Arrival

ABBA’s cool as hell There’s a sense of urgency to their music that I can’t quite put my finger on but it makes it so fun to listen to

I enjoy a bit of Europop, but this album gets pretty samey after a while. Also, When I Kissed the Teacher is very much of another time. Cripes!

I feel like this album was on here because Robert Dimery liked 'Dancing Queen'. There's nothing interesting to say about it

A lot of hits here, but some filler those drag it down. Hard to hate in any case 4*

I loved Dancing Queen, but the other songs didn't really stand out to me.

Excellent. Ce n'est pas forcément mon genre de musique préféré, mais c'est très bien écrit.

I did not realize ABBA put any albums aside from Gold?! Growing up I hated ABBA because it was disco, and disco sucks. But then you listen to Dancing Queen, and it’s hard not to get your groove on, even just a little (let’s be honest, it’s not going to to be just a little). Then you hit Knowing You, and it’s kinda infectious. Money, Money, Money is a classic, because it is a rich man’s world. And there is Fernando. Yum. This album, I was surprised by When I Kissed the Teacher, which I only remember from Mama Mia!, and Tiger, which is silly but groovy. When 25% of your Best Of comes off one album, you know it’s a classic. Disco still sucks but damn it’s good some days.

Random thoughts: * confession: I’m a big Mama Mia! fan. Both the movie and the stage show. So I was actually excited to listen to this one. * Obviously I was very familiar with about 4-5 of the songs and had never heard any of the rest before. I’ve always been a ABBA Greatest Hits listener. * However, as expected, all ABBA songs are basically the same song with just minor variations. So I found several of the “new” songs enjoyable. Especially, “When I Kissed The Teacher”, “Tiger”, and “Why Did It Have To Be Me?”. * Clearly “Arrival” should have been the opening track. Someone really messed it up by putting “Teacher” first. This album could have been a better album with a different track order. * Regardless of track ordering and similar sounding songs. This is peak ABBA with some of their classics like Dancing Queen and Fernando. However, “Knowing Me, Knowing You” is my favorite track here. You have to give this a listen and you are soulless if this doesn’t move you literally or figuratively.

oh boy

Mamma Mia was my intro to ABBA and I loved that one. Some of my favorites are in this album- Money Money Money, Fernando, Dancing Queen… just fun pop, very dated.

3.75

ABBA in 1976 were incapable of making a bad song it would seem. pop music at its very best.

Classic 70s Europop, especially relevant this year 😁

After Mamma Mia… I’m so sick of ABBA. Especially considering that many of the hits are on this, lol. Still love them though.

10/10 - Dancing Queen is my jam!

Good overall. Some great classic hits.

I found that this listen made me realize I don't really have a strong opinion on ABBA one way or another. THOUGH I will admit that there are much better ABBA songs out there. I appreciate its brief runtime given the lack of substance.

gotta love mamma mia, the other songs weren't as good but that's probably bc I don't know them as well

One of their strongest albums. A lot of the main hits on it. Mamma Mia!

As good as the album is, I do feel this a must listen as it is basically a 'best of' album.

No!

Not my favorite. Dancing queen is an overplayed classic, the rest of this album 👎

Not a fan of

Dancing Queen is a classic, 10/10 vibes from childhood. Ballads have ethereal vocals, upbeat songs have driving beats that make you want to dance, and harmonies are always on point.

It’s abba 5/5 always New music I’ve never heard

Wore this album out as a kid with Christina Saracsino - love every song on this (including our flash mob to dancing queen a few years back)!

Obviously know abba… never listened to this album full through. Bangers for days. Such fun upbeat music, I can’t see why anyone doesn’t like them. Favorites: Money, Money, Money, why did it have to be me?, and Fernando Rating: 8/10

Highlight Song/s: My Love, My Life and Money, Money, Money This might possibly be the best Pop album ever.

- "Everybody likes ABBA". No, not me. - "I'm a punk rocker/metalhead/jazz aficionado but ABBA is my guilty pleasure". Nobody cares. - "Every song is fun here". Every song is the fucking same here. - "If you don't like ABBA, you're boring". At least I'm not a cheesy, soulless individual. You get the point. The spirit of Eurovision (one of the most pathetic aspects of this part of the world) condensed in a single band. 2 stars because Dancing Queen is cool.

Really took me back. I felt like there was a lot of songs that were missed opportunities to be on a guardians of the galaxy soundtrack.

Not for me

💯

Some great pop classics. 3.5.

I don't like ABBA, let's move on

I knew two songs going in, and coming out, they're still the only memorable songs on the album. Not that anything else is bad, per se, just that it's generic and doesn't do much for me. Poppy, fun, simple. Catchy. But tbh after I've heard the big hits, I not sure how much this adds as an album. I'll always be on a wedding dance floor for Dancing Queen, but does adding 10 replacement-level tracks make this a great album? Two songs have to pull the weight of the whole album essentially. Abba can put some great pop out there, but they're not an album band, just a "collection of immortal singles" band. That said, Dancing Queen and Money Money Money are good enough to save this from a worse fate.

