Reviews (page 3 of 9)
Probably not quite five stars on the merits, but you can’t beat the nostalgia.
A very enjoyable album. I like their unique sound, their vocals and their lyrics. Fun!
Solid europop and synthpop album
2 and a half good songs, or was it 3 and a quarter? Fun singles!
Pure 80’s synth gold
Standouts Take On Me
The 80s!
Heerlijk ❤️
-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.
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 :)
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.
Didn’t hold up for me, after the first song.
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.
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" 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.
Take On Me is timeless. The rest of this album is forgettable.
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.
yeah
Starting the album with the strongest track is never a wise decision... Just the typical radio-friendly 80's electro-pop. Nothing special.
One hit wonder. The rest is meh
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."
Good singles, bad rest of album.
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.
Obviously the first track is an absolute banger but the rest is just mid
pretty fun, take on me is a classic
This is what the real 80’s sounded like. You may think us teens were listening to cool and moody Smiths and Joy Division albums. And we were but turn on the radio during the day or watch a music tv show (there was no MTV back then). It was wall to wall garbage like this. Or watch some horrid American movie starring Michael J Fox or Tom Cruise and there’d be a scene of them running or skateboarding or just being arrogant and drum beats and synth stabs would accompany them while Huey Lewis or Simon Le Bon or Morten Harket butchered meaningless lyrics. I had forgotten what a half-assed rotten singer aha had. Garbles every line then goes falsetto for now reason. The hits - Take on Me, Sun Shines on TV are as excruciating as I recall them. But there’s a real drop off from the hits to the rest of the tracks. Do you remember the Most Mysterious Song On the Internet? A song so unloved it go one play on German radio then forgotten, well it sounds like an Aha filler track.
Guy has impressive vocal range, the first song is a classic, and the rest can’t live up to those aspects and it’s generally a generic synth-pop blur of unmemorableness.
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 was excited to revisit this one as it’s something I pretty much took two singles from and never really listened to the rest that much. The Sun Always Shines on TV is still my favorite track, but the rest of the album had plenty of synth-pop appeal. Morten Harket has one of the best voices in pop music and his range is on display throughout. Almost every track here could have been a single (and I gather half of them actually were). Somehow, Take On Me has never lost its appeal for me despite its ubiquity. It might never become an all-time favorite but I think I’ll be returning for more complete listens in the future.
Take On Me is still a fun song, but the rest of the album was unimpressive.
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
Not really memorable at all. Take on me is a classic though
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.
do not like the hit at all. no need for any of this when there's New Order. music: hated. (⌐■_■)
I enjoyed this just fine, but it really suffered from having The Song be the first track, and then not having anything as strong as The Song for the rest of the album. For all my complaining about the repetitiveness of this list, I’ve enjoyed the dense exposure to new wave. If this were one of few new wave albums, I would score it higher. But now I know there’s a lot more stuff out there that’s similar but better.
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.
80’s Pop ⭐️The Sun Always Shines on T.V.
There's Take on Me Also, I'm partly Danish. But then there's not so much else to really cling myself on to.
Started strong, but the energy didn't stay. Unfortunately the first track was too good for the album and the drop was very much noticeable. The only other song apart from Take on Me that had any energy to keep me interested was The Sun Always Shines on T.V. Wasn't BAD but just uninteresting after the banger of a start.
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 liked this a lot more then I expected. Some pretty interesting songs.
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.
We all know why this album is here. The track is worthy of it obviously. But the rest of the album is simply not essential listening
Decent enough. There’s “take on me” and then a bunch of other stuff
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.
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
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
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.
Brilliant 80s Norwegian magic
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.
Didn't like this album then, didn't care for it now...
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
on est sur 2 jours de suite de bangers là. aoat (album of all times)
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
mwahhh
2.5
Ok the 1st song is the highlight
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.
Hey Ah-Ha, the 80s called and wants its music back!” “Hello, 1980s? This is Ah-Ha speaking. I’m returning your call regarding the music?” “Ah-Ha! Yes, thank you for getting back to me. This is all rather embarrassing. Well, frankly I had a bit too much to drink last night, and I was in a mood of reminisce. I thought of you and how it pains me that we have lost touch. And, well, I wanted you to know how much I value your contribution, your place in it all. I wouldn’t be here without you. Maybe this is too little too late, but please, accept the sincere gratitude of an old, sentimental fool.” “It’s all water under the bridge, 1980s. I truely appreciate your kind words.” Four days later, TMZ reported that the 1980s was found dead in its LA mansion, surrounded by empty bottles of drano.
