Reviews (page 6 of 14)
Really solid album. Good clean fun
Classic
lots of fun tracks
abba definitely owns
A nice one, some great songs on there
The perfect 70's album in every way containing all types of pop of the Era. Yes it's sickly sweet and cringey at times but these guys were great at what they did.
Great 70s pop album. Already knew the big hits, and a couple of their best are on this (Knowing Me, Knowing You and Fernando.) Enjoyed the deep cuts, like Dum Dum Diddle and Tiger, and the super random celtic vibes of the title track are great. Still will probably just throw on ABBA Gold if I'm in the mood for ABBA, but this was fun
Lay all your love on me is my favorite track on this album. I loved Mama Mia, so all the songs from that movie that were on here were such a vibe.
Utrolig høj koncentration af numre man kender, men jeg tror det siger mere om, hvor mange hits ABBA har, end kvaliteten af lige det her album. Den forrige var lidt mere interessant, fordi jeg ikke forventede at de kunne lave sådan et album, men altså der er ikke meget at sætte en finger på her. Jeg kunne godt undvære den, manden sang, og så den om Hawaii. Parade af bops derudover
Listened Before? N ABBA is a whole vibe. This album may be their best and it's packed with bangers. Highly enjoyable bubblegum/disco stuff. Added to Library? N Songs added to playlist: Fernando
love pop music
Es ABBA, es Arrival. Cuatro estrellas solo porque hay un par de canciones que me caen medio gordas, pero el resto del álbum es la pura alegría y gozadera.
I havent listen to this album since I was a kid, now as an adult i appreciate the incredibly catchy tunes and why they are loved by many
Surprised how many songs are about breaking up or not being with the right person. Always thought of ABBA as fun and upbeat but they definitely have some dramatic songs as well. I’d rate it a 3.75. I like the music but I wouldn’t find myself wanting to play this on repeat
disco is fun to listen to, and this is one of the best disco albums of all time. enjoy.
They are a pop band and I dig their hits but their other stuff I can't take or leave.
Pretty impressive and well done pop album!
I think I preferred The Visitors, but I’m still enjoying this in spite if myself.
Really good album Abba duhhh
Yeah, this is a good album. Full of hits, Dancing Queen, Fernando, Money, Knowing Me Knowing You. I was happy to have discovered Why Did It Have To Be Me, that was a foot-tapper! And I appreciated the instrumental track, Arrival. A smily 4 stars for this classic.
Other 9th Billion play song in "Dancing Queen. This is a classic and these songs play regularly in my house.
ABBA do exactly what it says on the tin. They make well crafted, upbeat (for the most part), pop tunes. Sometimes the lyrics are a bit silly, but the music is constructed in such a way as for that not to matter. I don’t understand why people get all snotty about them. ABBA are not going to make political songs, they are not going to spiral into a 25 minute sitar solo in the middle of Dancing Queen. They ARE going to make a 40 minute album of delighted pop music, and they are no less good, or important because of the genre of music they make. This album is upbeat, unpretentious and joyous. It opens with momentum and it takes that energy through to its conclusion. Dancing Queen isn’t my favourite, but it goes with the vibe on this album. It’s perfect pop music delivered by fantastic performers.
Even though I really don't like ABBA, this is full of straight-up bangers.
8.5/10. What a coincidence that Eurovision 2025 began today!!! Anyway, this is a great album!!! :)
I think Abba gets played in a lot of situations where you either don't necessarily want to be there or where the fun is mandatory. Think, weddings of distant relatives, work holiday parties, the thing your friend dragged you to in the middle of summer that's supposed to be a farmers market but is more like a middle school art show with expensive food, etc. That sours this music on an emotional level, but if you listen to it in its own context, I think it's really quite good. This is extremely produced and planned pop music, but it's before everyone could consult the almighty spreadsheet instantly and before the number of streams could be verified. It's not entirely programmed by a robot. It's got more than a few repetitive elements that are guaranteed earworms, sure, but there is plenty to go around that's genuinely musically challenging. The harmonies may sound simple but they really aren't, there are non traditional time signatures (My Love, My Life), choral "instrumentals" (Arrival, and why didn't they lead with this?), and a wide variety of keys and key changes. We all know the hits, whether we want to or not, but they're all very well written and plenty of modern musicians would struggle to perform them as well. There's also the particular charm of what is flawless English being sang with just a hint of a nordic accent. Not sure what I'm really getting at here other than a defense of Abba, but I enjoyed this more than I thought I would. A solid 4.
Disco de hits
Absolutely sublime music. Everyone should own at least one ABBA album- I suggest Greatest Hits. So good!
Some absolute stone cold bangers (Knowing Me, Money, Dancing Queen obviously) and some absolute steaming tripe (Kissed the Teacher, Dum Diddle). But overall, undeniable.
Absolutely iconic!! Nothing life changing for me but who doesn’t love ABBA.
Pretty good, better than expected. "Dum Dum Diddle" was ok and title track should've opened the album. "That's Me" was weakest of the main singles.
Classic!!
Probably one of the biggest names of the 70s/80s and dancing queens legacy has lived on 50 years strong. The other songs on the album were not really my jam but I can appreciate them nonetheless. 7/10
I’ve never listened to ABBA outside of hits compilations so it was interesting to hear a few songs I wasn’t familiar with but I think I’ll stick with the hits if I want a dose of ABBA. Hard to argue with the big hits here though that are as comfortable as the couch in your mother’s basement.
I don’t care what their cheesy reputation is, “Dancing Queen” is a stone cold, Beethoven inspired classic. The whole album is melodic and catchy; they clearly inspired Max Martin who owes them a lot.
I had to listen to this with my husband, because it's one of his absolute faves. When I met him in 1991, I'd dismissed ABBA as a nice pop group who I'd liked in the 1970s as a child (especially that video for Knowing Me Knowing You), but had since thoroughly grown out of in favour of *cool* bands. But here was a man who unabashedly loved them, and regularly sought them out to listen to. Unironically! I found this extraordinary for about two months, but then, of course, had to admit that ABBA had, in fact, been great all along. I even bought ABBA Gold. The songs are beautifully crafted and produced; perfect melodic pop. Some songs are just fun and some make you want to dance; others deliver a real emotional punch, but they all make life better. I've only taken a star off because Benny does favour a stompy rhythm which I'm not hugely keen on and which spoils my enjoyment of one or two songs.
