Reviews (page 6 of 9)
guess i'm an abba person!
Groupe connu, que je n’apprécie pas trop. Cet album ne m'a pas fait changer d'avis. Pas désagréable mais pas très intéressant. =>2/5
Not surprised to see this was their last studio album for nearly half a century, it's so mature compared to anything else i've heard from them. Songs feel fully fleshed out but still with the same beautiful performances they usually do. Top tier pop right here.
I didn't recognize any of the titles, but I definitely heard some of these songs before. This record is made very well. Almost too perfect. There's nothing really wrong with this album. Production is perfect. I just don't like the theatrical vibe that some of the songs have. But it makes sense. The Bs next project was the music Chess. Favorite song: Soldiers
I approached this with some trepidation as I'm not the biggest ABBA fan. I recognised none of these tracks, even though ABBA Gold was my mother's housework soundtrack for a few years back in the 90s. Credit where credits due, I liked this. The production and mix itself is sublime, the opening title track is a fucking banger, and I enjoyed the theatricality of I Let the Music Speak as well.
Whoa! For a moment there I thought zI was ushering at a Broadway musical again. I read reviews that said this was a departure from earlier, "lighter" albums. They must have been helium-filled.
Went with a private Spotify session. Turns out it was a good call because I found this album to be very bland without the upbeat hits I had come to know ABBA for. I can't imagine ever wanting to listen to this again, it didn't annoy me, so it's not getting 1 star, but came awfully close.
Not an ABBA fan
2 or a 4 depending on what mood i’m in, hence the 3. best part of the album for me was “Cassandra” which is 100% about Cassandra from greek mythology so i enjoyed that, her story is so depressing so she really does deserve a song by Abba
Aaaaaand Nope I tried, but apparently I just don’t like this kind of music. Zero stars. Utter garbage. Couldn’t even find a redeeming thing to say. Hate it. A lot.
Catchy . Layered. Really decent.
7/10
Too ballady for me
Didn't hate it
No va
Lovely beautifully produced album and shows what they can do beyond singles.
Svenskene kan noe ihvertfall
Yawn
Rating: 7.5/10 Very good album overall. The vocal melodies and harmonies are so catchy, as well as the instrumentation. The synths are the highlight of the album, very melodic while also being quite creative. The production is also fantastic, the album is a bit too long and some songs are underwhelming but there are a lot of great songs on here. Favorite songs: The Visitors, Head Over Heels, When All Is Said And Done, I Let The Music Speak, One Of Us, Two For The Price Of One, Slipping Through My Fingers, Under Attack. Worst song: Like An Angel Passing Through My Room.
It's not for me.
More introspective and coherent than what i expected from an ABBA album. Pleasantly Surprised.
A beautiful album.
A bunch of abba songs I don’t know and they slap
Not a huge ABBA fan but I like this.
Forgot to check if the deluxe edition had more tracks until I was halfway through the extra stuff. Though to be fair by doing so I heard I am the city which was the best track, even if it heavily ripped off does your mother know. Never heard of any of these tracks, and after listening to them theres a good reason for that. It's pretty much devoid of hooks but I wouldn't say it's more complex or deep than their hits, it's just more dull. Guess they'd ran out of ideas. Don't think this album should be on here, I hope this doesn't mean we have to listen to another half a dozen abba albums.
The stand-out tracks are Head Over Heels, Slipping Through My Fingers, and The Day Before You Came, which I know from the Greatest Hits album. Can't say any of the other songs jumped out at me. Difficult to rate this album - I like the overall vibe, sort of moody and spooky, but it isn't classic ABBA. Nowhere near a 5, but a 3 feels harsh.
A pop album with no tracks popular enough for me to know. No surprises in how it sounded, all pretty dull really. Not for me
Never listened to an ABBA record, can confirm they are a singles band
Generally very fun album. Even their darker pop still feels quite light. The topics may be heavy, but the tracks overall still feel pretty light and danceable. Maybe not Slipping Through My Fingers, but you could probably still get a fairly melancholy twerk going to it.
Me toca escuchar por primera vez un disco completo de ABBA, banda de la que conozco sus singles hasta el hartazgo. Mucha radiodifusión y mucho sonar en alguna que otra juntada con amigos en plan baile. Primeramente, puedo decir que tiene un comienzo más oscuro, reflexivo, tal vez, en comparación a los sonidos bailables que conectaba con ABBA. Seguidamente, se mantiene en esa onda más chill, como un trabajo sólido, siempre con voces potentes y cálidas. Like it.
Not a fan of ABBA and this one didn't change my mind.
Well, this starts off unexpectedly. Space pop-rock in my ABBA?! Somehow my disco boots still suit the vibe of the opening track. Great start! I was genuinely expecting a lot of slop intertwined with the classics but this is a delight! _looks at release year...._ 1981, that explains it! As I progress through this generator journey, I am surprised at how much tight vocals and harmonisation matter to me in a pop context (the stabs of "For the Price of One" is a hook). This is a group who know who they are and who find wonder in intermingling. Reminds me of Fleetwood Mac around that era but with better self-editing. "I Let The Music Speak" is definitely a precursor to Benny and Björn's musicals. "Two For The Price Of Video Killed the Radio Star" I'm surprised how many influences they wear on their sleeves. 5 stars!