I just don't like 80s synth pop that much. Take On Me is a banger tho fr.
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.
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
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
This didn't do much for me and I wasn't all that fond of the hit single even back in the day. I'll be hunting high and low for a better album.
Fantastic bit of music
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.
Memories of when “Take On Me” (the only half decent song on this album) would always play on my old school iPod because a-ha was my first artist in alphabetical order.
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.
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.
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
2/5
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
1st song is a classic, the rest is forgettable, nothing offensive, nothing that interesting.
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.
Tááááááááááááke on me. Wat een draak van een nummer. Die verlengde-lettergrepen-allergie van me, speelt hier flink op. De typische jaren '80 klanken zijn totaal niet interessant en de vrolijke toon maakt me alles behalve vrolijk. Nee, niet mijn smaak. Dit nummer is een soort uitvergroting van de rest van het album. De rest valt me daardoor eigenlijk wel mee. Maar goed, dat is daardoor allemaal weer een stuk saaier. Ergens is het ook wel knap. Vrij bombastische muziek als in Hunting high and low toch slaapverwekkend kunnen maken. Maar voor die kunde deel ik geen sterren uit.
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.
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.
Notable Textzeile: But you can't deny There's something dark against the light All I can say It doesn't have to be this way Mit das Beste des 80er-Pop auf dieser Liste. Macht es das großartig? Nein, dagegen steht der Grundsound mit den Synthiestreichern und den Drummachine Drums. Aber große Hits, lustige Variationen und einzigartige Stimme. Wenn es nicht so viel nicht so gutes dieser Art gäbe, wäre die Bewertung höher.
10/10
Нарешті. Нарешті, щось цікаве і від чого можна отримати задоволення. Єдине це не дуже гарна ідея ставити свою найкращу пісню першою, якби вона була в середині це склало б більше вау враження.
2/5 Tem Take On Me, mas é só isso mesmo.
Can’t help but feel like this was included on the list for one track.
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
Day762 - take on me, sun always shines on tv, hunting high and low this is more than a one hit wonder and it would be album of the year in a lot of years that’s not 1985.
Wow, I did not expect this to suck so much
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
Take On Me is such a strong opener, the rest didn't really measure up
Love Take on Me. Rest was fine. 2.5
Production is very slick, classic 80s pop sound, synth sounds are great, doesn't do much for me otherwise.
I don't think I've ever listened to anything but the one hit song on this album. It was pretty good.
I’ve absolutely nothing against Aha. Quite the opposite. “Take on me” is a classic and I like their James Bond tune for “The Living Daylights” but most of this sounds like lightweight Duran Duran. Sorry lads.
If purely being rated on hair this would be a 5 star album. The hit singles and the nostalgia it invokes in me ups the rating I would have otherwise given to this slice of 80’s pop.
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.
Take on me is a classic but a lot of the album sounded kinda pretentious. I also wish there was more variety, like some more ballads or slow songs. I thought The Sun Always Shines on TV stated really cool, but then the drum machine came in and it sounded like every other song on the album
Can we just take a second to recognize just how fucking good "Take On Me" is? I know it's an enormously popular song that everyone knows, but dude, it's such a fuckin' good song. Just does the damn thing all the way and gives you everything you could ask for. This albums really not bad, albeit 80s as the fuck. Much of the songs feel like they're pulling together different things that were popular at the time. Like it's not as overtly synth-heavy any more than much of the other music out at the time (though it's like totally synth-driven all the way). What I'm saying is "Take On Me" is very anthemic and synth-forward, and there are some other synthier tracks, but I feel like most of the music here might be generally more like how Eurythmics sounded at the time, like using synths but doing whole compositions. I used to love "Living a Boy's Adventure Tale" when I was a kid and it still hits. The last song "Here I Stand and Face the Rain" is also really good, like for real.
Well what an opening track! Some other good songs on the album, gotta love 80s synth.
As their debut album, I don't think they knew how much of a banger the first song turned out to be. It outshined the entire album. The song carried the entire album lol that being said, a solid three because one sing carried the album. Other songs aren't really memorable for me to make an opinion.
