Reviews (page 3 of 8)
That's a classic. I don't know if it deserves 5/5, but 4.5/5 is good enough. "Take on me" is above all the 80's hits. Not many acts can go as hard.
Good 80's album from what most people would consider a one hit wonder band.
Take On Me is one of the greatest songs ever written and the rest is pretty good too. Love me some a-ha! Benny Harvey RIP
Fond memories of the MTV video. I like that Take On Me has become a melody used in happy ads.
good
Great 80's sounds... Techno vibes abound. Nice bump for Monday, would give it 3.5....
This was some sweet prime 80s synth pop. Overall I enjoyed a lot of the tracks, and "Take On Me" is a classic.
This was great! All I knew from them was take on me, but they had a lot of fun British synthy pop throughout this one
Take On Me and the massive ballad of a title track carry a lot of weight here. Living a Boy's Adventure Tale has some luscious pads and synth bass. Last two tracks are strong too, including more serious bass on Here I Stand and Face the Rain. Pretty vocals throughout. Volume levels are uneven which is slightly annoying, but I won't dock it points.
Good solid 80s Rock, the released tracks are good and the fillers are OK AHA have a nice sound, very 80s but different enough to make them stand out
classic. one hit but still good
This is the embodiment of the 80s, with the clean, early electronic sounds, up beat tempo, and synths out the wazoo. The vocals have all the attitude and style you could want.
Quite good
none
Take on me is an 80s masterpiece and it deserves 5 stars, but the rest of the album is more average (3 stars). Overall I would give it 3.5 stars.
Early synthpop is just so much fun, the goofier and sillier the sounds they come up with, the better. Even outside the obvious 11/10 song here, the rest is super catchy. Not long enough to get boring, by the time it's over you're ready to start it up again.
I can’t listen to this without seeing the video in my mind
Lo mismo que varios discos en este listado: tiene dos tremendas canciones, pero el resto no logra mantener la altura (y cómo podría cuando Take on Me es la canción que abre el disco? Cómo superas eso?)
I've said it before and I'll say it again, 1985 was my favourite year in music. As soon as 'take on me' starts ( asingle I bought at the time) my mind goes back to pastel type pencil strokes and its ground breaking video. Sure, its cheesy but who cares? A-ha were a proper band that accidentally had a teeny-bop pop hit single. And the longevity potential for the band runs right through this debut album. The title track remains sublime, The Sun Always Shines on TV has dated somewhat but remains highly enjoyable. Its not all perfect. 'Living a boy's adventure tale' remains jarred and not quite there. So cheesy Euro-pop in the main but stil lthoroughly enjoyable and a launchpad for stronger records in the future.
"Take On Me" is my go to blackout drunk karaoke song, and if I've sung along enough throughout the night and my voice is loose enough about 1 in 10 times I can still hit the high note. I miss when that success rate was a bit higher when I was still singing regularly. The rest doesn't shine quite as much and has a slightly different tonality, but I still vibe with it hard. Great album!
Nice album, very melody driven and received a huge commercial success. While only 3 members, their sound is pretty big. I especially like the blend of their voices. Standout tracks: Take On Me, Train Of Thought, Hunting High And Low, Living A Boy's Adventure Tale, The Sun Always Shines On T.V., Love Is Reason, Here I Stand And Face The Rain 8 out of 10
it is very disco-esque. it was also a little rollercoaster of being interested in the song —> bored, over and over and over again 5/7
Generous 4
Great album
More than just a song that has somehow escaped becoming a meme
Good Album, with some of their biggest hits
A fine pop rock album with some catchy tunes.
Hadn't heard anything past Take On Me. Way more range than expected
my group's 500th album! it's certainly a relief our milestone was actually an enjoyable album. what i loved most was the oboe backing of "living a boy's adventure tale." the oboe only heightened how beautiful the song was. the synth managed to create a sort of orchestra accompanying the songs, too. a-ha's hunting high and low had a great temperament. it had ebbs and flows (i didn't want to say "highs and lows"--too on the nose) as they had peppier songs mixed with more moodier songs. the balance was perfect and made for a great listening experience. 4.5
I feel like my experience with a-ha up until now is probably similar to many people's experiences: have only heard (and shamelessly love) "Take on Me". That said, this album demonstrated a wide array of ability in a-ha that goes beyond "Take on Me". They explore many of the aspects of new wave music across each unique track, and do masterfully. No track feels repetitive when compared to the others, and no tracks feel like filler. The 40 minute length is used wisely. Genuinely, this has gone from being an unknown album to me to being one I would name as a "must listen" for new wave enjoyment. Very pleasantly surprised!
A banger of a synth pop album beyond the hit
A pleasant surprise! Always took these guys for a one-hit wonder ("Take On Me" is definitely that one hit, and good thing it's here), but there's actually a lot to enjoy on this album. Definitely emblematic of the new wave '80s pop, lots of cool funky sounds. A few times where the singer sounds like Morrissey, and I mean that as a compliment because I'm sure he is/was less of a prick. Great album! Favorite tracks: Take On Me, Living a Boy's Adventure Tale, The Sun Always Shines on TV, Here I Stand and Face the Rain. Album art: I've seen this one a lot, but never up close to see how the guy is flexing his tricep. Love the blur effect going on, it's not the most interesting cover but it's effective. Text and banner up top is cool. 4/5
I think the high points here justify the 4* personally. Take On Me, The Sun Always Shines On T.V., and I Dream Myself Alive are all absolute bangers in my book.
Ça tube un max et ça on peut pas leur enlever.
Excellentissime
Now thats what I call music!
Nostalgia! A joy 😊
Mostly great 80s nostalgia hit.
meh, only a couple bangers rest were meh
Weirdly good album. I didn't love it, but it was a fun listen. 3.5/5
“Take on Me” is one of the best hits of the 80s and “The Sun Always Shine on TV” is even better. There are other highlights, this is more memorable than a lot of new wave albums tend to be to me, but those definitely overshadow everything else. B+
Take on me remains an absolute banger. The rest of the album was okay, pretty same-y in terms of sound and style overall, without any other strongly catchy tunes. Hunting High and Low was an interesting listen, that's another of a-ha's most popular songs and it is wildly different from Take on Me.
