and chorus progressing the song. About a high-society women exhausting her husband. "When All is Said and Done" was the second single and maybe my favorite song on the album. A happier sounding song. Great chorus and harmonizing. The pain of splitting up. Another ominous keyboards-sounding start to side two with " I Let the Music Speak." Orchestration is brought in. This sounds like a musical. About the power of music. The first single and the only song I previously heard is "One of Us." Kind of wobbly-sounding pop music. The end of a relationship, even though the woman wants to revive it. I guess I kind of got what expected: Well-produced, great harmonies, likable pop songs. I also did like some of the weirder keyboards and the lyrics were strong. I'll get at least one more Abba album in the future so that be interesting to compare beyond their hits.

It's ABBA. You can't hate it! I don't love it, but it's still decent.

ABBA over this set of songs is very low-key. Still themselves, but they lose much of the disco in favor of early-digital production. It makes the album more cohesive, but the peaks lower, at least in the original run of nine tracks. Fewer silly turns of phrase mean less charm, in my mind. Visitors was fine, not particularly stirring.

Abba är ju Abba. Tror inte det här är bästa plattan. Bästa låt, The day before you came.

I like ABBA and hadn't heard any of these songs, I think. None of them really grabbed me the one some of their favorites of mine do -- but enjoyed it

It was good

Rating: 6.4 Best Track: Head Over Heels

The eighties was hitting hard here. The Abba sound now sounding a little threadbare and tatty (oompah folk disco), the lyrics a little cynical. But more to the point, they were possibly the most singlesy singles band of all time, looking forward to Abba Gold coming up but this is 4 stars for the singles, 3 stars for the album tracks so 3 it is.

I never understood the hype around ABBA. They aren't really anything special in my opinion. I'm glad a lot of people enjoy them. I don't. But - of the songs/albums I've heard by them, this is (so far) the least annoying. Worthy of a spot on the list - if only to preserve ABBA for posterity's sake.

ABBA - the visitors (1981) notes - ive heard abba’s big hits but never really listened any deeper than that - theres some really great synth sounds throughout - lots of the songs here are very minor key, sort of an undercurrent of sadness to the whole thing - contrasted by the very upbeat and clear vocal delivery fav - head over heels - the little plinky synths and strings in the verse are super cool - then when it picks up in the chorus its like “yeeeeee” least fav - should i laugh or cry - just a bit boring and melodramatic, but not a bad song 3.5/5

Je sais pas si jaime, une chose est. Ertsine, ce n’est pas mauvais, cependant, je m’ai comme pas demotion en lecoutant. 3

Surprisingly sophisticated playing. Awesome vocals and production. Nice synth sounds that are retro but sound like they were ahead of their time when this album came out in 1981. Definite musical theater vibes from this album.

I guess its pretty good for what it it? just really isn't my thing.

I expected to hear Disco, but it wasn't. It was definitely a pop album, but not over the top.

Prefs: The Visitors, Head Over Heels, One of Us, Slipping Through My Fingers Moins pref: Two for the Price of One

Þetta er ágætis ABBA plata. Ekkert uppáhald, en ýmislegt vel áhlustandi.

I am not an ABBA fan. But I like this more than I thought. Still only three stars for me but a high three

hieman toisesta korvasta sisään ja toisesta ulos, äklömakeita biisejä pari eli perus ABBAa. mutta! ei voi olla lipsynkaamatta. One of us on suosikki-ABBAa

Never considered an ABBA album. Good cohesion. Some sneaky hits and tik tok worthy songs. Slightly too long so got bored again. Lower 3

It's hard not to like ABBA. Strangely enough, I don't recall ever hearing any of the songs on this album before. Seems like this was ABBA trying to evolve their sound into something a bit more mature and nuanced, and it works. Too bad they didn't record another album after this for 40 years. 3 stars.

feels like a pop opera

I liked it.

First listen. They all sounded like Abba songs.