At this point in their careers ABBA had gone through some rough patches, notably within the group (getting romantically involved with your bandmates seems like a recipe for disaster...). They were coming off an immensely successful decade and probably had one last hurrah left in 'em at this time. This is not your standard ABBA mega-pop sound fare ala "Arrival" from a few years prior. Instead, we get an introspective, slower and more synth-laden ABBA sound here. The production and effort are still there, but I was left pining for the old ABBA midway through. "Fractured relationships" ABBA just doesn't hit the same as "happy-go-lucky" ABBA I guess. I just didn't find much of these songs memorable. Still a well-produced album, though.
Great album. Almost a 5. Great lyrics Great vocals Love Abba
Fyrsta hlustun í lélegum hljóðgæðum var lítið meira en fín, en nú erum við á fjórðu hlustun. Titillagið er fáránlega töff, og Head over heels líka. One of us og Slipping through my fingers eru fallega ljúfsár og miðaldra. Restin þroskaðar lagasmíðar, svolítið söngleikjalegar og dramatískar. Æði.
If you don't like ABBA you're tone deaf or a stick in the mud
I was happy to see this album this morning! I love ABBA although I guess I'm more of a greatest hits fan. I only recognized "One of Us" but I really enjoyed almost all the songs. I think there was a ballad that was a bit of a drag, but I'll be saving a few of these songs for my playlist. Would rate 4.5.
Couldn't finish it. Beyond garbage.
I didn’t find myself blown away by this but it was fine
ABBA's The Visitors (1981) is a 3.5/5 album featuring a more mature sound with elements of synthpop and disco. Standout tracks include "One of Us," "When All Is Said and Done," and "Head Over Heels." The album showcases ABBA's evolving artistry but lacks the consistency of their earlier work, hinting at the group's impending breakup. While not their strongest effort, The Visitors still offers a few solid songs for ABBA fans to enjoy.
There’s definitely better abba than this that this list is going to make me listen to.
Decent pop
Do you like ABBA? Do you like 80s pop? Here's your album
This is by no means a bad album, the music is good and the production is great - there are some interesting and fun turns within the songs and album. But I fail to see why this was included in the list of essential albums to hear before you die. The album lacks any of ABBA’s big hits, and in that context it’s just a collection of fine songs, but nothing exceptional. Apparently it was one of the first albums to be digitally recorded and mixed, while that is an interesting historical anecdote, it doesn’t really help to elevate the material here. Nothing against ABBA, I just question the inclusion.
Group has a distinct sound of Euro-pop. Hard to dislike an individual cut or two, but sounded alike from track to track
Impossible not to like them. Not my favourite genre (pop), but still really good. 4/5
coś innego, sympatyczne
Eh. It was okay. Better than the vast majority of 80s pop.
abba always hits. they’re a weird band though because they have some MASSIVE MASSIVE hits and they go hard. but the rest of their discography is kind of weird. whether it be really electronic or have a full marching orchestra break. not always great weird too but sometimes
# Playlist track - The Visitors # Notes - Starts out energetic and fun, but doesn't keep up throughout. - It's still good quality pop, but it's a bit of a letdown, especially compared with other ABBA hits, including the title track of the album.
Ist mir zu sehr Weichspüler-Musik. Nicht meins.
Not as good as I'd expected. Really only the hits are any good. The album tracks are surprisingly weak, especially the opener and "Happy Hawaii," which sounds like crappy mid-'70s Beach Boys ("Kona Coast").
Très belle surprise, plus dark que les autres, le dernier "vrai" album de Abba. Coup de coeur pour Two for the price of one. et The visitors (qui sonne particulièrement moderne je trouve).
Fucking 💙 ABBA!! Brilliant! 5
What I expected but not awful
Another ABBA album, another 1 star.
Pretty good but abba doesn't really produce the beeps and boops of music that I enjoy. Low 3.
I liked this way more than I expected to. I'm a sucker for any type of 80s synthpop and to hear them building on their old sound and in turn bringing a more developed feel to it was actually pretty cool!
Really like this! Not like other ABBA songs I have heard before.
Not what I expected from ABBA. Every song is impeccable, and reading about the history it’s a surprisingly deep and emotional album. I somehow loved this album front to back.
Surprised by how much I liked this
Not the early poppy Abba but nice atmosphere and some beautiful songs
Great ABBA album! actually the first ABBA album I've listened in full, surprisingly consistent. I'm also Swedish so there is absolutely some bias. 4/5
2.5
That was a lot of ABBA
Abba doesn’t change much
abba is mid
It's ABBA. It slaps.
