Reviews (page 4 of 8)
Enjoyed this more than I thought I would. It's very clearly of its time but you can really hear industrial rock roots and some of the beats are great
This was so very 80s and had a lot of heart. I like how unrestrained it feels. Take On Me is so great, and The Sun Always Shines on TV grabbed me too. The rest was a good enough time to enjoy the album!
The hit makes the album
No lo he llegado a terminar pero me lo ha dado
That was the album everyone listened to when I was in my twenties. I thought the hits on the album were pretty nice, but a bit too saccharine. I did listen to the rest of it once, but I found it boring. Nothing has changed in that regard. 3/5
This album suprised me slightly. Classic 80s ballads a bit. But i liked the one about dreaming
Take on me carries but the rest is ok
Très 80s codé, presque trop pour moi (c’est pour dire)
meh
Typical 80s synth-pop. Aside from the smash hit Take On Me it's fairly meh. But as far as this genre goes it's not terrible. I'll be charitable and give it a 3.
Great album with several very popular songs. This really reminds me of the eighties and that type of music. Even the guys hair on the cover is super eighties. The less popular songs are pretty good too and I think this is the first time I have ever heard them. This might actually be one that I would listen to again sometime.
You danced straight off the bat to Take on me, it’s a banger, the rest of the album skirts around it but can’t really top it. It’s fun though and worth a listen and a boogie
2 Great songs carry this entire album but man, Take on Me is an all time great
Another Sinop album. It only has the song take on me, which is very clearly a one hit wonder. I don’t know why the entire albums on this list but it gets a three because take on me is a good song.
Liked it more than I initially thought I would Standout songs: Hunting High and Low And you Tell me Here I Stand and Face the Rain
Very 80’s sounding. Love the famous song, liked a couple others, but overall hoped to like it better.
ganz solide, take on me ist ein Banger, rest flacht etwas ab.
Take on Me is an undeniable banger, but turns out there's a reason you don't know any of their other songs.
A fun album
A pleasant and twinkling 80s pop record spearheaded by an eternal hit. Not a note or production moment out of place, which resulted in an enjoyable listening experience that didn’t stick to me.
not just a take on me button! i really like songs 1 and 3, and songs 7 and 9 have some moments that tickle my brain
So much more than just take on me! Good listen all the way through. It also helps that I’ve been in an 80s music mood for the last year.
Some very popular songs on this album, and I would say that there were 3 that I liked. The rest were meh.
"Take On Me" has grown on me over the years. used to find it kinda annoying, but it's a hit. the rest of this album I thought was fine. in the moment I enjoyed some of the drum and synth programming, but most of it washed over me and didn't stick.
Has 2 hit songs but 1 is such a classic it makes up for the rest of the album. Ofcourse its everybody wants to rule the fin world
A proper sentimental album for me, it was the soundtrack to a lot of car journeys with my parents when i was little. Listening with grown up ears i do still love a lot of it but Love is reason was way too poppy for me and, and you tell me was a bit naff.
Any album that has The Sun Always Shines on TV and Take On Me included is going to be worth a listen. The rest is pretty inoffensive 80’s electro pop. 3.2
One amazing track, a couple of good ones and then the rest of the album is serviceable enough synth pop.
Cool 80s synth-pop, Norway's most successful band. Everyone remembers that video right?
"Take On Me" is such a hit, that I guess this entire album made it on the list. The artist presents a range of moods (e.g. "Hunting High and Low" sets a different tone, more like a classic 80's slow dance tune, than the first two high-energy songs). "The Blue Sky" was probably the most fun song on the whole album IMO.
peruskasari, hittibiisien ulkopuolella olikin aika geneeristä shittiä
Kysymys kai on, että kuinka paljon pisteitä voi saada yhdellä hyvällä biisillä. On se ehkä sen verran legendaarinen että pannaan kolme pinnaa pelkästään sillä. Muut biisit onkin sit melkosta huttua.
Ihan jees kasarimenoa. Paikkapaikoin jopa oikeinkin hyviä biisejä.
An album full of take on me’s would be marvelous indeed. After the second song I thought we had it. Alas.
