Reviews (page 4 of 8)
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.
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.
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.
Love that one song!
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
One of the better synthwave offerings, with at least a decent singer. Self-derivative though.
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.
Felt like I was in the slow parts of The Carrie Diaries.
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.
Strong start but the rest of the album was aight
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.
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.
Not for me. Take on me is still a jam
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.
Don’t usually like 80s synth pop but it was fun! Probably wouldn’t return to it but glad I listened
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
One amazing song and then the rest of an album of ho-hum stuff. Not bad, but not exciting.
its pretty ballad album, didnt expect.
C’est chouette ! La voix est cool
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 my niche
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?
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
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
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.
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
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
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.
Quintessential 80’s sounds. From the vocals to the music. The dance tracks are good, the slow songs were skipable.
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
this is what white peoples were listening to in the 80s
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
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
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
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
Bangers and other stuff... a pretty decent album
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.
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
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
Tiene 3 muy buenas canciones y fueron grandes éxitos, pero el resto de las canciones es solo relleno.
80’s
Who doesn't know "Take On Me"? Never heard the rest of the album before now, however. Great synth-pop classics.
It takes me back! I liked most of it but there were a few slow patches that i slogged through.
Nothing hits the highs of the opener but it's a not bad 80's electro pop record
Outside of Take On Me, it's just okay
Take on me is on this album! As well as other songs
Enjoyed listening. 3.5
This contains some good songs, some pretty ordinary songs, and one absolute all-timer. If you’ve already perfected the pop song formula on track one you can probably be forgiven for letting your standards slip after that.
6/10 Highlights: The Sun Always Shines on TV Train of Thought Take on Me Here I Stand and Face the Rain
Kinda sounded similar throughout
Take On Me rocks, the rest is wannabe Duran Duran
80's pop with some catchy tunes great vocals
Don't think I listened to all of it. Sort of just sounds dated to me.
Cuidado com a leitura dessa review, porque o que eu vou dizer talvez mude a sua forma de enxergar este álbum. Há chances também de você dizer que já havia percebido isso antes, ou de dizer que discorda, mas depois que perceber você sempre vai ter uma pulga atrás da orelha sobre isso. É o seguinte: Eu acredito que durante a produção deste disco, eles decidiram intercalar canções Hits e canções Fillers. Não tenho como provar, mas só olhar a tracklist, e ouvir as faixas, que talvez você vai acreditar em mim. A ordem é a seguinte: #1 Hit -> #2 Filler -> #3 Hit -> #4 Filler -> (Aqui eles mudaram a ordem, provavelmente para que a versão em LP começasse o lado 2 com um hit) #5 Filler -> #6 Hit -> #7 Filler -> #8 Hit -> #9 Filler -> #10 Hit. Não é minha primeira vez ouvindo este disco, mas desta vez eu percebi esse padrão acima, e achei bem engraçado. Sempre achei esse álbum inconsistente de qualquer modo, mesmo se não tivesse sido a intenção (E por que seria?!). Desta forma, eu sempre preferi o segundo disco do A-Ha, o Scoundrel Days, que em minha opinião é mais consistente e mais agradável. Mas não há nada de errado com Hunting High And Low. Seus picos são bem altos. Todo mundo conhece Take On Me, não há muito o que falar sobre essa canção em específico, mas eu ainda prefiro a faixa titular do álbum, acho ela uma faixa bem melhor, não sei se é por conta da saturação de TOM ! De resto, as canções que considero Filler são formidáveis o suficiente, nada ofensivamente ruim, mas nada que se destaca. Os hits são muito bons e memoráveis, mas como eu havia dito, falta consistência no álbum. Por sorte (ou por escolha), ele é bem curto, então não dá pra reclamar tanto. Mas é inegável que o produto final parece apenas um veículo para entregar Take On Me, Hunting High And Low e The Sun Always Shines… O resto pode descartar. Pega essas três canções e bota numa coletânea com outras faixas do Scoundrel Days e você terá um disco vastamente superior! 3.5/5
Except Take On Me very mid. Almost a 2..
Interesting.
нуу, за одну песню ставлю три очка.
This is a pretty good if very dated pop/new wave album. Some of the songs are really good, but the album is more as a time capsule for the 1980s than an all time classic. Either way, I'd take this over yesterday's Ryan Adams album any day of the week.
3.5/5
Звичайно тут є претендент на топ-10 поп-хітів, але й вистачає інших хороших пісень. Трохи філерів теж є, тому оцінка 3 виглядає справедливо
Я дуже люблю і поважаю цей гурт, але їх пізній період мені подобається набагато більше.
first song syndrome
I wasn't expecting much given the one hit wonder tag, but that is obviously a misnomer and this is a very solid synth-pop album that influences can be drawn from. Take On Me and The Sun Always Shines on TV very strong songs.