Some great songs and amazing synth work, but “The Visitors” was a little too upbeat for the shit day I had.
I was not particularly expecting an ABBA album on this list, and I certainly wasn't expecting one that I didn't know any of the songs from. This album is okay. It was a change of direction for ABBA, but I really enjoy their pop stuff. 3/5
Would be cool with guitar
i guess i thought i liked abba more than i did. their bangers do bang but this did little for me could i write poetry to this? n
This is not my jam. It just seems wrong to listen to this while reading about Steve Albini's untimely death. He would have hated this.
Out of principle I should rate this a 1, but I’m feeling generous.
Any of these songs would be fine pop songs taken on their own, but listening to them one of another and Abba's schtick gets old quick
If you don't think I like ABBA you don't know me at all.
Not their best album, but still enjoyed it
Brilliant pop, opening track set a high bar that was consistently met afterwards.
Abba is not for me
Not abbas best. Its cool some great songs but a bit too slow same tune and pitch throught the whole album. Nothing great but cool to sit down and cry. Pretty strong lyrics must have been the end cause you can feel the darkness and the hatred in the lyrics and voice inflections.
Got bored, turned it off.
Hmm not bad but would not listen again.
Favourites: head over heels, when all is said and done, beginning of I let the music speak, one of us, slipping through my fingers even though it's sad. I liked it but it's not my favorite. 3/5
Excellent album. Can never go wrong with ABBA lol. Not my favourite of their albums, as I don't really like the darker tone that it takes, but it's still very enjoyable. The opening track did a good job of setting the mood, and the rest of the album was cohesive without being monotonous. 5/5. Favorites: Head Over Heels for the interesting instrumentals, When All Is Said And Done, One Of Us, Slipping Through My Fingers (obviously)
Slipping Through My Fingers makes me sad. Hadn't heard the majority of this album before, but even though these aren't their biggest or most famous hits I loved pretty much every song. I love ABBA. 5, saved to library
sure there are some songs I don't love (namely Two For The Price Of One which is terrible) but on the whole this is just very fun, very well made and actually fairly interesting pop music. Arrival is more fun, but this is the better album
All of their music feels like it should be in a musical and not in a good way to me.
A good album, not the best but still decent Top tracks: Slipping Through My Fingers, One Of Us
Sweet listening. No unpleasant moments.
Yep. This is ABBA. Not anything famous from ABBA, just plain ABBA.
ABBA is just wondrous. Good for the soul.
Mama mia, was this thing a drag.
This one feels a little more mature than the previous 1001 ABBA album but is a bit too nice and tbh sickly. It is bravely beyond pop at times.
I thought I would hate this because I’m not the biggest ABBA fan. But I enjoyed it so much! Especially because I know things like Muriel’s Wedding and Mamma Mia and playing Dancing Queen on everyone’s 17th birthday came from them.
Pure pop. It has the itch of my least favorite music that will soon take over the Top 40 for decades to come, but at least B&B use more than 4 chords.
Muaan tarina... Suomalainen kaveri.. kysyttiin jos rumpaliksi.. Heh.. Mihinkään svedu jengiin tule...
This was surprisingly better than I thought it would be. Obviously keyboard driven, at least in my mind, it fairs well against other 4 star albums I’ve rated. I think starting off with a 6 minute song was ballsy but it has me going back to it. Soldiers kind of kills the appeal for me but it was short lived. The album seems to be best fit for Broadway . Most of the songs come off less disco’y than Dancing Queen. I really think this should be a 3.5 star album actually. It’s better than the 3 star albums I’ve dished out but not better than the 4 star. Choice cut: The Visitors
What else can there be said about ABBA...
Not ABBA’s best work
The visitors When All Is Said and Done Soldiers One of Us Slipping Through My Fingers Under Attack I’m not sure exactly why. But I live ABBA. Something about their sound just gets me up and moving. The first half of the album was feeling great but the second half kinda slowed down and threw it off for me. Still a great album
Nou, is goed
Eh
ABBA goes Schopenhauer. Or alternatively, ABBA goes political and/or deeply disillusioned. I can appreciate the artistic effort, as well as the generally well-crafted songs. But can I take this record seriously? After all, *The Visitors* still harbors one song (sung by Bjorn) about a threesome possibly involving a mother and her grown daughter (!). Of course, this tune drastically contrasts with the quaint poetry, topical allusons, and deep introspective moods found elsewhere on this album. Who said that ABBA couldn't sound grim, in their very own wide-eyed and elated fashion? All of this is admittedly interesting, yet this record can't possibly beat a proper ABBA hits-filled album such as *Arrival*. And by "hits", I mean legendary singles. You know what their names are... Everyone does. So let's be serious for one second, and agree we actually *don't need* to be so serious. Especially when talking about ABBA. 2/5 for the purposes of this list. Which translates to a 7/10 grade for more general purposes (5+2). Next, please. Number of albums left to review: 231 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 332 Albums from the list I *might* include in mine later on: 195 Albums from the list I won't include in mine: 249 (including this one)
This one stopped me in my tracks. I was predisposed to dismiss ABBA as mindless pop (which is not to say I haven’t listened to “ABBA Gold” countless times). But this album is much better than I expected.
