Reviews (page 7 of 8)
Swedish Pop, man, goddamned ear worms. Not a memorable or great record but you can listen to it.
Not the abba I’m looking for
Started off strong but then got so boring
Exactly what I thought it would be
Ok…….meh
Later career and very weak for them.
Ugh. Who actually likes this?
I’d never heard this album or any of the tracks before. It was surprisingly mature songwriting and structure. Still it’s ABBA so not my cup of tea.
I like a bit of Abba, they have a huge catalogue of great songs. Unfortunately this album only contains one of them (One Of Us) and one other good track (Head Over Heels), the rest of the album is instantly forgettable. I don;t feel like one track can elevate an album significantly, so it's only 2 stars for me.
The title track took me by a complete surprise. Sounds absolutely like something off a late-70s krautrock album. Easily the best Abba song I’ve heard. Shame that the rest of the album is more of their usual material, which doesn’t really do all that much for me.
It wasn’t actively bad, but never pulled me in.
I listened to like 6 hours of ABBA when I was going through the 500 Rolling Stones albums list…I’m forever done with ABBA.
One day I’ll come around on ABBA, too many musicians I admire specifically for their way around pop melodies swear by them, but all I hear are overly sentimental, saccharine melodies/production, the Swedish version of Schlager.
I don't get it. Some good songs overridden by so much synthy crap. The guitar tone is distractingly terrible.
2/3. First half of the album aside from The Visitors was a drag, but the second half really picked up. They just really know how to write a chorus, and there's such a sense of fun and music to what they do. The 80s instrumentation of it all is really great to hear too, some really iconic synth, guitar, and bass sounds. I'd buy a vinyl and only ever listen to side 2. P.S. Guess I was listening to a deluxe edition with bonus tracks on Spotify, which kinda puts a damper on what I wrote above. Seems like most of my favorite tracks were the bonus tracks, but I'll leave what I wrote above all the same.
I thought I was going to dislike more as ABBA without the most well known hits. But it surprised me. That said I think it felt too long. High 2 low 3
So I am not a fan of the ABBA sound it turns out, when they’re not giving me undeniable hits I’m just not particularly interested and actually find their signature moves a little irritating, I appreciate the production values and some of the instrumental choices had me interested but overall this one was a solid 2 for me
This was a bland listen for me. Don’t get me wrong, there’s a lot going on and the sounds are far from bland. Every track sounded like a movie soundtrack and felt a bit over the top. For this listener the album felt almost as if it was “too much”. Two For The Price Of One was the only track I found myself enjoying.
Synth pop abba 👍 Ballad abba 👎 The opposite problem that I have with queen albums. They need more songs where they’re taking themselves less seriously.
Thoughts before listening: Abba were really good at crafting catchy as hell pop songs. Sometimes the production of the songs tips over into cheesiness that makes them unlistenable for me, but it's hard to deny that the songs are great. I don't recognize this album cover, but chances are I'll know some of the songs. Review: So I notice this album was released in 1981 which feels late for Abba who I consider more of a 70s band. Turns out this was their final album for 40 years and was released as the group was breaking up both personally and professionally. This makes it a pretty questionable inclusion for this list, especially considering the fact that I'm not hearing any recognizable hits. That's not to say it's bad, these are still very catchy songs, it's just not an Abba album I'd expect to be celebrated. I was going to give this 3-stars, but at an hour long I'm growing tired of it quickly. I'll go with 2-stars...I just don't think I'm wired for Abba.
Not a fan
When they say it’s Abba’s “more mature” album but what they mean is it’s the one without any tunes
Not bad, better than other ABBA works
Light poppy fluff kind of catchy
Slow pop. Nah
not really an abba fan
Oh no. Not bad, but not for me. 2/5
Well executed from a technical point of view, but lacking in soul. Reminds me of German Schlager.
Yeah.
„The Visitors“ markiert den Schlusspunkt in ABBAs Studiokarriere und entstand 1981 in den Polar Studios in Stockholm. Die vier Musiker:innen aus Schweden klangen hier so ernst und erwachsen wie nie zuvor – eine deutliche Abkehr vom früheren Glamour-Pop der Siebziger. Synthesizer und elektronische Texturen bestimmen das Klangbild, die Harmonien sind kühler, die Arrangements komplexer. Songs wie „The Visitors“, „When All Is Said and Done“ und „One of Us“ spiegeln die persönlichen Spannungen innerhalb der Band wider, zugleich aber auch die politische und gesellschaftliche Unsicherheit jener Zeit. Auffällig ist der neue, fast melancholische Tonfall, der sich durch das gesamte Album zieht. „The Visitors“ ist kein fröhlicher Abschied, sondern eine reife, nachdenkliche Platte, die zeigt, wie sehr ABBA sich musikalisch weiterentwickelt hatten – von Pop-Idolen zu reflektierten Künstler:innen.
Singles ok, rest is filler.
Abba absolutely deserve their place in music history, and therefore the list. But sorry, it's just not for me.
