The Visitors

ABBAsourdis

I turned my nose up when I saw it was a lesser known ABBA album. I was surprised that I really liked it. There’s some really catchy moments and groovy bass lines. Some of the stage musical sounding songs were a bit much but I enjoyed it overall.

A solid album with some really solid synth work and bobs.

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.

I'll start this off by saying that ABBA is my favorite musical artist, so this will be more biased and analytical than any previous review. While I wished there were more than 2 albums on the list, I do admit that ABBA isn't really an album-strong group and is much better when just listening to singles and Best Of collections. As far as The Visitors, their true "last album" before Voyage, I used to avoid it like the plague. Whether it was the album as a whole or the singles off of it, it seemed beneath me as an early ABBA fan. I would relish in the saccharine nature of their older songs and wince at the notion that anything could be dark and moody without being a melodramatic power ballad (The Winner Takes It All). I suppose Arrival is a logical inclusion on the list - after all, it would be hard to pass on the album that birthed Dancing Queen. I do think that Super Trouper is the best representation of the band's hit singles and overall sound, but Arrival is still a decent choice. The disco-laden Voulez-Vous is my personal pick, but I acknowledge that it carries a pretty dated sound. Even then, when I saw that this was one of the sole inclusions for an ABBA album, I was stunned and even confused. How could the album that I had looked down upon for years be one of the most essential for not only the group, but for all of modern music history? And then it hit me. Well, for the most part. It's still not my favorite ABBA album and probably doesn't even scrape top 3, but I have a new appreciation after finally listening to it in full in this setting. The Visitors is the perfect opening track, with such an impressive arrangement. I never paid too much attention to the lyrics and dismissed them with some of ABBA's cheesier excerpts, but they ring clear in a world that is becoming more paranoid and tense. It's still not one of my favorite singles, but the instrumental climax is classic. Frida is also likely my favorite vocalist in the group and her delivery here is impeccable. Head Over Heels is one that I've liked for a long time but has become a guilty pleasure that I often skip on shuffle. Hearing the full synth intro and slick melodic downward progression really made me appreciate it again though. When All Is Said and Done has to be my favorite track on the album. A bit lyrically clunky now and then, but it does what it's supposed to do and excels at it. The bass synth coming back in after the dropout in the third verse gets me every time. Soldiers is..... not good.... don't get me wrong, I appreciate the message here and how timely it was, but it's hard to justify it sonically. This is part of why ABBA is tough to appreciate in album listens - even with hard-hitting tracks, there's always going to be some obvious skips. I will say that I always viewed this at surface level of advocating for soldiers for risking their lives etc., but it's very interesting to view it from a metaphor of a troubled couple (thematic to the album) not being in sync and willing to sacrifice for each other like soldiers are. I don't remember ever hearing I Let the Music Speak before, so I had to pay closer attention than I did to the others. The intro is so dark and glorious and I can't believe I am usually so quick to skip over it. I understand why it hasn't broken through as much, but it's a real treasure and I'm glad I got to relish in it here. It feels more raw in a heavily-produced album and lets Frida's technique shine. The chorus does make it feel a bit too dramatic show-tuney though. One of Us is the biggest hit here, and for good reason. What else is there to say? Two for the Price of One is hilarious, but hard to deny that it's one of the weakest ones here. Similar to Soldiers, though, not quite as cheap as I remembered. Maybe I'd disagree if I was sober. Slipping Through My Fingers isn't my favorite, but I completely understand how it's become a favorite of the masses - it has to hit hard with any parent. Beautiful chord progression too. Looking at the Spotify streams, I'm really surprised that Like an Angel Passing Through My Room is so low. Yes, the production is a bit odd, but it's really special. It's perfect cover material as well, as evidenced by Celtic Women's effort. I listened to the bonus tracks but didn't count them in my review - but I will emphasize to any listener to check out The Day Before You Came. After listening to this, The Visitors still isn't my favorite album, but it has to be ABBA's most consistent. A worthy inclusion, and I appreciate any opportunity to explore their art.