Not their best. Mostly filler very little killer. But I’m not the biggest fan. Kinda background music.

Way less poppy than other ABBA projects. Much prefer their other stuff, but still some good tracks on here.

Less fun than ABBA’s earlier albums. Soldier was a great song. I did enjoy how many songs had overlapping melodies, and there was some cool variation towards the end where a couple songs had sparse instrumentation. Few memorable tunes.

A less kitch offering from ABBA.

P good

none of their hits are on this but its easy listening

Abba was a great band in to 80's but in this album I cannot see his hits.

Pretty standard ABBA. Nothing stands out.

I was genuinely surprised by the first few tracks of this - given that this is an ABBA album, I was fully expecting to have heard a couple of these tracks before, but honestly, I pretty much only knew "Two for the price of one". Anyway - the first few tracks of this are great. The Visitors, especially. Unfortunately, it goes very rapidly downhill into pop bilge, picking up interesting again at "Under Attack" - I just wish we could have skipped all the contemplative stuff in the middle.

bom album do abba, que já é por si só uma banda clássica, porém ñ é incrivel

Some whacky/odd chord progressions and vocal inflections for what’s pretty much musical music

Most of the songs were mellow, which I wasn't expecting from ABBA. Pretty good record, but a bit too long for me

Very ABBA! The first half was vibey especially. 3.2 ⭐

This is one of those albums that I'd be shocked by anyone giving it a 1 or a 5, it's middle of the road, slightly tarted up gentle pop with a couple of stronger songs. I quite enjoyed this, an easy three. Straight down the middle, more or less like the music.

Surprisingly, this was a great album for a long bike ride. The dancing tempo helped keep a pace with a cool down around the 10-mile mark. Total surprise.

Cette critique va en surprendre plus d'un, mais je me trouvais dans le musée dédié à Mozart dans la ville natale de ce dernier lorsque j'ai écouté cet album. Au moment d'entrer dans l'établissement, la personne assise à la caisse me fit la réflexion suivante : « - Bonne visite, pensez simplement à éteindre votre enceinte JBL avant d'entrer. - HEIN ?! » l'incendiai-je alors avant de me saisir du billet et d'emprunter les escaliers à toute vitesse. L'album d'ABBA se mêla soudain aux compositions classiques et surcotées de notre ami à moumoute blanche, et ce jusqu'à ce que j'obtienne la mise en veille des enceintes présentes dans le musée.

Definitely darker than most ABBA albums. My parents used to pick up all of their records, but by this point they’d stopped. One of Us was the only one I recognized, probably on a Greatest Hits collection. Musically it’s everything ABBA has always been. Lyrically, it’s perhaps a bit more.

Grew up with the greatest hits albums in the basement. Listening to this was a surprise. Like the ABBA "sound" is there, but the hooks and lightness are not. Not sure if they knew it would be a final album for 35+ years but it feels like they knew they were done at that time.

Se nota la diferencia con los otros discos. Éste es mucho más maduro y tiene menos éxito fácil o singles. De hecho, creo que hay dos más pegadizas, las otras van por la melodía y unas letras más introspectivas. Estuvo ok.

I've been looking forward to getting some ABBA. I think I only knew one song from this album. It was OK but think I'll dig some of their classics even more.

OK - it may not be a frivolous as earlier ABBA releases and it is well crafted pop, but it sounds like a musical that was never made. I can admire it on some level, but it doesn't move me or grab me.

This was fine. Nothing here was painful to listen to, but I never need to hear any of it ever again.

leuk maar waar zijn men bangers

ja gewoon rustige goede listen

It's OK. Certainly not a difficult listen

Not my genre....obviously; however I was suprised at how much I enjoyed this album. The hits are uniformly very good, though I do wish the arrangements were just a little more edgy but that would be besides the point I suppose. Anyway a solid 3.5 for what it is and the sing-along factor.