This is not the ABBA that I’m familiar with. Weird, but I mean that in both good and bad ways. There were a couple songs near the beginning that I really dug, the album held me for at least 4 maybe 5 songs, then, there was a series of stripped down singer/songwriter ish songs that seemed to deviate from the then modern synth driven beat. It sort of fell apart, tried to redeem itself at the end but didn’t quite make it.
No, this is not ABBA as everybody knows them. So it is maybe not so bad that they were in the process of splitting when making this album.
ABBA really isn't my thing. It's not off-putting, just boring to me. This sounds like every other ABBA song I've ever heard.
Not as poppy as i feared.
Album started with a good first song. You told me I was listening to St. Vincent. I would’ve said cool. This is great. After that, it rapidly declined into a very disappointing array of pop nonsense.
I hate ABBA but I hated this album a bit less than the rest. It seems they went full "serious band" here and the result is not that bad. Of course is still cheesy but at least is not embarrassing and there are actual songs. De cabeza a "Discos para conducir" to listen to it again in the future.
Did I like this? No I did not. But did I appreciate it? Also no. Ah, but did I respect it for what it is? Still no, but a little less effusively. It is not what I thought Abba sounds like, so I will give them respect for that. I didn't like it, but I also didn't hate it, but I did think it went on too long. Do I ever want to hear it again? Not particularly.
For most of my life I had no use for ABBA whatsoever. Then my daughter appeared in her high school's production of Mamma Mia! and how ironic that a Swedish band would give me such an acute case of Stockholm Syndrome. Still not something I love, but it's not horrible. An album with more of the songs I recognize from the play would get 3 stars.
This started off fairly interesting, the first couple of tracks sounded like a cool indie band but each had a weird really over the top poppy twang bit at the end of a line, or a poppy turnaround or similar. It felt interestingly promising, but after that this felt like musical theatre, fairly empty sounding verses with complex story telling lyrics and then an over the top poppy chorus which didn't necessarily seem to fit with the rest of the track. Some of us I know, obviously, but I remembered the tune and lyrics which are alright. I didn't remember the faux reggae feel of the rhythm. Ick. Not for me I'm afraid. I'd like to hear the earlier abba al ums to see if they were more to my tastes in their heady full on pop days.
When I introduce my lovely wife to people, I quite often follow it with 'and she likes ABBA' much to her annoyance. She caught me playing this when she got in from work and I had similar guilty feelings like when ones Mum catches you doing something indecent (she never did!). Did i actually enjoyed the album? Yes, in places, it was excellent, great synths and vocals, but its ABBA.
I'm not an ABBA guy, but I respect their game. Fun as hell disco bops. This album is them trying to get all serious like they're Fleetwood Mac. But they're not. Is this on the list as a curiosity?
Got the feeling ABBA were mailing this one in. Formulaic simple Muzak melodies. Lacked of the magic of other albums.
Ja, het is moderner dan de gedateerde discohits die we kennen. Maar een band die zichzelf opnieuw uitvindt, wordt niet ineens opnieuw relevant. Het blijven zoetsappige liedjes verder, al zullen de teksten en de thema's vast wel anders zijn nu ze hier een stuk ouder zijn geworden. Ik vind dus dat dit soort albums niet in deze lijst thuis horen. Als ze nu met een verandering van geluid, weer jaren mee waren gegaan, dan zou je nog een uitzondering kunnen maken. Maar niet als laatste kunstje, want dat is dit album. Het zit tussen de 2 en 3 in en deze keer rond ik het naar beneden af.
Light weight bouncy pap pop! But sometimes it is very good light weight bouncy pap pop!
2 stars I’ve never listened to a full ABBA album before. I love their big hits, but this didn’t have enough of them. The first song, the title track, was great, but I lost interest after that except… Slipping Through My Fingers is a song I might have thought was cheesy before having a child. But now, this makes me cry.
Not my style
Not my favorite- i lole ABBAs hits but this album was a little too sappy for me. A lot of ballads, not enough disco vibes. Overall- fine
It feels like ABBA went a more somber route on this one and it just didn't really do it for me.
I can't stand this. It is cheesy. They are great musicians but the music is not for me.
There's some good songs on this but I just couldn't get into it. I think a second listen one day might change my mind
It's Abba trying to be more artful and less poppy, but to me it mostly ends up being quite drab and boring
Não é algo muito Abba esse álbum, mas amei os sintetizadores, é o intermediário entre Pop dançante e alternativo melancólico. Achei que é álbum que não tem espírito do Abba, mas ao mesmo tempo tem ali certa essência.
It sounds a bit isolated and cold which makes sense considering they were on the verge of breaking up. I admire they tried something different but the execution isn't there. The songs aren't catchy and the vibe is a bit off which leads to disappointing results. Not terrible but it misses the mark.
First time listening to an ABBA album in full. This is a great album cover for a final record. Very stately, like Avalon or something. Some of these lyrics are a little ominous (title track, "Soldiers") or just wistful. "Slipping Through My Fingers" is by far the most popular song on here and it's... a ballad about how parenthood goes by fast, so make the most of every moment? Maybe this is their "maturity" record. I suppose they were over disco by this point. I mean it's not as annoyingly sugar-coated as some of their hits, and the production and the harmonies are hitting, but there's nothing immediately grabbing me hook-wise, and the more baroque dramatic moments do nothing for me. Safe to say I will never listen to this again. Feels like a record that I'd need to hear and appreciate a few earlier ABBA albums to get into this as a contrast. LOL "One of Us" has a melody that sounds a HELL of a lot like the "life is demanding without understanding" Ace of Base melody. That is probably the number one thing I will remember from this.