There are some brilliant tracks on this album and I own it from when it came out in 1977 so I’ve listened to it many many times. If it wasn’t for Dancing Queen which I never want to hear again after it loomed too large during the 70s revival in the early 90s, this would earn a solid five stars
Almost annoyed by how much I enjoyed this album.
Not my cup of tea, but still a lot of fun. Abba nailed music that makes you want to dance.
ABBA are legends Nuff said
Nordic pop and its influence is pretty interesting. I'm not going to do much in the way of research, but I know there's a bunch of swedish mfs doing all the pop in the world, and as far as I know it started with these guys and silly eurovision shit. The lyrics are corny or clunky as hell, and the production which must have been state of the art sounds pretty dated now (can't put my finger on why, but I'm only an aspiring production nerd, not a real one), but man have they got hooks. Teacher didn't age too well.
The album that catapulted the Swedish popsters from modest international success to worldwide superstardom. Andersson and Ulvaeus seem to have an almost supernatural gift for plucking perfectly formed pop songs out of the ether. Money, Money, Money and Knowing Me, Knowing You are both on here alongside their massive, almost defining hit Dancing Queen. This album is mercifully free of the plodding tracks which feature on a number of ABBA albums, rooted in the Swedish folk music they were raised on. Fernando, a hugely successful single, has often been added to subsequent releases but was an original inclusion only in Australia and New Zealand. The best deep track here is Tiger.
Lots of songs I already know but I've never listened to the whole album before so good to hear a few new tracks and to hear how the album flows. I enjoyed the album, I would say the well known songs are well known for a reason, very easy to enjoy and sing along to.
Some good catchy songs. Not given a full Abba Album a listen before so good to experience it. Don't know how often I'll revisit but love a good boogie and sing a long when these classic tracks come on. 4/5
8/10
Gör mig glad
I AM THE TIIIIIGEEEERRRR!!!
Solid album, having heard dancing queen before I thought that it would overshadow the rest of the album, but most songs I'd say 7/10 are absolute hits. This being they're 4th album, I'm really more intrigued now to listen to the previous albums and see how their sound changed and morphed into the famous pop group album.
I like it, I see why everyone likes ABBA.
Say what you will about ABBA, but the vocal performance and instrumentals are always on point and they have a great legacy. 4/5
Nothing screams 70s disco like ABBA
I think I let out an audible groan the morning I got this album. Who wants to sit through their commute listening to ABBA? And I have to say as I was driving home still listening to this album, I became of fan of ABBA that day. First I never noticed (or paid much attention) to the fact that ABBA is always in all caps until I typed this. Lo and behold, it is an acronym of all the letters of the members first names. It is also a fish canning company in Sweden, but don't worry, they asked permission to use the name first. Anyway, this album by ABBA has all the hits you know and love. Who can deny a straight man a good singalong to "Dancing Queen" and "Fernando?" And what a fun little ditty to be found in "Dum Dum Diddle." I may not be selling it, but this album isn't as terrible as I expected and dare I say I had fun listening to it? Do I want to listen to it again right now? No. But did I find myself pleasantly surprised - yes. Relax a little. Throw on some ABBA (not to be confused with the fish cannery) and let your cares and worries disappear.
05/04/25 I have never listened to an Abba album, and it was quite good with some classic songs on there. The well known songs made this album what it was.
Classic ABBA. Not perfect but quite a few bangers mixed in
Just some perfectly produced pop songs and surprisingly proggy in parts? I dig it.
It's a classic! I love Fernando, the melody of the chorus, the mix. The instrumentals on this album are so layered and you can hear everything , I miss albums like these nowadays.
I've never listened to any of their albums but recognized so many songs on this album as they are classic hits. I wouldn't normally go out of my way to listen to it, but it was good.
Lots of classic songs, wonderful joyous songwriting. When I kissed the teacher hasn't aged welll lol.
÷Its a vibe. i finally listened to some old songs my mom used to play. so i knew couple of the songs in the album.
Sooo many hits. Best of all, Knowing Me, Knowing You wtf
Album full of all time classic bangers and some meh songs in the middle. I think this might be the case where a few songs can be so good that they elevate the entire album and make it better
Si hva du vil om svenskene, men de kan det å skape melodier. Melodiene bærer dette albumet fullstendig. Nærmest alle sangene er skikkelig gøyal disko med overraskende harmonisk og instrumentell kompleksitet. Akkurat det man forventer fra ABBA. Et par av sangene faller pladask, slik som When I Kissed The Teacher, Tiger og Happy Hawaii. Ellers er det en fryd å høre på, og spesielt hitsa. Jeg nekter å tro at et eneste varmblodig menneske kunne klart å høre på Dancing Queen uten å ihvertfall kose seg litegrann.
a pack of peppy tunes abba has a pleasant unique vibe
Heard most these songs before in mama Mia but they are still good. The song about being a tiger was weird.
Includes the classics Dancing Queen and Fernando. While I'm not the biggest ABBA fan, this is a solid album - a nice mix of music that is all up tempo.
ABBA
Just fun to listen to. It’s not deep. It’s not thought provoking. It’s just ABBA.
7/10
Nothing wrong with a little ABBA
OK, sure, ABBA was always just pure pop, but I don't think they pretended to be anything beyond that. They were brilliant at the pure pop sound and crafting their songs in that style. Something for just pure fun without any pretense is OK by me.
I’ve always been, I would almost say snobby about ABBA. I kinda dismissed it as poppy bullshit. While I knew a lot of songs on here this was the first time properly listening to them. Boy have I been wrong. This was brilliant. Literally one song let it down meaning it didn’t get the full five stars but I actually feel harsh marking it down.
Not my favorite ABBA album, but if you know them, you know what to expect: cheesy lyrics, overwrought music and dense orchestration that you can dance to. I love it.