A playful, and at times pretty hilarious, mash-up of 80s synth-pop-rock. I wasn't expecting to like any of it other than the brutally popular Take On Me. And yes, many of the tracks had an extremely dated feel to them that distracted from the compositional talent. But that's just it: if you can look past the 80s polish, you'll discover that most of the tracks are freakin' bangers. Fight me. The Sun Always Shines On T.V. has a gritty, intoxicating riff that is played to perfection, avoiding being overused. The Blue Sky sounds exactly like its name: fresh, clean, and carefree. The title track is great. A few tracks were forgettable, but I forgot which ones.
First listen was a little underwhelming but I did give it another listen on headphones which did give me a greater appreciation for the production. There’s a lot going here, the synth is working overtime and beyond the layered vocals there’s some vibrant sounds reverberating throughout. The Sun Always Shines on T.V. stood out to me as an amazing song that magnifies their strengths, so many layers with the sounds all blending together so well. I was expecting just another 80’s release with the he standard tinny boring tunes but there’s more here than that. Top tier album cover as well. 4 stars
Its good. Solid 80s new wavy sound. Dont know how often I would listen though.
Didn't realise these songs were by this group. Not bad
Fun synth pop
They would have been huge if Duran-Duran hadn’t already filled the niche. Good album.
alright
Take on me is a classic
I enjoyed this album - there's some really catchy pop hooks on here, laden with awesome 80s synth sounds. Favourite tracks: Hunting High and Low, The Blue Sky, The Sun Always Shines on T.V (which gives me low-key Pet Shop Boys vibes), and Love Is Reason (mostly because it has that cool synth bell sound that was totally used in Sonic the Hedgehog).
Fun, a few classics. Not quite my style
I have difficulty rating this one. While the well-known greats are indeed great, some of the cratediggers are pretty decent too. Production is through the roof, and there's clearly some talent there. However, as an album it just doesn't quite hang together right. Weird.
Oh, I forgot how lovely this album is. This is an incredibly pleasant listen, with creative and elegantly crafted arrangements, strong pop melodies, and Morten Harket's gorgeous vocals. "Take on Me" is the obvious star track, and really one of the best pop songs to come out of the 80s. But there's so much more to love on this album beyond the one song. Enjoyed revisiting this today. Fave Songs: Take On Me, The Sun Always Shines on T.V., Hunting High and Low, And You Tell Me, The Blue Sky, Living a Boy's Adventure Tale
Actually a lot better than I expected.
Take On Me is hard to follow, but the rest of the songs are still pretty darn good. New wave is so fun to listen to.
Highlights: The Sun Always Shines On T.V., I Dream Myself Alive
Ciężko ocenić, bo są bardzo duże rozbieżności na albumie. Take on Me ma już range mema, więc wiadomo że przeruchane i nic ciekawego nie znajdziesz tutaj. The sun always shines on TV bardzo dobre, tak samo tytułowy utwór. Reszta tak wleciała jednym, wyleciała drugim, a zapętlił się album chyba 3 razy. Takie 4 na szynach
Grwat
Guilty Pleasure - from their inception I have always had an appreciation for a-ha. They had that unique ability to speak to listeners from across genres. There are some brilliant moments on this record, especially Sun Only Shines. Glorious pop music from a band who would make even better albums.
Niet elk nummer is even tijdloos op dit album. Maar de 2 bekendste alvast wel. Leuke, opgewekte newwave
Just a very solid piece of synth-pop from a-ha. Of course the opening Take On Me is an absolute classic but almost all of the other tracks bring a good energy and have catchy little rifts and beats to make them really dancy. 8/10
I like the uptempo stuff better, but all synth is good synth.
Like between the smiths and pet shop boys
Really like this album.
Pretty fun listen even aside from Take On Me.
Classic
This is why I hate streaming platforms. I really want to know the production credits of this album. On the other hand. I only had this on tape. Even if I still have the tape (doubtful – and if so, it'll be at my mum's, which is much the same as not having it) ...and playable (more doubtful), I'll actually buy a record player before buying a new tape deck... Actually. I have a Walkman in working condition. This may be the start of a fun project. Me, my Walkman, and Sennheiser 250 headphones on the tube. Retro Steampunk futurism or something... Anyway. Fun album. Even the weak songs have a sharp production sheen. Enjoyed, still enjoy. And Blue Sky still puts something good in my heart each time I hear it.
80s pop is one of my favourite genres. I only knew "Take on Me" but I liked the rest of the album as well. I'd listen to it again.
first listen timeless classic
excellent
Take On Me is a transcendant song, and the rest of the album is very solid 80's synth pop. One of the best examples. I just don't much care for 80's synth pop, so four stars.
Great album, although I do think the hits like Take On Me and the title track carry it.
Great synth pop record! It had some cringy moments but it’s undeniable great. The second song was the best. I didn’t know it and was surprised by its darkness
Though I have known “Take On Me” since it first came out all those years ago, I don’t know if I have ever heard this album before! It’s actually quite good. I would probably be more into it if I hand been listening to it these past 38 years. I will definitely be listening again.
Genres: New wave, synth-pop Formed: Oslo, Norway in 1982 Run time: 10 songs, 37 min, 10 sec Despite my growing love of rock in the late eighties, I did enjoy a-ha. For a first album there are some phenomenal hits on it: "Take On Me" with almost 1.4B plays on Spotify (WOW), "Hunting High and Low" 68M plays, and "The Sun Always Shines on T.V." 70M plays. Most of the other tracks are OK. None of the other less popular tracks made me think I’ll hit skip, but I wouldn’t listen to the whole album again. My Rating: ****
Great 80s electronic! Up there with New Order. Can't believe I haden't heard more then Take on me before.