So, I should start by saying I liked this album okay. For me, there is always a baseline "like" when it comes to ABBA. That said, this album just didn't quite fully hit for me. It seemed darker than their earlier stuff, which for me, kind of results in ABBA, but with the wind knocked out of their sails. On the other hand, a band that was very progressive musically and who was all over 70s dance and disco scene, it's not difficult to see this as an early lean into what would become 80s new wave. I will say that the title track, The Visitors, was really outstanding and new to me. I was hoping the rest of the album would follow the same lines. But again, there is just something about ABBA that makes this baseline enjoyable, period.

Some quality songwriting but gets a bit samey, especially with the vocal harmonies

I wouldn't say it has much depth, but it is fun.

It's ABBA. It's super sweet pop like soundtrack to a 80's Rom-Com. I can't say. Never listened to this full album and it was fun but I think you can live with listening to this album. Another 2.5 for me.

Estilo inconfundible. Muy buenas voces y melodías agradables. Aun así, no destaca especialmente por no tener ningún hit memorable.

Surprised by Abba on this one, only really listened to gold!

Loved hearing some new ABBA songs after hearing nothing but the classics for so long. I really liked Visitors and Head Over Heels. The rest were fun but unmemorable. Glad we got to hear one of their albums and I'm assuming that means there are others on this list with more famous songs.

Solid listen, already knew a couple tracks off of it but great way to start my morning. Felt like it would’ve been better if I was in the back of a 1983 convertible corvette with a acid cig driving to the beach. Also the cover reminded me of “You can’t sit with us”. Maybe some inspiration there for saba and the crew?

Starts off strong

Wellicht verrassend, maar ik vond dit best goed eigenlijk.

Ik begon heel enthousiast, maar het zakte in. Toch aardig.

3.25

I was excited when I saw ABBA come up but this album was a bit underwhelming. Some really good feeling tracks but mostly a lot of the same. Neither good nor bad. Does ABBA not have better to offer? maybe they're more of a greatest hits kind of band. Favorite Tracks: Let the Music Speak, One of Us

Some interesting songs but a lot of these sound pretty flat in 2022. Was hoping to dig Abba but alas they might not be for me.

Enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would, had a lot of decent tracks I'd never heard before. That being said, 40 minutes is still a lot of ABBA

Some decent tunes but not something I'd listen to again

Catchy songs and solid production as always with ABBA, only I never got on that train… was on another platform going in a different direction I suppose. In other words, not really my thing.

Incredible heroes of 70's PoP, with disco anthems and musicals that resulted. Whether this album is one of them is questionable. (5/10) FT: One of Us, Slipping Through My Fingers

Not thrilled to open up to an Abba album, but the tracklist on this one has no songs that I recognize. It's definitely Abba, but something is just a bit different here. It might be the novelty that these aren't the singles that you hear all over the place, it seems more genuine, more mature, a bit more soulful instead of very basic disco/pop. Still nothing fantastic but it's a step up for this group.

When I saw the tracklist and didn't recognise anything I wondered if this was their avant-garde concept album or something. Turns out it's more very-European pop that sounds a lot like the ABBA I know, but maybe 5% less kitschy and a bit more mature. Thought I might get bored but I didn't - there are some strong melodic hooks and lush production, as usual. They're masters of their craft, undeniably.

Far better than I expected it to be. It's a good mix of funky music and interesting lyrics. ⭐⭐⭐

I’ve been a lifelong disliker of abba, it’s the worst kind of bubblegum pop. That said this is a revelation, this album isn’t that bad, yes it has a lot of the Abba sound but almost grown up. 3.5/5

I was pleasantly surprised. Very talented musicians.

I feel like a dancing queen whenever I put on some ABBA. ... for the first few mins. The enjoyment from the theatrics of ABBA isn't sustainable (for me at least). The title track at the front of the album is phenomenal, the balance of the album is a slow roll down hill. As this listen wore on I felt like I was trapped at my niece's ballet performance, tired of smiling and sneaking peaks at my watch. "This is nice, this is very nice. Can we take a picture so we've got proof that I was here...?"