Personally don’t love this album or their music, but I can appreciate its long lasting relevance.
Right up my alley. Didn't think this would be on the list but I'm glad it is. Not perfect but still pretty good. Highlights: Dancing Queen Knowing Me, Knowing You Money, Money, Money
Well I liked this a lot better than I thought I would. Never paid much attention to ABBA, but their music is fun and the vocals are solid. The second half of the album upgraded this rating. 7.5/10
Ethereus
ABBA has a stranglehold on this sound. Anyone else that tries gets downvoted into oblivion. But ABBA struck at just the right time, just the right amount of hooks, and with great vocals to make so many memorable tunes.
Couple of iconic songs, but the rest of the album was not nearly as memorable. Still very upbeat and a fine way to end the week.
Half the album is basically greatest hits, other half lesser known, all good but didn’t expect any less cause it’s ABBA.
One of those groups for me that I know primarily through best of’s. Like the others I’ve listened to on this list I’ve enjoyed seeing a little deeper. There is more there than the hits. And this record is packed with hits.
Abba einfach klasse
Was willste machen, 4 Sterne bei ABBA
This album is Gold!
MAG IK ABBA HOREN!!! Wat kun je zeggen, best aardig veel tijdloze bangers. Je kent bijna elk nummer wel zelf als ze niet in je playlist staan. Is gewoon een goed album maar voelde niet als iets verreikends (ken alles al). Wel allemaal in een zelfde stijl maar voelde bijna meer als hits ipv 1 coherent werk. Maar ja, het blijft ABBA
Sugar is good in small quantities. A whole album of it can be a bit much. But Fernando is such a banger I'm rounding this up to a 4.
Just can't fault the majority of this, although it really is more of the same at a certain point - a few individual songs don't really vibe with the rest though
Never trust anyone who says they don't like ABBA
I like ABBA and this record makes no exception. Not my favourite of all time but a solid pop record.
This was a lot of fun! A few of the songs didn't feel different than the pop standards of the time and reminded me of The Beatles or The Beach Boys at their most boring but the bulk of it still rips. Very cool that Dancing Queen is like the fourth best song here, I really didn't realize ABBA rocks this hard. My mom was right all along.
8.23
It's ABBA. A little Swedish coziness for a winter day.
I was an ABBA fan in my youth, and I actually won their Super Trouper album by being the first caller to the radio station when the song was played. This is probably the first ABBA album where their sound stabilized and their approach was more consistent and sure... that said, I think Voulez Vous and Super Trouper were better overall albums. Still, although this might not be to everyone's tastes, I think that--like the Carpenters--they brought a lot of musicality and balance to carve out a new space.
Love ABBA, a little uneven but mostly fun
Интересная музыка, великий альбом, но меня не зацепило
dancing queen is one of the best songs ever 3.5
- First side: Wow. Sunny, fun, and so, so catchy. "Knowing Me, Knowing You" is arguably the best song on the album. "Dancing Queen" and " When I Kissed The Teacher" are iconic. And "Dum Dum Diddle" is way better than it's reputation. - Second side: Meh. Do not care for "Money, Money, Money." And "Tiger" is borderline cringe. "Why Did It Have To Be Me?" is surprisingly interesting, though. - Used to not care for ABBA at all. Hits different when you get older and just want to forget your problems for awhile.
Loved them
7/10
WHEN THAT WHITE GIRL MUSIC START PLAYING. I still feel like I'm going to be sacrificed to a cult though.
Not every song is a winner. But the classics are legendary. They still work.
Klassiekertje 4.1
I imagine this album will get bashed heavily in the reviews because it's ABBA and Dancing Queen is so played out. It didn't help that Mamma Mia thrust ABBA back into popular culture, but with Dancing Queen, they've always been a popular group among party-goers and jukeboxes around the world. Overall, this album is really good. It has their biggest hits, and I would say only the "Gold" compilation has everything in one album, but if you had to go with a studio album of must-hear ABBA tunes, it would be this one. Must hear? Yes. Enjoyable? It depends on if the listener can get over the sappy bubble gum pop lyrics. Musically, it's very good. Tracks not to skip: Knowing Me, Knowing You Money, Money, Money That's Me Tiger Arrival (very good instrumental) Fernando 4/5
i mean duhhh
This album has Dancing Queen! I know that song. I like Knowing Me, Knowing You. My Love, My Life is pretty but a little slow for my taste. Money, Money, Money is good too, I like it. My least favorite song is Why Did It Have To Be Me? Tiger is fun. This album grows on me.
It is cool!
Superb production and harmonies, although that goes without saying. Just a great 40 or so minutes of pop, even with despairing lyrics like "Why Did It Have To Be Me?"
well i mean its abba so of course its fucking amazing. standouts here are knowing me knowing you, money money money and fernando. obviously there’s dancing queen which is EVERYONEs fav but personally i think it’s a bit overrated . fun fact: ive got this album on vinyl!!
Just fun pop music, totally enjoyable.
I’d always thought of Abba as more of a singles band, and this hasn’t entirely changed my mind. Those singles are pop masterpieces though!
I pity the fool that takes themselves too seriously to not enjoy ABBA. Can it really be a guilty pleasure when the music is catchy as hell? I think not.
abba är ju ändå fantastiska. vilken hitkavalkad som bara matar på, som en baguette i vrångstrupen.
Ok. Dum Dum Diddle is a... lot. That's Me goes hard. Tiger has a cool ass riff, some weird scale/mode. Arrival... hmmm... Fernando is an all timer for sure. Overall good, definitely some songs that aren't great, but they are all written super well. prolly like a 80%, 4/5
Quality.
Was not expecting to dig this so much. The hits are classics of course, but some of the deeper cuts (Dum Dum Diddle, Knowing Me Knowing You, Fernando) really clicked with me. Genuine pop classic through and through.
7/10 A-Side has a triple-whammy of absolutely amazing songs in Dancing Queen, Knowing Me Knowing You and Money Money Money. Some songs are a bit worse and the B-Side has some slower songs and the epynonymous track being an instrumental. The highs are extremely highs and the rest is okay and quite good at best. Tiger is pretty good.
