Reviews (page 2 of 8)
Some 80’s pop for ya ass! After the first song it was a five for me unless the album was complete ass but it was not!
Good stuff, not the most consistently hard hitting though.
There was a time when I may have given this whole album a lower score, as I was only really into the hits, "Take on Me' and "The Sun Always Shines on TV." However, over the last 5 or so years, I've really gotten into New Wave and Post-Punk music, and I now really appreciate this entire album. I'd probably stop at 4 or maybe 4.5 stars, but I think that I have to give it 5 stars on this scale, because it is just such a great album, and "Take on Me" is one of those "one in (10) million" songs that will be timeless.
Carried by "Take On ME"
Great album (9/10), nice to see it is included. Scoundrel Days (10/10) is even better.
Fucking killer 80s pop. Even outside the monster hit opener, this is filled with insanely catchy and well produced tracks. a-ha really knew how to write a hook. No complaints here I'm a total sucker for this sort of stuff
For me, A-ha is one of the most iconic synth bands. Morten Harket’s voice is truly something special. This album brought back so many memories… I could listen to it over and over again!
Man this shit was awesome I thought this was maybe a filler pick for this list but I had a great time listening to this one, just everything you could want from this era of synth-based music
Take On Me, Hunting High and Low, The Sun Always Shines on T.V.,
This was such a lovely nostalgic journey. I bought this cassette tape when it came out and listened to it lots at the time. I haven't listened to it in decades. Synth-pop was just my favorite then, and this was a favorite of that genre. It just made me feel happy and 17 again.
I purchased this album in 1985 and it became a centerpiece of the handful of debate-tournament-travel-cassettes that got a LOT of Walkman play on those long bus rides across Wyoming. There was something perfect about having Hunting High and Low serve as the soundtrack for those long dark rides home from a tournament. Morten Harket’s voice has a unique and perfectly melancholic character that has always resonated with me. Even the catchy pop numbers carry these undertones, as the songs lean heavily into the mood. Each song has the chill of a long, dark Norwegian winter. ‘… the lady at my table doesn’t want me here, I just want to talk to her but will she laugh at my accent and make fun of me?’ - Blue Skies ‘… Watch me tearing myself to pieces hunting high and low” - Hunting High and Low ‘I need some time now on my own leave my loneliness alone to lick my wounds.” - Living a Boy’s Adventure Tale ‘I reached inside myself and found nothing there to relieve the pressure of my ever worrying mind’ - The Sun Always Shines on TV ‘I’ll be what you want me to be, I’d die at the thought of the loss of your heart.” - Love is Reason ‘Here I stand and face the rain I know that nothing’s ever gonna be the same again, I fear for what tomorrow brings.’ - Here I Stand and Face the Rain
Okay la primera canción es one of those GOATED songs que son todas míticas y legendarias pero el album keeps up with that feeling. Es dinamico, con una producción y genuinamente magica con canciones muy fuertes musicalmente y líricamente. Es fascinante. Strong 9/10.
An all-time favorite and classic from my high school days. Awesome!
Mit das Beste der 80er!
As my wife is fond of saying, "There was a whole ALBUM?" Imagine her shock when I showed I had two! At the end of the day, Take on Me and The Sun Always Shines on TV are going to overshadow ANYTHING else. Two powerhouse songs. The others are good, but they're only overlooked because those two are so great!
I've always loved A-Ha, brilliant song craft and production which continued for decades. This album is easy to overlook and underestimate.
There’s something about the slightly stilted Norwegian accents and silky synths that make this album magic.
The song “The Sun Always Shines on TV” makes me feel things
Just good clean 80s fun. When you think of what 80s music sounds like, this is the sound i think of. TAKE. ON. ME.
Classic example of British synth-pop. Dynamic and never samey. Not just a one hit wonder album
Great
Might be my favorite yet..5/5 don’t let the opening track we know sway you.
This album is the 80's in essence. A lovely classic.
Meine KIndheit 🤩
Loved it
Очень окно
Always knew i'd love it, but never had time to hear this gem front-to-back. It's definitely brilliant
took it on.
Taaaaake on meeeeeeee
Fun! Interesting to listen to the whole album. I was kinda surprised by just how synth pop -y it was. I like the music throughout though! While nothing really stood out, some of the titles or concepts were cool. - Living a Boy's Adventure Tale - Hunting High and Low - The Blue Sky - Love is Reason This is even better on a relisten.
Mycket bra platta. Take on me kanske är sämsta låten.
My older sister was obsessed with Morten and by association I also loved and played this album a lot in 1985/86. The perfect package of cool, handsome guys that girls fancied and boys wanted to be, coupled with cool synth pop that you can dance to or do your homework to. The epitome of cool. And I just discovered that Take On Me gas the perfect beat and drum pattern for my morning running! It’s been over 35 years since I last listened to the full album and I can’t fathom why. This is utterly brilliant synth pop easily as accomplished as Lexicon Of Love, Dare, Low Life, New Gold Dream, Sweet Dreams, Music For The Masses, The Innocents… you get the theme. Five stars without doubt.
iconic
Super pleasantly surprised, this is great 80s pop. I'd never heard The Sun Always Shines on TV before, what a banger!
Yaaas!
Track 1 is a perfect pop song. The rest of the album has tracks that have questionable beginnings but by the end you’re nodding along and getting it. Well done.
[Alan Partridge Voice] A-HAAAAA! Take On Me is one of the greatest songs ever written. Fight me. I didn't know Take On Me was the opener for this album...strong start. What a great snare sound...never really paid attention to the snare like that. Following such a strong opener is always difficult, Train Of Thought does okay. Reminds me a bit of a Bowie type of song. Title track is excellent. I love the more understated sound of this one. The switches from major to minor in interesting places was very refreshing. It's suddenly become massive. BIG DRUMS! Love the orchestration too. The Blue Sky was nice, left a bit to be desired though towards the end. Just kinda fizzled out. The Sun Always Shines On TV...I feel like I've heard this before? A-Ha are at their best when they go for more minor chord progressions imo. That's where they hit my interest points the most. Notable Songs - Take On Me Hunting High And Low I Dream Myself Alive 9/10
Awesome
liking IT very much, living a boys adventure tale for reallll
Peak 80s
cool
Great listen! So many great moments, some energetic, some poignant and beautiful.
Geweldige 80s synth-pop! Dit album bevat alleen maar toppers!! *****
nice
TAKE ON ME REPRISE
I had this CD when I was a kid and it was great then. Still great.
super enjoyable experience I listened to the 30th anniversary super deluxe edition and had a lot of fun hearing all the different takes and demos hell, I think I liked some of those demos more than the original songs as well as the bonus tracks like Stop! And Make Your Mind Up just had such a fun, fresh sound honestly a lot of these songs I thought had the same quality and charm as Take on Me and I'm surprised that so many of these songs are so overwhelming buried by the song that made them a one-hit-wonder overall, 10/10, super enjoyable, check out the 30th anniversary edition, just a great album
Stórfengleg debut plata þessarra norðmanna sem eru mér mjög kærir. Fullt hús stiga.