Own on Vinyl
This will be an unpopular opinion. This album is perfect for putting floral wall paper up in your bathroom. It’s coming back in style, you guys!!! I liked it. There, I said it. Not sure if I was living a boys adventure tale, or what my train of thought was, but I was into it. Is it the best album ever? God no, but it got me bobbing my head and put me in a good mood while looking up to the blue sky on my walk, so what else can I ask for? The vocals are often over the top, and the music sounds so artificial. But that the 80s BABY! Obviously Take on Me is still a mega hit, but I found The Sun Always Shines on TV to be an upbeat party banger, and also an apt commentary on society. Some songs were better than others, but I enjoyed listening all the way through. Do I…like..a-ha? I’ll stand here and face the rain whilst being berated by the group.
Pure synth pop from the 80s. There are better albums for sure but few better songs than Take on Me.
Chilll shoutout norge
Right off the bat with the megahit "Take on Me" which I love - peak 80's sound. Rest of the album was fine, nothing crazy, nice all around. 7/10.
I liked this album it was pretty upbeat and fun to listen to. Take On Me was already one of my favorite 80s song before listening to the album, so it was nice to hear some more aha songs. The eponymous song hunting high and low was a favorite of mine from this album.
Obviously, everyone has heard Take On me. It was the best music video of the 80's and probably one of the most famous one hit wonders in America. If this was a list of the 1001 songs you should hear, I would give this the highest rating ever because Take On Me is such a good song. However, since this is about albums, I have to judge this in it's entirety. I've never listened to another A-Ha song and honestly while the rest of the album doesn't quite measure up to their big hit, it's not a bad album. It's got that perfect 80's sound and I am a sucker for new wave. Many of these songs would have fit perfectly on an 80's movie soundtrack. The oboe in Living a Boy's Adventure Tale was a nice surprise and really elevated the song. The Sun Always Shines on TV is a really good song and I'm surprised it wasn't a bigger hit in the US. Some of the other songs don't really hit the same way. Honestly this album is probably a 3, but my love of their big hit as well as my Norwegian heritage gives me a bias that makes it a 4.
Love Aha I am a 80s lover all the way
Love this!! Take on Me is a personal fave, so I knew I would be in for a good one with this album. Some of the slower songs are not the greatest, but everything else is the perfect representation of 80s pop music. Perfection!! Fun beats, just the right amount of synth and the voice just makes me feel nostalgic for 80s movies. A feel good album! Listen again: Yes! Purchase for my collection: Yes, especially on vinyl. Favourite Song: Take on Me obviously, but Train of Thought and The Sun Always Shines on TV are close. Worst Song: the slow ones
Take on Me, for all its enduring power, isn’t even the best song on this album. A surprisingly strong collection of textured songs which show that a-ha deserved more of a chance (at least in the States).
The most 80's sounding album I've ever listened. Yeah it's a fun album and nothing is really boring. But the singles really carry the album very hard.
Take on me
The sound of the 80's but I hate most 80's synth pop music so this wouldn't be my cup of tea.
Kicking off with possibly the greatest pop song ever, 'Take On Me', a-ha's debut is highly emotional synth-pop; the kind that could only be made in the 80's. By now, Morten Harket's voice is instantly recognizable and it suits the genre incredibly well. 'The Sun Always Shines on T.V.' is almost as catchy as the opening track, and there are some lesser known gems hidden like 'And You Tell Me'. My only wish is that the group would have gone all-in on danceable synth instead of ending on some middle ground between nightclubs and new wave - not quite keeping my feet tapping and not quite keeping my interest.
If you come here expecting nothing but “Take On Me”, you’re to be disappointed. Kicking off this debut album with one of the all-time greatest pop songs, a-ha soon takes a sharp turn and turns everything down a notch. It may not be as danceable as you’d think it would, but tracks like “Hunting High And Low” and “Here I Stand and Face the Rain” are nothing but outstanding. Then there’s of course “The Sun Always Shines On T.V.” opening the B-side - the only song on the album that’s actually able to withhold side by side comparison to the opening track. This doesn’t quite deliver on it’s initial promise of head bopping, feet tapping 80’s pop. But it’s a great record nonetheless.
Favoritas: -Take on me -The sun always shines on T.V. -Love is reason
Take On Me will forever be a nostalgia favorite so this is off to a good start. All catchy songs, exactly what I expected from a mid 80s album.
Afskaplega mikill níundi áratugur en alltaf skemmtilegur, og nokkur lögin eru algjörar perlur. Ég hlustaði tvisvar í þetta skiptið, væri alveg til í meira.
Like many others, I'm not particularly familiar with a-ha's oeuvre, outside of one song in particular. But I know they're a bigger deal in Europe, and as this list seems to be quite Eurocentric, I'm not surprised to see them here. This album, while very much a product of the '80s, is a glimpse at why they're more revered across the ocean -- a lot of really good tracks here. I love the title track; hearing them slow things down after years of being subjected to the sugar rush that is "Take on Me" is revelatory.
Stunning
Pretty good
Back in ‘85 the music itself didn’t make it stand out from the mainstream crowd, that’s not to say it’s a bad album, far from it. The video for take on my was what got everyone talking about a-ha, it was/still is a classic piece of music related artwork and really thrust them into the limelight. It’s a good album 4/5
Kan setta pris på litt a-ha i blant
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Take on me, Hunting high and low, And you tell me
Nice
An slightly above average 80s pop album. Maybe would listen to it again when the moods come. For me i believe there are only few songs that stand out. The rest are okay.
As a child of the 80s, it was hard not to be completely caught up in "Take On Me," but in the years since high school, it's become so ubiquitous and overplayed that it's not really a favorite anymore. So I wasn't sure what to expect from the rest of the album -- I'd listened to it here and there as a kid, but probably not since the early 90s. New Wave hasn't ever really been a huge draw for me, but this album is a lot more musically complex than I was expecting. I'm not sure that it's going to figure heavily into my regular rotation of stuff I listen to, but it's very well done.