I don’t know if I will ever actively seek out ABBA but you can’t help but move your feet a little.

Bon album, pas de mauvaise pièce, mais je ne pense pas ce soit leur meilleur, pas beaucoup m'ont particulièrement accroché

3/5

3.5/5 Best songs: Slipping through my fingers One of us Soldiers

OK, i'm biased. I hate ABBA. There, I said it. And I went into it negatively. But - this is their 'grown up no massive hits break up album'. And do you know what? It's actually OK.

Der Ausklang einer erfolgreichen Phase. Ok.

No killer tunes on this one.

Enjoyable album with some lesser known hits. Head over heels is a highlight.

3.7 - Listening to this record takes me back to the 80s when my mom used to watch afternoon soap operas as I would play with my Legos. I hear songs like "Cassandra" and I see her dabbing at her misty eyes. As expected, the sound is glossy, showing impeccable studio mastery. Also as expected, these songs are a little darker than earlier ABBA, expressing regret and longing, lacking the bushy-tailed glamor from their peak. It's too teary-eyed for me but I enjoyed the one listen.

Utterly pleasant. Essentially every song carries forward with their pleasant ABBA vocal tropes and there's nothing here that is really bad. However, the sound does sound very dated, so it is more interesting than enjoyable.

Fun listen. Not my genre but I really enjoyed the production’s attention to detail. Good vocal performance- they weren’t afraid to get weird.

didn't hate it - actually thought it wasn't all that bad. two for the price of one was my fave.

It’s an ok album. Pretty par for what ABBA provides. They have their own style and nail it. It’s hard to feel like their music is dated due to no one really replicating it. It felt like there were a few 80s oddities found in this album. 5.9/10

Sounded like ABBA. Nice.

Abba is a classic, and I do enjoy some of their hits. However, I feel like their style - when listening to a whole album - can be a bit monotonous.

Good production that feels timeless however for me a lot of forgetful tracks that I would not return to.

Not a big fan...like the day before you came

Album starts of amazing first 2 songs hit. Then it gets a little worse then a waltz, then better then worse then better... then a little worse. Not a terrible album. Great use of effects but I got more disappointed through the listen.

Didn't have any big abba hitters

Starts off brilliantly but the second half is a bit flat. Plenty of great tunes I'd never heard before though, somehow.

Abba is cool.

Upbeat depression

Kind of always in the ether their songs The music does interesting things melodically, time signatures, key changes etc … great pop writing undoubtedly…Just the relentless strutting rhythms get on my bits …

Not as cringe worthy as I first feared when I saw ana ABBA album come up. A bit too poppy for my musical tastes, but also not bad. 3/5 though as I will not go out of my way to ever listen to this again.

I tried to get into it. I like the title track and Soliders. Beyond that it just wasn’t my taste. It struck me that they had a lot of big ideas and they worked hard to get them all in there. I’m sure if I enjoyed the band in general it would work for me, but I just couldn’t connect with the music enough to find my place in it.

That's some ABBA, huh?

Never listened to ABBA before but this was a little darker than I expected. Pretty good!

Disco pop. Melódico. Un poco aburrido.

Valeu pela experiência de não reconhecer nenhuma música. Não teve nenhum dos grandes hits, e serviu para querer escutar as versões do foo fighters

Nothing particularly wrong with this album. No hits from this one, and it might be interesting to revisit if you are interested in early 80s electronicia. It’s a pass from me, there are far better songs in ABBAs catalogue.

more complex and experimental than their other albums

Not the greatest ABBA album by any stretch of the imagination but it has it's moments. Strays a little too far from their signature disco/pop sound and never quite hits the same heights of those earlier records.

Solid Swedish pop.

I really enjoy tracks with dark lyrics that sound happy, and there are two great ones on this album. Unfortunately, when you have a 9 track album, you can't afford to put 3 or 4 stinkers on there. Too up and down. Best track: One of Us

It's nice.