There are some catchy tunes here but I can't shake the feeling that there is something missing with a lot of these songs that leave them feeling a little limp in the ear hole
the absolute distillation of 80's pop. Maybe I'm an old man yelling at clouds, but this pop sound doesn't ring as hollow, syrupy sweet, and overproduced as modern pop. If one song could lift an entire album, Take On Me is fucking Mr. Universe.
bizarrely racist top reviews for this one
A fun album, but except for take on me, I kinda struggle to see why this is such an important album. Just feels like a decent 80s pop-album.
Not as much of a wasteland as I thought it would be, some okay tunes. Nothing outside of the smash hit grabbed me though.
Love 'Take On Me', but a whole album was too much for me.
80s synth pop. Singles are the best part of this album. The other tracks are sub-par.
I went into this thinking that I was in for a classic one hit wonder experience. I was proven wrong: there are many 80s bangers on here that are just pure fun. 6/10
Moody and echoy synthpop, quasi-operatic vocals over often weirdly jaunty drums. „take on me“ is such a fantastic song… i really liked „the blue sky“ too but the vocals and lyrics on „living in a boy‘s adventure tale“ were a bit bathetic
Fun 80s pop! Of course I already knew their big hit "Take On Me" but I enjoyed rest of album as well.
A few hits, some are miss. Good 80s vibe
First track is ubiquitous with some truly high points throughout the track listing. Lulled a bit in the middle and outside a group setting I probably wouldn’t revisit
epitome of 80s tis a fun album first heard the start of this album on vine. iykyk. and if you don't know.. uncultured. favorite song: take on me
The first three tracks punch well above their weight. More impressive still that it was the group's first album.
The big hit(s) from the album are all you need to listen to
This is exactly what you think it is. Influence 3. Hits 4. Quality 4. Intangibles 2. If I ever find the inventor of the synth, Imma go back in time and murder him 2.
Take On Me is an incredible song, unfortunately it's so good that everything else on this album feels utterly unimpressive. Unless you're a huge a-ha fan, there's not much of a reason to listen to this album. It's not bad, it just peaks with the first song and never comes close to matching that quality again.
Starts with the banging "Take On Me" which is probably the peak of the album and, as I've noted before, I struggle with albums who blow their creative load right off the bat.
"Take on Me" is one of the greatest songs ever and single-handedly brings this up several notches. The rest of the album is all pleasant, but I would not consider this quintessential new wave listening.
Ignorando take on me porque ya está re choteada, es un buen álbum, aunque las últimas canciones no me encantaron
synthpopsito rico. en su registro grave en rola después de take on me el wey sonaba como el david bowie ochentero y me sacó de pedo
Very pleasant. Fun without being intrusive.
Decent enough. The song Hunting High and Low really stood out
nice enough
Pure 80’s synth gold
-getragen -nicht schlecht
This album is so very 80s pop. It’s all decent, but I see why take on me was the big and only hit out of the bunch.
This sounds like most 80s music from this genre. That’s not bad, but everyone was doing it. They capture it well. It takes me back for sure. It doesn’t stand up against the test of time, but nothing does.
smart to open with Take on Me but they quickly squander a hit by following up with your pretty bog standard 80's music. Thing is, they are pretty good at it, although it just doesnt rise to the level of the opening track. Listen to it once, get your fill of synth, and shelve it.
Only on here for Take On Me… which IS a good song but the rest of the album is completely forgettable. Very 80s but you can definitely live your whole life and never listen to this one
Take On Me is an all time banger. There were a couple of other tracks I enjoyed too but nothing nearly as good as Take On Me.
Never heard any a-ha songs outside of “Take on Me.” Now I know why.
I am sure everyone and their parents are familiar with just how big of a deal A-Ha is due to their instantly recognizable opener Take On Me, but what you probably didn't know is how much of a sleeper hit this project is. This Australian band may not have gotten the commercial appeal this project was deserving as a whole at the time, but now 40 years later I feel it is worthy of some re-review for being a pretty solid and of its' time Synthpop release. I was quite impressed by how many other tracks here grabbed my attention like the title track Hunting High and Low, The Sun Always Shines On T.V. and Train of Thought. It is unfortunate how everything else seems to live in Take On Me's shadow as nothing else here hits the same vocal high notes, quality of songwriting, or even level of instrumentation shown off. It is quite the beast of a track and it is hard to not compare everything else on the album to it as you start to wonder how they drifted so far away from the quality for the rest of the 33 minutes of music here, but alas it just doesn't have the answers. Hunting High and Low is an under-appreciated album for its' time, but now is seen as more of a relic of a past time and not much else.