Listened Before? N How is it possible that I have never listened to this whole album before now? I have no clue. Take on Me is one of my all time favorite songs, but I never went beyond that. This is a synth-pop classic! Most songs are good or great, and there are a few real gems! Added to Library? Y Songs Added to Playlist - Take on Me, The Sun Always Shines on T.V.
Is great
So many memories!
Потрясающий голос, классные аранжировки. Буду ли я это переслушивать? УЖЕ ПЕРЕСЛУШИВАЮ
Classic a HA
Looooove!!!
hermoso
Obviously I loved this album.
An 80's hit maker. The opening track is iconic. This is the PEAK of synthpop goodness. It's bouncy, layered, fun, anthemic, and funky. All round awesome album.
Ok, it's not my style, and it feels weird to rank it together with yesterday's Motorhead, but I gotta give it a 5
Solid record. Morten Harket has an incredible voice.
Of course. Who doesn't love this. And the other songs are pure 80s vibes. And they are norsk. What more can I ask for?
Well if this is the way this list can include the monster hit that is and was "Take on Me" then so be it. That song is the opener so you don't have to wait for it at all. What follows is actually quite well-crafted and memorable by 80s synthpop standards. Definitely a surprise from the band widely considered a one-hit wonder (though I've had this experience before with the Cardigans' First Band on the Moon, which since became of my favourites.) Honestly, this album really puts the band into perspective for me - I genuinely think that if they came a little before or even after the new wave and synthpop boom periods of the mid-80s they would be taken a whole lot more seriously. One only needs to look at the soundscape(!) of songs like the title track to see that this band was more than its ultra-commercial smash hit. However, a lot of this album is indeed pretty indistinguishable from the rest of the synth-heavy landscape of the era, and the super-processed drum sound that was all over music gets annoying pretty fast. Doesn't help it's accompanied by lazily strummed acoustic guitars to give it a "grounded" feel despite the ultra processed everything that surrounds it. Despite all that, this is a VERY solid piece of 80s pop goodness and you could do far, far worse than listening to this. Not bad at all for a band dismissed as a sappy one-hit wonder if you ask me. Key Tracks (besides Take on Me of course:) Hunting High and Low, The Sun Always Shines on TV, Here I Stand and Face the Rain
Vikings meet the 80’s. Brilliant
Another classic album from my 80s childhood. There are a lot of good songs besides Take On Me on this, which were great to hear again.
Take on me - 5/5 Train of thought - 4/5 Hunting high and low - 5/5 The blue sky - 4/5 Living a boy's adventure tale - 3/5 The sun always shines on TV - 3/5 And you tell me - 1/5 Love is reason - 3/5 I dream myself alive - 4/5 Here I stand and face the rain - 3/5
Solid rock
No. 218 This starts with Take On Me? Wow that's a high mark to keep up. Every time I seem to wane interest in the sound, there is a new thing thrown in.
Pop dos anos 1980 muito bem feito e divertido. Vocais e instrumentais excelentes! Celest x Versekeys Ultra-Sense Planet.
06/07 Everyone knows Take On Me, but the rest of the album is pretty good too
Very good debut album and a banger to kick it off! 4/5
Besides the obvious hots this album has a lot of good songs more to offer. I listened to the complete record before but forgot that some album songs are very strong.
I’ve been on a new wave kick lately so I enjoyed this. A-ha is definitely an underrated band.
A very good record. Certainly dated sound by the sound of the instruments but still a very strong album. I had not listened to it in ages and took the time to listen again and it was very good at its time. Still very good due to the instrumentation and songwriting.
"Take On Me" is arguably the most 80s song ever made. Practically synonymous with the decade itself. Its music video was revolutionary, and for good reason. As a whole album, however, it's not quite a 5/5, as some of the lesser tracks don't quite measure up to the big hits ("Take On Me", "Hunting High & Low", "The Sun Always Shines on T.V."). But it's still a great album that inspired me to check out some of their later releases.
Decent listen.
Tolles Album, mag den Synthie Sound von denen
Mehr 80er geht nicht. Sun always shines on TV ist der bessere Banger als Take on Me
Timeless classic.
I enjoyed this a lot more than I thought I would. Obviously Take On Me is a highlight, but The Sun Always Shines on TV is another gem, and there are plenty of other decent tracks. Crucially the production (which destroys many 80s albums) is great. Am I the only one who didn't realize they're Norwegian?
Nothing speaks Eighties to me like this album! I also have a very vivid memory of listening to Take on Me on a bus back from the mountains after an intense day on the slopes while eating a delicious orange that probably saved me from dehydration ahahahaha
8 / 10
It’s a classic album from the 80’s
aaaaah kasari toimittelee. Hyvä levy ja pari kasarin yhtiä kovimpia lekoja
4 stars just for the one song
Takes me back to high school & the MTV generation! But seriously outside of the hit this is a very solid album
3.7 2x catch up 4/13 + videos
Cool.
As a kid I loved The Sun Always Shines on TV even though I had no idea what it was about (and still don't). Take on Me is a gold standard banger. Apart from these two songs my expectations were pretty low and was expecting an overload of 80's cheese. Its taken a couple of listens but the album is a grower with some really interesting songs despite the drum machine - its not quite a 5 but its a lot better than I was expecting.
'Take on Me' is one of those tracks that is murdered by karaoke bastards and yet has such an uplifting effect that it is impossible not to love. Alongside the video, which is still enthralling, you have to say they've created the perfect credible pop product. You have to. But they don't stop there. 'The Sun Always Shines on TV' is just as good, the thinking man's 'Take on Me; a minute and a half intro into the feel of an 80s Bond theme, pregnant with danger and darker undertones, ultimately resolving to an excellent melody, replete with synthy shimmers. As I said to the cynical customer when I worked at the sausage restaurant: "it's a real fucking banger!" They also tap into PSB ('Living a Boy's Adventure Tale'); and Bowie ('Train of Thought'), showing their tendency to pop with a darker character. There's a couple that could potentially be classified as Stock Aitken Waterman factory-produced ('Love is Reason' in particular), especially over the second half of the album. Yet they still clear a certain quality hurdle and are by no means filler. There's enough here to just edge it to a four.
Zone out a bit. It's good
A very enjoyable album. I like their unique sound, their vocals and their lyrics. Fun!
Solid europop and synthpop album
Heerlijk ❤️
I didn't expect to like this as much as I did. I think the 80's is probably my least favorite decade of music, but this album is special. Take on me is I think THE defining hit of the decade, much like Seven Nation Army for the 00's, it's a generational hit I believe. But the rest is hella fun, espacially when you re listen to hit, I have only the small complaint that it gets tiresome at the tail end, but yeah fun :)
I was pleasantly surprised that I liked most of the album. I assumed it was more of a one hit wonder kind of deal. But it was a good listen overall. I liked Hunting High and Low and The Blue Sky. Nothing really topped Take On Me, but how could it.