This was bad, even for ABBA. Normally a fun catchy band, this was more "Lets try and get into the 80's" Meh.
Very ABBA but also very 1980’s, production tipped from sparking into over production 80’s synth heavy and drum machines, it ain’t Kraftwerk and it doesn’t sound like peak ABBA
ABBA is one of those bands where I'm completely happy just owning their Greatest Hits release. They're talented songwriters, singers and producers. But I just don't need this much ABBA.
The inclusion of this album really drives home how the creator of this list really lost the thread. There is no reasonable argument for *needing* to hear this album.
While I can acknowledge these are more than competent musicians and skilled singers, the disco vibes ultimately leave me cold.
Estamos en 1981, hay discos realmente buenos como Juju, Dare, el de OMD, Tatto you... Abba publican un álbum de pop maduro, eso que suele ser un disco que ha perdido la magia de anteriores logros se confirma plenamente. No es su mejor disco, tiene buenos momentos, porque son unos compositores excepcionales, y una magnífica producción pero no hay rastro de lo que hizo grandes a ABBA: los hits instantáneos. Tal vez One of us o Head over heels (nada que ver con la de Tears for fears) pero ni eso. Ahora bien, es un excelente disco de pop maduro. Muy influyente en la música posterior desde coetáneos como Euryhtmics o Erasure, hasta Pulp o The Killers sin ir más lejos. Discos de 1981: SIUOXSIE AND THE BANSHEES- Juju, ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN - Heaven up here, THE SOUND - From the lions mouth, MINK DEVILLE - Coup de grace, THE CRAMPS - Psychedelic jungle, JOY DIVISION - Still, THE CURE - Faith, THE ROLLING STONES - Tattoo you, THE HUMAN LEAGUE- Dare, ORCHESTRAL MANIOEUVRES IN THE DARK-Architecture & Morality, ENO & BYRNE-My Life in the Bush of Ghosts, Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin and Paco de Lucía- Friday Night in San Francisco, PRINCE- Controversy, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts- I Love Rock 'n' Roll, Franco Battiato- La voce del padrone... incluso: Face Value de Phil Collins o ABACAB de Genesis. Debuts de Stary Cats, Fleshtones, Barracudas, The Church, The Gun Club, Soft Cell, New Order, Duran Duran, Heaven 17, Depeche Mode, Eurythmics, Tom Tom Club...
I haven't experienced anything that goes downhill this fast since I put a bowling ball on a helter skelter. The first track is great, the rest just sucks more and more.
Boring.
I don’t say this because of the musical that’s been constructed around their songs, but this album sounds like the soundtrack album from the musical. It sounds like Andrew. Lloyd Webber. I neither hate nor love it, it’s just Music for another purpose. It sounds like Benny Sitting in his piano smashing out tunes on the plus side. I have a new appreciation for how good the singers in ABBA were.
I survived listening to the entire album. No idea how ABBA was so successful. Seems rather generic and bland.
I generally think of ABBA as a singles band: when I listen to an ABBA album, this single(s) are the standout tracks. I get that these were great songs and excellently executed to high production standards, but I generally don't care for the albums. The Visitors is the post-breakup(s) album, and has a bit more bite to the lyrics, has a glossy production sheen, but it's not an album I'd come back to.
2.5
+1 because Irene liked it
Not my thing but I’m sure they were a big deal in their time. I can respect that.
inoffensive and bland. 2/5 stars.
I would not want them as visitors. 2/5
Det här albumet får mig att känna att listan är lite pretto. Långt ifrån Abbas bästa album.
I don't know why I don't like ABBA. I'm not opposed to 70's pop as a whole, not even disco, which they have taken a lot of influence from. Maybe I'm just not into Europop? I haven't really heard much from the continent (meaning the mainland, the islands are a different story) from that era, to be honest. I think it's because a lot of their songs have this uncanny musical theater feel. I can't put my finger on what it is. I asked a friend, who is a multi-instrumentalist and theater nerd, about what it might be, but he couldn't place it, either. He noted that Chess is one of the major musicals from the late 20th century that doesn't sound like "that," which makes this even more confusing. I would like to know what about this album, especially the middle of it, gives the feeling of filler songs in a forgettable-but-profitable musical. That aside, it has the traits of a forgettable-but-profitable musical album. The music is serviceable but forgettable, the lyrics are about deep emotions and also some random stuff, and despite it all, the instruments are bright and fun and ignoring what the actual song is trying to sell. As an addition from a quick Wikipedia read-through, maybe part of this is a "Rumours" thing? But I don't actually feel any of the emotion, creativity, and tension that makes that album great. Unrelated, but this is the second time in a week I've ended up on the Wikipedia page for "atelier." Does that matter? No. Not at all.