Love it.
Enjoyed it enough!
This is definitely a classic by a classic band, but it's ABBA! Dancing queen, Fernando! And I found some new songs that I liked! (Money, money, money and tiger)
8/10
They were all great songs that anyone can like but I did not add any to my playlist.
Pure pop goodness.
One of Abba's most solid albums. A great listen that doesn't overstay its welcome
Classic lovable and heart throbbing. It’s aged into a campy nostalgia but is always appreciated.
Enjoyable album, even if "Dancing Queen" kind of overshadows most of the rest of the songs. Low 8
It’s ABBA like. Bangers on toast
There are some really good songs here - well-deserved hits like "Dancing Queen" and "Fernando;" "Money" is good and constantly stuck on repeat in my head. I quite liked "Arrival" as well, I'm sure that I have heard it before but I don't remember it. A few of the songs didn't land for me, but it's still pretty great.
Per chi conosce la lore
Controversial review of the day
[8/10] ABBA rips simple as
ABBA is definitionally pop perfection. Do what that as you will.
Harmonies galore. ABBA at its finest.
My mom's favorite band. I have listened to these songs so much that at one point I pretty much just hated them. But I was young and a teenager, so it made sense. Honestly, ABBA rips. This stuff is groovy, fun, poppy. Its totally over the top, but its also amazing. We're all better off for having ABBA on earth.
Pure 70’s disco pop. Not the greatest thing ever but it sure is fun.
i have listened to the abba before, more of their hits, and it was pretty much enjoyable and easy to listen throughout the album, but nothing more than an fun 70s disco album to just put it in the background while you have fun. There's actually an album with the bonus track but I can't seem to find the album here, the bonus tracks were really good: Fernando and Happy Hawaii. Quite the highlight of the album. Favorite tracks: Dancing Queen, Dum Dum Diddle, Knowing Me, Knowing You.
Arrival is the sound of a band that knows exactly who they are and how to make it work, without overreaching or losing focus. From the first moments, it feels confident, bright, and carefully constructed, yet never cold. The songwriting is tight, the melodies are immediate, and the production is polished without feeling sterile. It is pop music that understands craft and embraces it fully, aiming to connect rather than to impress with cleverness. What really lifts Arrival is how emotionally balanced it feels. There is joy, melancholy, longing, and restraint all sitting comfortably side by side. Even at its most upbeat, there is often a slight shadow underneath, a sense that these songs know happiness is fragile. The vocal interplay is a huge part of that, with harmonies that feel precise but still human, carrying warmth rather than gloss. Tracks unfold with a natural flow, never dragging, never overwhelming, always landing where they should. It falls just short of perfection because it plays things a little too safe. There is no real moment of risk or rupture, nothing that truly unsettles the smooth surface. But that restraint is also part of its charm. Arrival does not need to shout or reinvent itself to be effective. It delivers consistently strong songs, memorable hooks, and an atmosphere that lingers long after it ends.
Hard to fault. Just a super fun catchy album with so many bangers
Schönes ABBA Album
Didn't have 'came within a hair's breadth of awarding ABBA five stars on the old 1001 generator' on my 2024 bingo card. But here we are. It's basically wall-to-wall perfect pop songs. Even the songs I didn't know before today are catchy, funky and well executed. At no point did I get bored of this. Even the title track, a fun little instrumental interlude, is cool. If I liked pop music just a smidgin more, I'd be here dishing out an extra star but the reality is, I won't be coming back to listen to this all that regularly.
Grew up with this on because my mum used to play them non-stop. Great. Nostalgic
Like everyone else, I always dismissed ABBA as pop fluff, fun enough, but not to be taken seriously. Then one day I took Joel to see Mamma Mia musical, and damned if I wasn't still singing those songs hours later, songs I had never heard before that night. My respect and fondness for the group has grown over the years. Some of my favorite songs are not on this album, but there are still several classics here.
ABBA is probably one of my top 20 musical groups of all time. They are just overall great. I grew up on them. I have many childhood memories where ABBA was on in the background. Even though I don't think this is their strongest album (hopefully Waterloo makes the list) it's still killer. Dancing Queen and Knowing Me, Knowing You are musical masterpieces and bring this album up to a 3.5 just by being on here. The layering, the song arrangement, the multiple hooks in one song, all the ear candy going on in the background I can't think of many groups musical giants the way ABBA is. Rutger Gunnarson is a beast on bass.
Abba albums can be a bit iffy with a fair amount of mush, especially on the ballads, but their singles are amongst the most well crafted pop music ever produced. An honest appraisal would be (in terms essential listening) to play Abba Gold for the major hits and More Abba Gold for a few lesser known gems.
Pretty alright, some bangers, ethereal songs arrival
норм, вайбово. несколько песен знал. подойдет для дискотеки или как фон на вечеринке.
overall a good album. I thought its lyrics were good but sometimes alright. Its music was great though, helping the album alot. overall I reccomend listening to this album
Do you like songs that are catchy? "Arrival" by ABBA has songs you may like, such as "Dancing queen" which i think everyone has heard. It has a disco feel, catchy bass lines, and catchy lyrics. It repeats lyrics that you get stuck in your head because its easy to remember. I feel its a bit cheesy i dont know why i just get that feeling. overall i do recommend this album to anyone.
It's tough not to give this album a 5. ABBA is just such joyful music and this album is probably the best collection of that joy with "Dancing Queen," Money, Money, Money," and "Knowing Me, Knowing You" all on the same record. However, having just rated Dylan's 'Highway 61 Revisited' a masterpiece, it's a bit of stretch to consider an album with "When I Kissed the Teacher" and "Dum Dum Diddle" in that same caliber. All of that said though, this album is excellent fun pop and disco and even features some hidden gems in "Why Did It Have To Be Me?" and "Tiger." Maybe if "Fernando" was on the original release, it would've tipped it over the edge. But it didn't feel fair to include it within the ranking when it was an added track after the fact. Love ABBA always, you can't be unhappy listening to this.