"Take On Me" really is one of the all-time greats, isn't it? What a masterpiece of 80's pop songwriting. The rest of the album is good but forgettable.
yeah
This brings back nice memories of the first Scandinavian pop sensation since ABBA and an album that sounds more melodic and crafted now than it did back in 1986! The production of Alan Tarney (best known for Cliff Richard), Pal Waaktar's songs, Mags's highly musical and fluid keyboards and the highly distinctive range of Morten's voice make this more than the sum of its parts. The title track sounds great now, 'the sun always shines on TV' was their epic sole UK no.1, 'Train of thought' was another top ten hit but this album is now dwarfed by one of pop's great pieces (and videos) in 'Take on me'. The filler is superior and of its time but can't be worth 5 stars. Very successful and a new boyband were born who managed to transcend the term.
pretty fun, take on me is a classic
Jag har lyssnat på detta album sedan kom ut och gick i sjätte klass. Var mycket bättre än förväntat. Den perfekta popplatta i mitten av 80-talet
The video for Take on Me was an absolute revelation and deservedly got massive play on MTV. The rest of the album got a bit over shadowed by that hype but it holds it's own as representative of the good side of mid 80's synth pop.
I liked this a lot more then I expected. Some pretty interesting songs.
I fully expected this to be a one hit wonder that I was going to slag off but actually this was extremely a bit of me. I love the timbre of this kind of music, this slapped basically the whole way through. With more listens, could end up a 5.
some songs are catchier than others, but it's a very interesting and cohesive album. i really like the ending of the last song, it kinda brings everything together
Brilliant 80s Norwegian magic
Undeniably fun, including the song that kicked the door open for next level music videos.
hello why was take on me the big hit when like every other song on this album exists holyyyy
Imagine listening to an a-ha song other than Take On Me. Like I know people also like the sun always shines on TV but actually shut up. Who cares about this album?? Well... It's obviously not worthless. The synth tones are really quite incredible across the whole project, and Morton Harket is an exemplary performer. Take On Me is also the first song, so I'll talk a little bit more about it. Take On Me is a perfect song. We all know it. It has infinite value and worth as a song and piece of art, as well as a Pop culture moment, and even has a simply legendary music video to its name as well. It's one of the best songs anyone will ever hear. And then the other songs on side 1 are pretty great too!! This brand of synthpop will never truly be my thing, I actually happen to really despise the 80s aesthetic as a whole, unless the songs are actually really great, but this is respectable for sure. Train of Thought has an incredible Harket performance, the title track feels like the lite version of Cyndi Lauper's "Time After Time," which really isn't necessarily a bad thing. The Blue Sky isn't too bad either, and I adore the synths and vocals on Living A Boy's Adventure Tale, even if the falsetto at the end is a little bit grating at times. Side 2 starts with another pretty awesome song, that being The Sun Always Shines on TV, which, well, it’s no Take On Me, but it’s still an absolutely breathtaking song. A driving instrumental, some of the best vocals on the album (and that’s REALLY saying something for this album) and just a great song all around. And that quality (despite the comparatively dismal track ratings on rateyourmusic.com) keeps up across the second side too. The only real objection I have is I Dream Myself Alive, which has some drum tones that are a little bit more disagreeable than on the rest of the album, but it's not necessarily bad or anything. This is a pretty fun album, and even though I definitely wouldn't buy it, I would recommend it! I got a good deal out of this, even if it's not my preferred style of music. 8.0/10
Classic
An album that inspired THE best music video of the ‘80s, an album from which I’ve heard the biggest 2 hits about 20,000 times each, and which I’ve never heard a single other second of. Was there a reason the rest of this album did not exist? Well, whatever the answer, I loved it. I didn’t love love it, I only loved it.
Yea going for a low 4 on A-Ha, really enjoy the New Romantic synth pop vibe and generally enjoy everything they’re doing, only 2-3 tracks really captivated me but it could be a grower and I will definitely be returning
Fantastic bit of music
this album is just PURE new wave goodness. yeah it's goat THAT good song in it, ripped straight off the bat, but the rest is also pretty fire. a-ha deserved not to be a one hit wonder me thinks.
There's a reason why this band was once at the top of the world, and this album showcases it. There's no doubt that the best song on the album is Take On Me, but that song is the third most popular (and one of the best) in the whole decade. Personally, the rest of the album holds up well, with great hits such as Hunting High and Low and The Sun Always Shines On T.V., as well as the underrated Train of Thought. The synth work is really fun in this and makes for super-catchy, dynamic songs throughout. One comment here really solidified why this album isn't perfect in my eyes: English wasn't their native language. So while the positioning of the lyrics makes sense in the context of the songs, some of the songs' lyrics are slightly off-putting. Still, this album is incredible and is one of the reasons I love and appreciate synth-pop new-wave music.
I lived this album as a kid - mostly because I loved the video for Take on Me. Still one of my all time favorite videos. Several great songs here, a couple stinkers too. Loads of nostalgia
I really liked Hunting High And Low. I'm not super well versed in this band since all i really knew them for is Take On Me but i found so many songs on this album that are great alongside that song. This is mainly an album that lives and dies on it's singles which are all great listens. I really enjoy how synthy and melodic a lot of them are and just how well they capture the spirit of the 80s. They may not be the most timeless thing ever but i still enjoyed them even though i never grew up with this album (It did come out 19 years before i was born after all). No matter what time i listen to this, it will always be a great listen. Best Song: Take On Me Worst Song: And You Tell Me
Hey this was a lot better than I expected.
Take on Me is one of the best songs of the 80's. The Sun Always Shines on TV is the good kind of indulgent, navel-gazing sappiness. Everything else could be in the soundtrack of any John Hughes movie. Warning: May cause feathering of hair.
De jaren tachtig, hofleverancier van oorwurmen. En deze Noren leverden er ook eentje af. De andere nummers kende ik niet of nauwelijks, die zijn vakkundig in elkaar gestoken met hetzelfde geluidsbeeld van keyboard, drums en dat hoge stemgeluid waar dit decennium patent op lijkt te hebben. Misschien een tikje glad en commercieel allemaal, maar dat is dan maar zo.
4/5 https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/a-ha/hunting-high-and-low-6/ Always thought a-ha was a one hit wonder, but this album definitely contains some other bangers. The Sun Always Shines on TV should be an equally big hit as Take on Me, at least. The rest of the album is not on their level, but still very pleasant 80s synthpop.
This was a good album. I was expecting “Take On Me” to be the only song I liked but there were a couple good jams.
I love 80s synth, so it was a vibe. In general, I could describe the sound as Kate Bush meets The Police in a giallo book in the middle of space. Morten Harket's voice is absolutely incredible. The higher notes are so satisfying in a song like Living a Boy's Adventure Tale. Not revolutionary, but it's pretty good. All together, it's a really solid, atmospheric piece of its time. I personally will revisit it again
I don't think I've ever listened to anything but the one hit song on this album. It was pretty good.