Very different to pop abba, couple of typical abba tracks but pretty good
Dated and not for me
My younger self cringed every time I heard Abba on the radio, dismissive of their pop magic and preferred darker, less joyful music. Fast forward decades later and Abba is still with us, enjoying an elongated resurgence where they have become the "go-to" music for parties, socials and movie/TV soundtracks that bring nostalgia, and the memory of happy times that never occurred. Like a lot of people, I'm familiar with the hits and the occasional deep track, but never really listened to their full albums. The Visitors was Abba's second last studio album with the group members (couples) dealing with personal relationship issues and a change in sound, from their lighter pop songs to synths and a more "mature" sound. It's funny, listening to The Visitors was so unexciting and bland, it had me yearning Dancing Queen or Waterloo to remind me this band was a popular iconic group. Overall, it was okay, but okay shouldn't be good enough to be mentioned here. Stick to the greatest hits collections.
A fun listen, ultimately just not my jam.
I dont really like how the lyrics dont match the beat and vibe of the song. Second song I recognize from tiktok but I'm not a big fan of whatever this genre is. i would recommend this album to old people.
Song:one of us i like the beat and her voice is great but the lyrics is sad song: slipping through my fingers the lyrics is really sad but the beat once again is good and her voice is good again song: head over heals i like this song but it is kind of Halloween Ish
i liked the start it sounded cool i liked the sad kinda feel and pop but the vocie i liked a lot it sounded like the lryics were sad but overall i liked it
the first song started off uhm idk its js weird already the lyrics remind me of sum so i don like it her voice is alr but like the lyrics is like the thing tha is throwing me off but da background music and the music is lowk good but like i said the lyrics r throwing me off. the second one is sad i can alr tell by her voice its kinda good bc her voice and da background music like i said in da first song and like i said again the lyrics is throwing me off so bad to like bru why yall do this to me but idk. the last song started off lowk good i like the beat and thing but i gtg to ma group
Fine. Wasn’t my favorite but definitely wasn’t bad.
2,5
Better than I expected
I was never really into disco....even though I lived through it.
So, I don't know many songs from this album at all. It will be an initial listen on every track besides "Slipping Through My Fingers." I read the wikipedia page about this album and it says that it's often considered a more mature take on their work, and I already notice that in the first track. It's less poppy/dance track, and more synth. "Head Over Heels" offers some excellent harmonizing between the two female singers and reminds me a lot of Queen. "When All Is Said and Done" I dig it big time. When the rest of the beat kicks in....great! "Soldiers" is moodier and obviously is a reflection of that current moment, where the Cold War had been going wild for years by that point. I actually really like the wordplay in the chorus. Wild that the first six tracks don't contain any male vocals. I mean, I get why they put the women up front for this (their voices are heavenly). "You Owe Me One" might be an album highlight for me because of the two separate melodies in the chorus. That was beautiful. I don't know that I'll listen to this again, although it gave me a new appreciation for the ladies of ABBA and how good their voices are, the harmonies kill it. Considering they aren't family who sang together all of their lives, like the Everly Brothers or the Beegees, it's impressive. I didn't add any songs to my playlist from this one.
Vind Arrival toch beter
I just couldn’t connect with this album at all. I don’t know if it’s the dated soon or what but I did not enjoy this one.
I love ABBA, but this was dull.
easily the most unpleasant abba full album experience, but there are a couple standout moments to help you survive the ordeal
sounds like an Andrew Lloyd Webber cast recording.
It's Abba. You know what you're getting going in. And I'm not really an Abba fan. It's maybe not as cheesy and bubblegummy as some of their more well know records but it's still not my kind of thing. 2/5
First I thought to give it a try and though it started promising I was underwhelmed
Not a fan of ABBA. Can hear the influence on current music, but didn't enjoy this. 2/5
Aside from the ABBA hits, I'm not familiar, though it seems like The Visitors is a step away from the disco pop they were so well-known for. To be frank, this was boring. The vocal performances were great, but everything about this album seemed too clean, too polished... too manufactured. "Cassandra" and "Under Attack", on the other hand, brought me back in. These two songs singlehandedly brought this album up from a 1 star
My mum is a fan of ABBA's earlier music. Feels good to have an extra topic of conversation that I can kinda sorta talk about with her now. The first half didn't really do much for me, though I'm interested in seeing how this album aligns with the rest of ABBA's music. I wasn't expecting my first exposure to this band to be as dour and ominous as this album wound up being.
i’m not opposed to the idea of abba but i’m surprised this particular abba record is on this list because it doesn’t have any of the good abba songs on it
Aga is a massive ABBA fan so I'm exposed to alot of ABBA at the moment. Not my bag - although surprised that this album was picked as does not contain the goto ABBA bangers. Sugar overload.
Abba, but boring
I just can't with all the ABBA. This was the best ABBA, but it was still too much ABBA.