I had heard all of these tracks previously, with the exception of Happy Hawaii, because I was an ABBA fanatic in 7th grade. Still incredible; ABBA will forever hold a special place in my heart. It would be a no skip album if it weren’t for Arrival, but that’s an instrumental so I don’t think it takes too much away. I do love this, but it definitely lacks some depth. There isn’t much to the songs beyond the fact that they go crazy. I’m not exactly one to judge because I’m a sucker for basic pop bangers, but I definitely enjoy an album more when there is more depth to it. Still, it’s absolutely iconic and for good reason. Favorite: Money, Money, Money (sorry Dancing Queen) Least Favorite: Arrival
i’m partial to abba. all bangers
I like Abba. The singles from this album are fantastic pop songs. The album tracks are a bit forgettable so I did find myself waiting for the singles to come around but it's a pleasant enough listen. It's just 70's pop, not sure why people get so upset about it either way.
Its such a fun good energetic listen. Everyone knows there huge songs and groove or dance to it. At least sing a little bit along. I'm 23 now and with 16 when some Abba songs played, did me and my friends sing and dance along. But after that its not music that i be bumping casually, which doesn't say its not great but its very simple and easy to catch on, what makes it it perfect for disco, party's etc. 4.0/5.0
I've never listened to ABBA intentionally and wouldn't say the generally peppy eurokitsch sound is my bag. However this impressed me. Perhaps a little dull at points but there were some huge pop songs in here and if you told me it was greatest hits I would have believed you. Composition and musicality is top tier.
Całkiem niezłe, na pewno nie drażni mnie tak jak Justynkę. 4/5
3.5
ah, the pride of sweden, ABBA! as i have said on many occasions, it is impossible to be in a bad mood while listening to ABBA. it’s just fun music that is impossibly sticky. highlights: “dancing queen” “knowing me, knowing you” “tiger”
The Good: Any band where you can read the name backwards as well as forwards, deserves respect! The Bad: In the picture, the band members are NOT sitting in the ABBA format… The Ugly: This means that for this album they are BAAB, which is the short country version for Robbert… Love ‘em, hate ‘em, you have to respect them! 4 HUGE hits on this album… not hits, nay, HUGE hits. And thus, per HUGE hit, I will give a * while hummin’ to myself “knowing me, knowing you…” So close to 5*….
How do you dislike ABBA? It's so incredibly cheesy, but it's too catchy to really ignore. Just fun.
Bangers. Don’t care what you say
It's what I expected from ABBA: fun, jiggy, and really nice harmonies
Ah, the 70s. Simpler times, simpler songs. Compared to lyrics written for songs today, these songs are filled with naive, almost childlike lyrics. It was just a more innocent time I guess. Many of the songs have the same feel as songs lifted from musicals (long before Mama Mia debuted on Broadway). The recording and production is first rate. Many hits: "Dancing Queen", "Fernando", "Knowing Me, Knowing You", and "Money, Money, Money" "Dum Dum Diddle" was kind of dumb, "Tiger" was pretty cheesy and I am not sure what's going on "When I Kissed the Teacher". Overall, this album was a 7/10 for me so I'll round up.
I liked this album quite a bit actually. However, it gets docked a bit due to the movie/musical it helped inspire. 4/5
These Swedes know how to disco. Legendary band with legendary tracks.
Absolute classic, banger!
Excellent but when I kissed the teacher is weird
Although they have been a group for a little over a couple of years, ABBA had truly arrived with, uh, Arrival. Making sure that they get across the threshold with more than a bang, Anni-Frid, Benny, Bjorn and Agnetha sought to capture the hearts of the rest of the world after doing so in Europe and they succeed with flying colors, giving us classics such as Dancing Queen, Knowing Me, Knowing You and Fernando, all of which (if it surprises you) in compiled on here. After the ABBA Gold compilation, Arrival is the next best place to start when delving into the eternally winsome Swedes. Favorites: When I Kissed the Teacher, Dancing Queen, My Love, My Life, Knowing Me, Knowing You, Money, Money, Money, That's Me, Tiger, Arrival, Fernando.
Poppy goodness galore. With its legendary status, I can't help not giving it a high score - however, lyrics are simple, and it's mostly a catchy album without a lot of depth. Still, it's fun to listen to. It's so exciting, why should I pretend? Best songs: Money Money Money, Fernando Worst Songs: Why Did It Have to Be Me, Arrival
A-HAAAAA
Just some great pop music.
ставлю уверенную четверку за такой полный хитами альбом с таким красивым многоголосием и классной но легкой к восприятию музыкой
Super fun sound. Hard to be in a bad mood listening to this.
Not all hits, but it's just good music with silly lyrics so you can't be mad
With ABBA, things are very formulaic, but mellow with great harmonics.
Fun album, abba zabba you my only friend.
It's ABBA, you know what you're gonna get. Big catchy hooks, great vocal harmonies, and very smart songwriting. They really could've have gone with almost any ABBA album and it would have been ok. Great stuff! Key tracks: When I Kissed the Teacher Dancing Queen Knowing Me, Knowing You Money, Money, Money
This one is really hard to listen to for what it is because it's so iconic and I've heard so many of these songs a million times, and even the songs I don't know have a really distinct ABBA sound that is so familiar. Regardless of the rest of my opinion on the album, ABBA is technically indirectly responsible for the grip that Swedish production has had on American pop music for the last ~30 years so it's totally logical to me that they have albums on this list. I think their music is actually quite well made even if it doesn't sound like the most interesting pop music to 2024 ears. There's something they tend to do with the chords, where they follow a super over the top, positive, happy-sounding section with a melancholic twist, which I love. This is also what I've always loved about Max Martin's early work as well, which I'm sure is no coincidence given that Sweden was inadvertently turned into a hub for pop music production because of ABBA's success. I remember in the episode about Stockholm in the docuseries "This Is Pop", they talked about the isolation of Sweden/Swedish people (they didn't really go into why, other than their physical distance from much of the continent), which is responsible for this melancholic twinge in a lot of otherwise upbeat Swedish music. I think regardless of dopey lyrics, that musical twinge is always going to get me; it just scratches an itch in my brain and it feels so good to listen to. The layers of accompaniment also create a fullness in a lot of their music that feels really robust, with a lot of fun bass lines balanced with twinkly flourishes. I appreciate that it borrows some of the successful aspects of disco music and turns it into something different (even if I still think disco as a genre is better). By the second half of the album I was getting a little tired of their voices (one of the women has pretty annoying vibrato if you listen for too long), but that's okay because I think this kind of music isn't meant to be consumed as a full body of work. Some music is just for having fun and dancing which is totally fine, and this definitely does a good job of that. Even though I started this by saying it's hard to separate the familiarity from the music itself, there's something to be said for a song like Dancing Queen having such strong cultural ubiquity that we're not even paying attention to the song but rather how it makes us feel! (Which is that it makes us want to dance! And I can't be mad at that!)