I am a sucker for 80's synth-pop, so of course I liked this. Everybody knows Take on Me, but these deep cuts are also very good!
Really enjoyed it. Have heard Take on Me a million times, but have never listened to any other a-Ha tracks. Good album
Sounds good!
There is something ironic about a disc being included by a band that is frequently near the top of one-hit wonder lists. For what it's worth, they are not on my OHW list because of The Sun Always Shines on T.V., which peaked at 20 on the Hot 100 (although was a huge hit in most major European markets). Obviously Take On Me is an enduring classic. Clearly from the 80s, but less dated than many other 80s hits. This is a solid set throughout, with solid tunes in addition to the two tracks mentioned. Morten Harket's vocals are a high point (pun intended) and displays impressive tonal and stylistic range. Love Is Reason, Hunting High and Low and Train of Thought are all top-notch. While remaining popular overseas for many years, they were essentially a one and done here. There were plenty of those bands in the 80s that deserved that fate. A-ha deserved much better.
I liked this much more than I expected to. While this type of synth pop is not my sonic preference, it was very well executed. "The Sun Always Shines" sounds like it influenced U2's "Beautiful Day", and a listen to The Weeknd's "Dawn FM" shows how influential A-ha's sound still is. They are more than their 1 hit. I'd give this 3.5 if I could, but I'm feeling generous today.
Some solid 80's new wave that opens with a bona fide classic of the genre. 3.5 but will round up to 4 just for Take On Me
A strong 4/5 for this synth pop 80s classic with some surpringsly melancholy vibes at times. Biased results ciz it gits the mood for the beach vacation.
Listens: 3 Enjoyed: Yes Surprised how much I enjoyed this one to be honest. The highs are very high and the lows are slightly above average. The balance between dance and rock is excellent. Im going for 4*s, ideally I'd go for a very high 3.5 and 3 seems way too low so 4 it js
really enjoyable album, I think I enjoyed the back half more than the front
actually liked it
Didnt know the other songs were good aswell, pleasant suprise.
A couple of bangers and maintains the vibe for the whole albums
Real cool album - it actually made me like aha more. Super soft songs with enough variation to keep it interesting
The synthesizer usage is unmatched. Then again, it is indeed the middle of the 80s. Favorite songs: The Sun Always Shines on T.V., Living A Boy's Adventure Tale
In its time, it was 5 stars and I wore out my cassette tape of it listening over and over. Not a best album of all time, though.
4.0
Solid 80s synth pop album!
There's not nearly enough synths on this! Some real Highs, Take on Me is a case in point. And quite a few Lows too. Almost a middling album but enough to keep it interesting. And I am partial to that Norwegian falsetto.
I liked this, there were more hits on it than I remembered!
This is a great album! Full of joy.
The main single being the opener sounds incredibly risky, as it sets up high expectations. Somehow A-Ha meets them with songs that are equally bombastic and memorable. This was a surprising listen and makes me wanna check out their catalog further.
Better and more varied than expected.
The opening track is a pop masterpiece but the only way is down from there. The Sun Always Shines On TV being the only other track that made any kind of impact on me. I guess I’m going 4 stars on the strength of the Take On Me. My favourite Norwegian band - apparently.
This is a massive synth-pop album that contains some of the biggest genre hits of its era - Take on Me and The Sun Always Shines on TV deserve every single bit of praise they have received (not least because of Morten Harket's versatile voice). The title track, however, is something else. It's more acoustic with a cinematic breadth seldom seen in 80s pop and a breathtaking, sweeping orchstral arrangement. But that song remains the exception, as synth pop is is ruler supreme on this album. And while the highs are incredibly high, there is quite a bit of filler material here, most of which is fine. This was a good first effort for Norways most famous musical export. Many more - even better ones - were to follow. 4/5
So this must have been defining for me as 10 year old. My taste has changed but some classic tracks on here. The stuff I dont know I can pass on but good is great.
Great pop album with synthesizer that set the tone for popular music for many decades to come.
Really solid album. Only knew them for a couple songs.
Just a solid set of synthetic pop with an incredible voice and some 80s keyboard cheese. Think the front half is much stronger than the second half. Fantastic hooks. Favorite tracks: "The Sun Always Shines on TV", "Train of Thought", "Take On Me", "And You Tell Me"
Great pop record, take on me is a classic lol
Repetitive, Take On Me was the standout, but four stars for the great 80's vibe.
I have a soft spot for synth pop. The dynamics on this album give my eardrums a workout. Nothing really tops "Take On Me" but the whole thing brings me back to the sound of my childhood. I had no idea they were Norwegian. If someone came out with an album that sounded just like this today, with slightly more contemporary lyrics, people would flip out over it and say it was amazing. We need a synth pop revival on par with the garage rock revival of the early 2000s.
7/10
For a band that is quintessentially 80s, this was a very good album that went beyond Take On Me. Aside from their biggest hit I enjoyed the variety of music on here. The first half is a lot better than the second half with songs Train of Thought shining through.
A classic album that stands the test of time. Melodic harmonies and soaring vocals. Like time travel back to the 80s
You're just a shit Duran Duran, shit Duran Duran, shit Duran Durrraaaannnn. Actually that's not true, I enjoyed this, I'm a sucker for well crafted '80s pop. And Take On Me innit, stone cold classic.
Some classic singles on this album. Great start with 'Take on Me' and a great finish with 'Here I Stand and Face the Rain'.
Much more than "take on me"
One of the best albums I listened to in my rotation.
Take on me is good.
Enjoyable enough. 7/10
Pretty solid! "Take on Me" is one of the best pop songs ever made as far as I'm concerned. There's some other pretty good songs on here as well. "The Sun Always Shines on TV" is great, though I prefer the much more recent live, acoustic version. Overall, definitely glad I listened to it.
i actually really liked this album! i thought the singing was very fun and a good vibe overall. loved it.