Все пак съм слушал the greatest hits, А тук имаше само един
Perusabbaa, ei juuri säväyttänyt
Thank god I was born in le wrong generation so I didn't have to listen to this dreg growing up
Gawd! This album is awful! I just got to "Two For The Price of One" and it has to be the absolute worst Abba song I've ever heard! (4.6) ★★ And that's my final offer
This is supposedly ABBA's turn toward a darker sound, but if you're expecting they suddenly turned into Joy Division, prepare to be disappointed. It's the same vapid Europop they always did with some synths and no tunes. The title track is okay and the last couple songs are okay, but the rest is as insufferable as ever. 2 stars.
9/11/24 I found this album rather boring and it surprised me.
Listen, I really enjoyed this album and honestly the darker themes are fine for me on this Nov 2, 2024 in the US. I'm not sure why it's on here unless EVERY album gets on here--if this was a 2000 albums list sure. There are brilliant albums by obscure artists not on here and ABBA probably has a few ... is this one really necessary for the list? I can't deny the songwriting is lovely, it always is with ABBA, but there is no spark on first listen. I will return to it, but I think it's a 2 on this list. Maybe it caught me at the wrong time.
Good album
It's ABBA. You can get over their angelic lilting voices and disco infused mid-tempo pop arrangements or you can't. It's not my favorite record of theirs, but it's better than their worst. I won't reach for The Visitors independent of this moment ever, but my soul is mostly unscathed from the encounter.
Apparently this was one of the first Digitally recorded and mixed albums and also one of the first to be issued on CD in 1982. Incredibly Both facts that are more interesting than the music of ABBA
Sadly, this pathos-soaked album doesn’t reach the highs of Rumours, the other contemporary album from a band where all the lead musicians were sleeping with each other. I did note that Ace of Bass stole a melody line from One of Us for All That She Wants - Swedes gotta stay together, eh?
Shite. Not classic Abba, more touching onto 80's crap. Don't like this.
Things I appreciate from Sweden: - IKEA - The chef - Fish Things I don’t appreciate from Sweden: - ABBA In fairness, better than I expected, but that’s probably because I didn’t hear any of the hits on here, all of which I really, really don’t like.
There are some good songs, but too psicodelic for me
I enjoy ABBA’s hits so I was willing to have them pay a visit. It wasn’t long, however, before I just wanted some peace and quiet again.
Meh
Found it pedestrian.
This was definitely not my thing but it wasn't as terrible as it could have been haha. I don't have much to say about this really - it's a kind of bland pop record that has some emotional lyrics (good!) that delve into super sappy/mopey (not as good!). The record sounds like it was recorded and produced by pros (good!) but they lean a bit too hard on what worked in the 70's and now feels a bit dated (prob did in the 80's also)
I was vibing on the title track but the album lost me after that - nothing else really captured my interest.
Well that was fun. Just made my 27 year-old punker of a son sit thru this ABBA album on a drive across the city. Groaning like a 2nd grader. “Make it stop!” The price you pay when you come home to freeload. More tortures to come.
Eeeehhhh
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
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.
Not an ABBA fan
Too ballady for me
Didn't hate it
Yawn
It's not for me.
Never listened to an ABBA record, can confirm they are a singles band
Not a fan of ABBA and this one didn't change my mind.
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.
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").
That was a lot of ABBA
abba is mid
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
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
Got bored, turned it off.
All of their music feels like it should be in a musical and not in a good way to me.
Mama mia, was this thing a drag.
Not ABBA’s best work
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)
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.
I am not a fan of Abba, but it's better than Mama Mia.
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
Begon best goed, maar werd echt tergend slecht. Te zoet, te nep
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!
Tinny and overly synthesized.
Sounds like abba, just a bit more boring
Some good songs but overall not as enjoyable as some of their earlier songs.
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
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.
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 really in my wheelhouse. Can definitely appreciate the album.
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.
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. 😫😫
starts hot, gets boring
yawn
ABBA with no hits
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.
Was expecting pop bangers, got boring and cheesy synth lines.
Hate the band, but it could have been way worse. It just felt too long and bored me.
Disco still sucks
Gear: Aür Audio Aurora Mix: klingt wie "Malen nach Zahlen" für die Ohren Musik: Pop, pop, pop muzik Wertung: 🦌(🦌)/5
Not as many hits as I hoped
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.
It’s a fun album but the ever same beat reminds me too much of the worst type of electronic party music.
Idk it’s good but I just can’t get into it lol
If ABBA was in an 80s music video with pythons and fog machines.
It's an ABBA album with none of the ABBA songs you know. As expected, I would go 2.5 if possible
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.
"The Visitors" is a good track, and so is "Like An Angel". But I couldn't get into the other songs.
Couple of toe tappers, but not a good listen overall
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.
No my jam and not even the best ABBA tunes
Not my favorite Abba album
Not for me personally.
This was ok, expiremental maybe ?
Everyone knows ABBA. Everyone loves ABBA. Not me though. Glad this wasn't "all the hits" because we've all heard them a million times, but this was very much like I'd imagine an album of ABBA songs I hadn't heard before.
Partly heard before Saved 4/13 Top track: One Of Us
The first 2 minutes of the Visitors was actually really good electro pop with interesting lyrics about living under the kgb, I started thinking what, they went legitimately good? Then the chorus kicked in and it was utter shit. Definitely more interesting and darker than Arrival, but ultimately it's Abba and with Abba production. No thank you.