I mean, it's good, not their best

Of course only familiar with the singles so this was something of surprise. Strong songwriting and production as expected but little that stood out. At times it teetered on musical theatre.

I'm not a huge ABBA listener but I respect their well crafted pop music. Great pop is like candyfloss - sweet, bright, satisfying, and capable of transporting you back to a carefree time. Now this particular album is their mature one, which contains none of the big hits and has a sombre, brooding feel. The music is good, the songwriting pretty consistent. It sounds good. But does anyone want grownup candyfloss? This isn't what most people are looking for when they listen to ABBA. I'm glad they made this album, but I'd still much rather turn to the catchier, poppier albums earlier in their career. 3.5

Unmistakably ABBA, but with added melancholy and more Chess-style orchestration.

3.5/5 it was interesting, relisten

meh

I like Abba, but this album felt a little flat.

Bien, pero sin más

ABBA oli luokalla se, kuka oli aina positiivinen, kaikkien ystävä ja kävi koulun jälkeen auttamassa mummoja ostosten kanssa. Tykkäsin erityisesti levyn nimikkobiisistä. Hyvä levy, vaikka tuskin ikinä tämän pariin palaankaan.

ABBAkin pääsi yllättämään positiivissävytteisesti: ei ollutkaan pelkkää mamma mia -musikaalia, euroviisujytää tai mammojen voimabailubiisejä. Perusvarmalla suorituksella kolmosta kehiin!

Abba innit. Can't give less than 3

It was ok. I was concerned with the first track because it was good music but the singing was ghastly. I don't know why they led off with that song. If the rest was sung the same way I'd have not made it through the album. Overall it was ok. It seemed to go on forever though and I did get tired of it. There any great songs that made me want to listen again but nothing too bad.

I enjoyed this more than Arrival. Glad I checked it out.

Some songs are very catchy (particulary Heads over Heels), but overall the album is average. Not worth listening it all

they let the music speak allright but for to much loooong...

Un rato ameno

This album is…strange? It’s almost got a feel like a musical.

After listening to this album my feelings about ABBA remain neutral.

Great! I mean I had hesitation even though I know their hits. Will listen again!

It was all right. One of Us is a true banger

The ABBA concept album? This one makes me want to get all meta about this listening project in general but I'm resisting. And maybe that's the most meta response of all?

I really don't know Abba, but this album was actually pretty happy and sounded OK??? I wouldn't listen to it on my own, but I can see why people would like it. I was doing cheesy dance moves/swaying cause it just pushed me to. It's so earnest and so 80s. It also sounds very theatrical. I am kind of surprised by some of the songs like "I Let The Music Speak", it sounds like it's made for a play. Fun fact: The Visitors was one of the first records ever to be recorded and mixed digitally, and also one of the earliest in history to be pressed on the CD format in 1982. They sure do like their harmonies.

unknown songs, familiar sound. harmony

Not one I’d normally listen to, but it was listenable

Wtf I like boys now

There are like 4 songs I know from ABBA and they were not in this album which I found very surprising. The album is OK, not my cup of tea but I enjoyed it.

Not a fan of the “ensemble” types

Decent enough. Missing the real bangers though.

Good old reliable ABBA. Disco/dance from yesteryear.

Pretty decent to be fair. Don't think I'll go back to it.

This is a good album but I’m not sure why it’s here. ABBA helped define a generation of disco lovers with dance hall favorites and radio darlings. This album feels like the last hurrah at the end of the genre. Many of the songs sound like they were attempting to go New Wave Pop rather than sticking to what they knew, which they did on Under Attack. There are song good songs on here, such as the very New Wave Should I Laugh or Cry and I Let The Music Speak . I don’t know, maybe it’s just my long bias for a different ABBA….

I can handle ABBA when they bring the bangers, I can't really take it serious when it's the sappy over-dramatic Eurovision-esque stuff. This album is full of the latter.