This is the definition of 80's music. Too bad the best song is the first track. The album didn't really hold my attention all the way through.
So 80’s it almost hurts! Bit too much filler for me.
Mid-to-forgettable 80's pop. 2.5 star
it was fine idk
Yeah, it's got "Take On Me" and a bunch of other stuff.
Nothing brings more nostalgia than this opening song. Great tune, great music video. Really takes me right back to a time and place. That being said, this is my first listen through this album. It ended up being a groovy, dancie 80's Eurovision style album. Cool synth vibes, but nothing like Take On Me. That was clearly their hit on this album. I'm interested to listen to some of the newer albums to see how they grew after their early success. This album is a 3. The first song is a 5.
Mid 3? No real stand outs but nothing I didn't enjoy, likely won't revisit
The rest of the album is quite different from the monster hit, as would be expected. Morton Harket shows (maybe not) surprising range on some heartfelt ballads, and the songs are a small cut above the 80s pop of the day. Also they're Norwegian? I guess I forgot.
I did listen to the album and it passed quickly, I was impressed though to be honest I think the vocals are absolutely on point and clever synth work all the way through as well as one of the biggest tunes of the 80’s.
Was very pleasantly surprised by this album. As I say, all the good albums to me have are intro’d and outro’d well with the correct tempo for what you sort of expect to hear throughout, and what better way to start than take on me. The ending song was a great way to sum up what we’d heard throughout too. So to me this was just a really good example of an 80’s pop album that sums up the tempo of the era. Not mind blowing, but a pleasantly surprisingly good listen.
I was pleasantly surprised by this album and wonder why a-ha apart from 'take on me' isn't more part of the staple of 80s music. I particularly liked 'Hunting High And Low'. Pleasant listen overall.
L'inverse de sugarcubes, très inégales dans ses musiques, avec les 2 premières très bonne et le reste oubliable
My ears peeped up when it was 'Take on Me', then peeped up again on the last song, which sounded very similar to 'Take on Me'. I understand why they had some fame, but it's more of the same the whole way through the album. The Scandinavians know how to write a song, I know. But, for the most part, it was more of the same. The bass playing that is/was intriguing in the single, is prevalent throughout the rest of the album, the falsetto... Yep, more of the same. 3 Stars (and that's only rounded up from 2.5). From a guy who wrote a song that referenced this band.
This album is like going to to your high school dance. In the weeks leading up to the big night, you are excited about renting a nice suit and looking fly, and showing up in a limousine because that is what you are meant to do for school ball. Everyone is hyped for what figures to be the highlight of the school year. People are talking about who is taking who, where the pre-drinks are happening, and how rowdy the afterball is gonna get. The girls are talking about their ideas for hairstyles and what colour dresses they are gonna wear. You've even picked out a tie that matches your date's dress. The big night comes. The pre-drinks are fun, but controlled. You want to get a shine on, but you know you have to talk to the headmaster and introduce your date before entering the party, so you don't go too crazy. After that admin is out of the way, you and your friends burst into the hall, ready to have the time of your life. High on euphoria, everyone heads straight to the dancefloor to boogie down. Initially it is great. The DJ is playing a club banger, everyone is looking good and the venue looks great with the balloons and bright lights. But pretty quickly you realise you don't actually like dancing. You are pretty hot in this suit, and it is not like you are that excited to see your friends, because you see most of them five days a week at school. Before you know it, you are discussing whether or not you are prepared for end of year exams. Later on, you and your date hit the dance floor for a slow-dance, but it has the feeling of a nice moment to end the night on, as opposed to the first romantic spark to a relationship.
This album is full of hits like take on me and... well that's it. Starts strong but nothing else lives up to that track. Its not bad, but its not good either. But what an opening track.
Oh man, that part in the chorus of “Take on Me” where the drums change up from their usual beat and slip into a new, syncopated rhythm. That part amps me up so much. Like, obviously the synth hook is the star of the show here, but the drums are a huge reason this song is such a banger. The rest of the album is solid 80s pop. Big reverb on everything, some of it melancholy but still with a beat. I like it. And “Take on Me” is a 10/10 classic. Honestly, it’s even better than I remember. Cool album cover. I love that dynamic blur that almost looks like a brushstroke.
Starting with one of the best synthpop songs of all time means that it can only go downhill from there, even if the rest of the album is pretty fun
Taaaaake ooooooon meeeeeee (pretty average, 6/10)
7/10
Almost there.
The first half of the album was actually pretty good. Their upbeat songns were much better than other, but overall it was quite repetitive…
The singles, beyond Take Me On as well, are great. The rest of the album is solid. Take Me On is the clear high point though.