First time listen was okay although it didn´t know much of the songs. But after listening to it again. there´s nothing much to it really.
Depressing lifeless synth pop.
Oh God this is just artificial sweetener overdose. ABBA's music is just sickly sweet. Not for me. Cheesy as fuck.
ABBA has some great songs. Shame none of them are on this album.
I now have a benchmark for my 2.5, at least.
There's some really interesting, mature songwriting here. Unfortunately, it's locked behind cheesy singing, overproduction, and a bad case of synthesizeritis. This is definitely an older ABBA singing about darker, more serious themes. But their sound hasn't aged with them, or at least it hasn't aged well.
Not my jam.
Yawn.
I think this proves that all their biggest hits are hits for a reason. The rest of their catalogue....meh.
Boring ABBA. If that makes any sense. I like the album cover though.
ABBA is sweet. Screw you, haters. That being said, not their strongest showing. I'd say it's okay throughout, no real standouts. Felt like the album dragged a bit as well. Good soundtrack for some spring cleaning.
Boring
Didn't make it all the way through. Pop ballads. They're fine.
What a surprise! Album by ABBA that I didn't know about at all. I would assume one of their albums from seventies will be on this list, as those were filled with hits. On the other hand we have "The Visitors", last album from the golden era, with fewer all-time hits, but with more experiments, like in the opening track's intro, sounding like an antithesis of ABBA. One song reminded me of a childhood, not even a full song, just the beat in the intro in "Head Over Heels". A lot of personal melancholy in this moment, spoiled by the fact that this song is absolutely unlistenable. In general, there is not much going on this album. Classic eighties disco, but not really convincing in any way. Unfortunately, a waste of time.
Strange and silly, not unlike the decade in which it was produced.
im sorry, im a big abba man, but this is tepid and boring. mostly repetitive downtempo bore snores. wheres my dancing queen vibes? where are the joyous romps and energy of yore? dang, this was their last album before 1994 for a reason. le not good.
Look, it's ABBA, there's not going to be a surprise here. Super polished vocals, some really terrible lyrics and some excellent pop songwriting. But not my cup of cheese.
Het eerste nummer gaf hoop dat dit een andere ABBA zou zijn, maar helaas... Niet zo vreselijk als hun grote hits, maar alsnog vind ik dit helemaal niks.
Im not a big ABBA fan, but i liked the first song. And on the info about the album this is apparently a large departure from their normal work, so i was excited. And then the rest of the album was standard ABBA, but without being as catchy as some of the bands best work
Sounds like the soundtrack to a cheesy 80s musical film. Not great.
I was lukewarm on this one. I liked the first few songs, which were mostly upbeat synth pop. (The spiky high-pitched synth on “Head Over Heels” was cool.) But starting around track 5, the album lost me and not as much stood out. A few songs have the drama you’d expect from a stage musical. A little cheesy.
It's Abba, but maybe not as pop and upbeat all the time.
Apparently all the hits from ABBA were off the album we've already listened to from this list. But, what can I say, I think this is an pretty good band, IF you're in the right mood. There's nothing I down right hated, but this definitely not as good as the first one.. I really like the girls voices, but not so much the songs themselves. I think the most surprising thing was not this album, but the first several songs that kicked in off my Spotify. First one was Dreaming by Blondie, followed by Hungry Heart by Brice Springsteen. A couple songs later, Elvis's Moody Blue, followed by Starman by Bowie. I'm not shitting you.....last song I heard before I jumped to Luke Walker was Fernando. A very good song from ABBA. I found this mix to be very unusual. Not as a good as the first album, but I'm giving a 2. I mean, how can you not like ABBA?? 2
ABBA is probably the most consistent band that I know of. 2
Mama Mia!
Meh
Oof. Corny, boring, and the synth really captures that crappy 80s Jefferson Starship sound.
I can take an ABBA single every now and then but omfg this is rough. Every instrumental part and vocal part is engineered to be overly corny. I don't know how a high hat can sound corny as fuck but, damn, they achieved it here. I had to disassociate to get through the middle of this record. I will say that for 1981, the instrumentation does sound pretty forward-thinking. Synthpop was still pretty early then and this album sounds pretty mature for being a forerunner.
Kinda interesting musically, more so than I was expecting. It gets a bit boring as it moves along. Thought the baroque pop and opera influences were cool and different.
Not for me
Not sure about this one. It's supposed to be almost pop perfection, but I couldn't enjoy much of it. I was also working, so it was mostly on the background... but still, slightly annoying sometimes.
Not the greatest ABBA album. None of their big hits
This album lacks the immedicacy of their others. It's miserable and could techically be a divorce album. You don't listen to ABBA for misery; they're here for fun. I'm sure fans will love this album but I want my sugary pop hits! Best Tracks: The Visitors; One Of Us; Slipping Through My Fingers
ss
I honestly have no idea why this album was included in this book. Is it because Abba were a europop band that "matured" into a more adult contemporary pop trajectory? I don't know. All I know is that it was boring.