I was worried that “Take on me” would be the only good song since it’s the “hit” but everything was enjoyable. They have more of a David Bowie sound than I realized.
This album put me on a good Train of Thought.
Heard Before? Only "Take On Me". Notes: - like all great synth albums, the focus is on the wide variety of sounds they can coax out of the technology of the time. - but on top of that we get beautiful vocals and odd but resonant lyrics. - the midtempo ballads lose me a bit, but I'm just not into that sort of thing. - masterfully structured songs: intros, pre-choruses, bridges, surprise tonal shifts, fantastic builds. - honestly I thought I was over this sort of thing, but it hooked me. exactly why I signed up for this list. Verdict: Surprisingly emotional synth pop masterwork. Listen Again? I think yes - at the very least I'll play it for other people.
Take on me is such a beautiful sing and the story of its release is so interesting. This band had a dream and was determined to make it come true. Overall the album was very nice to listen to, they have a beautiful sound.
Meer 80s kan niet
4.5/5 awesome album with many fun tunes
Omg, the nostalgia! My sister used to play this on repeat. The Scandinavians have a knack of writing great pop songs. Such a good album, apart from the obvious. A couple of weaker tracks and a tiny bit too cheesy tor a 5
I only know “take on me”. This will be a journey today. This is a fun album and I see why people like it. I’m surprised I don’t know more of the songs. Love this record. Sounds amazing. This should have set production standards.
Before listening to this album I thought Aha was only Take on Me. After first listening, i still think there’s no parallel, Take on Me is a monster of a song… however, there’s still a couple of nice tracks… 3.5/5
Insanely repetitive. I thought the other reviews were exaggerating, boy was I wrong.
This was a super fun and entertaining 80’s new wave, pop album. “Take On Me” is the obvious hit everyone knows, but I never really listened to much else from the group. So me enjoying the album as much as I did was a pleasant surprise.
I liked this it was kind of fun.
01) Take On Me - 10,0 02) Train Of Thought - 9,0 03) Hunting High And Low - 8,5 04) The Blue Sky - 8,0 05) Living a Boy's Adventure Tale - 8,5 06) The Sun Always Shines On TV - 10,0 07) And You Tell Me - 8,0 08) Love Is Reason - 9,0 09) I Dream Myself Alive - 9,0 10) Here I Stand and Face the Rain -8,0 TOTAL: 8,80 (88/100) Current ranking: 92/782
Très cool ! J'avais jamais écouté un album entier mais très sympa
Gros banger, iconique Take on Me!
Absolutely beautiful, that ‘80s yearning was just something else, some harmonizing and frolicking in a meadow ass music, just totally sublime and indulgent and gorgeous. A few of the songs felt like filler hence the 4 but still really enjoyed it
I went into Hunting High and Low curious to see whether a-ha were more than just one iconic song. I’m happy to say this album proved they absolutely are. Hunting High and Low is pure 80s pop—undeniably of its time and occasionally a little dated—but it’s packed with strong, well-crafted songs. Tracks like Here I Stand and Face the Rain and The Sun Always Shines on TV show real depth beyond the hits, while Take On Me remains an all-time classic for good reason. If someone asked what the 1980s sounded like, this album would be a perfect answer. It’s catchy, confident, and far more consistent than I expected. I’ll definitely be coming back to this one. Favourite track: Take On Me – an absolute pop classic Least favourite track: Nothing truly bad here; some songs may start to feel a bit samey over time Album artwork: A very cool, unmistakably 80s cover that fits the sound perfectly
Honestly i had a feeling i’d like this one, but it really is better than i expected it to be. Not a huge 80s new wave fan, but this is a bop.
A-ha! Finally drew a fun album after a string of unfun listens.
I’d spin again without hesitation! Catchy and weirdly comforting, have I been watching too many John Hughes movies?
I had a good time listening to this. 3.5
8/10 - what a good 80s album, quintessential of the period
obviously I've mostly heard them from Take on Me, but there are loads of other good songs on here, some are for sure better than that. I really love the synths and stuff, especially the slightly more pad-ish ambient stuff. I think they kinda had something which was more an emotion which they were really good at conveying - like the intro to the 5th song, which is amazing, but really sad. I feel like some of the songs just sound like shit MIDI music, especially the ones with the goofy voice chops. I also can totally see how dance music happened, as some of these could easily be if they were a bit faster and louder. Also I feel like I am prejudiced towards this, as this is the sort of shit I used to make, so I really like it. Favourite songs: all but the sun always shines on T.V and love is reason. Overall around 7/10
The debut album of a-ha has all the classical tunes you know from the radio. It is quintessentially 80s and sounds dated here and there - but nonetheless, it's a great album!
Heard it
Damn good album! Definitely one of my favorites from that era.
I like this more now. It’s so pretty and romantic. Perfectly ‘80s. The video for Take On Me was a massive sensation. Every girl swooned over the lead singer’s cheek bones and sweeping vocals. Gotta love how this record also inspired the title of the tv show It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia.
Great vocals
Classic, Take on Me came from somewhere! Mostly continues on like that for the whole album.
Decent poppy album I guess but apart from take on me not too much to write home about. Didn’t hate it though. I like the extreme 80s vibe of it. Specific rating - 3.8 Fav song- Take on Me Least fav- And you tell me
this has bangers on it, and it has that 80s sound, you know what i mean
i was really impressed when i heard all those different string instruments for some of the tunes, it’s imaginative and i like most of the tracks
WOW Stu I loved your notes on PLAY!!! I still love that album, it was MASSIVE when it came out, dominated everything. On to A-HA. I loved this album when it came out, I still love the sound even if it's dated, these guys were a breath of fresh air with a different sound. This record flows and there are at least 4 kick ass tracks that we still listen to all the time. The sun always shinessss on tv..
Much more fun and poppy album than I was expecting. I thought it was going to be a one and done album but no, the deep cuts still slap.
A LOT of good tracks, however it is very repetitive. Almost no variety. Still, I really liked the title track and Take On Me. A classic synth album.
Great! ★★★★
Extra point for Sun Always Shines on TV
Nice. 3.9
Приятная, душевная музыка. Люблю эту группу, а этот альбом у них лучший. 8 из 10.
classic!
Solid Northern synthie - Pop
classic 80 s
один з найкращих прикладів попси, у вокаліста голос янгола
One of my 80’s favorites on cassette no less!
Such an awesome strong start! Was great to hear the vibe continue throughout, a little mid lull, but solid finish. New album on my rotation: unlocked.
Always enjoyed this music. Very catchy! Didn't know they were from Norway!
A damn near perfect 80’s song, “Take On Me” with a bunch of other songs that aren’t as good but still pretty good. This is what I think every time I listen to this album. “The Sun Always Shines On T.V.” is one that on its own would’ve been massive but when you put it up next to “Take On Me” it just doesn’t shine as bright. All around the vocal performances are incredible on these well written, slick produced gems. I’d give it a 5 if there were a couple more songs that lived up to the hit single.