Not my genre or my era, but I liked this more than I thought I might.
u-huh?
botaram a melhor música como faixa inicial ai ficou complicado... o puro suco dos anos 80 esse album
Essentially an album with 3 singles surrounded by mostly filler, decent overall but kind of boring. It starts strong obviously with take on me but really falls off after that, it also has the stereotypical 80’s production especially with the synths and the drum sound which basically make up the entire sound of the album, the vocals are very 80’s new wave as well, I like what they did with the synths sometimes but there wasn’t enough variety in the songs to keep me engaged, the mix felt a bit flat as well probably due to the sound I already mentioned, it was just a bit bland mostly but definitely has some strong moments. Favourites: take on me, the sun always shines on tv and I dream myself alive. Overall, 5/10.
Does one say Oslovian? Too poppy-sweet for me. But well-crafted.
Take on Me 4 Train of Thought 3.6 Hunting High and Low 3.4 The Blue Sky 3 Living a Boy's Adventure Tale 3 The Sun Always Shines on T.V. 3.2 And You Tell Me 2.8 Love Is Reason 3.3 I Dream Myself Alive 3.1 Here I Stand and Face the Rain 3 Score: 3.24
Superb songwriting
Shockingly decent. The single from the album is much better in the context of the album as a whole and not just a radio hit
First listen
It's tough to follow an opening track single as strong as 'Take On Me', but I think there were a few other solid songs throughout.
cheesy but very unique and elaborate
I have now rated just over 50 albums and, as an interim conclusion, I can definitely say that there is too much new wave/80s synth pop on the list. Nevertheless, when looking back at pop history with a comprehensive approach (and a list of over 1000 albums must of course have that), there's no getting around a-ha's “Hunting High And Low.” In my opinion, “Take On Me” is as 80s as it gets and probably one of the most influential songs of that decade. I actually still had the title track in my ear, even though I don't think it's that great. To be fair, I have to admit that “Hunting High And Low” is a piece of music history with considerable earworm potential. But my new wave quota for this year is now used up.
Outside of Take On Me, there's not much to write home about here. Pretty standard 80s pop. Let's mark this as a mid-3 and move on. Probably wouldn't have broken into the 3's without Take On Me if I'm being honest.
About exactly what I expected from a-ha. Unapologetically 80s with a single hit.
Take on Me may be the catchiest song of all time. Rest of the album was super poppy catchy music in which some hit and some failed completely.
As super 80's as it is, Take On Me is a fantastic song. So many good memories dancing to this at Nats games back in the day. Also the Reel Big Fish version also slaps. I'm worried about the rest being just classic annoying 80's but we'll see. It was pretty 80's sounding, but there were some solid moments at least.
Je connaissais déjà la première toune (qui ne connaît pas la première toune ?) ! Mais le reste est plutôt ordinaire.
Take on Me is a classic example of 1980’s pop. The rest of this album is instantly forgettable.
I gotta applaud 80s musicians - they laid it all out there, took risks that would be ridiculed today. 3 hearts on a sleeve out of 5 🧡🧡🧡
Only knew the opening track. Crazy how that smash didn’t produce another single I was familiar with. Impressive debut!
Mediocre. Very brave starting an album with your only hit.
Don’t like it don’t hate it.
All kinda samey and all kinda nice
Scoundrel Days is better. It's weird though, because I do love a lot of the songs here. It's just that the deep cuts are so unexceptional that it weights the album as a whole down for me. 3.5/5
This album is just fine, Take on Me is obviously incredible but none of the other songs are of the same quality. Some are pretty good though, like The Sun Always Shines on TV, and the closer. Overall though it is a bit too melodramatic and "80s sounding" for me though.
never knew i'd like cheesy synthpop that much 3.5/5
Одни из лучших бэнгеров в истории группы, которые прям задают стиля всей музыке, но в остальном — не совсем моё.
The hits were fun to hear, I don't remember anything else
Forgettable synth pop. But, “Take On Me”.
Not bad but i felt like there wasn't a song that was as good as take on me but there were close ones Fav songs: And you tell me, Living a boy's adventure tale, hunting high and low
Good vocals and production. Definitely a product of its time.
Instrumental in defining an era and a sound. Great, catchy tunes that sound truly vapid. Absolute definition of 'pop'.
It's a cute 80's synth-pop album. Starting with the strongest track does make the others pale in comparison, but it was still a fun listen. I wouldn't reach for it again but I definitely wouldn't mind hearing it again.
good album, 3.5 , carried by the single but the whole album is good
Overall: 6/10 Painfully 80's (derogatory) but there's a lot to like here. Starting their album with one of the best songs ever written was certainly a choice, but one that leaves the listener wishing that every other aong was just as good as the first. After that, we're met with a very hit or miss album. Lots of stuff to dance to but not a lot of emotional substance. The vocals are truly out of this world though. Fav Song: Take On Me Least Fav Song: Love is Reason
Classic one hit wonder from the '80's. Take on Me is awesome. The rest of the album is forgettable which is sad because the lead singer has a great vocal range. Fun to think what this group could have been if they could have written more songs like their one big hit.