Take On Me a catchy song with a really cool music music. Frankly the music video was ahead of it's time when it dropped and while it's actually a classic I consider it to be influential. This album though...not great.
Love that one song!
2 1/2 Stars: Take on Me is a banger. The rest of the album...not so much. There's a few elevated tracks, but it's mostly forgettable middling music. Curious why it's even in this collection.
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.
Definitely an era. 80s pop synth extravaganza. Surprised I did not know any other songs since “Take me on” was such a big hit. Nothing else really grabbed me.
Aha- take on me is a 5 but the rest of the album is a 2. I can’t really tell explain what I didn’t like about it. Some cool synth parts and some parts reminded me of Durran Durran but couldn’t really get into it.
Some of the elements are cool but it never really takes off. With his voice/synths/drums and all the 80s tropes i feel like this should be way more fun than it is, but kinda feels forgettable.
Every song kinda starts out cool but falls flat after 20-30 seconds.
I think I’ve heard enough 80s pop to know that I’m not missing anything I haven’t already heard. Save for Tears for Fears and the Cure
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.
Very 1980’s in mood and tone, smiths-lite in parts. Ok
80's synth pop, everything I don't like 1/29/2026
Meer 80s kan niet
Yikes man. I was really hoping Take on Me wasn’t their only listenable track. It is. Choice cut: Take on Me
Some pretty basic new wave. They had one hit, should have kept it to that. Gets a 2 for said hit.
One of the better synthwave offerings, with at least a decent singer. Self-derivative though.
4.5/5 awesome album with many fun tunes
Ça fait définitivement bouger la tête, pas de doute là dessus. Maintenant c'est un peu trop 80s cliché à mon goût. Donc sympa mais sans plus. L'album surprend par quelques moments assez experimentaux mais globalement je trouve que ça suit vachement une recette et on peut se lasser assez vite pour une écoute qui n'est pas si longue.
The 80s section of this app is always going to be a,struggle for me I think. I just dont get the vibe
In my public speaking class in high school we had to present a song by speaking the lyrics and having the class guess the song. I ended up choosing Take On Me- which no one guessed. It was quite sad actually. Regardless, as an album experience, this doesn’t fully deliver. It checks the boxes of having a cohesive sound, decent pacing, and conciseness. Still, I found the project to be underwhelming.
Felt like I was in the slow parts of The Carrie Diaries.
Monster single and not much else happening.
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.
Nothing tops Take On Me, but fun synth pop
this album was good. Every one know Take on me but I liked some of the other tracks on there too. I'll give it 3 stars.
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
Strong start but the rest of the album was aight
Bands like this are what caused my friends and I to use "pop" as a pejorative term.
Hello, fellow American expecting an album of "Take on Me". Uggg, that track is absolute pop perfection; catchy enough to power a small city. Then the rest of the record shows up and just sort of sits there. It’s not terrible, just incredibly uneven. Spins: 1 Playlist Additions - Take on Me - Hunting High and Low - The Sun Always Shines on T.V.
Yeah, apart from the obvious track this is just a Smiths clone. Probably better at the time, but pretty average today.
Insanely repetitive. I thought the other reviews were exaggerating, boy was I wrong.
i'm soooooo over 80s music, but this is solid i guess
Easy listening
This is a pretty epic vibe. Just awesome production, peak 80s. That being said, I found myself a little bored somehow. Maybe this one needs another try on some good speakers. But also just not my favorite kind of love songs
For a band that accidentally conquered the world with a single rubber-limbed video, Hunting High and Low is more polished than profound. a-ha’s debut is pure mid-’80s synth-pop: sleek, icy, and meticulously programmed, but emotionally distant in ways that go beyond Scandinavian reserve. Morten Harket’s helium-clean tenor floats above glossy keyboards and rigid drum machines, selling romantic melodrama that sometimes collapses under its own earnestness—especially when the lyrics trip over awkward phrasing (“Love Is Reason” feels like a phrase lost in translation). Still, when the trio hit their stride, the hooks are undeniable. “Take on Me” opens the album with a rush of neon adrenaline, its stuttering synth riff still an immortal earworm. The title track starts as a lush, Roxy Music-style swoon before mutating into a full-blown Bond-theme power ballad, complete with storm-cloud drama. And “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” unexpectedly bangs, its minor-key tension giving the album a jolt of grit. Hunting High and Low isn’t deep, but it’s impeccably coiffed pop—built for MTV rotation and teenage bedrooms, even if it rarely ventures past its glossy surface.