Great album. It has all the 80’s synth pop new wave sounds that I love. Full of great tracks.
It's fitting that this album came out right in the middle of the 1980's- right at 1985, because "Take on Me" is an incredible time capsule for this decade. There's so many good elements in this track- amazing vocal performance, great melodies, incredible shifting rhythms, and one of the best riffs of the 80's, that synth line that appears at 17 seconds in. When I think of the 80's, I think this riff captures so much of the vibrancy and energy. Funny enough I actually think the drums and specific kick drum do a lot of the lifting for this song. The "4 on the floor" that hits in the chorus is such an incredible glue for the track. "The Sun Always Shines on T.V." is a really solid track as well. I'm really this album isn't a one-trick-pony. I love this album cover- it's a great capture of "a moment in time". All of the shaggy hair, the hot guy in the middle with a huge triceps, the cool energy in the room- it's great.
Pretty good, really
4 stelle per take on me
Blir aldrig för gammal!
Scandinavians know how to make bangers
🗯 The sugary synth-pop fix you, like me, might’ve forever overlooked due to the ubiquity of its lead single. This debut and breakthrough album, of course, spawned the Mr. Brightside of the 80’s, Take On Me— career-defining, too massive for its own good, almost tipping into parody by sheer saturation. Funny thing is, it wasn’t even a hit in the States until MTV rinsed that iconic video. And truth be told, the rest of the record needs to be remembered with more overall attention. There’s a surprising amount of swagger here — something in the delivery that I reckon Brandon Flowers and the boys built upon the foundation of this widescreen synth-pop. Train of Thought is another proper banger, the title track is gorgeously huge and dramatic, and the sequencing across the whole album keeps it from being just sugar rush hits strung together. There’s a repeatable quality that stretches well beyond the insane success of lead single. Would Coldplay sound the way they do without Hunting High and Low? Hard to say. But A-ha proved here that synth-pop could be both glossy and cohesive, theatrical and human. Verdict: Excellent (Coldplay learned a trick or two here — blame them, not A-ha) For fans of: The Killers, Duran Duran, Coldplay (yep), anyone chasing the high of big ’80s hooks
Unique sound
I mean it starts with take on me which is a timeless banger. It pretty much continues as strong from there, camp OTT 80s nonsense but it's fabulous
This is one of those new wave albums I’ve been meaning to check out for a long time, and now that I finally have, I can see why it stands out, and it’s easy to hear why it left such an impression when it came out. That said, I think their hit song “Take On Me” far exceeds the rest of the album, so much so that it kind of overshadows everything else. The other tracks are good, but it’s hard for any of them to feel like true highlights in comparison.
I think it an absolute amazing album that gives an great synth vibe. To bad only 2 of the 10 mad it to the big hits. I definitely see why AHA hat potentiale
The Good: We finally get it… at least the band’s name! The Bad: We don’t fully understand what they are hunting for… The Ugly: The falsetto… Take on me… to think that I always thought the girl in the video was of Scandinavian roots too… yet no… This is high-level ‘80s pop, made by 3 lads from Norway. I always wondered why they looked so pissed off, guess that is the Norwegian way of looking cool? There really isn’t much I can complain about this album. It made me want to listen to some better stuff… so I will play Tears for Fears next… Still, good job to a-Ha! 4*
im Pretty sure that even under better circumstances these other songs wouldnt have managed to be take on me-sized hits , but honestly im not completely certain. the sun always shines on tv certainly deserves more flowers even in this universe. and otherwise, im kind of shocked at the level of consistency and emotiveness here! one of the secret sauces of take on me is the slightly broken english that takes on its own kind of emotional rawness, and thats a weirdly consistent strength here with the big yelpy vocals and even bigger sparkly synths. all the sounds here scratch my brain just right...i love synthpop baby!! and even if this was just a chance to listen to take on me this morning, there are worse justifications for records...its an easy song to take for granted, an active listen sometimes makes me cry
actually really good! a little too bouncy for me but fun nonetheless
When they call this band a one-hit-wonder it’s pretty fitting. But what a song. Four stars for the album based on one song seems about right
Jako dobar synth pop s par jakih singlova
Great electro pop, their 2nd album was better though
This was a fun album. I only recognised Take On Me - would you believe I think I heard the Reel Big Fish version before the original? The is classic 80’s synth pop from beginning to end. However, I didn’t find myself quite as entranced as I have from other similar albums such as Depeche Mode or The Cars. Still definitely fun, but maybe a little shallower.
Take On Me has a special place in my heart as a track that reminds me of a particular moment in life. Notwithstanding it's a classic anyway. The rest are pretty good mid 80s pop. Morten Harket struggles sometimes; his range is great but his tuning a bit suspect in places. But then he was probably very much chosen as a frontman for his looks rather than his singing talent. The single releases were obviously picked well, but the rest isn't all bad. Generally a 3, but boosted to 4 because of Take On Me
(Queue Take On Me Intro) Yeah, this album’s pretty damn good. I didn’t know what to expect coming into this since I’d only heard Take On Me, so I didn’t really feel as though I had a good indicator on what the whole album was going to sound like. What I got was some really good 80s synth pop. Morten Harket’s vocals are amazing on this album, his voice just seems to fit every song on the album. Mague Furuholmen and Pål Waaktaar’s keyboard and guitar respectively enhance the sound of the album, with Mague’s synth giving the album its iconic sound. While the album does have a couple songs I didn’t get into as much as others, the one thing that I feel makes this album stand out is how big it sounds. Songs like the title track and Here I Stand and Face The Rain feel epic, in that weird 80s sort of way. It makes for a great listening experience and it allows the album to grab your attention. Overall, I liked this album, and highly recommend it to lovers of all things 80s.
Better than I expected. Not mindblowing but for an 80s pop album it was a good time. I liked this quite a bit.
Driving synth beats and soulful singing by a man with a lot of hairspray in his hair. The 80s don't get better than this.
Ага
Never listened to a-ha, only knew a couple of songs, and I liked this album
i dont have the specific word but bro this is very 80s i love it. i love hunting high and low it's very opera-y in a way to me. i love how dramatic the background sound is and the way he sings is so beautifully. i love the pop techno type of way theyre going for in this album.
Can recognise half of the album since my family used to listen to them during their 20s. Does give a nostalgic vibe :)
Very up beat and nostalgic, great album
I was pleasantly surprised by this album. Lovely vocals and dark synth with beautiful lyrics. I only knew this band for Take on Me so really happy to finally hear this.
Opens with a classic and the rest was alright so I'll give it a 4
More than just 80s synth pop. This album is amazing in the way that it can still be accessible pop but also at the same time more complex and deep than you may think upon closer inspection. The only reason I’m not giving it five stars is based on personal taste.