In their final album, ABBA grows darker and more mature in their lyrics, toning down the energy, and incorporating atmospheric synths and experimentation as a fitting prog pop piece of the period that still sounds like them and yet gives us a preview into what they'd sound like had they remained a power in the 80s. I thought it was fine as pop pieces but nothing to write home about. We start off with "The Visitors" which has some New Wave touches on it, the song unlike anything they've done before. It's pretty good. That's followed up by "Head Over Heels" which is also highly experimental and utilizes ethereal synths, which I also quite liked. The next 4 tracks have a bit of that ABBA style and energy, only tamer. Experimental, but less so than the first 2 songs. It's nice but I wasn't impressed by any of it, although I did appreciate the unusual touches that made it feel fresher than what you'd normally expect from ABBA. The remaining 3 tracks were weak and boring. There are 3 bonus tracks on Spotify from their non-album singles that sound pretty generic and lamer as if they lost inspiration. A fine pop record that I can respect their attempt, but it's not something I'll return to, and I'm not even sure I'll re-listen to the ones I sorta liked.
So good! The production is 2nd to none.
This album is amazing. In some cases, it shows ABBA’s new side very well, but at other times, some of the songs are too long. It’s good, though, and that’s why the album deserves an 87.7%, or an 4.35/5. Favorite: “Head Over Heels” Least Favorite: “I Let The Music Speak”
I saw the album and thought it was a shame that we didn’t get one with any hits on it. What an idiot I was. I listened, loved it and then listened again. This was such a great album.
I love ABBA, but I was a bit bummed because this wasn’t an album I’ve ever listened to before. But what’s the point in the listening to the same 10 songs you always listen to? How are you supposed to grow as a person if you don’t try new things? This album is incredible. ABBA is one of the greatest bands ever. There’s no surprise they made two (are they working on a third?) movies based on their songs. One song I even knew because it was in Mamma Mia!
You can’t argue with ABBA. Good in parts
yopp
This is a really tough one to rate. In this album you can really hear the move into musical theatre, and there are a few really interesting songs. The whole time though I was wanting to hear their monster hits. I have to grade this on a curve considering all their other music. Musically ambitious, but nothing makes me want to keep listening to it.
A little less bouncy than their previous albums but still definitely ABBA. I’d be happy to listen again, but probably wouldn’t choose it.
I was impressed that despite having none of their biggest biggest hits, this was still a solid album throughout, and I've heard many of these songs before despite them being deeper in Abba's body of work.
I had never considered ABBA to be great for their albums. If you're looking to listen to some ABBA then put on ABBA Gold and let the hits play. Nothing wrong with the hits, it's just that I was under the assumption that their best songs were spread out across mostly-mediocre albums. Well, turns out I was wrong to assume. The Visitors is ABBA's final album before disbanding. Not unlike Fleetwood Mac's Rumours being a product of tumultuous relationships, ABBA's The Visitors is distinctly a divorce album. With this change of mood comes a change of tone as well; the upbeat, dancing hits of the 7'0s have been changed out for more melancholy and introspection. The result is an album that carried more weight, and it's all the better for it. I had no idea that there was an album like this in ABBA. It's consistently mature, thoughtful, and well-assembled. I believe this was a great turn for ABBA, which is a shame because they would never make anything like this again. I can't say much about their solo material, but I will say that their 2021 album Voyage did not come close to what they achieved on The Visitors.
A nice poppy feel good album.
skemmtileg
3.5
truly an excellent, underrated album. didn't fully love a couple of the slower songs, but the singing and the synth sounds always worked well together. high energy with deep lyrics, maybe a little too pop heavy for some but definitely a hidden gem
I am not a fan of Abba, but it's better than Mama Mia.
Not my favorite abba album but still solid
ABBA songs to me are similar to Shakespeare where the tragedies are bops but the comedies are hit or miss. But man does ABBA rule at transitions (i do hate that they rely on the repeat and slow to fade endings tho). Fav songs Head over Heels, I let the music speak, slipping through my fingers, the visitors
I was raised on Abba gold and can sing along to most of the hits. I wouldn't choose to listen to it now l, but it's undeniably excellent pop music. Now this process gives me a chance to delve into their difficult break up album and see what it brings and on the whole it seems of a good standard. There is undeniable song writing mastery at work, coupled with heart breaking lyrics and beautiful singing. The darker synth sounds are interesting and it's a worthwhile addition to the list. However, I don't tend to return to their accessible stuff and this would be below that for me.
I don't consider myself an Abba fan but boy they do make the most timeless '80s pop. And I think they proved it in it album more than they did with their other more popular ones.
I don't know. I don't know. I couldn't get into this one. Cover is great, general vibe is hard to beat, but nothing broke through.