Objectively, I would write this album as a three. I didn’t love the song about the violin, Arrival and the one about Hawaii But Abba holds a special place in my heart. One of the first records that I bought was the single honey honey when I was a very little girl. The song Fernando always made my heart swell, even though I didn’t really understand what it was about when I was a kid. Marianne and I were in New York last month at a tiny bar called The Cubbyhole where we used to go with Keith. When the song dancing Queen came on the entire bar sang and danced. It was lovely.
I never used to be an ABBA fan. Nor was I a hater. They seemed fine for what they were. I liked some of their songs—even loved a couple. But overall, I felt that most of their catalog was too cloying and silly to take seriously. But then I wizened up and realized I was a snobby, stuffy prat. ABBA is smarter, more creative, and more talented than they had any need to be. Dancing Queen isn't just a great pop song. It's so jammed-packed with goodness, tasty hooks, and gorgeous harmonies that it towers over its peers. The chorus of Fernando is maybe the most glorious piece of music I've ever heard. I didn't know most of the songs on this album, and I'm not sure they're all masterpieces. The first song, for example, seems like a misfire. But damn, every tune is layered with production and performance goodness, and they each offer up something unique. Also, the bass player is a badass.
Arrival, siendo uno de los primeros lanzamientos de ABBA, es un trabajo espectacular lleno de canciones y éxitos pop de excelencia. No es exagerado decir que esta banda da el puntapié inicial a más de 50 años de control sueco sobre los "charts" del pop global. Los singles son destacables, pero el LP completo es sorprendentemente sólido. Por favor, escúchelo.
ABBA is rock n’ roll
Very enjoyable listen. Not a masterpiece by any means but well put together. Easy 4 stars.
un groupe incontournable , à écouter et réécouter .
this is a jam
4 - as if Mama Mia was an album… wait
It’s ok
I just never got on the ABBA train but will admit they have some well crafted songs.
ABBA is a 5-star band, but ABBA Gold Greatest Hits is fully the 5-star album
How do you even start rating music that’s been a soundtrack since childhood? A number of 5-star songs and it’s great music - would be a 5 if I could imagine myself feeling like listening to the album rather than individual songs.
4.5/5. Dancing Queen is a certified banger but what the hell is that first track?
Somehow this group can be polarizing, but honestly they are just fun. I don't know where they fit into the evolution of disco and the music scene in the 70's but honestly they are just fun and something to dance to. Even their slow songs I can't help but shake to. Is there anything life changing here, no, but sometimes just dancing and smiling is enough! The fact that they are still known today speaks something to being able to write a catchy fun song.
Solid album with some really catchy tracks. I liked this!
****a really good album. Great variety
My kid is going to be in Mama Mia this spring. I better enjoy Abba while I can before I’m sick to death of them.
What makes ABBA amazing is how fun they are. Even if you hate disco, these songs are silly silly fun.
Classic!
A good album with some familiar songs.
It’s about as solid a pop album as exists.
Yup this one is great
"Tiger"! The greatest ABBA deep cut ever! Arrival has some surprisingly darkish stuff on it. Surprising because ABBA makes some of the lightest music ever made! I was thinking "oh! ABBA! Gentle enough for a fifth-grader!" Have you heard "Knowing Me, Knowing You" or "That's Me"? I'm not explaining that to a fifth-grader. On the other hand, the shimmering pop beauty of "Fernando" or "Dancing Queen" (or pretty much any other song on here) knows no comparison. Really good, especially for those times when Nick Cave or Joanna Newsome are just a bit much!
Sometimes a pop album catches you so off guard with the quality that it makes you rethink what you know. There's so many high quality, catchy songs on this album that it's no wonder everyone knows them. There's also a weird, dark underside to many of the songs. Maybe it's because the singers don't really speak English but it seems very universal.
For a 70's disco pop record it was about what I expected. It had lots of fun and catchy songs throughout. The synergy between the two singers really elevates the overall sound and feel of it all. Even less popular songs on it were fun to listen to. Top 3 Fav: Fernando, Dancing Queen, and Knowing Me, Knowing You Top 3 Worst: no bad songs 4.00-4.25/5
Everything ABBA Touches is gold. Not excluding this.
maybe dial it back on kissing your teacher
felt like i was watching mamma mia
YES
Maybe not the deepest or most interesting album, but a great vibe. I had fun with this one.
I have had a weird relationship with ABBA over the last decade or so. I was put onto their music when I was really young, because my mum grew up listening to them, so she introduced me to their music too. And at the time, That was pretty much all the music I ever listened to, because you know, I was 7 and didn't know anything else. But over the years as my tastes changed, I started to discover music more independently, and ABBA just faded into obscurity in my mind, despite the huge part they played in my childhood. As a teenager, I had decided that I hated ABBA, that they were annoying oversaturated disco and bubblegum pop, and that I was embarassed to have had them as my favourite band when I was younger. But now, I'm glad to be open to thier music again. Due to how overplayed it is, I still can't stand to listen to Dancing Queen (just typical that it's on this album), but outside of that, I actually really liked this. This was my first time listening to a full ABBA album from front to back in probably nearly 15 years, and I'm surprised at how well it actually holds up. 7 year old me was definitely onto something.