They have a unique sound all their own. That being said their voices lack clarity as if they are singing thru something. Wondering if other LPs are similar. Gives an overall effect of similarity to their music.

uppity. happy. vocals. abba.

Passed me by a bit Being married to a swede means I’m more than familiar with ABBA, but haven’t heard any of these songs before. Makes sense because they’re not that memorable. It’s fine, just not great. Favourite track: soldiers

It's just not for me hey.

Hmm, grown-up ABBA aren't as much fun as the younger version.

Mama Mia that was a bit much 🤌🏼

It's not Mamma Mia, but it's definitely a vibe

drunken theater nerd circus music. i guess they needed to get “serious” but this isn’t the ABBA for me

Review - An ABBA album from the '80s, their eighth album? Surely this isn't the ABBA album that needs to be heard? Never been a fan of them but scrolled through the tracklist looking for the hits before listening and was disappointed. It's got that "One of is loooooonely" song that I remember thinking was good in one of the Mama Mias. Otherwise a mid album. Score - 4/10 Need to listen? NO

Not up to their v high standard

Sounds like a musical score rather than a simple album.

I read that “There are two kinds of people in the world: those who love ABBA and those who pretend they don’t love ABBA.” Yeah, probably... I’m not pretending, sorry! Although I can understand their importance and why they’re on this list, this is the kind of music that should have stayed in the ’70s or ’80s and never seen the light of day again :-(

ABBA doesn’t do it for me. I find their sound too bubble gum, too simple, too lacking in sexiness or knowing awareness. Just shiny ‘70s pop disco that does nothing much to grab me by the extra large lapels.

Sounds like 80s soundtrack music..

Judging on the music alone - this was a snooze fest. It sounded like a soundtrack to a movie or a play - to the point that I looked it up. Upon looking it up I learned that the album has much deeper undertones off commentary. Which is cool. But I still didn’t like the music.

Greatest hits band

Ambitious and empty.

I just can't with these guys.

Despite the rave reviews I was unable to find anything in this album that stood out. Frida has a great voice and something about classified ads being cleverly worded, but otherwise this could be played again for me tomorrow and I would not recognize it.

This was most certainly an ABBA record. But it didn’t have any of the classic ABBA sing alongs.

awh hell no. It just ain't for me man, 80's synth euro pop.

Not the abba I was expecting. One song early on kind of had something similar to what I expected but that went away. I think at one point it even started to sound like a circus. Perhaps my expectations were set in the wrong direction and I was just severely let down

There are many devoted Rush fans in Canada about my age. Then there’s me.

Musically uninteresting synth pop

Listens: 2 Standout Tracks: None I really couldn't care less about this. It's about 15 minutes too long. It didn't leave a lasting impression. None of the songs stood out. I didn't connect with any of the supposed themes of isolation, the Cold War or splitting up of the band (since the List doesn't respect any sort of chronological ordering of how you hear a band's different albums). Consequently, and because I have listened to virtually no ABBA, I have no frame of reference for why this album is supposedly more mature and less "pop"-y. The most interesting bits of the album came from the facts on the Wikipedia article - one of the first albums to be recorded and mixed digitally, and one of the earliest to be manufactured commercially for "Compact Disc" aka CD. Those are cool bits of information. Edit: I've changed my mind. I dislike this a lot less than Elvis Costello and the Attractions.

Es muy buen grupo, pero a mi parecer hay mejores discos, me pareció no muy diverrido el disco, Abba lo conozco por dancing queen, gimme gimme y mamma mia, este disco parece que son otro grupo, jo me gustó.

80s slop

The visitors was Len Houmous’ nickname for his testicles 2.2 2/13 Head Over Heels

Avoids being a 1 purely because of slipping through my fingers

Best Track - "One Of Us"

Ще менше сподобалось ніж попередній альбом Абби в цьому списку. 2.5

The Visitors finds ABBA in an introspective, melancholic mood that downplays the exuberance that propelled their best work. In place of that missing energy though, the band doesn't really introduce anything new into the mix, resulting in a halfhearted record that sounds like a collection of tracks that were too dour to make it onto the previous albums.