I've always found ABBA a little creepy. If the mannequins in an abandoned department store came to life, I imagine their music would be the soundtrack. It's the case here, too. At their best (title track) they're great pop melodists and slightly offbeat. At their worst, ABBA are either too sickly or unpleasantly weird ('Soldiers'). When they don't rely upon a soft disco throb, ABBA tend to fall back on fairly martial rhythms. I can hear their skill, that pure lambent beam of vocal harmony they specialise in - but sometimes they just sound like a female-fronted Pilot teetering on the brink of mania.
Pleasantly surprised. I’d only heard ABBA’s pop songs on the radio (that, and I saw Mamma Mia”) and, though well done, they never really interested me. I think maybe the darker tones (lyrically) of this album helped it appeal to me more. It wasn’t a bad listening experience at all. Quite pleasant actually.
Very enjoyable album to listen to. My first time listening to an ABBA album fully through, so probably good to go one that doesn't have a bunch of hits. Very listenable compared to some albums on this list
A more mature sound for one of the most highly rated ABBA albums. Sounds like lyrically they were getting ready to write musicals. The Day Before We Came is the stand out song.
48/1001 🌕🌑🌑🌑🌑
When it started, I thought it would be just another ABBA album without the greatest hits, but I found it very enjoyable despite all the ABBA cliches.
Not their best, but still a solid offering.
The production on their stuff is super good. Good catchy songs. Although not my style exactly, I can recognize it's very well made all around. Will I listen to again: 40%
A few interesting tracks such as “When All is Said and Done”, but I found this album be mostly sterile and boring. The overall tone was very thin and with almost zero energy aside from a few interesting tracks. Most of the tracks felt almost completely emotionally flat to me.
Love ABBA and their ear candy.
This was an amazing discovery!
Love me some Abba. It was nice to listen to an actual studio release and not just greatest hits. Very abba'y no songs I recognized, but good none the less
Deras bästa album. Låten The Visitors är fantastisk.
Hirbmat buorre.
Way more operatic than I expected, and wasn't really in line with the hits I know. I was impressed with the clean sound on all the instruments, and how different that feels compared to other music I consume.
I thought that I liked Abba as a kid...don't know what I was thinking.
This one didn’t ABBADABBADO-IT for me.
It’s unclear to me why this ABBA album made the cut. It doesn’t include any of their super hits, nor is it much of a departure from their formula. I dislike the tinny synth sound throughout the album, but enjoy the layered vocal tracks that give every chorus a boost. They know how to write catchy songs, but I don’t think this album is the best example of that. 2.7
I don't know much ABBA outside of the radio hits. I don't know Chess either, but I suspect this sounds closer to Chess than ABBA -- I get a soundtrack/cabaret feel to some of the songs. The production is very slick and polished. It's not bad, but doesn't land for me. 2.9
A good album. Did not have the usual songs we are used to (mama mia, take a chance on me) but overall great. The videos are kinda quirky..as usual for the time period.
🔊 COCAINE!!! 📣 It’s not too shabby. Some enjoyable tracks, may listen to more ABBA down the road but it’s pretty generic dance tracks and didn’t even finish the entire album.
Some very catchy songs. This will be my first ABBA album
Never heard any of the songs before but they're all pretty good. I like ABBA's sound. Kind of reminds me of ELO
Finally another album I can resonate with! ABBA is definitely over-commercialized — they're also simply really, really good. The kings and queens of pop-rock, actually. Agnetha is a great and super versatile vocalist. In addition, I appreciate how piano heavy the band is. I think keyboards are underrated in rock music. ABBA always keeps me in a good mood.
Wasn't what I expected from an Abba album but it definitely wasn't bad. Some good tracks but probably a bit long for me. Fav tracks: - Head over heels
3-4
Pretty toe tappin
Begon best goed, maar werd echt tergend slecht. Te zoet, te nep
Not my favorite abba album but still a jam. It's quite an effective mood booster
I'm not familiar with this particular ABBA album, but do really enjoy what I know from ABBA, so I'm excited to check this album out. This album is full of great pop songs, lots of fun to just groove to. 3/5
Ça commence pas fort! Ce n’est pas un band que j’ai déjà aimé et ce,à aucun moment de leur carrière. Suis très conscient de la grande popularité de ce groupe mais franchement j’suis juste pas capable. De la musique pour adolescentes style VMR!
An album this bleak shouldn't have two of the best pop songs of all time on it. Voulez-Vous is a better album, but this is still in the conversation
Abba slaps
Tinny and overly synthesized.
What a range, not what I was expecting at all! The visitors song felt like it was straight out of a dark opera, but should I laugh or cry was more what I expect from ABBA. Very interesting! I would say this was a 2.5 for me, but I’m rounding up to 3!
Not my thing
Its ABBA.
Experimental, but still abba
i love abba
I'm surprised how much I loved this album. it's almost a 5-star for me. I think it's just cause I don't have the Adele effect for this one where I've overheard most of the tracks like with the last ABBA album. great stuff.