Overall Rating - 3.20/5 (6.40/10). Very 1980's synth pop. This is another one of those albums that sounds like its time.
The strength of this album is a couple of soaring songs -- Take On Me and Hunting High and Low. The downside is that it's so steeped in the sound of its time. By the end it's an overdose of 80s synthpop. But there was always more to a-ha than Take On Me. Here and there an acoustic guitar or actual drums break through, enriching the sound. Similarly, there are a couple interesting songs beyond the big singles, Train of Thought in particular, where the lyrics are more distinctive. Hints of the growth the band would exhibit on future albums.
Unpopular opinion: "The Sun Always Shines On TV" is better than "Take On Me."
Obviously the first track is an absolute banger but the rest is just mid
There is a reason these guys were a one hit wonder, but that one hit is a damn good song.
Not bad, but the other songs aren't as good as Take on Me.
I don't need to get into the legacy of "Take On Me" as it's self-explanatory. The single is also conveniently located at the top of the album, so just listen and enjoy! (check out the music video too, as it's one of the greatest of all time) The rest of the album is a pretty clean, synth-pop production, standard for the mid-80's I guess. "The Sun Always Shines on T.V." was the other notable song to me, pairing Waaktaar's guitar with some operatic synths. It's a wonder why that single didn't do as well in the US.
Had quite a lot of 80s synth already on this list, and as a whole package I didn't think this album was a particular standout. It was pretty pleasant to listen to, the vocals are good, and the music itself is fairly enjoyable, but a whole album of it gets very samey. However, a lot of people are calling out "Take On Me" as the "only hit" or the "only good song", which is just untrue, not least because "The Sun Always Shines on TV" also reached No. 1, and frankly, there's other very good tracks on the album, like the title track "Hunting High and Low". It hasn't turned me into an a-ha superfan, but it was an enjoyable listen; respectable album, with a few high spots. High 3.
great voice and lovely production, occasionally a little boring structurally but this is what synthpop instrumentally should sound like high 3
I vibed, I jammed. It's nice, but it's not ground breaking for the 80s.
3/5 It's fine! I liked it, but I gotta give it an indifferent 3/5 because it wasn't really special. Take on me is a classic though.
This was the first time I had ever heard any of this bands music aside from "Take on me." I really enjoyed the other songs (the single is obviously great) and enjoyed the variety especially as the bulk were more "soulful" than I would have ever expected.
Decent enough. There’s “take on me” and then a bunch of other stuff
Have I listened to this album before? No How familiar am I with this album? I know Take on Me How do I feel about this artist? I like Take on Me Favorite song(s)? Take on Me, Sun Always Shines on TV Overall Thoughts: I liked this one. I generally enjoy 80's New Wave stuff so I am not surprised. a-Ha is not a band from that era that I am super familiar with outside of their biggest hit, but I liked listening to more of their stuff on here. Dragged a bit towards the end.
Okay, very 80s. I didn't realize they were from Norway
This is better than I thought it would be
It's a shame it starts with Take On Me. Although it has some great songs, it just loses its momentum. Nevertheless, this is a pretty good record, I have no bad comment about it. All the songs are fun.
Favorite tracks: Take on Me, Hunting High and Low, The Blue Sky Some great tunes and catchy hooks on this one, very cool synth choices as well.
Take On Me is a great song but I imagine that's the nostalgia talking. The rest has that 80s sound which isn't really for me.
Real pros take their best song, make it the first song on the album, and make the title of that song the name the album. If you have another okay song, have it lead off the second side, but that is just extra. a-ha didn’t execute that plan to perfection but came fairly close with this record. Not bad for a bunch of weejuns. I think “None of the other songs are as good as ‘Take on Me’!” is pretty weak criticism given that “Take on Me” is one of the all time great singles of the decade. I was fine with hearing the rest of the less good songs on an album with that strong of a lead off track. They were still pretty decent. Do you need to hear this album, probably not, but it didn’t make my day any worse.
I was mistaken when I called yesterday’s Tina Turner album “the most 80s thing ever”
One of the 80s most distinctive voices., paired with a strong bass and haunting synths … what Morten could you ask for … a fair bit more . Great 80 s pop album that is unfortunately a little forgettable.