Yes, yes Take On Me is one of the greatest songs of all time, and a blast at karaoke. Cool. Whatever (shout out to Reel Big Fish's fantastic cover though. Every classic song could use a good ska cover). Can we talk about how the rest of this album is nothing but certified bangers? How the hell are they a one hit wonder (and I'm honestly guilty of this)? I know they were huge in Europe, but how come Take On Me was the only thing that really got big in the US? The fact they weren't huge in the US is probably the biggest musical crime in history. Either way, what I think is propelling this album is the lingering melancholy throughout the whole album. I'm quickly learning that 80's music generally needs some sort of edge of somber to work well. Otherwise you get sickeningly upbeat trash like Scritti Politti (and no I won't give that album a break). And A-Ha have the melancholy down to a science. It's not as down as The Cure, more on the same wavelength as New Order, but it's still there and it's fantastic. a-ha deserved better.
I wasn't sure about this, there are a couple of tracks on here that I know, and more that I didn't realise that I knew. For a debut album, it's a solid piece of work and a-ha's blend of pop synth and rock is incredibly distinctive. Hats off to Morten Harket's vocal range and voice control, he's an incredible vocalist that without, a-ha would probably just be another pop band. Genuinely forgot how much of a banger "The Sun Always Shines on T.V." is and if you remember that this is the opener for side 2 of the record then it makes it an even more powerful track. "Love is Reason" is a much better track than it's given credit for as it didn't do as well as a single, although the synth on it does make it feel like a poor mans' Sun Always Shines... it (and other tracks) sometimes feel like a-ha is The Smiths for people that aren't inherently miserable? This is a solid 4 for me, I love some 80s synth pop, yes it sounds of the time, but it still feels musically fresh and there are only really one or two mediocre tracks. Once you've listened to the original release, treat yourself to the deluxe edition, there's enough extra content on there to make it worth it and the demos are a great listening to see how their sound evolved.
“Take on Me” is a quintessential 80s song, meme status and everyone seems to know it, but I really didn’t know any other of A-ha’s music until this album. Solid songs that seem to fall down against such a massive hit, but solid nonetheless… 3.5/5
enjoyed it more than I thought I would from only knowing Take on Me! Very unique voice
Groovy
A bit of fun
Opens with a classic and continues with well-made chamber and synth driven pop.
Très sympa, en plein dans mes 80s
Is having the first song off your first album be one of the greatest songs of all time impressive or sad? Is it kinda like peaking in highschool? People only ever talk to you about the touchdown pass you threw to win state, but is it really that bad? You did get drunk, got laid, and won state that night.
Si comincia con 'Take on me' STUPENDA. Dopo però peggiora, peccato. Oddio 'The sun always shines on T.V.' è un'altra ottima canzone
Listed on headphones via Amazon Music Ultra HD. Did not finish bonus tracks. Fun find was The Sun Always Shines On TV. Interested to hear it again on bigger speakers.
I liked this overall, I like the style but for a full album it did start to drag on a bit. Favorite songs were: The Sun Always Shines on TV Hunting High And Low 7/10
Very good pop - but I don't know why it's on this list.
My mom, who was a teen in the 80s, hates a-ha with a passion. My boyfriend, who was a teen in the 90s, loves them. The only song I knew was Take on Me, because of that one Vine meme. Tell me why this was one of the best albums I heard all week?? SOOO groovy and fun, Morten's voice is to die for. Out of this world!
A better New Wave album than I initially realised. Really good fun in places, and not just with Take On Me. Living a Boy's Adventure Tale and The Sun Always Shines on TV were the other stand-outs. More of a 3 than a 4, but it is what it is. I do like a bit of synth.
The most 80s of all 80s synth pop albums
The second 80s pop act that I have heard recently that I had dismissed as vehicles for a few singles, all be it very good ones, and yes that video immediately came into my head. Only to be very pleasantly surprised when listening to the whole album. Electro pop was never my thing, used to make me turn off straight away on principle perhaps, as a guitar player, but probably the one genre I didn’t listen to that I have been the most positively surprised by. Vocals and the harmonies are a highlight, 4 Star.
Bien rétro, bien synthé, bien anné 80
Fr*nch-language rapping over canned 90s beats. Yawn
Quintessential 80s. Light, poppy, a little quirky, fun. Also, the recording sounds full and crisp. An easy like.
Surprisingly solid. I only knew a few tracks off this album before this but this whole thing was great
This was pretty fun, especially the higher energy tracks.
Take on me is a classic, album gets saved by that and The Sun Always Shines on T.V. along with a couple songs that were pretty decent. If I wasn't high when I listening it would be a solid 2/5 probably.
Good stuff, opening hit was the highlight though
Smá undarleg staðreynd um mig. A-ha er í uppáhaldi hjá mér og hefur verið alveg frá því að ég sá myndbandið við Take on me. Það var held ég í fyrsta sinn sem ég sá tæknibrellur og ég varð hugfanginn. Tónlistin er samt ekkert dúndur en platan í heild sinni fær fjórar stjörnur bara vega myndbandsins sem ég sá í denn og platan byrjar einmitt á því lagi
An 80s classic, love it.
This album immediately transports you to the synthesizing 80s with its punchy drum kicks and vocal production. The first track is immediately nostalgic, I feel like everyone knows the song “Take on Me” it’s fun to sing along to. As I listened to the album I realized there were a lot of tracks that sounded pretty good to me. “Living a Boy’s Adventure Tale” reminds me of one of my favourite Daft Punk songs “Verdis Quo” and perhaps it’s because of that synth-flute or string pad they may have used. Loving the energy in “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” Also feels a bit familiar to me as I probably heard it growing up I like the vocals and instrumentals of most of the album. It’s a bit electronic, rock, punk, pop, and experimental which made for something really interesting. I find it pretty cohesive where every song seems to blend into each other. Doesn’t feel like a pile of singles jammed into an album. I haven’t taken in the songs lyrically but upon my first few listens I mainly listen for the production and feel of the song. I like the variety of emotions this album feels out. Learning that a-ha is from Norway and that they are part of the New-Wave movement, added a new layer to my understanding of this album. Overall, I found this album to be very good. Even though it’s a pop/new-wave album, and I’m usually not a huge fan of pop, this is the kind of pop I believe deserves the title of popular for a reason. Favourite tracks : “Take on Me”, “Living a Boy’s Adventure Tales”, “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.”, “Hunting High and Low”
Two giant bangers, just the way we like it. The Sun Always Shines and Take On Me are both right up there in the very best songs of the decade, and certainly the best to come out of mainstream pop (alongside Somewhere in My Heart, and I reckon that's it). Anyway, this album, for a very long time, stays firmly in the 'great' territory, but the second half can't quite keep it going, and it recedes into 'very good'. Still that's good isn't it. Very good in fact.