Where would the 80's be without a-ha
Solid Album very groovy and catchy I can see why it sold so much lolz
Energetic ProtoDream Pop, honestly Take On Me is overrated compared to the rest of the album.
4.5 Nunca había escuchado el álbum, pero Take on Me es una de mis mejores canciones de todos los tiempos. Después de escuchar el disco entendí por qué vendió tantas copias a nivel mundial, aún así hubo un par de canciones que no me atraparon del todo. Además, Take on Me le da puntos extras y es injusto comparar su nivel con el resto de las canciones
Some great songs, brings back memories.
Catchy, melancholy synth-pop tragedy
Great 80s hits, especially take on me.
Take on me is so good! And some of the others are great 80s pop hits too
pretty good. ofc take on me is good. but the sun always shines on tv was amazing and added to playlist v
Take On Me is a tune 😂 classic. Reminds me of playing GTA Vice City on PS2 when I was like 14. STYG covered this too. You'd have to be pretty cold hearted to not like this kinda 80's music, it's upbeat and feelgood. Defo a 4.
80s. A-ha. What's not to like.
A childhood landmark. The Sun Always Shines on TV is grossly under appreciated.
Take on Me is the GOAT of the album, and for it being a "pop" album it doesn't stick to a general formula, props on that
Good 80s album, but on their own, only the title track stands out from the rest of the songs
I liked this one quite a bit, especially the opening track, "Take on Me". Very 80s.
Take on Me. Aww ye. Everything else is the kinda weird but kinda cool 80’s vibe
i'm pretty forgiving when it comes to ham and cheese. tho i also believe it's a legit good album.
Lekker eighties album met vrolijke vibe. En natuurlijk de klassieker take on me
Really fun listening to other songs by aha other than take on me. They are really good and im surprised i've never heard the other songs on this album
What a fun album-- love it.
Good 80s pop with a mystery sound
not bad
Dad loves this album lol. This is super synthy and sounds pretty modern compared to stuff like DARE or Pet Shop Boys. I definitely see a ton of parallels with this and some stuff that’s come out in the last decade. The vocals are interesting. Some Chris Isaac-y vocals here and there, some really nice harmonies on a couple tunes
This was really fun, and a bit uneven. The Sun Always Shines on T.V. is awesome.
If you were a kid in the 80s, that music video was etched in your mind. It was and is extraordinary. That alone puts this album here. The rest of this album was ok, but not always as interesting.
Pretty much what you'd expect of a mid 80's synthpop album with powerhouse vocals. Take on Me is the highlight and The Sun Always Shines on T.V. is a close second. 3/5
Olihan tällä levyllä muitakin hyviä biisejä kuin superhitti Take On Me. Soundit olivat megakasaria, mutta se ei kauheasti haitannut. Aika kiva pop-levy, mutta ei mikään merkkiteos. Tältä 1001-listalta ei taida löytyä montaa pohjoismaalaista levyä, mutta kiva että edes jotain on huolittu mukaan.
Take on me is one of the most iconic pop songs of all time. But the rest of the album is far less iconic, haha. Or should I say a-ha?
I liked this album. It was less one-note than I thought it would be after the first two tracks. There were some songs that I really enjoyed on here, would listen again.
vocals.
Quality synth pop with no skips.
Some real bangers, some dross!
Aside from the (controversial) fact that I am not a fan of “Take On Me”, I expected to enjoy this - but by God is it violently 80s, to the point it has not aged well. “Hunting High and Low” and “The Sun Always Shines on TV” (which I’ve always preferred to “Take On Me”) are the clear standouts, as is, I suppose “Take On Me”. The rest is all filler that never gets close to reaching the heights of the aforementioned tracks; the closest that I came to actually enjoying another track was the last one. This is probably a 2.5* album, but the tracks I do like, I really do like - so it gets a 3.
Pleasant album but beyond their hit not much to be memorable, certainly not essential. Some of the other songs *almost* stood out - maybe The Blue Sky. Also, add another star if you really like 80s synth.
Honestly, kind of iconic 80s right here
This is not the best a-ha album but I get why the album with the big songs (Take On Me, The Sun Always Shines On TV, and the title track) was chosen. Overall it's an okay debut album - The Sun Always Shines on TV is a true banger for the ages and probably in my top ten of all-time greatest pop songs - but the production side is a touch weak and there are too many fillers. Straight afterwards I put on their second album - Scoundrel Days - and was reminded of what a truly underrated band they are. Somewhere between U2 and Depeche Mode but Scandinavian. Morten Harket's voice is immaculate.
16/06/2026 I feel I was slightly disappointed with this. With such a strong opener, it started falling apart not long after. Spotify listeners: 23.1 million
Reminds me of Tears for Fears first album. Pleasant but not a lot of depth.
Good, listenable album. Take on Me is obviously an all timer.
This was my first time hearing this album in its entirety, and I was surprised to find didn't hate it. Aside from the first song (which most folks of a certain age have heard too many times), it had a thoroughly 80s euro-pop-electronica sound that wouldn't stand out in a crowd of their contemporaries, but was a fine for a throwback Thursday. That doesn't mean that I feel the need to ever return to it, but it exceeded my relatively low expectactions, and happy enough to reward it with a 3/5.
Take on me is a classic
The three hits are massive, the rest ok
A solid pop album with a couple of killer singles.
sounds like a-ha, not mvoed either way
Thrilled. They have one of my favorite song exploders for take on me but I’ve never listened to anything else! Very good album cover energy. Also a good example of a the category of band names I never knew despite knowing the song so well (eg who sings What’s Up?). Quintessential 80s vibe I think. Fun little listen for a drive to the airport to fetch Allison
Not as bad as we feared.