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

Not my sort of music but undeniably very good

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

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

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

The first 4 songs blew me away. I love how the chorus hits in head over heels. Cool drum groove in soldiers. “I let the music speak” is so theatrical. I feel like it’s whole story in 4 minutes. The phone call sounds in 2 for price if one is great. So smart and well done. I feel like it’s one of those perfect albums where every note in every part is exactly where it needs to be and you could listen and notice something new to appreciate everytime. It has a lot of what I love from the Beatles best recordings but in a totally different direction/ context. I don’t know what to call their style “post prog synth pop”, but they do it so well. Great sounding record it has the best of the 80’s punchyness and crispness but with the 70’s warmth. The rhythm section is so great- every time a groove comes in it feels so good. Such a unique sound with their songwriting and harmonies . Love all the instrument and synth sounds . Also really nice to listen to following “Scum” by Napalm Death.

Wow. What a journey. Never listened to ABBA much before but this is a definite masterpiece. The songwriting, harmony, layering, everything is just perfect. What a ride

I really love ABBA. This started off alright and just got better and better. Slipping Through my Fingers and Like An Angel Passing Through My Room were the best. I love that they have a sound that’s so uniquely their own. Would def listen again

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.

We all know ABBA sucks, but they had potential to be great. That’s what annoys me. They just continually committed to the cheese. Take the first track as an example. Sounds cool until the chorus.

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.

Always listened to the extended version with extra 5 star singles such as the day before you came and then you get a 5 star album. The original is a bit too inconsistent, but still my favouritr ABBA album: 8/10

Depressing lifeless synth pop.

Didn't think I would give four stars to ABBA. This sounds a bit more sophisticated than their greatest hits.

Fine and dandy

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.

Наверно Arrival мой более любимый альбом (включая великие хиты), но и этот звучит по-прежнему светло и мило. Поставлю 4, чтобы чисто разграничить альбомы Алкоальбом: маргарита с лимоном

Вы не слушали ABBA такими. Но такими вы будете рады услышать их ещё раз. Не с первого раза меня пробрало, скажу честно. Но в какой-то момент наконец-то ты можешь сконцентрироваться на текстах и таки понять, о чём они и в какой момент были написаны. А, точно: это более текстоцентричный альбом, чем все остальные.

ну учитывая все истории, получилось норм

This album just hits different

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

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

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

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

Fuckin love abba. It was very good. Very alieny

This review was written and edited by Dr. Kaitlyn Forney: I personally, would give this album 5 stars. As someone with a poor attention span, I value good production as well as songs all sounding unique. Unlike Bryce Mattson, I do not enjoy when albums have songs that all start to blend together. Even though I listened to most of this album through Bryce’s bluetooth speaker while hiking up a mountain (strenuous) I could tell that each song had its own unique sound and each one could stand out on its own. I would actually listen to this album again which is unusual for someone as mentally challenged as myself. Thank you Bryce for letting me collaborate with you on this review.

Pretty consistently good. The music can get pretty theatrical at times and those are probably my least favorite moments, but it’s ABBA so it has to be expected. I also can’t stop listening to Two For The Price Of One. The bassline when that chorus hits is TOO FIRE. Overall a pretty fun listen. “I let the music play” and “like an angel…” are the only skips here for me. 7/9 with one standout great track is good enough for a 4. Best: two for the price of one, head over heels, slipping through my fingers Best: IF YOU DREAM OF THE GIRL FOR YOU THEN CALL US AND GET TWO FOR THE PRICE OF ONE

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

I now have a benchmark for my 2.5, at least.

uhhhh, its fine?

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.

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

Really enjoyed this. Originally thought this would be way too much pop for me, however I really enjoyed. 4/5

Not my jam.

Album uit de dying days van ABBA. Het naderende einde van de groep is weerspiegeld in de erg sterke nummers, die al merkbaar anders zijn dan de voorgaande albums. Leuk album van de Zweedse popgroep. leukste nummer: Head Over Heels "Two For The Price Of One" gaat over man die een trio wilt met twee vrouwen, totdat hij Rupert Holmes-esque leert dan een de moeder is van de ander.

Yawn.

A more mature less disco version of ABBA. The song The Visitors sounds like a Sparks composed tune, which was a pleasant surprise. The rest reminded me of what you might see as part of a theatrical musical. Good but not fantastic. 3.5 stars.

I think this proves that all their biggest hits are hits for a reason. The rest of their catalogue....meh.

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

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

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

It’s fine!

Boring ABBA. If that makes any sense. I like the album cover though.

I regret being a visitor to this album.

I don’t even like ABBA’s popular songs

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.

Great singers. Though this shows some flashes of the typical showtunesy ABBA I'm familiar with, there are some very cool songs on this album. Highlight is definitely the title track, which has an atmospheric and dark vibe I really got into.