Dancing Queen - if you have a problem with this song, the problem is you. Not every song is a winner. But the classics are legendary. They still work. 4/5
They aren't saying "Dan Marino"
I love ABBAs fun and silly vibe. Great album!
classic pop Favorite track: Dancing Queen other picks: knowing me, money money, arrival, fernando
It’s ABBA! Knowing the hits kind of preempts a true rating of the album, but those are the best songs. I wasn't really a fan of the first song, especially as it transitioned into Dancing Queen. But the songs are catchy and fun to listen to.
ABBA is always a good idea
I wouldn’t be an ABBA fan, but I recognise how catchy and ubiquitous these songs are. 3.5-4, but I’ll be generous and say 4.
Favourite Song: Money, Money, Money
pre 2000s guilty pleasure pop artist Standout: Fernando, Dancing Queen
Weird pop amazingness
I loved just about every moment--their music is very rousing and story based, they should make a musical! They have a knack for choosing just the right transition chord to keep a hook going. Standouts (besides hits) were Knowing Me Knowing You and Tiger (roar).
Don't mind a bit of Abba. Some good songs on this along with a couple that are a bit "meh". I can't stand Dancing Queen, but Knowing Me, Knowing You is a great song.
I never really thought of abba as an album band - big hit singles are their bread and butter. This kinda show that - the singles are top class 70’s pop but the rest are a mixed bag.
Banger after banger on this album. I like ABBA, and forgot how good/influential they are. More albums like this, please :)
Great harmonies. Great dance tunes.
It's very fun. Never really pick it myself but happy to hear it. Will I listen to again: 90%
So catchy. Brilliant meolodies. The rhythm guitar sound is light and crisp, very pleasant. This is pretty much the ultimate pop album. Many have tried, most have failed - but this is in the vein of the Beatles songwriting tradition. Hard to fault it. Lots of variety from song to song, too. Abba at the top of their game. Perhaps you could say that it is more a collection of great songs than something that obviously forms a theme as an album, but that doesn't really matter.
Fun and inoffensive. Nice easy listening that could be played or listened to almost anywhere. Feels both dated and timeless at the same time almost. Overall solid. Top tracks: Dancing Queen; Knowing Me, Knowing You; Money, Money, Money
ABBA fucking rules! Impossible to be in a bad mood when listening. Aside from the obvious juggernauts on the album, I really enjoyed the instrumental title track 'Arrival'. Tastefully hypnotic
Pretty much just a nonstop dopamine release of an album
There are too many bangers on this album to do anything but sit back and enjoy regardless of your taste.
god bless abba and their transparent egg copter
It's fun to listen to this relaxed and happy music!
This album started our a bit too disco pop for me but it turned around after Dancing Queen. I ended up really enjoying this one. The harmonies and vocals are mighty damn good. They definitely knew how to craft a song. Some pretty thought out lyrical content too. I think I can get on board with ABBA
Album was good, listened to it before bed.
This album was so much better than it has a right to be
angelic. loved the harmonies. my favourite ones out of those i've never heard before must be "my love, my life" and "fernando". am i ever going to listen to the full album again tho? probably no.
Incredible songwriting
ABBA is the perfect example of 70's pop. I remember hearing several of these songs from my mom and aunts growing up if not just in pop culture itself. I dont even really like ABBA that much but I can admit they have some great hits on this one. Dancing Queen and Fernando of course.
Strong pop album but one of the best pop acts of all time. Lots of songs your mom loved when you were a kid. Fernando is spectacular!
"Ahaaa!" as Alan Partridge would say, "Knowing you, Abba - Arrival, knowing me, Alan Partridge. It was odd going into this because, although I've never listened to an ABBA album, I knew what I was going to get - some classic pop songs and a bunch of filler. I wasn't expecting it to start with a slightly suspect song about kissing a teacher, but given the era, perhaps I shouldn't have been surprised. But when it gets to the hits - "Dancing Queen", "Knowing Me, Knowing You," "Money, Money, Money," you can't help but feel a sort of cheesy joy. I want to give it 4 for the excellent song writing, but the filler is dragging it down. Three and a half?
I have enjoyed ABBA in passing, but this was the first opportunity where I listened to a complete album. Will definitely be adding ABBA to my playlist!
Неплохой альбом. Есть хиты, есть песни похуже. 50% есть
Pretty good
good harmonies well crafted pop music
ABBA has been a band I've listened to for a while, but mostly in association with Mamma Mia or their Gold album. It was nice to get one of their studio releases to see how it holds up. And it does hold up. Definitely an early album from them but filled with some great songs from them. Dancing Queen, Knowing Me Knowing You, Money Money Money, Fernando. All slappers and that isn't even all the ones on the album. This would definitely be a 4.5 if half stars were allowed but a really solid album nonetheless that I will come back to.
Loved this album when I was a kid. Now it's ok to listen to, guess I've simply heard it too often!
ABBA rules, that's all. 8/10 (4/5)
Very good. Very interesting pop album. The songs are played so much, it's easy to realise how often they make unexpected choices. A few album tracks that are duds, particularly the closer, but it's a 4 and more baby
4.0
Unexpected surprise
I feel like this album helped me understand ABBA and why everyone loves them. This is just a fun singable album.
Je m'attendais à plus, mais ça reste un bon album. Je pensais que les deep cuts allaient un peu plus se démarquer. Néanmoins on comprend poourquoi c'est un classique. De plus, la production et le mixing sont impeccables. 7.5/10
Incredible. I love ABBA already. I will say, I know most of their hits and don’t tend to listen to full albums. There were some new songs I learned and some great ones I already knew. I saw a tweet that said that ABBA is a great indicator of who someone is, like if they don’t like ABBA they’re a bad person. I agree. Their songs are silly but so upbeat and fun. Who does like happiness?
almost a 5 but a few not so good tracks
Happy disco sung by a group that sounds like a school choir. Weird lyrics but I enjoyed this dancy number.
Nice fun album that includes two of their best hits in Dancing Queen and Fernando. Liked it and can see why they were so popular. 8/10.
Fun Disco/Pop record. ABBA gets a little polarizing and I don't love every idea on the record but the hits are undeniable.