Look's like a band that was inspire by ABBA and never stand out. Why is it include in this book...
The first two tracks are amazing and have a nice creative side to both of them. After that, we fall in classic-average pop songs of the late 70s and I felt a lack of engagement inside me. It's not bad, but I will never listen to it again.
They succeeded in making ABBA boring
Yeah, it definitely is an improvement of some of their earlier work, but I truly don't get the high scores for an album that's still decidedly average.
Same old things
Ehh pleasant enough in places but it really drug on and was pretty dull overall.
Mit viel Alkohol geht das. Aber ich kann ja nich immer besoffen sein.
A horrible experience that couldn’t end soon enough
Not the worst but 1.49 (round up to 2)
There were a couple of stand out songs but overall I wasn't the biggest fan
I had very low expectations and they were soundly met.
Interesantan album, ali nedovoljno da me zainteresira.
Jesus - ABBA is just so silly, I can't take them seriously
it's Abba. Talented but not something I can get excited about.
Low score for me more in that I dont know any of the songs from this album, but that said I'm not looking to discover ABBA when listening to them. Two days ago Arrival came up on my list and that got a solid 4, but for what it ABBA is to me.
Pretty ABBA.
Not great.
Not their best. Not bad, but pretty blah. 2/5
Hm. Easy listening ABBA? Really loved the first track, and some others really had a groove, but as a whole album, pretty sleepy/unremarkable. The Day Before You Came has a hell of a beat, but the vocals are just. So. Euro slow.
An Abba album with no songs that are burned into my brain from radio overplay?! That was a surprise. I found it to be a bit show-tuney in parts. Not my cup of tea, despite being clearly well written, performed and recorded. Didn't move me at all.
Just not a big ABBA fan and couldn’t really hear what was different about this from other singles or albums.
A bit repetitive, didn't inspire me.
Ugh. I did not want to listen to this. And I can’t say I’m glad it did. However… there were a few unexpectedly decent songs that I heard and even still did not take the time to record the names of. That is all.
Abba is better in small doses.
I wasn't a fan. I didn't hate it, and I didn't turn it off, but I really didn't like it at all, either. And it sort of sounded a little bit like musical in the way the songs were arranged which I found weird.
I wanted to go 1.5. Not an outright 1 as there's clearly some craft to the songwriting, but large parts of it were like an Andrew Lloyd Webber album
not even the catchy abba songs
Didn’t like…. But love their old stuff!!
Not bad but just not what im into
p483. 1981. 2 stars We all know their great run of singles in the 70s, but I'd never actually listened to an ABBA album all the way through. First time for everything. Pros: They know how to write a hook. Fabulous voices and arrangements. Excellent production. Cons: schizophrenic style - can't make its mind up whether it wants to be 80s electro pop (The Visitors, One of Us, Slipping Through My Fingers) or show tunes (Head Over Heels, I Let The Music Speak), which is where Benny and Bjorn eventually ended up. All the usual issues with suspect lyrics, and one song - Two For The Price of One - is possibly the worst thing they've ever done. It is all a bit bland and soulless. When they're good, they're brilliant, but there is too much filler here for repeated listens. This album is not essential listening. ABBA Gold is.
Helaas, hier word ik niet zo blij van
just ok. really prefer the more upbeat songs
I listen to ABBA for the hits, not the deep cuts.
boring
Wow, never thought I would listen to a full ABBA album beginning to end. Wasn't as bad I as thought: they definitely had a formula down by this point so the songs are consistent and pretty catchy. You can't argue with the vocal harmonies, songwriting or musicianship either, but it all has the weird bizzaro tinge of 70s Sweden which makes everything sound vaguely familiar but not quite natural.
¿ABBA? ¿Del 81? a ver de qué va esto. Pues de "menos" de lo mismo. Se deja escuchar pero no hay ningún gran éxito ni nada que se le parezca. Prescindible.
No me gustó, me aburri en la mitad. La portada está muy guapa
It's like weird time-travel karaoke -- or a satire of 1970s Europop. Impeccable harmonies on the ESL and smiley-face rhythms bouncing along. The instrumentation is the aural equivalent of a two-ply polyester leisure suit of mustard yellow. I’m hearing oompah bands and seeing feathered hair styles. Syrupy strings on top of syrupy synths for the ultimate ‘70s sugar high. Quaint enough, cute enough, and some happy moments (I'm now thinking of Barney) but I struggle to take this very seriously.
Didn't get on very well with this album, its grand.