Superior pop music. A bit formulaic maybe, but still the occasional surprise - 'The day before you came' is different and a great song.

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

I see abba i click 5 stars

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

Boring

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

I get it. People who like to possibly like radio pop would totally dig this. Good for them. But this is hollow pop crap. And the hit count on this one is lower than their other efforts, meaning it's hollow pop crap that doesn't have the hooks. So it's just crap.

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

Great vocals Excellent song writing

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

Contains my favourite Abba song

Didn't make it all the way through. Pop ballads. They're fine.

Not their greatest, but i still dig this

I guess this is almost experimental for this band?

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.

Störande ibland men flera bangers

Fine, I prefer their disco work

Nice!! Jättebra bas

A hugely successful band get together for what turns out to be the last album they record, with a significant us of synthesizers. No, not the justifiably admired Abbey Road, but The Visitors. The usual mix of magnificence and tweeness in one album, with those synthesizers and the mature themes adding some poignancy.

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.

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

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

I hate ABBA. I hated this slightly less.

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

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

Not bad, ABBA. Not bad. Liked it more than expected. It wasn't just cheap pop music. 3.5/5

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

I LOVE ABBA

Such a unique and adventurous album from one of the biggest pop acts of all time, with a massive musical theatre influence (it’s no surprise that Chess came just a few years after this). With the exception of One of Us, which has always been one of my least favourite ABBA singles (and it is such a shame that it’s the only song to represent this album on ABBA Gold) every track is fantastic, and the deluxe version with the addition of The Day Before You Came is just as strong

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

a darker and more brooding? sound than the ABBA I'm used to. would definitely listen to this again. somehow this album reminds me of 90s karaoke montages 3.75/5

I would say didn’t listen in a way because although it was on, it’s so forgettable I didn’t really listen. It’s no offensive at all, just dull.

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

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

If you don't fuck with Abba then I don't fuck with you

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.

ABBA rocks. Both infinitely nostalgic and infinitely fresh. Their production is always unparalleled and their band cohesion is top notch, a great album on all fronts

i can’t believe i’ve never listened to a full abba album before. this is just excellent, i’m going to listen to more now

Heard it before?: Yes Enjoy it?: Definitely, very strong across the board and has the best of Abba on this when you want to listen to the better less known tracks Favourite song: Track 13 - Under Attack

Not my favorite but still good

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

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.

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

Deserves a 4 just for The Visitors

Would listen to some again

Their swansong, and not too bad either.

2,5 Slipping Through my fingers / temaiken

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

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

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.

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

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

I 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.

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

The album cover is really hot Enjoyed it! Head over heels and under attack were fun. I want to look into the socio-political context that everyone keeps talking about! nothing really nuanced to say- this album is less disco pop fun dance music than other ABBA albums. It seems more “mature” but stays true to the ABBA style of harmonization and such. I think I was listening to it when my vyvanse kicked in so now I have to listen to it for the rest of the day. I’ve listened to it 2.5 times already. Ha ha hahahaha hahaha

I LOVED SLIPPING THROUGH MY FINGERS This album is just a ton OF SAD GORL DANCING BANGERS AND IM HERE FOR IT Didn’t pay too much attention to the nitty gritty cuz work was a pain today but I really liked it. ABBA songs kinda blend together so much so maybe not as much variety as I’d like. BUT can’t say i was ever not shaking it while listening. TBH I hadn’t heard a lot of the songs on this album but liked them WAY more than most other abba songs i’ve heard (not that i got anything against abba) In listening to all of these older albums. I have to say they really pack the good stuff in the beginnings

It's Abba, but maybe not as pop and upbeat all the time.

amazing.

I love ABBA! Mamma mia is a classic fun movie I love to watch when I’m down. There music is so lighthearted and fun- even when dealing with more serious topics like breakups.

Not my style but typical of Abba.