I always wish I wouldn't enjoy ABBA songs as much as I do, or enjoy them even more. Always stuck in this weird place where I cannot help but groove with the tune when it plays, but wouldn't actively seek it out. This album features (at least) 5 hits, varies in mood and tone while keeping a unifying style, and isn't too long.
Cleverly written pop music and excellenty produced album that sounds great even after almost 50 years. I love the hits ('Dancing Queen' is one of my fav ABBA songs), and 'Arrival' is a beautiful ending of this album. Others mentioned 'Fernando' being such a great song - but it was not included on the original album, it was released as a single in 1976 and was released only on the Australia and New Zealand versions. This album is great even without such a great song as 'Fernando'.
This is disco and disco sucks, right? So why do I find myself sort of enjoying this?
Abba is a guilty pleasure for me. The harmonies make me blush like a kissed teacher. This album was fun throughout, even though I only knew two songs.
This album is very, very good for what it is. Perfectly catchy. Perfectly produced. The songs that dancy are successful in getting you to move. I don't listen to ABBA voluntarily but I don't turn them off either. I'd be happy to hear any of these songs at a club (or let's face it, it would really be at a wedding). I was not familiar with Money, Money, Money and I really liked it
So this has a few of the hits, but arguably not the best ones, and there is a big gap between their hits and album tracks. Still, enjoyable and of course some interesting ideas. Would be a 5 for a lot of other artists but they can do better.
Excellent
my love my life <3 gut one
4/5. A solid collection of disco pop with several classic songs and Dancing Queen throws this up a whole number. There are definitely some misses and Abba is best enjoyed as a greatest hits album but as an album goes, it's short and sweet with mostly enjoyable songs save a couple. Forget the haters who are missing out on the fun, just play it and enjoy. Best Song: Dancing Queen, Tiger, Money
Classic abba
I grimaced when this popped up but I recognize a Pop monument when I hear one. And it's a good one.
Reawakened some joy listening to them...
Nice album!
Great band, great album. Has a few weak songs costing it that fifth star
ABBA slays
Its ABBA. Would give 4.5/5 but I cant:/
Never listened to ABBA before but this album wasn't too bad!
Never listened to an abba album but this was good - a lot of their hits and always fun to listen to. Surprisingly good as an album listen as I thought it would just sound like a compilation of singles, but it didn't.
ABBA will always score high, this is a good set of single songs but it is missing a story.
This is a last minute review so will be quick. I liked this quite a lot, although I expected to be familiar with more songs than I was. It is very catchy, and interestingly composed. There was something in the air that night. I lost my kite. Fernando.
Dancing Queen is one of the best pop songs of all time I think, that and Money Money Money are classics that are unbelievably catchy and very nostalgic for me. The rest of the album keeps up that vibe well with some great songs and a couple weaker spots. ABBA has always been pretty cheesy but they are unapologetic about it and are such great and catchy songwriters that they make it work, they're undeniable. Not stuff I would necessarily throw on a playlist but I really enjoyed this album.
Great fun for the night.
Catchy, catchy, catchy The title track was a nice surprise
Listened in the car yesterday. A great album of brilliantly crafted & performed pop/rock songs. Don't be led by the well known singles - the album tracks are every bit as good.
Pure pop joy! Amazing to have 4 massive hits on 1 album
A maximalist, lush pop album; absolutely stacked with great harmonies. Only cloying occasionally. Highlights: My Love My Life, Dum Dum Diddle, Knowing Me Knowing You, Money Money Money, That's Me, Why Did It Have To Be Me?, Fernando
4+
Dancing Queen! Forgot how incredible Fernando is
First listen. Some tracks I've never heard before plus the classics
Good times!
Some well crafted pop songs. Some of them are better than others. Fernando is a banger.
I wanted to not like this album, but I think it’s impossible to be sad while listening. It just has an upbeat tempo and is so very “ABBA” that you just smile.
Every song is an earworm, beyond the most obvious dancing queen, and money times 3, knowing me knowing you, the rest of the songs are amazing too. I enjoyed tiger a lot which was one I wasn't familiar with and fernando is one of my favorites (is that a bonus track though?) Great album
First time listening to a full-length (not hits album or compilation) from ABBA. Poppy as all hell of course! Infectious, nothing offensive, good hooks, beats, production, vocal, ---probably won't ever listen to it again after today.
Love some songs, just wasn’t in the mood.
very dope very cool
There's the 'four singles/8 b-grade album fillers' pop model beloved of Madonna, Britney et al and then there's this. What to make of the fact that the title track has been streamed 4 million times while Dancing Queen has 1.5 billion. What you can make is of course that some tracks are very very good, exceptional, and others not so much - the singles. You could give it 8/5 for the singles. Maybe even 35/5. But let's be clear as an album, unlike say Pulp's Different Class, you take out the big singles and there's being generous a 3/5 album. So it has to be a 4 for me Clive.
Love ABBA Too tracks: Dancing Queen, Money Money Money
Chances are good you've heard "Dancing Queen" before at a wedding or other occasion for hitting the dance floor. This is the album where that song comes from, along with other easy-listening pop tunes. It's a largely inoffensive record with solid production, though your enjoyment will vary depending on how much you can tolerate this style of music. If that sounds like your vibe, then check it out.
Not for me, but undeniably well written pop ditties
3.5/5
Always had a bit of a soft spot for Abba. There are some superbly produced pop songs on this album. I enjoyed being 'allowed' to indulge a guilty pleasure as part of this 1001 Albums.
absolutely perfect pop music. endless bangers, although perhaps doesn’t have the same range as better ABBA albums
ABBA seems to transcend all generations. That's very evident in the fact that some of their songs have gone viral again with the TikTok crowd. The pop sound is just easily digestible. I mean, you've got mega-hits in here such as "Dancing Queen" and "Fernando". The earworms are plentiful in this album. Put on your dancin' shoes!
There are some of ABBA's best songs on this album ('Dancing Queen' and 'Fernando') which already makes this worth a listen. The rest of the album is largely of similar quality, though some of the tracks are a bit forgettable.
Excellent
what if i eat you i am the tiger