Enjoyed this more than I thought I would. It's very clearly of its time but you can really hear industrial rock roots and some of the beats are great
This was so very 80s and had a lot of heart. I like how unrestrained it feels. Take On Me is so great, and The Sun Always Shines on TV grabbed me too. The rest was a good enough time to enjoy the album!
The hit makes the album
No lo he llegado a terminar pero me lo ha dado
That was the album everyone listened to when I was in my twenties. I thought the hits on the album were pretty nice, but a bit too saccharine. I did listen to the rest of it once, but I found it boring. Nothing has changed in that regard. 3/5
This album suprised me slightly. Classic 80s ballads a bit. But i liked the one about dreaming
Take on me carries but the rest is ok
Très 80s codé, presque trop pour moi (c’est pour dire)
meh
Typical 80s synth-pop. Aside from the smash hit Take On Me it's fairly meh. But as far as this genre goes it's not terrible. I'll be charitable and give it a 3.
Great album with several very popular songs. This really reminds me of the eighties and that type of music. Even the guys hair on the cover is super eighties. The less popular songs are pretty good too and I think this is the first time I have ever heard them. This might actually be one that I would listen to again sometime.
You danced straight off the bat to Take on me, it’s a banger, the rest of the album skirts around it but can’t really top it. It’s fun though and worth a listen and a boogie
2 Great songs carry this entire album but man, Take on Me is an all time great
Another Sinop album. It only has the song take on me, which is very clearly a one hit wonder. I don’t know why the entire albums on this list but it gets a three because take on me is a good song.
Liked it more than I initially thought I would Standout songs: Hunting High and Low And you Tell me Here I Stand and Face the Rain
Very 80’s sounding. Love the famous song, liked a couple others, but overall hoped to like it better.
ganz solide, take on me ist ein Banger, rest flacht etwas ab.
Take on Me is an undeniable banger, but turns out there's a reason you don't know any of their other songs.
A fun album
A pleasant and twinkling 80s pop record spearheaded by an eternal hit. Not a note or production moment out of place, which resulted in an enjoyable listening experience that didn’t stick to me.
not just a take on me button! i really like songs 1 and 3, and songs 7 and 9 have some moments that tickle my brain
So much more than just take on me! Good listen all the way through. It also helps that I’ve been in an 80s music mood for the last year.
Some very popular songs on this album, and I would say that there were 3 that I liked. The rest were meh.
"Take On Me" has grown on me over the years. used to find it kinda annoying, but it's a hit. the rest of this album I thought was fine. in the moment I enjoyed some of the drum and synth programming, but most of it washed over me and didn't stick.
Has 2 hit songs but 1 is such a classic it makes up for the rest of the album. Ofcourse its everybody wants to rule the fin world
A proper sentimental album for me, it was the soundtrack to a lot of car journeys with my parents when i was little. Listening with grown up ears i do still love a lot of it but Love is reason was way too poppy for me and, and you tell me was a bit naff.
Any album that has The Sun Always Shines on TV and Take On Me included is going to be worth a listen. The rest is pretty inoffensive 80’s electro pop. 3.2
One amazing track, a couple of good ones and then the rest of the album is serviceable enough synth pop.
Cool 80s synth-pop, Norway's most successful band. Everyone remembers that video right?
"Take On Me" is such a hit, that I guess this entire album made it on the list. The artist presents a range of moods (e.g. "Hunting High and Low" sets a different tone, more like a classic 80's slow dance tune, than the first two high-energy songs). "The Blue Sky" was probably the most fun song on the whole album IMO.
peruskasari, hittibiisien ulkopuolella olikin aika geneeristä shittiä
Kysymys kai on, että kuinka paljon pisteitä voi saada yhdellä hyvällä biisillä. On se ehkä sen verran legendaarinen että pannaan kolme pinnaa pelkästään sillä. Muut biisit onkin sit melkosta huttua.
Ihan jees kasarimenoa. Paikkapaikoin jopa oikeinkin hyviä biisejä.
An album full of take on me’s would be marvelous indeed. After the second song I thought we had it. Alas.
There are some catchy tunes here but I can't shake the feeling that there is something missing with a lot of these songs that leave them feeling a little limp in the ear hole
the absolute distillation of 80's pop. Maybe I'm an old man yelling at clouds, but this pop sound doesn't ring as hollow, syrupy sweet, and overproduced as modern pop. If one song could lift an entire album, Take On Me is fucking Mr. Universe.
bizarrely racist top reviews for this one
A fun album, but except for take on me, I kinda struggle to see why this is such an important album. Just feels like a decent 80s pop-album.
Not as much of a wasteland as I thought it would be, some okay tunes. Nothing outside of the smash hit grabbed me though.
Love 'Take On Me', but a whole album was too much for me.
80s synth pop. Singles are the best part of this album. The other tracks are sub-par.
I went into this thinking that I was in for a classic one hit wonder experience. I was proven wrong: there are many 80s bangers on here that are just pure fun. 6/10
Moody and echoy synthpop, quasi-operatic vocals over often weirdly jaunty drums. „take on me“ is such a fantastic song… i really liked „the blue sky“ too but the vocals and lyrics on „living in a boy‘s adventure tale“ were a bit bathetic
Fun 80s pop! Of course I already knew their big hit "Take On Me" but I enjoyed rest of album as well.
A few hits, some are miss. Good 80s vibe
First track is ubiquitous with some truly high points throughout the track listing. Lulled a bit in the middle and outside a group setting I probably wouldn’t revisit
epitome of 80s tis a fun album first heard the start of this album on vine. iykyk. and if you don't know.. uncultured. favorite song: take on me
The first three tracks punch well above their weight. More impressive still that it was the group's first album.
The big hit(s) from the album are all you need to listen to
This is exactly what you think it is. Influence 3. Hits 4. Quality 4. Intangibles 2. If I ever find the inventor of the synth, Imma go back in time and murder him 2.