Some great hits on this, production is flawless and vocals are great, some songs not up to the standards of other maybe, but a good listen
A fantastic opener that really stood the test of time. Quite interesting to read how it took so many attempts at recording & releasing for it to finally have an impact. The rest of the album was ok, synth pop isn’t a genre I’d listen to by choice, but it’s certainly not bad.
Some good songs, but poor
A-HA marco una epoca con sus exitos. Y este disco contiene varios de ellos. Ideal para una tarde de nostalgia.
Not for me. Take on me is still a jam
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.
A very good pop album, but nothing more.
It’s ok 80s electro-pop. There’s a reason why the only a-ha songs anyone knows are Take On Me and The Sun Always Shines On TV.
It's a fine album. Iconic first track and some solid musical stylings.
Albums from one-hit wonders are always a funny mix - songs that inevitably end up feeling like rough drafts, rehearsals, first takes, knock offs, or siblings/cousins of the anthem. This follows the script...but Take on Me is such a mega-hit and really stands up despite the overplay, hyper commercialization, endless parodies and use as shorthand for cheesy 80s mass culture. The rest is pillowy synth pop, all neon moods, glossy surfaces with dark undertones, and the jarring juxtaposition of earnest crooning with totally artifical instrumentation from the synths to the drum machines and produced to death bass sounds. The sound of the spirit become ensconsed in the digital cocoon, and at once lamenting and delighting in it.
Peak 80's synth pop. Very vanilla, but exactly what you expected. Take on Me is the best song here, but the rest aren't absolute trash.
”Take On Me” is one of my least favourite classic songs but I think overall the album is pretty solid.
++: And You Tell Me +: Train of Thought, Here I Stand and Face the Rain +-: Take On Me, The Blue Sky, Living a Boy's Adventure Tale, The Sun Always Shines on T.V. -: Hunting High and Low, Love Is Reason, I Dream Myself Alive 3,3/10
Don’t usually like 80s synth pop but it was fun! Probably wouldn’t return to it but glad I listened
Take on me is great but the rest wasn’t
Now I know why we’ve only ever heard take on me
MIIIIINE DIIIIAAAMOOOONNNNDSS
Listened Before: No I feel like this guy is dying to be Morrisey...I liked The Sun Always Shines on TV & Love Is Reason. 3/5
I liked this it was kind of fun.
One amazing song and then the rest of an album of ho-hum stuff. Not bad, but not exciting.
I didn’t love this album, it felt very one-note to me. It has a very melancholy vibe to it that don’t seem to let up as the album went on. I probably won’t listen to it in its entirety again.
170/1089 a-ha were/are Norwegian?! now it all makes sense Hunting High and Low by Emmelie De Forest is a cover?! feel like i must’ve known that before but it was still a surprise this time I get the criticisms that Take On Me perhaps set the bar too high but i feel like the rest of the album isn’t really trying to replicate that but rather build around it so it works for me faves: basically all except Train of Thought and And You Tell Me. If I had to choose maybe Living…, Here I Stand…, The Blue Sky and ToM 82/100
its pretty ballad album, didnt expect.
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
C’est chouette ! La voix est cool
Gros banger, iconique Take on Me!
kinda loved it, veryyyy classic 80s new wavey/ synthpop stuff 7/10
It was exactly what i expected an a-ha album to sound like.
Favs-Take on me, Train of thoughts, Hunting High and Low, Here i stand and face tge rain
Definitely a product of the time. First song is awesome and the hit. After that, they were all interesting!
so 80s
No se puede sonar más ochentero que este disco. El problema es que ha envejecido regular.
A very middling 80's synth-pop album. They are from Norway, they have the one really popular song, that's about it. Not really a fan of Take on me but I did enjoy it this time around. Rest of the album isn't bad but isn't what you couldn't find elsewhere.
One great single and the rest is boring.
No my niche
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
6/10 Best songs: Take on Me, Hunting High and Low, Here I Stand and Face the Rain This album has a very healthy sense of drama - so many songs are about the yearning, desperate kind of love that can only be expressed through judicious use of falsetto. Some songs are absolute bangers, while others sort of fail to take off. Perhaps a little short/shallow for what it's trying to accomplish?