Disco band trying to remain relevant in 1981? 1/5
Sounds like abba, just a bit more boring
a standardish late 70s (technically 1981) pop album, has a few nice tunes on it but the one song that really stands out is one of us, being the lead single this makes sense and i get the historical relevance of this album being one of the first major digital recordings and abba's last release for 40 something years, but it's all a bit alriiiiight imo. an okay album.
Some good songs but overall not as enjoyable as some of their earlier songs.
They sure can pump out the hits
It’s super fun. The ballads are a bit too broadway for me but the bops really bop. And actually even the ballads have some cool instrumentation. It’s like new wave with the goth/punk melancholy stripped out of it.
I dunno, I see why ABBA is so iconic, but even on this album it can come off a little saccharine. Everything's good here, I just doing know if I'm about a full ABBA album at this point.
Hard for me to view objectively. If I had never heard of abba I would probably really like this, but I feel like I don’t need any more abba songs in my life Ok I was hating there are some good songs on this. This is kinda cool that abba made less poppy music, I don’t know if that’s their best arena tho. Respect tho, and per my rating system anything above a 1 is respect, so this gets a 2
Sappy 80’s pop, by a Sappy group. Always got to much hype as a group. Music is all the same . Boring.
I absolutely love abba. Cannot believe i haven’t actually sat down and listened to a full album of theirs before. Needless to say it did not disappoint. Sooooo good! I thought the first half was better than the second. But still loved it as a whole. Their sound is so iconic.
It's all perfectly fine maximalist pop, but it's also boring. The longer it goes the more boring it is. Turns out the hit song on this album is the one that tried my patience the most.
Disappointing. No big catchy riffs here
at long last a chance to seriously listen to ABBA and see whether I find anything to enjoy in this beloved pop band I do not music: hated. (⌐■_■)
Not falling out of my chair for this one or anything. But ANBA is not a group I think of when I think of Bands Trying Something Different, and they do here, and is pretty cool/pretty good.
Not my style c
I feel like this album is little too long, they should finished after Slipping Throught My Fingers. Anyway it's very enjoyable, had a good time with it.
5/5 great songwriting and a good change from the big fluffy pop hits. the songs develop and take interesting turns. the vocals are darkly emotive.
Not really in my wheelhouse. Can definitely appreciate the album.
Vaihtelevasti musikaali-kappaleita ja kasaripoppia, perus-ABBA:a ja ihan ok kokonaisuus. Jostain biiseistä tuli mieleen peli-musiikki
I love the lead singers voice and the harmonies but hit the wall hard and couldn't listen to another second before the end of the album. So . . . . a 2? a 3?
This was more complex than I was expecting and it had some tracks that I did enjoy. However, it overstayed it's welcome and I really didn't enjoy the back half as much as the front.
I don't know how, but I hadn't listened to this Abba record before, and it's a delight! It's very theatrical (for lack of a better word?) much more than other Abba records I have listened to.
Not as full of recognizable hits as I presume other albums are, but still a decent set.
Great opener. A fair few good songs on it. Enjoyed this.
It's such an easy listen. Most of the songs just hit on first listen. The harmonies, and the instrumentation have so much fun variety, the vocals are great and the melodies are just solid and sticky. It's a light 4.
Most of these songs are still seriously listenable pop,
Still not an ABBA fan but this album was better. Disappointed that we would get two albums of the same artist this early in the count.
ABBA is just great. The composition and construction of their songs is fantastic and the ladies singing is always a joy. Probably one of the weaker albums, in my opinion, but still a good time. Fav tracks: Head Over Heels, I Let The Music Speak, The Visitors, Under Attack
I didn't find this album compelling.
A pretty pleasant album, and not much more to be said aside from that
Tiresome. That is my one word to describe the music of ABBA. It makes me mentally, and by proxy physically exhausted. While this album is a small improvement on the pop dirge I've come to expect from this group, it still left me somewhat drained towards the end of it's short run time. I will however award this a second star, as one reviewer pointed out the political and social themes within the music, which I can't help but respect. Two sighs of relief out of five. 😫😫
Dansant, rêveur. 4/5
Decent pop album as you’d expect from Abba
starts hot, gets boring
You know, I cant hate abba. Theyre a really tight, well produced group and this is a good album. I dont know if there are other abba albums on this list, but if this is the only one then I'm completely ok with it. 4/5
2025 edit: 5 stars
This album was more mellow than their famous songs, and I have to say I prefer their more upbeat stuff than this. Stand-out: Slipping Through My Fingers
My second ABBA album! The divorce album! Once again, all of these songs are perfectly structured pop crystals. There were some moments of new wave intrigue that made me wish they'd stuck together to get weird in the '80s. Today's faves: The Visitors, Soldiers, and The Day Before You Came
Like maybe 99% of my generation, I’ve heard Dancing Queen and maybe one or two other singles so it was cool to check out a full album. Fun pop music singles and fun pop music album
Ik zie ABBA en in een flits ga ik in m'n hoofd alle 5 de fases van rouwverwerking heen. Het vorige ABBA album leverde me een wild kloppende ader op m'n voorhoofd op, dus ik was hier een beetje huiverig voor. Dit album bevalt echter een stuk beter. De mix bevat daadwerkelijk een basgedeelte en dat in combinatie met de gelikte disco pop ongein zorgt ervoor dat het best goed te doen is. Ik ben nog altijd geen fan van de koor-achtige samenzang stukjes en het meeste op dit album is ook echt wel flink gedateerd, maar ik wil nu in ieder geval niet meer twee gloeiende metalen poken door m'n buis van Eustachius rammen om de oorpijn te verlichten. Het zit voor mij tussen de 2 en de 3 sterren in. Ik zal een 3 doen omdat die andere ABBA een 1 kreeg.