Album #71 A-Ha: Hunting High and Low I can already sense some snideness towards this album, not only is it the personification of cheesy 80s European synthesizer pop, but it is also an album from a band which most people consider to be a one-hit wonder. However, this album and this band have a lot more to them than that. They may not have quite the catalogue that their Swedish peers ABBA have, but A-Ha do Norway proud when it comes to releasing worldwide pop hits. Take on Me speaks for itself; it doesn’t matter if the song and music video have been played to death, it is still one of those magic songs that transcends culture and speaks to the soul. In my opinion, this album has no real misses. Every song sounds mystical; much like their music videos, these songs create such a sense of wonder. I love how their Europeanness comes out through their lyrics. The title “Little Boys Adventure Tale” seems kind of awkward for a native English speaker, yet it’s quirks like that that, for me, add to the uniqueness of this album. I’m really happy with this inclusion on the list, I’m not going to try and argue that it is a perfect album, or the best of the 80s; but an album with multiple iconic songs, from a nation which is under-represented in the anglosphere, which creates such a unique and youthful feel, in my opinion is worthy of a spot on this list. Best Songs: Take on Me, The Sun Always Shines On T.V, Hunting High and Low Worst Song: I Dream Myself Alive Score out of 10: 7.5
2.5
Ok the 1st song is the highlight
p531. 1985. 3 stars. Classy 80s electro pop with one genuine classic and a terrific voice, but far too much filler to repay repeat listens. A perfect example of being at the right place at the right time, with razor sharp cheekbones and dodgy haircuts. On the plus side, it's short.
Some of the songs on this album (Take on Me, The Sun always Shines on TV) are so embedded in the collective memory that they are hard to judge. I'm going to say, these songs are absolute pop perfection. Are they the summum or artistry or musicianship? Very definitely not, but they are unpretentious and make be happy. The vocals are actually great IMO. The rest of the album is mostly filler, unfortunately. I recently listened to Prince (1999) and The Rolling Stones (Let it Bleed). Different genres but the same thing - a few nice hits and lots of very average songs.
80s as fuck
Great singles and good album tracks. High 3.
Enjoyable 80s pop , that surprisingly works as an album beyond the two main singles
Hooks galore, outstanding singles, entertaining throughout
This album perfectly captures sophisticated 1980s synth pop at its most glamorous. Itchy beats, bright, extroverted synths and vocals that yearn for connection in a slightly detached, otherworldly way. The two singles are huge, but there are plenty of other stand out moments, such as The Blue Sky’s hypnotic, overlapping vocals.
This is definitely good. Take on Me is of course the best song on here, but there are other strong contenders, like The Sun Always Shines on TV, Love is Reason and Here I Stand the Rain. It’s Duran Duran without the obvious hit potential
Sure, the three guys from Oslo landed an enormous hit with 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗢𝗻 𝗠𝗲, complete with one of the most memorable music videos ever. And 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘂𝗻 𝗔𝗹𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝗦𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗧.𝗩. proved it wasn’t a one-off. But beyond those peaks, 𝘏𝘶𝘯𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘏𝘪𝘨𝘩 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘓𝘰𝘸 feels a bit underwhelming. It’s a polished synth-pop debut with moments of real charm, yet as a whole it never quite matches the excitement of its biggest singles. A decent album — just not a particularly compelling one.
Every song on this album is fighting a battle between being ridiculously fun and unbearably corny. Ultimately, it splits mostly down the middle. Favorite Songs: “Take on Me”, “Hunting High and Low”, “The Sun Always Shines on T.V.” Least Favorite Song: “And You Tell Me” High 3.
1st song is a classic, the rest is forgettable, nothing offensive, nothing that interesting.
Het album opent gelijk met de grootste hit, dan hebben we die oorwurm tenminste maar gehad. Het is wel weer overduidelijk in welk decennium we zitten, met alle synths en drumcomputers. Dit is wel op (en soms over) de top van de 80s. Ondanks die laag van 80s drek, zitten wel prima liedjes moet ik zeggen. Het is uiteraard iets te theatraal aangezet, dat hoorde nu eenmaal bij de stijl en de tijd. Het helpt dat er wat hitjes op staan, er is redelijk veel herkenning. Dus ook hier kom ik prima doorheen. Het is af en toe iets teveel nagels op het krijtbord om er 4 sterren voor te geven, maar een degelijke onvergeetbare 3 sterren is het wel waard.
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.
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.
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.
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