Great stuff
Solide Platte
8/10
Olipas suorastaan piristävää ja nostalgistakin näiden räppiveikköjen jälkeen. Ajan eläneenä muistoja mieleen. Nimibiisihän om suorastaan hieno
the debut album of norwegian band a-ha, who is best known for their smash hit take on me, which is the first track of the album. take on me is a staple of 80s pop, but what about the rest? while not every track hits for me, there's a good amount of merit in here. it's a very elegant and whimsical-sounding synthy sophisti-pop album, a lot of the music sounding echoey and romantic. the sort of yearning and heartfelt kind of 80s music that a lot of people would love. many people are quick to assume these guys are one-hit wonders.
Solid album. "Take On Me" and "The Sun Always Shines On TV" on here.
Three significant hits on this glittering piece of mid-80s pop from the group which finally put paid to all those "Norwegian band" jokes. An excellent album 4/5.
Do I like Europop? I think so.
Fun synthpop album
This was their debut album? God damn, that's incredible! And it still holds up - the poppy, synthy goodness is on full display here and I vibed to every second of it.
The good kind of soundtrack to an 80's movie. The sun always shines on tv has an epicness to it that many contemporaries attempt but do not achieve. The great hits are interspersed with sweet romance songs to give some highs and lows but I was mostly waiting for more of the highs.
The definition of 80s pop and I mean that in the best way possible of course there are the classics like "take on me", but I was surprised by how many songs I liked on this record other than the hits. Yes it's corny Yes, it's full of lost songs and pretty dated ones but it's comforting and optimistic and I believe we all need that right now. fav song : Living a boy's adventure tale & the sun always shine on TV
Shit, I have a problem with one of the songs on this album: "The Sun Always Shines on TV" It was the song played at the funeral of a close friend from high school (Ed) who committed suicide in one of his first years at college. We were close during high school but lost touch a bit when he stayed in Washington at a state school and I went to CA. So I have always avoided listening to this song as it evokes sad memories rather than the happy ones: the amusing ideas that Ed had, like rolling down the window when there is a gang of bikers stopped at the lights next to him with their hogs making a racket, holding up a screwdriver, and saying "I can fix that for you..." (and getting the shit beat out of him). Or wearing a scarf in his convertible MG with the scarf standing straight out behind even when he was stopped at the lights (thanks to a coat hanger hidden inside it) - I repeated that trick a couple of times for a simple Halloween costume.
I have been locked in for 240 so kindve locked out for this. It was fine not super memorable enjoyable listen tho I think low 4
7.5/10 - sounded very much of its time but it worked well. Take on me is obviously a banger but there were other good tracks as well
Pretty poor mixing and general production. Besides that, most of the album outside of take on me is just alright - I did like the sun always shines on tv though. But take on me is one of those hugely popular songs that I think deserves all the hype. That song makes me happy every time I hear it, and I'm honestly considering giving this album a 5 just for that
Mein Vater liebt a-ha und er war mein erster musikalischer Einfluss, deswegen muss ich in seinem Namen eine gute Bewertung geben aus nostalgischen Gründen, nicht unbedingt, weil ichs so geil find :D
Wenn mer grad vo somene pretty sex face und somene pretty sex triceps ahglächlet wird, chan das Album ja nur sehr guet werde. Ahgfüert vom Biggest Banger Existing, reihet sich e ganzi Schwetti a 80er-Jahr-Danceable-Feel-Good-Abriss-Banger-Tracks i dem Album anenand. Happy Album für en Happy chline-Fritig I guess! Mehr O-ha als A-ha! Sehr viel Neuentdeckige woni ned all zu tüüf ih Playliste wird vergrabe und sehr bald mal wider fürehole! Funfunfun, aber für es Cinco de mayo langets leider doch ned und ich muns abrunde uf vier luutstarchi Vikinger Gebrüll durch die Norwegische Fjords. (wills e Norwegischi Band isch - ned gwüsst und macht mi umso happier!)
Jupideiduu
hani direkt en chline a-ha moment gha – und zwar wie verdammt spass es macht zum a-ha lose vo ahfang («take on me» trotz liechtem cringefaktor glaub wüki eine vo de beste 100 songs wo jemals gschriebe worde isch) bis schluss es riese gaudi! das risst für mich natürli d‘frag uf öb es riese gaudi equivalent mit 5 saftige pünkt isch... zum eine schreit mich innerlich s‘argument ah, dass es album wo «take on me» & «the sun always shines on t.v.» beinhaltet kategorisch en höchstbewertig bechund, & uf de andere siite schwingt bi vereinzelte songs s‘generikumpendel scho in en beriich us wo mer sich säge muess, dass 4 pünkt vilicht eher ahbracht sind. aber isch es denn 1985 au generisch gsi? I doubt it. ich glaub ich muess en nacht drüber schlafe… update: okay ich traue nöd 5 stern gäh :( aber wohlverdienti quattro ahahahaha‘s gids ufjedefall!
That opening track, tho… KILLER!
299/1001 🌕🌕🌕🌗🌑 Ya solo por el glorioso "The Sun Always Shines on T.V." merece un hueco en la historia!
Awesome to listen to
I have a confession to make Recently it has come me That I LIKE SYNTH POP Catchy tunes, multi layered Perfect production Electrifying fashion and hair Cleverly crafted Carefully curated This no exception
a-ha .. schon die ersten töne rufen kindheitserinnerungen hervor. erstaunlich wie die instrumentierung mit drum machine und 80er-synthies heute wirkt .. das war dann stand der technik/state of the art für elektronische musik. 🤔 als debut, kommerziell erfolgreich und mit 5 singles, ein tolles album. mir bleiben Take On Me (noch heute ein weltklasse-video!), Hunting High And Low und The Sun Always Shines On TV als Highlights.
Magnificent album with classic songs on it.
A good album, loved the classic song Take O. me and also really liked Hunting High and Low.
Genuinely a great album. This really represents the best side of the 80s synthpop era, and perfectly manages to avoid that annoying cheesy sound. I think Take On Me sounds a bit out of place, especially being the opening track, but maybe that's only because it's the song I've heard the most.
Really enjoyed the upbeat but loving songs - nice memories of being a teen :) thx!
We liked it! Wirth listening to beyond take on me
Brilliant remember the ground breaking video that accompanied Take on me. Worth a listen
Take on me Family guy
A very good and surprisingly musically sophisticated album. A-Ha are one of those bands that I feel are written off as one-hit-wonders, but this album is very well-rounded and has some really solid hidden gems that make for a satisfying listen. The only negative thing I can say is none of the songs touch Take on Me, which does make the rest of the album feel like a bit of a letdown after starting so strong. Top tracks: Take on Me, The Sun Always Shines On T.V., Here I Stand and Face the Rain
This is a fun as 80 in incredibly 80s album.
New Wave!? You’re having a laugh. This is peak pop! That’s not an insult. It takes a lot of craft and graft to create a good pop song and there’s quite a few on here. My friend saw them live in about 2002 and said they were phenomenal. Also Morten Harket never seems to age. I think he’s having virgin blood transfusions. Very singalongable and just fun. I’m gonna have to mark them up for the feel good factor.