Can’t go wrong with ABBA!
yawn
Another favourite artist from my favourite artist (Steven Wilson). Unlike the Prince Album Sign 'O' The Times - this album was great. It wasn't disco as I always characterize ABBA to be. And it wasn't as light and poppy as other stuff. Still catchy as ABBA is a master at that. I sensed a real focus on lyricism. And I often thought "wow, that was a cool line" while listening to this record. Some dark imagery that I don't associate ABBA with. And I strongly welcomed it. When a band surprises me, it helps me be more engaged and excited to see what is next. Still synth heavy, which I don't strongly care for, but it suit what was being sold to me. I have heard a cover version of 'The Day Before You Came' from Steven Wilson's cover series (he did the same for Sign 'O' The Times) and hearing the original version was just as great. I really felt the sadness that came from the tone of the sign despite the lyrics not really being melancholic. I think this was ABBAs last LP (aside from the recent 2021 record) - I would have loved to see more of their music follow suite to this record. Or better yet, had evovled from this record. I have a feeling this is my favorite ABBA record. Not having heard previous records in their entirety. Just singles. Prove me wrong. But this record was great.
3/5
ABBA sounds like your typical musical music. Almost felt like I was listening to the Mamma Mia! soundtrack. I like musicals, so it works with my taste but I could see how others might not enjoy it. 7/10
This album is a masterpiece. Right up my alley. It’s like a genre that I’ve never heard, but always knew I wanted to hear. ABBA stands for Always Been a Banger Artist. The first song “The Visitors” was a good choice for the title of the album because it is the best. However, every subsequent song was unique and unexpectedly good. I’m going to listening to this album again and again. 9/10
So many solid albums back to back to back. Another great band that contently released bangers back in their day. This isn't their best or even 2nd best album but a good departure from the usual pop sounding ABBA with more of an emphasis on soft rock. Slipping through my fingers is probably the standout track here that's been used as a melancholic song in recent media. Great album that pops up on my playlists all the time. 8/10
A pop album that really stretches the genres sound. Melancholic ballads to upbeat sad happy songs. Really nice singing backed by solid instrumentals. It’s pretty weird. It’s really weird. It’s borderline bizarre a few times. I only have ever heard “Dancing Queen” so this was quite shocking to hear how different their music is from their mega hit. There were a few songs I really enjoyed and a few I didn’t really care for. 7/10
Fine, but no hits and nothing special.
Awesome
Different from earlier Abba albums, but quite pleasant - I liked it. For me, the stand-out track was their hit "One Of Us".
ABBA with no hits
3.5/5
This is, hands down, ABBA's best album. It was also meant to be their last - that is until their 2021 reunion. Musically, this is pure pop, but of the good kind. There are plenty of remarkable hooks that will stay with you for the forseeable future. But ABBA are not only masters of writing songs; on here they have also matured as producers and arrangers. All the instruments are played very tastefully - just listen to the bass on One of Us. The title track is pure late 70s, early 80s synth goodness. Like An Angel Passing Through My Room is sublime. The production of this album is also top notch and innovative for its time. With this album ABBA managed to go out with a bang - before being reborn 40 yeas later, also in top form. 5/5
doorbell-induced panic wait until the tiktok neurodivergents find the soldiers chorus i let the music speak is beautiful omg, sounds like that song from anastasia one of us!! love this song rip freud u would've loved two for the price of one slipping through my fingers made me cry i miss my mom should've packed it up after that, everything else was a snoozefest
I've been listening and completely forgot about taking notes. Generally pleasant overall though. probably like 3.5/5 will round down to 3 i think tho i wasn't impressed enough to round up to 4
Every once in a while you could convince yourself that you are listening to a hip, forward-thinking indie band…and then the ABBA sound would come back and ruin it.
A bit too slow for me and not as upbeat as other ABBBA albums. Miss the danceable tracks that are usually associated withe their music. 2
Not a fan of abba and this didn’t even have any of the “good” abba songs on it.