Bought this album in high school—based on Take On Me alone, it's probably worth a listen, right? Ended up hiding it under the floor of the trunk to keep a good friend from playing it, without fail, every single time he got into my car for months on end. Re-listening decades later and well after the burnout has worn off, it's not bad. Maybe I'll dig it out of the trunk again in a few years.
High 3 Decent album with every song throughout being enjoyable enough. The standout songs would definitely be take on me and the sun always shines on TV though.
Bright 80s synth pop, I only knew Take On Me, which I loved as a kid and still do to this day. No big standouts on this album other than the previously mentioned track.
This album badly needs a remix. Its only getting 3 stars because it has the best song from the 80s
One all-time classic track, a couple of other decent tracks, the rest is mediocre.
I mean...Take on me! This is such a nostalgia trip. A-Ha were massive when i was in primary School. Some great songs and great memories. Is my review influenced by nostalgia? Absolutely. Would I listen to this again? maybe. With take on Me and Sun always shines on TV, alone those two hold up this album, but it needs more to make it more impactful. It is a bit cheesy in the rest of the parts looking back on it now, but at the same time you have to remember it came out in 1985 too. If i am being critical, I will give it 3.5 stars.
Ni fu ni fa, no es malo pero en parte entiendo por qué fueron una one hit Wonder. Nota: 2.8
Classic 80s sound
The sheer and utter brilliance of "Take On Me" garners this album a 3.5 rating at the absolute minimum. However, the more I listened to this album, it is pure 1980s nostalgia Euro Synth Pop through and through. An enjoyable listen, and thankfully, also only 37 minutes long. Great album.
This was an overall enjoyable listen. It had a bit more substance than I thought it would.
Buen álbum, sigue siendo un poco repetitivo pero me mola el rollito de a-ha. 6.5/10
Okay album.
It typified the era but was nothing I would readily recommend
This album really soundly embodies the kind of aesthetic that I think people are trying to tap into with '80s nostalgia stuff. It's clean, sort of futuristic, and its lineage can be traced back to new wave. The synth usage here is *very* '80s, and the sound comes together. Although what this album is most well known for is *undoubtedly* Take On Me. Just about everyone has heard this song, and it is overplayed, but it *is* good. Also, it has a pretty killer video. Everything else here is largely decent synth pop and new wave. The songs are catchy, the production is good, and if you like '80s pop, you'll love this. However, I don't really like that much '80s pop, but I still think there's something here.
Starting with "Take on Me" just rises the expectations too much, the rest of the album also has some nice tunes but doesn't hold up to the starter. "Take on Me" as a single gets a 5 tho! 3.5/5
Mood: check. Vibes: check. Felt like being in Pretty in Pink.
Mid, first song carries
I dont think i really like the hit song all that much, and the album either.
C’est du bon synthé, mais à part Take on me y’a pas grand chose à se mettre sous la dent
2 stars rounded up for take on me and sun always shines. The rest was very forgettable synth
Nice poppy 80s synth but I feel like there are much better examples out there 2.5 rounded up
First song, even though I had heard it before, was still a huge welcome. It set the ton and the pace for the album. Then it just kind of went downhill and went there fast. I wish the album was as good as the first song, but that was just not the case.
When I was growing up, we'd be listening to the radio in the car, and 9 times out of 10 my dad would say "THIS is QUINTESSENTIAL 80's!!" with a fist pump. I think this album is the truest definition of "quintessential 80's", for all the good and bad reasons. The difference between the lead-off hit and the low-lights on this album are a real canyon, but hey it was the era of one-hit wonders and they're not THAT bad! Beyond the genre (and era) defining "Take On Me", there's not much else offered within the synth-pop on the rest of the album to really sink your teeth into. The title track is a highlight, and there are some very catchy melodies / choruses within here, but it doesn't do much to stand out to me. Some orchestral pieces, some border-line gospel elements? If I compare this against a contemporary like Songs from the Big Chair, I know which I'm throwing on 100 times out of 100.
I listened to a song exploder episode about Take on Me and they spoke about the songs being originally written for a lower tone of voice and then they got this guy in. they realised his voice could reach higher pitches than other people while remaining strong. Having that in mind while listening was interesting. However, hard to open with Take on Me and have any other song mean anything. It's too dizzy a high.
5 out of 10
just a pop album
Solid.
First song is a big hit and it’s nice. The rest is just ok. You don’t have to listen to this album before you die but it’s still nice.