Un d’aquells discos on la paraula maduresa cobra sentit. Les trifulques i desamors entre els membres es deixen sentir durant tot el minutatge i les melodies festives marca de la casa deixen espai aquí a cançons més complexes que donen una nova dimensió a l’univers musical dels suecs. ‘One of Us’ és el hit del disc, i molt bon representat de què espera a qui s’adentri en la resta del treball

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

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

1.5 Look listmakers I warned you - If I was forced to listen to any more ABBA, bad things were going to happen. However, after browsing the tracklist and not recognizing any of the songs, I went in with my violent urges at bay, and fortunately, the opening title track was immediately enough of an interesting and new wave-esque evolution of their sound that I was fully talked off that ledge. Unfortunately, it devolves back into a lot of the classic ABBA bullshit immediately after, but as a whole I can concede there is a sense of maturation and progression from their prior sound. The Visitors is a good tune. Would probably never listen to anything else off this ever again by choice, but if I had to, I guess it’s better than anything else of theirs I’ve heard. That being said, consider this your final warning, 1001 Albums.

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

Not my cup of tea

Mama Mia!

If I had a nickel for every time I wrote, "this is not what I was expecting," on this site I'd probably have enough for a soda. That being said, it's a darker record than I expected for ABBA, which maybe a touch more progressive pop. It's still just as grand as you'd come to expect, though hits a lull through the middle. Call it 3.5. Favorite tracks: "The Visitors", "Head Over Heels", "When All Is Said and Done"

Terrible

nice, I like Abba and this album is more "mature" than some of their earlier work.

Score: 85 Almost every song on this album is an upbeat turn about being invaded, the inevitability of war, being on the brink of a breakup, the guilt of not spending time with a daughter, feeling alone, domestic abuse, the regret of not helping someone more after they commit suicide.. And the one song with a dark and atmospheric tone is one about how life was a miserable routine before they met someone, which you think would be a happy song, but the lyrics never once mention life after meeting the person and it's implied their life got worse instead. The music on this album isn't the absolute greatest thing but a lot of it is catchy or memorable, but you wouldn't call them hit songs. The lyricism and storytelling is what makes this album for me as it's fantastic

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

Love love love! I mean, I thought Abba Gold was where it was at, but this little gem was hiding! (FYI, I have not, nor am I inclined to watch Mama Mia, so there).

Meh

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

Itza ok

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

A mature late career ABBA who, at this stage, comprised four divorcees rather than two young couples. Unsurprisingly, the music is not as unashamedly joyful as their early work. However, the album is still jam packed with irresistible melodies and hooks. Their last album before a 40 year hiatus, the lyrics and music work in unison to create a reflective mood that feels like the final chapter or epilogue of a story (until the 2021 reboot). Rating: 3.5/5 Playlist track: One Of Us Date listened: 13/02/23

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

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.

The greatest pop band ever. If you can't appreciate ABBA, you're dead inside.

My partner has listened to all of ABBA's discography and didn't seem to think too much of this album compared to their other albums, so my expectations weren't super high. I expected to give it a 3 or a 4, but I really enjoyed almost every song on this album. Other than the first song, I liked everything. Some of the themes are interesting and I appreciate the tonal shifts on the album. I assume I'm going to give their other album on here a 5 as well, but I guess we'll see. My favourite songs were Head Over Heels, The Day Before You Came, and Under Attack.

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

Enjoyable. Some lesser heard Abba.

There's apparently no such thing as a good Abba album. It's all just trash. "The Visitors" is a solid hour of trash. Thanks for that.

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

Meaui

Not my favourite ABBA album, but still enjoyed it

I really like ABBA - even went to their museum in October - but I just don't love ABBA. 4.5

Thought I didn’t know any tracks from this until “One of Us”, one of my favourite ABBA songs, rose from the mist. The synth orchestra is a little goofy but doesn’t detract from my enjoyment of The Visitors. Knowing the band from their Gold compilation alone, I know there’ll be days where I vibe to these (relatively downcast) songs more than Dancing Queen or Take a Chance on Me. HL: “Head Over Heels”, “One of Us”, “Two for the Price of One”, “Like an Angel…”

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

Liked this album a lot more than I thought I would, actual interesting music and not just fun chanty tunes like Abba's more popular discography. 8/10

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

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

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.

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

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

A new ABBA album for me! Features some of their best, but also The Day Before You Came. Usual mixture of bops and slower ones and I never like their slower ones so much.

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

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

Fun, good pop music

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

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

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

Pretty good. Really liked soldiers and slipping through my fingers. 7.5/10

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

Truly EPIC lol but really was… made me feel chills

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

at first I didn't like it. But it grew on me

i cannot be arsed with ABBAs space disco music. i understand what they did for the world of pop music, i understand they are massive and unique, but i don't understand how this list could give us an ABBA album with zero songs i've ever heard before. and what it's purpose is. utter tripe.