ABBA is always a jam
Was expecting pop bangers, got boring and cheesy synth lines.
#500 not mad at it, some classics
Title track is awesome. The rest was fine.
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
Best Song: Head Ove Heels. This has that catchy, singalong quality that I think ABBA can excel at. Worst Song: I Let The Music Speak. Honestly, feels like a song cut from Phantom of the Opera. Overall: This is probably on me, but I really expected more. Having not heard so much ABBA, I expected things to be a lot more fun and upbeat, but instead it was largely slow, theatrical, cheese-covered ballads.
Hate the band, but it could have been way worse. It just felt too long and bored me.
Em sorprèn que un grup s'hagi pogut fer tan famós quan només tenen 1 cançó i cada àlbum és 14 la cançó 14 vegades seguides
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
Disco still sucks
Gear: Aür Audio Aurora Mix: klingt wie "Malen nach Zahlen" für die Ohren Musik: Pop, pop, pop muzik Wertung: 🦌(🦌)/5
Good album but a little dull
искренне насладилась за утренним мытьем посуды этим прекрасным поп альбомом, который слушается легко и свежо спустя 40 лет.
Not as many hits as I hoped
Nice!
Some gems but not my favorite abba album right now
Perfectly pleasant in every way. Didn’t recognise any absolute snorters on here but then I was listening to it at work.
Never given ABBA a full listen, surprised none of their ‘main’ hits are from this album, however none really stood out to me, most likely wouldn’t listen again. 2.5/5.
Melancholy and thoughtful.
Fun album. Some weird ass lyrics. Some songs drag.
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!
Pretty much perfect grown-up pop.
Best ABBA I've heard
Although I've never listened the album directly, every song seemed familiar. Underlines the impact they had on the pop genre. Good songs, although nothing I will listen to frequently I think.
It’s a fun album but the ever same beat reminds me too much of the worst type of electronic party music.
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
Really not into this disco stuff. The words are boring and cliché to me as well. The videos are awful, they make me think that the whole point of feminism for the women of Abba was in order to me able to go shopping and buy kooky outfits.
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!
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!
Idk it’s good but I just can’t get into it lol
Best song - Slipping Through My Fingers
Musically I thought this was kind of boring. The lyrics seemed more interesting.
You know, even an album of lesser known Abba is pretty damn good. I wasn't sure about the Bjorn vocals on "Two for the Price of One", but when it hit the chorus it really worked. Judging by play count, this is the least popular track on the album, but I loved it. The bassline in "Should I Laugh or Cry" is amazing. The only song that lost my interest a bit was "An Angel..."
Very different than the usual ABBA songs but I really really like it.
If ABBA was in an 80s music video with pythons and fog machines.
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
Enjoyable - not their most popular but man, they do have talent. Voices like angels!
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...
It's an ABBA album with none of the ABBA songs you know. As expected, I would go 2.5 if possible
What is ABBA without the hits? I once went to a zoo and saw a giraffe without a neck, a leopard without spots, a cheetah who sniffed at so much as a jog. At first, I marvelled at the novelty and felt sorry for the poor creatures. But then I saw the owl with a stiff neck, the kangaroo without bounce, the penguin who had forgotten where they'd left their tuxedo again, and I started to feel cheated. What was the point?
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.
Abba's hits make me a die a little inside. So a full album of abba non-hits makes me die a lot inside. One of the worst things to ever happen to music.
When ABBA does their swan song, the swans do sing. Great stuff.
I unashamedly love Abba. The greatest pop songs ever recorded. This album is less poppy though (better produced and musically deeper) with more adult themes. I would have marked it down slightly but it has my favourite Abba song (The day before you came) so it has to be 5/5
Melancholy Abba is not my bag
Pretty damn good
Refused to listen.
There some surprisingly good stuff verging on Krautrock on here (Soldiers, Visitors), but it swerves into cheesy Puttin on the Ritz territory inevitably. The ballads are awful - slow and sickly sweet. Some good bass playing and Steely Dan style jazzy stuff, the harmonies and melodies are undeniable pure pop genius. But there's just a bass layer of inescapable Eurovision corniness.
Not many bands hit 50 years. Kinda feel like it is 3 stars for longevity, but not enjoyability.
"The Visitors" is a good track, and so is "Like An Angel". But I couldn't get into the other songs.
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.
slipping through my fingers is a lovely song the rest of it was wank
Couple of toe tappers, but not a good listen overall
Flat packed crap
Not as good as I'd been led to believe it would be. I didn't particularly enjoy all of this in one go I'm afraid. Maybe it was the day, maybe I just don't like ABBA album cuts. I won't listen again.
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.
No my jam and not even the best ABBA tunes
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.
Not my favorite Abba album
Not for me personally.
abbaouté
naïve moi qui pensais qu'ils avaient peak sur gimme gimme
Good
7/10
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.
It's ABBA. More fillers than bangers though.
Was wondering when I saw this album had none of their hits on it but it was a solid album.
Meh