I was pleasantly surprised at how many more songs I enjoyed. I was worried with ‘Take on Me’ being the first song, that I wasn’t going to really like anything else. Overall I’m not the biggest fan new wave as a genre, but this was solid middle of the road as a whole.
Really refreshing to have some 80s pop for the first time in a while. Take On Me is one of the greatest songs of all time and such a strong start to an album. From there everything blended together well and I was never bored. The title track was also solid. Wouldn’t mind any of the album coming up on shuffle, but there’s really only one song I’m coming back for.
Nice 80s pop music. Didn't really stand out to me past that.
Gear: HEDD Audio HEDDphone Two Artwork: 📸🔲💪 Production: 🎧😘🤌 Music: 🎤👼💙 Rating: ⬆️⬆️⬆️/5
It's almost inevitable that the album will get worse after the best song is the first song. It almost did enough to merit a fourth star.
“Take on me” gets extra credit for the music video which was amazing especially at the time, otherwise a pretty forgettable album.
Take On Me is amazing. The rest is ok 80's noise.
To my friends who love this album, whether due to nostalgia, emotional resonance, or a love for all things 80s — Forgive me. I really tried to like it. And at the second track, I had SO much hope. But the drum machines, synthesizers, and melodrama were too much to overcome. Can we still be friends?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TNlRQACmv4 >If anyone asks what the 80s sound like, I'd give them this album. Have had a lot of albums from the 80s and everytime I just expected it to be as good as this one, but they never really make it. Well, I see a contradiction here. If all the other 80s albums were not as good... maybe 80s weren't good at all and you only remember the highest point of it? Just like this album, people likely only remember Take On Me and think this album was better than it is Not sayin it's bad tho
Greit, men har egentlig bare et par-tre bra sanger
I'm not a huge fan of new wave, but I liked this throughout.
Take On Me probably squeaks into all-time banger status. the rest of the album is a solid encapsulation of 80s pop. kind of reminded me of a watered down Tears for Fears now and then
Take on me was one of my favorite 80s songs and definitely a favorite video on MTV. A few other fun follow up hits, but the rest of the album isn’t as memorable. Overall, not terrible, but definitely don’t want the top song on the album to be the first one. Hard for the rest to live up to.
3 out of 5. The video alone for Take On Me earned it.
A couple of classics otherwise mediocre 80ties synth pop
Highs and lows.
highs and lows
Honestly this was a really fun album! I expected it to be super cheesy, and don't get me wrong it was, but I guess I was in the mood for it. Obligatory "Take On Me is an all-time banger" comment.
Obviously this starts about as strong as an album can start. By track 2 I saw this cruising to an easy 4 stars. It then started diving into the depths of 80's sameyness. By "The Sun Shines on TV " I was back in it. Thats my second favorite on the album. The rest I can take or leave. I like their up tempo, energetic songs. The slower ones dont feel up to much. Album cover: (B-)
I've never known who "Take On Me" was by. This song is amazing. The synth part is beyond legendary, and I challenge anyone not to start boppin' when they hear it. Every song between "Take On Me" and "The Sun Always Shines on T.V" was unfortunately a little boring. This song is pretty good though. This brand of 80s pop doesn't really do it for me. 5/10, even if "Take On Me" is a banger.
80’s pop perfection. I knew all the hits from this already and who could forget that video.
I only knew about Take On Me coming in, but I really wanted to like this. Unfortunately, no matter how much I really want to like synthpop in general, it never really works for me.
Like it. Favourite track is Hunting High and Low 3/5
Heard it before. I hate when people call a-ha a one hit wonder. The Sun Always Shines On TV is literally right there?? Not to mention my beloved The Blue Sky which might be one of my favourite 80s songs ever 3/5
Surprisingly un-lively
7/10
7/10
Ok, but very soft
Listened on 5/23/25 3/5 Favorite songs: Take on Me Good mellow 80s music vibes but not super memorable beyond Take on Me
- "Take On Me" und "The Sun Always Shines on T.V." sind absolute Ohrwürmer und Banger, der Rest lässt mich aber relativ kalt - vor allem, weil es einfach komplett nicht die Musik ist, auf die ich stehe - irgendwo 2-3/5
Very enjoyable listen, 3.5, probably would seek physical copy👍
Pretty good
Started with best song and overall okay synth 80’s but nothing else hits like ‘Take on me’
It's ok. Like Take on Me.