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

Absolute Bloody Big Awfulness

Said the blonde lady off of Abba regarding this album, "It really was a fucking nightmare because I got into drugs, alcohol, redheaded women and Burger King, and that combination, man, it’s the path to destitution. And that’s exactly where it took me. Life was killing me. I tried to mask the pain by drowning myself in cocaine and alcohol until I thought I was the Pope. I used to walk the streets in Soviet and Nazi uniforms. I put a sign outside my house encouraging burglars and left my front door open. I would lie under the bed wearing night vision goggles waiting for people to come in – and they never did. The intruders never came, the fucking cocksuckers. I was a complete mess." Or maybe it was someone else that said that about something else, something more interesting. It was probably someone else and definitely something more interesting. Carry on. Nothing to see here. Oh, the album? It's awful, it would have benefitted from some drugs, alcohol, redheaded women and Burger King.

Not an album I'd listened to before and not many known tracks but I definitely enjoyed it. Some mature, interesting tunes. I particularly liked the line from 'When All Is Said And Done', "Slightly worn but dignified and not too old for sex". Solid 3.5 that could probably make it to 4 with another couple of listens.

Not for me

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

Not Abba's most known album but still a good time. I believe only one track from this record made it into Mamma Mia

Nice. Quite some songs I didn't know. Clear ABBA sound (but somewhat more matured) throughout the album. This album shows that ABBA has great musicians!

Beautiful melancholy songs.

Didn't know This ABBA album but starting to seriously doubt whether they have any bad songs, Don't like it as much as Voulez-Vous but it's still really good

I don't get ABBA's appeal and I'd be glad if I never heard it again, it bores me out of my mind. I'll give this album half a star for not being the 5 hits that you always hear and a second half because I am probably underappreciating something here.

Wonderful! Had to spin it a few times for the songs to land, I'm not used to Abba beyond the hits. Much less upbeat and much more melancholy than what I'm used to from them. Works like a charm

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.

Nah

i love ABBA so so so much so i was very excited to finally sit down and listen to this full album. i wanna start off with the album cover because it’s literally gorgeous and i think it perfectly encapsulates the colors of the album: deep, warm oranges and reds. my favorite songs are: Head Over Heels, When All Is Said And Done, I Let The Music Speak, Slipping Through My Fingers, The Day Before You Came, and Under Attack. if i had to choose a least favorite song it would probably be Like An Angel Passing Through My Room but regardless i really liked this album!! :)

3.5/5

This is wonderful. From the incredible title track to One of Us to best song The Day Before You Came, this is a brilliant singles band making a brilliant album. And the holograms are great too.

Mhmm.

Two ABBA albums almost one after the other? Love it! There's a lot of songs I've never heard on this album, so let's see. Didn't particularly like the titled song. Loads of really good songs, but some serious misses as well imo (You Owe Me One). Saved tracks: Head Over Heels, Soldiers, One Of Us, Two For The Price Of One, Should I Laugh Or Should I Cry, Under Attack, The Day Before You Came

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

If Disco died in 1979, this feels like the elegy for the day Disco died. I honestly am baffled by how much I liked it too.

Banger after banger. Very well aged. Had so many musical components

Suprisingly, I am really enjoying this. It's at time a bit too sweet but still a very solid album. From what I've read, this is the last album of ABBA recorded during the time when not only the group was falling apart but also the marriages of the members. This is reflected in the lyrics, most notably in One of Us. I like the theatrical I Let the Music Speak, which also foreshadows the next projects of the men from the group, who went into musicals. I also feel like Weyes Blood must have listened a lot to this album when making Titanic Rising because I hear a lot of similarities here and I love it. One of Us and Head Over Heels are great pop songs with incredibly catchy hooks - still ABBA's magic showing through. Also, One of Us makes me thing of The Sign by Ace of Base (notabene also a Swedish group) - pay attention to this little backing voice part in the chorus that sounds exactly like "life is demanding without understanding". Bass line on For the Price of One makes me think of this obscure Polish song from the 90s about animal rights (Buzu Squat - Nasze Przebudzenie). Again, sometimes too sweet, especially Slipping Through My Fingers (though the lyrics are really touching, reminiscent of She's Leaving Home by The Beatles). The cover art is beautiful and reflects perfectly the contents of the album. 4/5 - will be definitely coming back to this one.