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
Singles und Fahrstuhl
Generic 80s Sounds
3 Hits machen noch kein Album. Nichts für mich zu bieten außer 80s Nostalgia
This album feels about 10 songs longer than it should be
Take On Me always a banger. The rest I couldn’t feel
Take on me is an all timer. The rest is tolerable synth pop
Take on Me is great. The rest is whatever
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.
*1985. *Pretty standard 80s faire - nothing particularly remember other than Take on Me. *It was fine, but wouldn't revisit. RATING - 6.5/10
everyone knows "take on me" the rest of the album didnt do it for me.
I haven’t heard this since 1988. It holds up. Not sure why it’s on this list though.
A few great songs, but then some of the other songs just kinda dragged.
I wanted to love it but in the end I just like it. 1) I had only ever heard “Take On Me,” which is obviously legendary. So I was happy to hear that it’s a new wave album and not twelve different versions of the same thing. 2) But it never quite solidified into anything that felt essential or compelling to me. Not driving enough to be like the new wave I like most, not quirky or spacey enough to be like the synth pop I like most. 3) I appreciated the ideas behind a few of the songs and would be happy to encounter them again, but I don’t think I’ll ever wake up feeling like I have to listen to this album today. It’s too bad because it was close… I might have given it 3.5 or 7/10 on a different scale.
I'm not sure why I'm writing this, it's going to be what I'm sure is the same as every review for this album. The only song I've heard from A Ha before this moment was Take On Me and it's 13957648 different versions and covers. It's a banger. But did that affect my listening experience you might be asking? Yes it did reader. A song that I've experienced so much of my life to was the first track, so it felt like a tough act to follow for the rest of the album. Though there were a bunch of interesting and unique tracks, none of them were as polished as their huge hit to me. Maybe that's on purpose, maybe not. But overall it was worth the listening time
I feel they deserve any talk of One Hit Wonder. 'Take Me On"... and then.... that's to. The remaining album is not as strong. 1 star for the hit and MTV video. of the hit, 1 more for their being an "iconic" band
A-ha! Finally drew a fun album after a string of unfun listens.
honestly boring, I can see why it was popular at the time though but now just feels a little bland, nothing too special, one hit wonder album
Didn't feel timeless.
Pleasantly surprised by the album. Didn't know what to expect beyond Take On Me, but it was pretty good actually.
I know we're all saying the same thing but that album was pleasantly surprising. Putting their undisputed biggest track as the first song on the album is a bold choice. I do wonder how many people turned the record off after Take on Me. But for those who do stick around, there's just some good quintessential 80s synth pop to be enjoyed.
Only really knew a-ha through Take On Me which I've had a bad experience with ever since a kid in my high school was convinced he could hit the falsetto on which he very much could not. It's the sort of thing to sour you on the song, like a bad rendition of My Way or anyone doing American Pie at karaoke. I was pleasantly surprised by this album. It's a pretty solid chunk of synth-pop marble. All radio friendly, nothing crazy ambitious (outside some of the notes they're hitting, which, wow - you really *can't* do that shit, Dylan) but the hooks are solid and it reaches some Roxy Music like heights on tracks like The Sun Always Shines on TV. Good stuff! The back half in particular caught my ear. Favorite Tracks: The Sun Always Shines on TV, And You Tell Me, I Dream Myself Alive
well of course it was good, it has to be! it's a-ha! never listened to an album of theirs in its entirety, but this was good. a worthwhile listened that broadened what i had previously understood.
Yah it’s all downhill after the opener. That’s sorta the problem with creating an all time classic and putting at the front of the album. It’s either gunna sucker people into putting up with the rest or it’s gunna set a standard so high you can’t reach it throughout the rest of the album. Sadly this is the later, it’s just so horribly held up by Take on me. There’s nothing else of note really. The other tracks are either grating or the production just doesn’t hold up and has not aged well. It’s seriously a huge disappointment.
Decent album, obviously Take on me a classic. Train of Thought and Sun always shines on TV stood out. Rest was ok but nothing blew my mind
One I remember from my youth... Sounds a little bit dated nowadays, and Scoundrel Days is probably a better album all round.
Not bad but the 80s reverb-heavy vocals, drum machines and synth sounded a bit samey by the end. I don't think this album has aged very well. Take On Me is fantastic of course, but the next best tracks were good but not great
Take on me is a very familiar song. I love the beat and progression.