Dated
As someone who turned 40 earlier this year, I'm excited to get another album from the wonderful year of 1985. I think this is my third album of 1985 so far this year. I know a couple of songs off of this album: "The Sun Always Shines on T.V." and "Take On Me" (naturally). I love "Take On Me" (who doesn't?) and "The Sun Always Shines on T.V." is really great too. Based on those two songs, I think I have a pretty good idea of what to expect from this album's sound. Let's hunt high and low for some great synth pop! I thought this album was pretty good. A-ha is no Duran Duran or Tears for Fears, and that's okay. I appreciate their unique approach to synth pop, completing their sound with a little bit of new wave and dream pop sounds. I didn't find the songwriting to be particularly strong, and I don't know if that's because these guys are Norwegian or if songwriting just isn't their strong suit. The best songs on this album have some great song structure and memorable hooks, but the other songs on this album are pretty forgettable, even though they're enjoyable in the moment. As far at the stand-out songs go, “Take On Me” is clearly the jewel of this album. A-ha created one of the most memorable synth melodies of the ‘80’s, and no matter how many times I hear “Take On Me,” I always love it. The vocals are fantastic too, and no matter how much I try, I can never hit those high notes when I sing along. Every aspect of “Take On Me” is incredible, and it deserves its reputation as one of the best songs on the decade. “The Sun Always Shines on TV” is great too though. It has something so quintessentially mid-'80's in the brightness of its sound that I really enjoy. I love the synthesizers and programming of the main riff, and it’s just a sweeping epic of a song. The opening piano playing and echoing vocals are absolutely fantastic; I don’t understand how this song didn’t make it higher than 20 on the American charts. In addition to those two songs, I also enjoyed “Train of Thought,” “Hunting High and Low,” and “Love Is Reason.” Other than though, this album felt like filler. It was filler made with delicious synthesizers, but filler nonetheless. This album was better than I thought it would be, and it was nice to listen to some eighties pop that came from somewhere other than the UK or America.
It's just so dated.
Solid 80's synth-pop. Very bright and fun. Feels like there is some Bowie or Freddy Mercury vibes/energy mixed in. Enjoyed it overall.
Decent popular 80s album, famous hits like Take On Me, but the album as a whole is just ok.
Lovely sounds
Some good songs
Lovely
As a big fan of 80's synth pop, this was a little disappointing. The album is held up entirely by it's singles, Take On Me and The Sun Always Shines on TV being the clear standouts. They are good enough to warrant this thing a 3, but if you were just to listen to those 2 songs, you would have a near identical experience. You should watch the music videos as well.
I have nothing original to say about this album. It's pretty fun.
Banger als eerste nummer, maar verder kakt het vrij hard in? Het is een soort eighties synth pop album en eerlijk gezegd is het allemaal niet fantastisch. The Sun always shines on TV is een heel mooi nummer maar verder kan je aan alles merken dat dit toch een beetje een one hit wonder is. Tuurlijk; meerdere nummers met 100 mil+ plays is nauwelijks een 1hit wonder te noemen, maar was het nodig om dit te horen voor ik dood ga? Mwah, ik denk dat er betere synthpop albums zijn; dit was best prima en duurt niet heel lang. 3/5 niet zo bijzonder, maar gewoon best prima. FAVO: Take On Me( Verrassend), The sun always shines on TV
Honestly, I thought this was in the running to be a 4 but things drop off after the first track. It’s fine, an enjoyable listen, but not something I’ll think about a lot.
Take On Me is one of those tunes that you hear so much but very rarely actually properly listen to it. Stone cold banger. Proper one hit wonders though, as there was very little else here. Simpsons: No Sim
Take on me, hunting high and low, and the sun always shines on TV are the only tracks on here worth listening to, the others are forgettable
It was okay. Other the two singles the rest were right down in the middle okay
Only know Take on Me - which is a cracking song. Rest of the album is OK
Better than Coldplay
Take on me is great. The album overall has interesting moments and I do feel like they put a lot of themselves into making it. Not a masterpiece but a good example of something that should be on the list. You just don't need a ton of this.
Okay, well the opening track is woven into the fabric of reality. This is mostly not my cup of tea. That being said, The Sun Always Shines on T.V. was a big stand out for me during this listen. I found most of the songs too long, but this seems like a solid album for those into this style.
Album with "Take on Me" - good vocals and range!
Pretty good, title track might be my least favorite on the album
1 good song, really. 3/5
Not really bad or anything, enjoyed it, just don't think it really has enough to be on this list.
It’s pinnacle 80’s. Might be a little too much of it though, I can only take so much reverb and sweeping synths. Still, a fun album with a better first half than second
Fairly inoffensive.
This was quite fun. The thing is however that Take on Me and The Sun Always Shines on TV are such great pop songs that the rest of the album pales in comparison with them.