Not the greatest ABBA album. None of their big hits

Solid abba, ikke de helt store hits, stadig udmærket

More enjoyable than I expected

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

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

Fantastic album, will definitely be diving back in frequently. Incredible musicality, melodies, and lyrics

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

Ohh boy, more 80s music. That's what I thought after the reveal. But to my surprise, I got full chills down my arms in the first minute of "The Visitors". By the line "Now I hear them moving", I was literally popping my elbows out and shaking my booty all around the apartment. This full-on body excitement was a bit short lived, though. When I realized the second song "Head Over Heels" was basically an 80s-style Bolero-Mambo song, I found a little kernel of skepticism forming in my gut. And when I heard "I Let The Music Speak", I had to fight the urge to hit the "next" button to get me out of weird-80's-musical-theater-land. After that, I had a bit of a hard time getting back into the album. I had another booty-shaking moment during "One of Us", but for the most part I struggled with the more saccharine, balladic moments that were scattered throughout the album. I thought "Slipping Through My Fingers" was an exception; despite all the drama in the verses, that chorus melody and those thick vocal textures felt just right to my ear. "Cassandra" also seemed to strike a good balance between the nearly-too-sweet delivery of the verses and breakout triplet gallop and polychromatic textures of the chorus. In fact I noticed that same interplay throughout most songs on the album: single-vocal verses delivered in an almost uncomfortably earnest recitative style, offset by choruses full of surprisingly rich and electric vocal textures and rhythmically driving, well-sculpted melodies. This latter feature is the thing that kept me tuned in. In general, I was impressed by this album's leaping melodies, unexpected harmonic shifts, rich vocal textures, and crisp grooves. And even though I couldn't get into the musical-theater-style verses and the over-articulated vocal delivery that characterized much of the album, I think "The Visitors" is well-crafted, earnest, colorful, and at times surprising.

Wow I have been missing out with ABBA! What's up with these moody synths on the title track? Head Over Heels blew me away with its spooky, plucky synths! One of Us is a soaring, emotional masterpiece. I keep being struck by what sounds to my untrained ear like some truly inspired chord changes. What is happening! What a joy to discover this band and why did I never make an attempt to find them out before. I feel like when I watched the Ken Burns Country music documentary and heard a whole genre open up before me. As good as so many of these songs are, one stands a cut above the rest. The Day Before You Came. Sweet Jesus this is a lyrical masterpiece. Listening absentmindedly to this song the first time it is just a list of mundane everyday tasks and activities with some anecdotes atypical enough in pop songwriting to catch your attention: "I stopped along the way to buy some Chinese food to go." This Chinese food line piqued my interest, and looking up the lyrics my immediate impression was oh ok, this woman was living a boring existence before this man showed up in her life, transforming her days of watching Dallas and reading the morning paper into something unbelievably beautiful. Since the man plays such a small and mysterious role in the song, this would be an interesting enough concept on its own. But it's not the whole story, and there is more written between the lines. Why? Because if that's where it ended this would be a happy song. Instead, the vocals are tinged with sadness and there is a soft wailing over minor chords after every chorus. The narrator wouldn't be so fixated on what she used to do before the man showed up if he was still around. But he's left, and she is confronted with the lonely life she had before. For me, the saddest part of this is that she was once content with the things she used to do, but after this love, it all just seems like filler. Listening to the song with this interpretation, you hear a broken-hearted woman who is wracking her brain, retracing the steps of her life to how things ended up here, trying to piece together how she ever made it through the day at all. So much is left unsaid in this song but conveyed through Agnethaʻs gorgeous and evocative vocals. So much is left up to interpretation and speculation. It is a haunting, spellbinding song. I will cherish this song and this record. 4.6/5.

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

Oh man, I love ABBA. I saw a Philly ABBA cover band last year and they were fantastic, so I can safely assume real ABBA would blow my mind. I can’t help but bop my head when they come on. This isn’t my favorite ABBA album by a long shot, but it has a few stand out songs. I listened to it in the car with Jacob and he was complaining about the album the whole time (occasionally moaning “no, no, no”). Dispute his whining, I was able to thoroughly enjoy ABBA’s magic. The title song, The Visitors, starts off the album with a new energy and twist. Head Over Heels keeps the momentum going and feels a bit more classic ABBA to me. When All is Said and Done is another banger. I Let the Music Speak is really odd—Klezmer-influenced! I can’t help but sing along to One of Us. It’s cheesy, it’s all cheesy, but I love it. But Cassandra has to be my favorite. Some of the tracks (especially parts of Soldiers) sound like Andrew Lloyd Webber could have written them, which is good or bad depending on your penchant for slightly broadway-style vocals and early 80s synth. All in all, great album, great fun listening to it. Great fun witnessing Jacob angrily heart most of the tracks after declaring he “can’t do ABBA.” 4/5 for me!

ss

Not bad but wouldn't listen to it again

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.