# Album Name: Hunting High And Low # Artist: A-ha # Rating: 4/5 # Comments: One of the best ever tracks and opening on an album? Probably. Take on me was an absolute classic with an awesome video. And it still is banging to this day. The problem opening with this song is it sets such a high bar for the album and it quite frankly cant live up to that level. Which is a shame. I think they should have pushed it towards the back end if not the very last song. This song must have blew your tits off back in the day. Anyway, theres a few other good tracks on here like train of thought, high and low and sun always shines on tv. The latter two being strong singles in their own right. Overall, the album is a pretty good debut. Take on me being the absolute stand out with a few others mingled in. The problem is theres many average fillers on the album too. Im torn between a 3 and a low 4. I think i'll go with the latter because of the single ive mentioned. # Top Tunes: Take on me, train of thought, high and low and sun always shines on tv # Would I listen to it again? Half of it.
Iconic southern rock full of songs you’ve likely heard before.
Take on me good
almost everything here absolutely slaps, why was a-ha a one hit wonder in america
Fun! 80's pop baybee
Some classic 80s pop. Enjoyed this, a few songs sounded a bit similar but maybe I need another listen. Good album.
As a Barstool Sports fan, Take On Me holds a special place in my heart. Overall album is fine. Not great, not bad. But Take On Me is why I gave it a 4 instead of a 3
as far as Norwegian pop goes, it's tough to find an album goes that has stood the test of time longer than this one. The synth pop influences permeate this emotional album that is a fun listen and goes by quick. Great LP that's got some fun nostalgia attached.
I always love exploring a-ha, because you would never expect truly quality music out of the "Take on Me" band. Not that "Take on Me" isn't one of the finest one hit wonders out there, but you know what I mean?
The rhythm of the album is a bit problematic imo, tracks should be sorted differently. Still, it was nice to listen
The album is much better than their one mega hit. Good stuff. 3.5 stars
I see people describe A-ha as a one hit wonder quite often, which just doesn't seem accurate to me. Despite this, before actually listening to this album a few years ago, I would say the same thing. Take it as a sign of my U.S. brain thinking our popular culture is the end all, be all. A-ha had multiple other hits on this very album, but I didn't recognize that until I sat down and listened to their discography. Now I, myself, am a preacher at the house of A-ha, and this album is assuredly one of the reasons. It starts with one of the most iconic pop tracks of the 80s, walking that fine line between new wave and cheesy late 80s pop that it just feels like its oozing the sound of the era in the best of was. However, I think the album only gets better with some of the other tracks, as they stand out in a way very similar to the opener, and it makes the album a very solid piece of lush 80s pop. Morten Harket has one of the best voices in pop, and shows off his chops here in a way hardly have rivalled. Perhaps some of the tracks here could stand to be a bit more memorable overall, especially when put against the greats, but you're still getting what is, in my opinion, one of the best straight synthpop records of its time.
Only knew the one song and never listened to the whole album before. Pleasantly surprised.
Amazing song, good album. Take On Me is incredible, top10 song from 80s for sure. They practically saved the whole decade from obscurity with this one track. The rest of the album is okay, fades away a lottle after such a strong opener. It's a shame Manhattan Skyline is not from this album, my favourite song as a metalhead. RIP Benny Harvey, I miss you big fella.
Love a bit of a-ha really underrated group I think didn’t quite get the success they deserved
Super fun throwback
Bring back some great memories. Some true classics. 4/5
Hat mich positiv überrascht. Paar richtige Hits. Manche Songs wie ein Musical. Einfach geiler 80s Vibe.
Pretty decent album coming from the '80s synth pop era. Though it sounds of its time, the songwriting is really good and works well to new takes on the songs. I don't think that it's the best available out of that era, but it certainly stands time and deserves to be listened to on occasion. While there may be a few weaker songs on the album, even those songs suffer more from production than they do from songwriting. A solid four or four and a half of five rating
Very good record.
I guess I will no longer think of A-ha as a one hit wonder. This album is good, but it seems like every song besides Take On Me is a ballad. I think I would have enjoyed this a lot more if there were more bangers. I've just never been a huge ballad guy, but they were fine, and the production was good. Low 4.
Not a bad album. Classic 80s.
Like most people, I thought of A-ha as one hit wonders. I am talking about Love is Reason, of course. Take on Me is still a great song and I was surprised there are still plenty of other good songs on her as well. They are definitely not one-hit wonders and the first three songs and last three songs are really great. This fits in with the 80's synth-pop that this book has included during the mid-80's and while this may not revolutionize the world, this is an album which gives insight into what that sound was. Also, people need to hear this album just to know they were not one-hit wonders.
Bello però non si riprende mai dopo take on me
È proprio vero che dopo la prima non si riprende più, però è davvero gradevole!
I went into this expecting it to be all about the big hit single "Take On Me" and nothing else would measure up, but actually I was impressed at how great a lot of these songs were. Recommended. Key tracks: Take On Me Train of Thought Hunting High and Low The Sun Always Shines on TV
First song has 2.4b views on youtube. It had a great video. Very innovative at the time. Up there with Sledgehammer. Sun also shines on TV is great as well.
This album feels like a fun, fleeting moment. Just a glimpse in time. The songs are good to great, and it was cool to hear more from the band. Take on Me is the best still, but I was really impressed by The Sun Always Shines on T.V. Cool soundscape used throughout the album. Standouts: Take on Me, Living a Boy’s Adventure Tale, The Sun Always Shines on T.V., And You Tell Me, Love Is Reason, and Here I Stand and Face the Rain.
Respectfully, este álbum es un one hit wonder por la primera canción. El resto del álbum está muy bueno pero es completamente devalorado por la primera canción, it’s such a high to go to a mid high. Está hasta en el título del álbum, high and low.
obviously there's one really big song on this album and it's pretty great. it holds up. i think the hidden gem on this album is 'the sun always shines on tv' which i think is fairly lost to history (at least here in the states). the rest of the album is pretty solid but fairly unremarkable at times. still, i think the sound is fairly iconic at this point and overall, it's a fun enough listen.
A massive 80s slap in the face! It opens with potentially the greatest pop song of all time. And just about holds up to that for the rest of the album. A little samey in places but a quality 80s pop album! 3.8
Great album! Who knew? Score one for the album generator.
I have the vinyl, anyone of a certain age remembers the video for "Take On Me" which was rotoscoped and super cool and spawned a bunch of copycats to the point that within a year, anything rotoscoped looked out of touch LOL This is actually kind of a cool record. It's definitely new wave, and it's neat to think that this style of music was truly global. I had originally planned to give this a three but the songs are catchy, well written, and have a fairly wide range of subject material.
It has the hit!! And others!
Más que Take On Me.
fantastic synth pop
Would have been a 3/5 but the sheer power of "Take On Me" carried this generic synth pop album to the stars.
Excellent slice of 80s pop. The hits are fantastic!