Some banger nostalgia tracks but the album is not consistent and hits massive highs but a lot of lows.
3,5
Let's face it, they were never going to have any songs as good as Take On Me, so no real surprises. Passable 80's pop, no real need for this to be on here. Best Tracks: Take On Me; Hunting High and Low; The Sun Always Shines on TV;
Pretty great 80s melodramatic nu wave album. Take on me absolutely iconic. Songs in the middle section show pure emotional intimacy. Leads me to believe this might be a concept album, however those in the 80s took themselves all so seriously that everything was a concept. Not sure I'll return to this one but if i do i might skip the single which is always a good thing.
Will never listen to it again but was good Sunday morning listening
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
Muy bien, Take On Me still slaps, The Sun Always Shines On TV is a highlight. will listen again
Some real bangers mixed with some duds.
Más allá de Take On Me (clásico absoluto), he descubierto un par de canciones interesantes pero el resto son mas olvidables.
One hit wonder albums should not be on this list at all! Ugh. BTW Spotify has absolutely fucked this up using multiple sources for the tracks with different mastering levels. The singles are loud, the album is quiet. Take On Me is pretty all time as a single but the rest of this album is generic sounding and boring mid 80's new wave afterbirth.
Quintessential 80’s sounds. From the vocals to the music. The dance tracks are good, the slow songs were skipable.
Pure 80s magic, and listening to it felt like finding an old high-school cassette I didn’t know I still had. Every song came back to me instinctively, like muscle memory. “Take On Me” is still the best music video ever made.
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
Only included for take on me and at that point why even bother? You WILL hear take on me before you die. You will probably hear it after you die too
Take oooohn meeee. Wer das nicht kennt ist Gen Z . hört es rein zieht es rein.. Lets play de Music
I often wondered why I never heard anything from A-Ha other than Take On Me. Then I listened to the rest of this album and it became abundantly clear.
this is what white peoples were listening to in the 80s
I liked this a lot less than I thought I would.
The album is ok. It's pretty vanilla synth pop. Take on me is a ripping song that the rest of the album can't really live up to.
I assume you're familiar with "Take On Me," one of the all-time great moments of Eighties pop - an undeniable synth riff matched with a soaring falsetto vocal from Morten Harket that immediately cements the song in the Don't Even Think About Attempting That At Karaoke Hall Of Fame. Unsurprisingly, the rest of the band's output on this album doesn't reach those same heights (what could?). But the other singles - particularly "Love Is Reason" and the "The Sun Always Shines on T.V." - showcase much of the same easy, upbeat charm. I'm not sure there's anything deeper than that happening here, especially on some of the more downbeat album tracks, but the collection is mostly fun if nothing else.
The well known songs are ok. The rest is boring
The Sun Always Shines On TV stood out. Take on Me is the obvious song, but everything else I just didn't care for. 2/5
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
Truly couldn't imagine getting home from the store and popping in this album to hear "Take On Me" as track 1 in '85. Makes me wonder if it was an immediate hit or if pop culture made it more of a song now than then.... The rest of the album doesn't really hit the same highs or energy as that but stays consistently entertaining. Didn't expect to learn the origin of "Its Always Sunny in Philadelphia"'s namesake on an A-ha album... The second switch up on "The Sun Always Shines on TV" was a welcomed surprise! Favorite Songs: Take On Me, The Sun Always Shines on TV
5 stars for take on me, 3 stars deducted for the rest
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.
Album voller Emotion und Eleganz! Es vereint Synthpop-Perfektion mit tiefgründiger Melancholie. Neben dem Welthit „Take On Me“ glänzt besonders „The Sun Always Shines on T.V.“ mit dramatischer Intensität und epischem Sound. Jeder Song ist ein atmosphärisches Erlebnis – ein Klassiker, der immer wieder begeistert. 😊
It's almost unfair how good "Take On Me" is, because the rest of this is pretty forgettable 80s stuff to me. That one song though, makes the whole thing worth it. But they really poured it all into just that one song. 2/5.
Listens: 2.5 Standout Tracks: Take on Me Me: Clicks link to album from the generator. Album: Take on Me has been played 2.8 billion times on YTM. Me: What!? How the hell have I never heard of a band that has a song that has been played 2.8 billion times? Me: Listens to song. Ohhhhhh.... ok, I have heard this before. Me: I guess you could say I've had an "a-ha" moment.... Anyways, more new wave trash. Not here for it, not interested in it. This album demonstrates very, very clearly that these guys are the definition of a one-hit wonder. Their next most popular song has 125 million listens. An entire order of magnitude smaller. Crazy. 2 stars because Take on Me is catchy as hell, and so it's not actually too surprising that its so popular.