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

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.

Good

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

This may well be some maturing directional shift for ABBA, but to my ears it's oompah music on synths. One of Us is still a great single, the rest is for my granny. I never saw ABBA as an albums band - they produced fantastic pop singles but I can't imagine finding depths over the course of a long player. This confirms my breezy prejudice.

Not the best ABBA

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

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

They succeeded in making ABBA boring

Very ABBA. But had a disco 80s feel.

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.

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

Rating: 9/10 Best songs: The visitors, Soldiers, I let the music speak, One of us, Two for the price of one, The day before you came, Cassandra

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

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

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

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

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

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

It was good

This felt a lot like abbas kid a. It was wildly different for the first song and they definitely tried something completely different for the album but at the end of the day you can still tell what band it is. The album itself is great too with Abba delivering yet another album where there aren’t really any skips. Slipping through my fingers is still a standout and so is the first song + the day before you came just because they’re so different from typical abba

Rating: 6.4 Best Track: Head Over Heels

Fun songs, lots of variety

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

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

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

7/10. I like ABBA. But why this album?

Had some enchanting disco moments but dragged a lot in the middle. 8/10

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

Haven't quite finished, but really good so far and I really like the song "Head over Heels".

ABBA's final album does not disappoint, with infectious rhythms and catchy hooks that make you want to dance, regardless of your attitude.

The first album on here I've actually heard all the way through before this when I was going through all of ABBA's discography, but I'll listen to it again to freshen up my opinions. While not my favorite ABBA album, it is certainly up there. It's such a change up from usual tone of an album by the group, being far more open to minor keys and more "darker" subjects (not that the album is deeply psychological or anything), and I think it benefits from it. It certainly has that "final album" feel to it, which is why their new album, Voyage, is such a huge disappointment to me. Head Over Heels is a huge standout to me, which seems to not be the most popular song on here judging from other reviews, but I see it as a top five ABBA song easily. It's an album that shows ABBA is capable of a lot more than just generic pop like many seem to think it is. You can especially tell in the reviews who didn't bother to listen to the album (why bother rating it?) and who did. Oh well, very enjoyable. Perhaps not as good as I remember overall, as I don't return to listening to songs off this album as much as stuff like Voulez Vous, but still good.

This album was more interesting than I expected. Though the disco groove was present, the music itself was more mature and the lyrics dealt with Cold War issues the dissolution of relationships, which was reflected in the band itself.

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

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

Same old things

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

Ehh pleasant enough in places but it really drug on and was pretty dull overall.

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

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

A refreshing departure from the usual radio-friendly disco tracks which catapulted ABBA into music stardom. Everything is still thoroughly composed on the album, but the tracks seem to have more air to breathe and space to develop in. The songwriting is of course extraordinary with the title track providing a strong start while warning the listener that this is not your usual ABBA endeavor. Good stuff.

If you’re expecting another ABBA album for your nights of partying, you’re sorely mistaken. Like the title suggests, this feels like an alien that tries to blend in with the ABBA discography - in the best way possible. I mean, who would’ve thought of an ABBA record containing lyrics about nuclear war in 6/4 and strong Cold War references? While not being their most catchy album it is by far the most interesting album by the group and it solidifies Andersson and Ulvaeus’ exceptional songwriting partnership.

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

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

Miksi TÄMÄ on se levy, joka näiltä pitäisi kuulla? Parin B-luokan hitin takia? Olen pahoillani, mutta suuri osa kappaleista on aivan sietämätöntä skeidaa, ja päädyin skippaamaan niitä, koska muuten olisin ärtymyksessäni jättänyt koko levyn kesken. Ovatkohan muut näiden lp:istä parempia?

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

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

Mit viel Alkohol geht das. Aber ich kann ja nich immer besoffen sein.