Druga ABBA na liscie, drugi album ktory od nich slucham, no i ostatni w dyskografii studyjnej, jesli nie liczyc wielkiego kombaka, ktory zrobili w 2k21 specjalnie na sylwestra z tvp czy tam polsatem, niby tylko 5 lat dzieli dwa albumy, a jednak muzyka jest zdecydowanie dojrzalsza, zarowno przez zwolnienie tempa, sporo trakow mozna zaliczyc do downtempo, a nie jak same szybkie bangery, takze od strony lirycznej wyraznie sie ABBA zmienila po tym splicie, w tym okresie pary chyba sie juz posypaly, ale jednak nadal profesjonalnie razem tworzyli muzyke, wiec romansowe ballady ustepuja goracemu tematowi, jakim w latach 80 byla zimna wojna, wiec plyta jest wypelniona nastrojami z nia zwiazanymi, chociaz jakby sie uprzec, to ten motyw mozna przeniesc na ten split bandowy i rowniez by pasowalo, jako drugie dno, ale az tak ambitnie odwaznych tez nie bede stawial, podobnie jak na pierwszej sluchanej plycie sporo muzykow sesyjnych i podzial pracy w zespole nadal taki sam, wiec chopy instrumenty, aranzacja i producerka, a baby spiewanie, chociaz jest tez trak na ktorym jeden z panow jest glownym wokalem, jest to ich pierwszy digitalowo nagryany krazek, co zdecydowanie zmienia odczucia w uszach, bo wszystko jest jeszcze czystsze brzmieniowo niz na arrivalu, miejscami ta czystosc brzmienia zmienia sie wrecz w pustke, bo tak dobrze czuc pojedyncze instrumenty, dlatego przy mixowaniu ciekawe rzeczy sie odbywaly zeby skompensowac te zbytnia czystosc brzmienia, nadal nie zostalem ABBowym swirem i fanem tych harmonicznych spiewow, ale jednak lepiej mi sie sluchalo tego 37 minutowego materialu na 9 piosenkach niz ostatniego krazka, jako plejkowy kawalek najbardziej pasuje one of us, wiec leci na plejke listwa, ale na zwczajajowa plejke dodam wspomniany kawalek z meskiem wokalem, ktory byl jedyna opcja do kawalka traktujacego trojkatowych stosunkach, taka zmiana wokalna jak dla mnie dodaje sporo calej plycie
There are hints of interesting ideas on this LP, but they ultimately end up being washed out by standard 80s fare uninspired synth ballads
The day before we were dealt this album, I read a review of their new album in Rolling Stone. They gave it ****, for their first album in 40 years, writing that they totally recaptured their 70s glory. But I'm thinking their 70s glory is a bit overstated. Their hits were huge, don't get me wrong. I mean, their music was turned into a movie musical. You don't get that treatment without some classic songs. But beyond the "Mamma Mia" songs there seems to be a big drop-off in quality, with the rest just mediocre. On "The Visitors," the title track is ok. Maybe not fantasmagoric, but ok. But it's downhill from there. "I Let the Music Speak" was particularly painful. I couldn't let that music speak.
The best of this album IMO: - The Visitors I was never a fan of ABBA, I always thought they were overrated. They're not for me that's for sure. J'ai jamais trippé sur les chansons qui sonnent comme des balades. 2.3/5
lol abba is abba
This is disco, right? I'm just not feeling it. Even though the harmonies are good, the music is just so-so.
Mwah, niet het meest catchy werk van ABBA.
Couple of cool grooves, and obviously well crafted. Just not my lane.
Not really in my wheelhouse
Won’t visit again
Average Euro-Pop
Technically good, but mostly too bland for my tastes
It doesn't offend me but there's no way I'd listen to this again.
Liked "one of us", apart from that, not much for me.
It’s not their best, even Helen thinks it has filler tracks!
I think I get it, but Anna just isn't my thing. Not their fault.
This album is just way too 80s pop for my tastes. Which makes sense, as an 80s pop album.
So ABBA, my mums favourite.......Really loved the title track, it was so good. Some other 3's on the album but overalll wont listen to this again. 2 stars
Not ABBA’s finest work
It was pretty ok. There wasn't anything stand out about it that I would revisit again. What I want from this group is the more pop/upbeat music which was not present in this album.
First track is solid. Second okay. The rest is an eighties production horror.
Isn't ABBA kind of a meme? I'll give it a listen. By song #4, meh it's ok. It sounds too '80's for my taste. Which makes sense, since this came out in 1980. After finishing, I didn't much care for it. It was crafted well, though, so I'll give it a 2.
ABBA no longer needs its dad to pick them up from the station and the lesson of less is more in the make up department has been noted.Venturing to a night on the tiles as an adult with no photo ID fears ,ready to talk adult things but deep down inside ,despite the more mature attempts of ABBA’s night out is a super trooper waterlooing pop sensation that makes all wedding receptions down’t working men’s function room worthwhile.
Actually liked this more than i thought. Probably wouldnt go back to it though.
The lead singer was possibly a Nazi...
I liked this a lot more than their first album.
Jotenkin samaa mössöä koko levy. Yhtyeen merkitystä/menestystä ei varmaan voi kiistää, mutta ei tämä automaattitrukkien myyntiä edistänyt.
I really like the title track, I think it got some radio play back in the day. Also I like the serious subject matter - it's a long way from Dancing Queen. The next couple tracks were listenable but eventually it starts sounding more like what I'd expect from a full Abba LP.
Feels like a grown-up version of ABBA, more contemplative, less fun. Which this is - less fun.
kinda feel like the less said about this one, the better.
no thanks
I get this is the last album and they were trying something different but without big monster bangers (excluding One of Us which is pretty tight) it’s all pretty boring