Take On Me is an incredible song, unfortunately it's so good that everything else on this album feels utterly unimpressive. Unless you're a huge a-ha fan, there's not much of a reason to listen to this album. It's not bad, it just peaks with the first song and never comes close to matching that quality again.
Starts with the banging "Take On Me" which is probably the peak of the album and, as I've noted before, I struggle with albums who blow their creative load right off the bat.
"Take on Me" is one of the greatest songs ever and single-handedly brings this up several notches. The rest of the album is all pleasant, but I would not consider this quintessential new wave listening.
Ignorando take on me porque ya está re choteada, es un buen álbum, aunque las últimas canciones no me encantaron
synthpopsito rico. en su registro grave en rola después de take on me el wey sonaba como el david bowie ochentero y me sacó de pedo
Very pleasant. Fun without being intrusive.
Decent enough. The song Hunting High and Low really stood out
nice enough
Pure 80’s synth gold
-getragen -nicht schlecht
This album is so very 80s pop. It’s all decent, but I see why take on me was the big and only hit out of the bunch.
This sounds like most 80s music from this genre. That’s not bad, but everyone was doing it. They capture it well. It takes me back for sure. It doesn’t stand up against the test of time, but nothing does.
smart to open with Take on Me but they quickly squander a hit by following up with your pretty bog standard 80's music. Thing is, they are pretty good at it, although it just doesnt rise to the level of the opening track. Listen to it once, get your fill of synth, and shelve it.
Only on here for Take On Me… which IS a good song but the rest of the album is completely forgettable. Very 80s but you can definitely live your whole life and never listen to this one
Take On Me is an all time banger. There were a couple of other tracks I enjoyed too but nothing nearly as good as Take On Me.
Never heard any a-ha songs outside of “Take on Me.” Now I know why.
I am sure everyone and their parents are familiar with just how big of a deal A-Ha is due to their instantly recognizable opener Take On Me, but what you probably didn't know is how much of a sleeper hit this project is. This Australian band may not have gotten the commercial appeal this project was deserving as a whole at the time, but now 40 years later I feel it is worthy of some re-review for being a pretty solid and of its' time Synthpop release. I was quite impressed by how many other tracks here grabbed my attention like the title track Hunting High and Low, The Sun Always Shines On T.V. and Train of Thought. It is unfortunate how everything else seems to live in Take On Me's shadow as nothing else here hits the same vocal high notes, quality of songwriting, or even level of instrumentation shown off. It is quite the beast of a track and it is hard to not compare everything else on the album to it as you start to wonder how they drifted so far away from the quality for the rest of the 33 minutes of music here, but alas it just doesn't have the answers. Hunting High and Low is an under-appreciated album for its' time, but now is seen as more of a relic of a past time and not much else.
Overall Rating - 3.20/5 (6.40/10). Very 1980's synth pop. This is another one of those albums that sounds like its time.
The strength of this album is a couple of soaring songs -- Take On Me and Hunting High and Low. The downside is that it's so steeped in the sound of its time. By the end it's an overdose of 80s synthpop. But there was always more to a-ha than Take On Me. Here and there an acoustic guitar or actual drums break through, enriching the sound. Similarly, there are a couple interesting songs beyond the big singles, Train of Thought in particular, where the lyrics are more distinctive. Hints of the growth the band would exhibit on future albums.
Unpopular opinion: "The Sun Always Shines On TV" is better than "Take On Me."
Obviously the first track is an absolute banger but the rest is just mid
There is a reason these guys were a one hit wonder, but that one hit is a damn good song.
Not bad, but the other songs aren't as good as Take on Me.
I don't need to get into the legacy of "Take On Me" as it's self-explanatory. The single is also conveniently located at the top of the album, so just listen and enjoy! (check out the music video too, as it's one of the greatest of all time) The rest of the album is a pretty clean, synth-pop production, standard for the mid-80's I guess. "The Sun Always Shines on T.V." was the other notable song to me, pairing Waaktaar's guitar with some operatic synths. It's a wonder why that single didn't do as well in the US.
Had quite a lot of 80s synth already on this list, and as a whole package I didn't think this album was a particular standout. It was pretty pleasant to listen to, the vocals are good, and the music itself is fairly enjoyable, but a whole album of it gets very samey. However, a lot of people are calling out "Take On Me" as the "only hit" or the "only good song", which is just untrue, not least because "The Sun Always Shines on TV" also reached No. 1, and frankly, there's other very good tracks on the album, like the title track "Hunting High and Low". It hasn't turned me into an a-ha superfan, but it was an enjoyable listen; respectable album, with a few high spots. High 3.
great voice and lovely production, occasionally a little boring structurally but this is what synthpop instrumentally should sound like high 3
I vibed, I jammed. It's nice, but it's not ground breaking for the 80s.
3/5 It's fine! I liked it, but I gotta give it an indifferent 3/5 because it wasn't really special. Take on me is a classic though.
This was the first time I had ever heard any of this bands music aside from "Take on me." I really enjoyed the other songs (the single is obviously great) and enjoyed the variety especially as the bulk were more "soulful" than I would have ever expected.
Decent enough. There’s “take on me” and then a bunch of other stuff
Have I listened to this album before? No How familiar am I with this album? I know Take on Me How do I feel about this artist? I like Take on Me Favorite song(s)? Take on Me, Sun Always Shines on TV Overall Thoughts: I liked this one. I generally enjoy 80's New Wave stuff so I am not surprised. a-Ha is not a band from that era that I am super familiar with outside of their biggest hit, but I liked listening to more of their stuff on here. Dragged a bit towards the end.
Okay, very 80s. I didn't realize they were from Norway
This is better than I thought it would be
It's a shame it starts with Take On Me. Although it has some great songs, it just loses its momentum. Nevertheless, this is a pretty good record, I have no bad comment about it. All the songs are fun.
Favorite tracks: Take on Me, Hunting High and Low, The Blue Sky Some great tunes and catchy hooks on this one, very cool synth choices as well.