2,3/5

The last ABBA album had more of the hits and this is more of the show-tuney ABBA ness which isn't really my style. 4/10

Abba but they listened to Unknown Pleasures

sounds like musical theatre which is not a genre i typically enjoy

There’s a song on here called “Let the Music Speak,” and they should have, because ABBA’s vocals are like absolute nails on a chalkboard to me, utterly intolerable. The title track and “Soldiers” are very good songs, however, and in fact it’s entirely possible some of the others are too, but I just can’t tell because of the horrendous vocals. Best track: “Soldiers”

This is not a good album. There are some interesting songs here and there but overall, I think it’s a joke this is an album humanity needs to listen to.

The Good: Finally, a SciFi related album! The Bad: The planet ABBA is a little monotonous… The Ugly: Realizing that ABBA stands for Anus Boob Boob Anus, and now I can’t get that out of my head… I’ve given the album a second chance after I was reading the reviews of several fellow pilgrims on this 1001 journey… they all swear that this is, probably, the best ABBA album, like everrrrr… My opinion, for what it's worth, is that you come to realize that certain harmony vocals should only be listened to once, and then the album can be shelved… I find that this album, aside from making one wonder if the drum machines were being used on this album, proves that the ladies had reached the end of their trick… It’s like an opera singer trying to do grunge music. I don’t believe that I will want to listen to this album ever again, so, after giving their other outing on this list a 4* for the massive hits it included, I will sadly have to give this album a 2* as it is better than listening to rap music… but only by a margin… My apologies to all those ABBA fans out there!

A fun title track And then nothing and nothing And some more nothing

The album was ok. It felt dull and a little bit boring from time to time. Can't say I hated it but I wouldn't specifically choose this album as something to listen to. Would rate this 2,5/5 but as that's not an option I go with 2.

soa como abba

This was an odd choice. Post-prime ABBA, without any real hook? Anyways, it was nice enough, and at times sounded to me like a musical. Someone should make an ABBA musical.

Hm, Wikipedia Artikel gelesen und kann dem nur zustimmen. Wirklich ein Album vom absteigenden Ast der Band

Not all bad but not the ABBA album i was expecting, or hoping for....

Not bad by any means but it makes sense this the last album as a lot of the sparks clearly gone at this point

I don’t care much for ABBA but the women’s voices are pretty impressive.

I gave this a chance, I really did. It wasn't as bad as I feared, but I was bored within 5 tracks. I gave it two more tracks to recover and it never did. It's just a snoozer.

What I'm learning from these is that ABBA is completely mid outside of their banger hits

I was previously familiar with ABBA but not any songs from this album. This album sounds very much like the other ABBA songs I do know. It is very pop-focused and upbeat. While there's nothing particularly wrong here, it's not really the sort of music I would typically choose to listen to. I would have to be in the mood to hear this again.

One of Us

I like ABBA, this album doesn’t do it for me tho.

Didn’t know any of these songs - I’ve never been an ABBA fan and these more obscure songs didn’t make me change my mind.

The album summary notes “the album is often regarded as a more complex and mature effort.” With all due respect to ABBA, I do not come to them for mature and complex, I come to them for bops, and this album is sorely lacking in bops.

If this was a list of 1001 great artists of all time ABBA would be near the top. But that doesn't mean their albums need to be included on this

..

Sounds like a very mature version of ABBA. I was not familiar with any of these songs. Good music. Great harmony. Overall an enjoyable album.

Not bad, Don't know what I expected, but I kinda enjoyed it. I read that it was different from earlier 'poppy' music of theirs. Glad to hear, cause it was still pretty 'poppy'.

2+ Stars (6/15)

That was pretty boring. I thought there would be a Dancing Queen or something.

Appreciated it more than I expected, but still not a fan.