Decent Debut
Oh boy, we've got another 80s one-hit-wonder on our hands! Well, okay, we don't actually. A-ha was never actually a one-hit-wonder. Even aside from the various other hits they have over in Europe, specifically their native Norway, A-ha did actually have a second single from this album hit the top 20, so that's cool. However, these days, A-ha is really only known for one song, that of course being the opener to their debut album Hunting High and Low, the ever-iconic "Take on Me." I really don't have any original takes on this song. It is a bop of the highest caliber. Unfortunately, none of the other 9 songs on this album are even comparable in quality, with the only one that even gets close being that other single I mentioned earlier, "The Sun Always Shines on T.V." which is pretty good too. None of the other songs are bad. I would call Hunting High and Low a pretty solid album. It's just that this album has that non-exclusive problem of coming out swinging with a true gem of music and then following it up with a bunch of lesser songs. As for Hunting High and Low as an album, it's pretty solid. A-ha's style isn't particularly revolutionary or spectacular, but it is quite enjoyable, and sometimes that's all that matters. The writing does its job. The album's not too long or too short. This is just a nice collection of solid 80s synth-pop songs, with one real stand-out track to start the album. It's not a masterpiece, but I certainly wouldn't call it bad. Solid 3/5.
-a-ha of Take On Me fame. here they are. I did… not go into this with super high hopes, expecting generic 80s synthpop at best and something hilariously corny at worst -honestly, it was better than I thought it would be… nothing revolutionary or groundbreaking but I’ve heard worse. some catchy rhythms. idk it was a bop -Favorites are Take On Me and Train Of Thought
5/10
Reipasta synapoppia, enkä kyllä yhtään ihmettele, että listalle on päässyt. Auton äänentoisto ei oikein tehnyt oikeutta kaikille soundeille, mutta uusi yritys illalla kotona antoi aika paljon lisää, ajoittain jopa vähän liikaa
Ehtaa kasaripoppia, muutamassa kappaleessa efektit lähteneet lapasesta ja liian paljon kaikkea.
Mukava kuulla tältäkin bändiltä muuta kuin albumin avausraita. Helposti kuunneltavaa 80-luvun syntikkapoppia!
Take oonnnnn meeeeeee TAKEEEE MEEEEE OOOONNNNNNMN (great music video for anyone reading this that hasn’t seen it yet).
Behalve het eerste nummer, ook de grootste hit, niet heel veel aan
The dread of karaokes everywhere. Though, aside from 'Take On Me' and the titular song, the rest is pretty forgettable.
I listened to this album as a kid so the great songs are too familiar and the not as great songs are sort of background music. Unfortunately it doesn't resonate as much with me now in later life, but I'm glad the album is enjoyed by others.
Solid 80s pop.
3.5 stars. The "Take On Me" album. But some other decent tracks on this short synth-pop debut record. Didn't know a-ha was Norwegian. Standout "The Sun Always Shines On T.V."
1985 was the year of Take On Me. Amazing video, great pop song, just an overall smash for a-ha. The rest of this album has some highlights too. Is it end of the world, you must hear NOW music? No, but it's good. 3/5 Don't sleep on: Hunting High and Low The Sun Always Shines on TV Love Is Reason
Take on Me was a big radio hit. The music video was epic and gave the song even more success. Maybe that is why I don’t remember hearing any of their other songs back in the day. This album is really good, they should have been much larger in the U.S.
Lo que más me ha sorprendido de este álbum es saber que A-ha son noruegos. Por lo demás, no deja de ser synth-pop típico de los ochenta que ni fu ni fa (¡quién lo hubiera esperado de esta lista!). Mención aparte merecen el mega-single "Take on Me", un clásico que transciende épocas, y la synth-rock-opera "The Sun Always Shines on TV". Dos estrellitas. Más una extra por Take on Me, con su excesivo falsetto y su famosísimo videoclip.
One good song, maybe 2, but the rest was pretty generic 80’s stuff.
Wow I never knew they were Norwegian. Besides the two big singles, I didn't get anything out of it. Not bad just meh Rating: 3.3
Perfectly fine 80s music. Nothing really all that memorable and I've heard Take On Me so many times at this point in my life that I have fatigue from it.
It’s a refined 80s dance album. There’s a few songs that are much better than others, but overall there was nothing bad.
starts off strong then doesnt quite deliver.
I will be singing Take On Me until the day I day. But I didn't need the album.
Funny, I never really loved Take on Me in the 80s, although the video is iconic. BUT if you listen to the acoustic version recorded in 2017 you will see just how beautiful a song it is and also what a great voice he has....still. From this album though, my favorite is The Sun Always Shines on TV. Overall, the other songs are mostly forgettable. One thing to note however is that I've never seen a song on Spotify have over a billion views before....but Take on Me has 2,240,938,654....as of this viewing!
Welcome to the 80s theme park! I had only ever heard Take On Me (and it amazes me that anyone can hear that as anything but the soundtrack to a video--it's barely a song) but the rest of the album is like a template for Europop.