Weirdly was in an ABBA mood before getting this despite not listening to them for years. Their hits are usually good but can be too happy, poppy, and slightly annoying to listen to reguarly. So getting an album with dark, introspective, somber and melancholy lyrics with some intriguing instrumentals caught me by surprise. The title track was a great start and didn't get eclipsed until One Of Us, although the songs in between were still good despite having a bit of that overbearing shininess. The final two tracks of the original release were a dark note to end on but left a memorable impact. The b sides and the 1982 singles were good too, Under Attack being the highlight. If you're not a fan of ABBA, this is probably going to be either the album that cements your distate, or gives you enough insight and appreciation to know how great they were/are. I'm definitely in that second camp.

A horrible experience that couldn’t end soon enough

Not the worst but 1.49 (round up to 2)

Great vocal group, upbeat energy

There were a couple of stand out songs but overall I wasn't the biggest fan

feels like a pop opera

These aren't the songs you'll see being sung on Greek islands, but they are about girls getting out and getting it. Love.

So fun, easy listening, some songs sound quite #phantomoftheopera-esque

Yeah this is a fun album. Classic remnants of the 70s/disco/OG ABBA sounds carrying over but introducing the new cheesy vocal arrangement starting to become popular in the 80s. One Of Us is a great highlight of the fantastic bass work by Rutger Gunnarsson. I am glad to have gotten this one under my belt. It's a unique pivot from their preceding albums, and definitely not in a negative way. Everybody loves the hits but this album encapsulates the band fairly well. The closing track Under Attack is a fitting way to end as it touches on the classic poppy sound we want in ABBA, hooking you into exploring the rest of their discography.

I liked it.

First listen. They all sounded like Abba songs.

I had very low expectations and they were soundly met.

Jedan od najboljih njihovih albuma.

Interesantan album, ali nedovoljno da me zainteresira.

Jesus - ABBA is just so silly, I can't take them seriously

I literally grew up on Mama Mia. I have loved ABBA since I was a tiny child. There are very few songs that make me shiver and Head Over Heels has now been added to that list.

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

Super based album. Much better than the usual ABBA fare. This is going into my regular rotation.

Class

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

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

A less kitch offering from ABBA.

P good

none of their hits are on this but its easy listening

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

4, Catchy

it's Abba. Talented but not something I can get excited about.

Pretty standard ABBA. Nothing stands out.

Abba, perfect pop songs and beautiful harmonies. 😍

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.

always a favorite

Going into this I thought this would be some shitty juvenile stereotypical synth pop, I've already heard all the praise for ABBA, but this is actually quite mature. Though this spotify link sends you to a quieter version of the song, so idk which version to listen, I went with the quieter version. I HATE IT SO MUCH IF THERE ARE MULTIPLE VERSIONS. Ok actually this is really good, idk if I should give it a 5/5 or a 4/5, maybe I'll be generous. Fuck it I'm generous. 5/5, it's a very mature and sad album. It shows the band breaking up and is a fitting end. Sike, most fans said in 2021. Yeah, 5/5.

Pretty ABBA.

It is very well that people who like ABBA can do so and be happy. It is also very well that people who hate ABBA can do so and be happy. This review is the latter. The dislike for ABBA does not leave much room for objectivity but this will try. The available recording on streaming is fine, a listener can hear the grating sound of their torturous wails quite well. The instrumentation wasted as a vehicle for existential angst, as the awareness of ABBA is one of pain and discomfort. ABBA has their fans and that is fine, but this was supposed to be about albums one should hear before death and this is just a pure waste of time.

What was, until Voyage forty years later, the last curtain call for ABBA remains a masterclass in bowing out with grace and integrity without looking and sounding as if they're running on fumes. The Visitors will always be ABBA's gloomiest album, as encapsulated by the spaces inhabited in the album cover by the once happily in love, now separated duos of Agnetha and Björn and Anni-Frid and Benny and the topics of the songs being sung for the first and, perhaps, only time. The Visitors shall be welcome without prejudices and fear, they shall do as they please and leave you wondering how they'd remain silent, having allowed the music to speak, for over forty years. Favorites: The Visitors, Head Over Heels, When All is Said and Done, Soldiers, I Let the Music Speak, One of Us, Two for the Price of One, Slipping Through My Fingers, Under Attack.

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

Man, I was not familiar with ABBA's post-disco sound. This was fun!

several classic ABBA songs

It's abba lol

Molto ABBA, non male

Poppy, but too much

Very good. Good balance of songs. Upbeat and slower

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

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

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