Take On Me is a great song but I imagine that's the nostalgia talking. The rest has that 80s sound which isn't really for me.
Real pros take their best song, make it the first song on the album, and make the title of that song the name the album. If you have another okay song, have it lead off the second side, but that is just extra. a-ha didn’t execute that plan to perfection but came fairly close with this record. Not bad for a bunch of weejuns. I think “None of the other songs are as good as ‘Take on Me’!” is pretty weak criticism given that “Take on Me” is one of the all time great singles of the decade. I was fine with hearing the rest of the less good songs on an album with that strong of a lead off track. They were still pretty decent. Do you need to hear this album, probably not, but it didn’t make my day any worse.
I was mistaken when I called yesterday’s Tina Turner album “the most 80s thing ever”
One of the 80s most distinctive voices., paired with a strong bass and haunting synths … what Morten could you ask for … a fair bit more . Great 80 s pop album that is unfortunately a little forgettable.
Album #71 A-Ha: Hunting High and Low I can already sense some snideness towards this album, not only is it the personification of cheesy 80s European synthesizer pop, but it is also an album from a band which most people consider to be a one-hit wonder. However, this album and this band have a lot more to them than that. They may not have quite the catalogue that their Swedish peers ABBA have, but A-Ha do Norway proud when it comes to releasing worldwide pop hits. Take on Me speaks for itself; it doesn’t matter if the song and music video have been played to death, it is still one of those magic songs that transcends culture and speaks to the soul. In my opinion, this album has no real misses. Every song sounds mystical; much like their music videos, these songs create such a sense of wonder. I love how their Europeanness comes out through their lyrics. The title “Little Boys Adventure Tale” seems kind of awkward for a native English speaker, yet it’s quirks like that that, for me, add to the uniqueness of this album. I’m really happy with this inclusion on the list, I’m not going to try and argue that it is a perfect album, or the best of the 80s; but an album with multiple iconic songs, from a nation which is under-represented in the anglosphere, which creates such a unique and youthful feel, in my opinion is worthy of a spot on this list. Best Songs: Take on Me, The Sun Always Shines On T.V, Hunting High and Low Worst Song: I Dream Myself Alive Score out of 10: 7.5
2.5
Ok the 1st song is the highlight
p531. 1985. 3 stars. Classy 80s electro pop with one genuine classic and a terrific voice, but far too much filler to repay repeat listens. A perfect example of being at the right place at the right time, with razor sharp cheekbones and dodgy haircuts. On the plus side, it's short.
Some of the songs on this album (Take on Me, The Sun always Shines on TV) are so embedded in the collective memory that they are hard to judge. I'm going to say, these songs are absolute pop perfection. Are they the summum or artistry or musicianship? Very definitely not, but they are unpretentious and make be happy. The vocals are actually great IMO. The rest of the album is mostly filler, unfortunately. I recently listened to Prince (1999) and The Rolling Stones (Let it Bleed). Different genres but the same thing - a few nice hits and lots of very average songs.
80s as fuck
Great singles and good album tracks. High 3.
Enjoyable 80s pop , that surprisingly works as an album beyond the two main singles
Hooks galore, outstanding singles, entertaining throughout
This album perfectly captures sophisticated 1980s synth pop at its most glamorous. Itchy beats, bright, extroverted synths and vocals that yearn for connection in a slightly detached, otherworldly way. The two singles are huge, but there are plenty of other stand out moments, such as The Blue Sky’s hypnotic, overlapping vocals.
This is definitely good. Take on Me is of course the best song on here, but there are other strong contenders, like The Sun Always Shines on TV, Love is Reason and Here I Stand the Rain. It’s Duran Duran without the obvious hit potential
Sure, the three guys from Oslo landed an enormous hit with 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗢𝗻 𝗠𝗲, complete with one of the most memorable music videos ever. And 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗻 𝗔𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗧.𝗩. proved it wasn’t a one-off. But beyond those peaks, 𝘏𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘓𝘰𝘸 feels a bit underwhelming. It’s a polished synth-pop debut with moments of real charm, yet as a whole it never quite matches the excitement of its biggest singles. A decent album — just not a particularly compelling one.
Every song on this album is fighting a battle between being ridiculously fun and unbearably corny. Ultimately, it splits mostly down the middle. Favorite Songs: “Take on Me”, “Hunting High and Low”, “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” Least Favorite Song: “And You Tell Me” High 3.
1st song is a classic, the rest is forgettable, nothing offensive, nothing that interesting.
Het album opent gelijk met de grootste hit, dan hebben we die oorwurm tenminste maar gehad. Het is wel weer overduidelijk in welk decennium we zitten, met alle synths en drumcomputers. Dit is wel op (en soms over) de top van de 80s. Ondanks die laag van 80s drek, zitten wel prima liedjes moet ik zeggen. Het is uiteraard iets te theatraal aangezet, dat hoorde nu eenmaal bij de stijl en de tijd. Het helpt dat er wat hitjes op staan, er is redelijk veel herkenning. Dus ook hier kom ik prima doorheen. Het is af en toe iets teveel nagels op het krijtbord om er 4 sterren voor te geven, maar een degelijke onvergeetbare 3 sterren is het wel waard.
One incredible track cannot lift this album past midness. Top tracks: "Take on Me," "Hunting High and Low"
--Take on Me...heh, pretty lame, right? who could possibly like this garb---IN A DAY OR TWOOOOOOOOOOOO! --Train of Thought...I enjoy the rapid fire bass --Hunting High and Low...some nice sounds but weak overall --The Blue Sky...enjoyable sugar --Living a Boy's Adventure Tale...80s synth ballad #287 --The Sun Always Shines on T.V....production elevates it but not a great song --And You Tell Me...an interesting, short, sparkly diversion --Love is Reason...cheesy but fun --I Dream Myself Alive...I enjoy Furuholmen's bass programming --Here I Stand and Face the Rain...melodrama
Just cant match the energy of take on me. 2.7/5
FUN