3.5 i dont think it needs to be on this list but it has some bangers
3/5
3.4 stars rounded down. “Take on Me”, “The Sun Always Shines on TV”, and the title track are the stand outs.
Better than I thought and more than just Take on Me.
Perhaps a one hit wonder but what a hit it was. "Take On Me" holds up incredibly well today, helped in part to its current meme status. It had one of the earliest and still most innovative videos ever seen on MTV and was a technical triumph. That video catapulted A-ha to fame and was clearly significant. But the quality drops off quickly after that. The rest of the album is mostly standard 80s synth pop, with some chamber pop and what sounds like heavy influence from The Smiths and early Depeche Mode. There are some very good songs, alongside some boring ones, but only one great hit, enduring as it is.
One absolute hell of a first song on a first album. I truly think Take On Me will stand the test of time. There is plenty to be said about the artistry necessary to produce such an amazing song, and you hear that poking through from the other songs. Unfortunately, while Morten Harket is an absolute force of a voice, which sounds like if Morrissey could actually sing, and while the album is fun, none of the songs stick with you in quite the same way. I will acknowledge the bias in me only knowing Take On Me. But there is something of a bummer in your best known song being the first one on the first album. I really feel they blew their load too soon.
First song, first album. Really blew their load immediately. Enjoyable. Not really something I’m going to be itching to listen to again. Harket has a really solid voice, very smooth and effortless.
Hunting High and Low is peak 80s synth-pop, for better or worse. "Take On Me" is obviously the standout, but thanks to Family Guy, it's impossible to take seriously anymore—and maybe that’s okay. The first half of the album kind of dragged, aside from the iconic opener. But I was surprised by how much I liked the second half. It had more depth and atmosphere than I expected. Not something I’d listen to all the time, but definitely worth a spin for a dose of 80s nostalgia. Favorite song: Take On Me
Listened: 25/02/2025 Album no: 27 % rating: 68% Fave Song: Take On Me Obv I’ve heard take on me before but never listened at any other a-ha songs. I can definitely see why this was one of the biggest albums of the 80s. It’s good! Not one I’d be in a hurry to stick on again but enjoyed it nonetheless.
Two masterpieces of 80s pop. And some other songs.
A-Ha is a one hit wonder band. Other than their mega-hit they are more or less an "80's" band by sound and feel. I discussed this as a way to differentiate between "timeless" music and dated music. Now. There is nothing wrong with era specific music that is almost canon in the way of showing someone "now THIS is 80's music!" or the like. So it has a place but it is specific. Timeless music, on the other hand, is not "showable" in that sense of "THIS is ... whatever era, music" because it does not work that way. I like and even love some 80's music, but my true passion is for "timeless" music. It just holds a different value for me. Sorry A-Ha but you are stuck in the 80's.
Ja, dieses Album war der Hammer, auch wenn es jetzt etwas gar New Wavig wirkt ist es schön, wieder einmal zu hören.
All I can think of when I hear take on me is a bunch of mid level finance managers walking into their 9-5 thinking to themselves, "It's a bad day to be a spreadsheet- bout to go beast mode on these Henderson reports." But like any one hit wonder, the album gets weaker the further into you go. I did like some of the more innovative synth techniques, but at the end of the day its pretty generic 80s music past the single. But damn does that single hit.
Can't knock "take on me" That's probably from familiarity and revolting nights spent on the revolving dancefloor of Reflex, which has meant I've developed a skewed fondness for that particular song. The rest of the album I was unfamiliar with, and I still am to a large extent- didn't do much for me, but I do admire the consistency A-Ha have for being able to sound like they're both 3 feet away from your ears.. and miles away at the same time.. a skill probably best left in Norway, for yodelling a conversation across a Fjord, rather than a pop album though.
I hate calling bands a one hit wonder, but it might be true for a-ha. Take on Me, a classic. The rest of the album wasn’t really noteworthy at all. Still had take on me though, so 3 stars.
Fun, very 80’s album
Pleasant well-crafted pop music that feels a bit powerless as we travel deeper into hell. These guys are kinda like the Eloi from 'The Time Machine', you know?
Y'know, I think if I was in a more optimistic mood I'd like this more. As it is, it was nice, but didn't necessarily stick with me. 3 stars.
Sun always shines on TV is a banger. Overall great sound and had me bopping.
I like it, sort of, at times but not overall. It’s just not my thing the synth pop beats that drum away incessantly, annoying. Three bangers and some okay tunes.
Do you start with the best song to hook people in, or put it in the middle so they don't turn off after song two? The debate rages on. 80s String sounds haven't aged great in some contexts, they sound pretty menacing here.
Putting aside previous biases this was better than I expected. Maybe I'm getting soft. Three stars.