One of the best Pop songs of the 80s is on here. Over time, Take on Me has become the thing everyone still remembers...and rightly so as it's just a perfect Pop song. But the album it comes from is a gem also. The surprising thing is how much variety there is on this album. It's got a couple of filler tracks (The Blue Sky for example), but the rest is a great listen that actually opens up with repeated listening as there's some depth to it. It's not just takes of Take on Me. The album closer (Here I stand and face the rain) is a cracking tune and leaves you with the distinct impression there's more to come from this band. Ironic as I don't think they ever bettered it. Stands as a good Pop album of the 80s. Solid 3
"Take on Me" has one of the most memorable music videos of all time. And it's a good song. But the rest of the album is pretty mediocre. I'm not sure why it's on this list (except that this project is very biased towards artists that were mainly popular in Britain, and yes, after checking, I see that a-ha was more popular in Britain than elsewhere.) Doesn't belong on the list.
I’ve heard these guys were huge in their native country, so I was hoping we got it wrong in the US to call them a one hit wonder. Unfortunately, I just didn’t hear it. The one song everyone knows is great. The rest of it is pretty “meh” 80s style music.
A lot of filler after their one mega-hit. Very 80’s: simple, one-handed synthesizer, with multiple electronic beats, and repetitive phrases. “Sunny on Television” was a surprise.
This sure is an a-ha album with more songs than Take On Me! The other appealing aspect is the triceps on the singer guy on the album cover. He doesn't skip chest and tris day! 3.5* only because TOM is a great song. Oh, and the triceps.
SO 80s
Great vocals
Other than take me on, this album is pretty forgettable.
Bangers and other stuff... a pretty decent album
One song does not a great record make. It's a great song with a significant legacy, but who cares. Otherwise, this record is a poor man's new wave.
I was there for “Take On Me” and a-ha became my favorite one hit wonder Norwegian band. They went on to get a Bond theme song, so there’s that.
You can easily see why "Take on Me" was such a hit. Interestingly, it's a lot more pop than the rest of this record, which has a much gloomier, synth-y vibe. It's like B-team Depeche Mode. Fine, but not for me.
Classic, Take on Me came from somewhere! Mostly continues on like that for the whole album.
A one-hit wonder new wave band from the 80s? Amazing. Put it on the list boys! As you know, the only thing that qualifies a new wave album's placement here is existence. Starts off with this catchy but annoying Take On Me. I've had to put up with hearing this song since the 90s when I started watching Much Music in Canada because VJs loved the music video. Then a bunch of whiney new wave sop follows. Even compared to other new wave this is terrible. To cap off the album, they did an instrumental version of their one hit, because I guess they realize that's the only reason people bought this album anyway. 1/5
a-ha glad i never bought the album. Cant beleive i wasted my time listening to this one
Take on me is an all timer! The rest of the album tho
I now know why I have only ever heard one song from the album
The rest of the album doesn’t live up to Take On Me but it’s a lot of fun. Not a whole lot of variety, but I had a nice time listening to it. Fav song: Take On Me Least fav: And You Tell Me
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
So very very 80s, obviously I've heard Take On Me before and I'm not sure I gained anything by hearing the rest of the album. Favourite song: Take On Me Least: Living a Boy's Adventure Tale
this has bangers on it, and it has that 80s sound, you know what i mean
Tiene 3 muy buenas canciones y fueron grandes éxitos, pero el resto de las canciones es solo relleno.
This wasn’t made for me. 2/ 5
80’s
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
A very fine example of this kind of thing.
Who doesn't know "Take On Me"? Never heard the rest of the album before now, however. Great synth-pop classics.
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..
Proof that you too can have a catchy synthesizer and a good singer and make it in music. There are so many albums that should replace this on a must listen to list. Not required listening at all.
It takes me back! I liked most of it but there were a few slow patches that i slogged through.
This actually hangs together as an album pretty well. Some excellent self harmonies. But seriously if you remove ONE song is this anywhere near this list.
One hit and the rest was mediocre
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.
Definitely sounds of its time. It's okay.
Meh