There are some fantastic, feel-good classics on this album (Dancing Queen; Money, Money, Money). But there are also some songs that are just kinda meh - enough to bump this down to a solid 4.

we would not have pop music without abba full stop

Prima

Klasiekertje, maar ben gewoon niet zo'n grote fan van abba.

Okay, album, dancing queen is cool. 2.7

5/10 Money Money Money nearly saved it, but the irritation factor and the terrible lyrics were just too much. Highlight: Money Money Money

Great album with some classic pop songs

It’s obviously well constructed, but so so banal. I can see ABBA’s value at a wedding or the comedy of playing Fernando to cheer on your favourite athlete of the same name, but this is not essential listening. AI could have written these lyrics. There’s something so plain about this music. A bologna sandwich on white bread, but at least the bread is decent.

So enjoyable to listen to.

An absolute banger of a pop album, no skips and packed full of absolute classics. This was my first time listening to this album through (although I obviously recognised the majority of the songs). I hadn’t heard “That’s Me” before and loved it. A standout song is “My Love, My Life” though. Will listen to this album regularly until I die, therefore, got to be 5 stars.

Some big hits on this one but hard to like an album in 2025 that starts the way it does lol.

Mostly enjoyed this album. Personally, I would stick with a greatest hits for ABBA.

As a freshly 18 yo, Dancing queen always makes me cry

Head cold - thoughts on hold; uh it has dancing queen and fernando on it. Those are bops. Didn't love the vibe of opening track - when i kissed the teacher. Not even content wise, it just gave me Sloop Jon B disease again.

It's a rich man's world

Loved this album so much fun !!!

I've never been an ABBA fan I know that means I lack sufficient Joy or something in my life to not appreciate them. But just doesn't do it for me.. that said, there were a couple sons on here that were less annoying.

Dancing Queen drove the Mother helicopter right into the capitol building

Most fun you can have without taking your clothes off (optional)

Biggest shrug in the history of shrugs

Jesus. I must be the only person on the planet that his listened to a whole Abba album other than just the singles. And it's every bit as bad as I imagined it would be. My sense of duty to actually listen to all these albums is bordering on masochism at this point. It starts off bad, then there's Dancing Queen, which is also bad, but popular. Then there's Dum Dum Diddle. My god. This trash reminds me of when my parents dragged me to see the play Chess when visiting me one time--an Abba play. Knowing me knowing you is the only tolerable track, and just barely so. I dont even hate all disco--some disco is funky, decent, even dark. But this? Cotton candy garbage. Money tries to be dark, but just ends up vapid. Anyway, solid 1/5.

Dancing Queen is unrivaled but the rest of it is your standard pop fare imo

Several great songs. Can see how some later bands were influenced by their sound

Prawie każda piosenka na tej płycie to hit, który kilkadziesiąt lat później nadal zna każdy. Pierwszy kawałek ma nieco ryzykowny tekst, ale człowiek i tak chce tańczyć do upadłego. Ta płyta jest genialna i przetrwała próbę czasu nawet jeśli jest popowa do bólu. 9/10

Had the hits and some really comfy songs I never would have listened to. Great album, was very relaxing and fun. Love the hawaii song, had never heard it.

Clásico

Jonaas Timmerhout luistert Abba. Kan zich niet ontdoen van het idee dat de muziek van Abba gemaakt is door ongelukkige mensen die alsof doen dat ze gelukkig zijn, voor mensen die ongelukkig zijn en alsof doen dat ze gelukkig zijn. Onder de nepdiamanten praal gaat een diepe melancholie schuil die zowel de artiest als de “luisteraar” niet durven voelen. Jonaas voelt zich leeg en ellendig, zich ei zo na existentieel geschort wetend door liedjes waarvan de tekst men net zo goed op het vorige nummer zouden thuishoren en vice versa. 2/10

Every song sounds the same, but that's alright I liked every song.

A third of the tracks are timeless classics, forever played pretty much everywhere but the other two-thirds are pretty much uninteresting filler that I doubt anybody who isn't doing this project has heard more than once or twice.

Beautiful album. Amazing production and songwriting. I’m never going to seek out ABBA but I was perfectly happy to listen to this album in its entirety.

Mange Abba bangers her

Lærere burde ikke kysses. Mesterlig mix. Basslinja på moneymoneymoney er sick. Selve tittelsporet var lame og grusom. Hvorfor sitter de i et helikopter? De kan umulig ha helikopterlappen.

I have always been, that cis white male, dancing queen, you know what a mean and she knows that you’re mean through all the shit that she’s seen

Has some undeniable hits on this album. Some I had never even heard of. Not perfect from start to finish, but long lasting impact

Love me some ABBA

Very good

ABBA is such an occasional fun listen. Glad it popped today.

An absolute classic. The basslines, the harmonies, just awesome

Disco sucks

Really solid album. Good clean fun

5/10 ABBA... 5-27-2025

Not their best.

6.75/10. Only listened once but thought it was pretty good and exactly what I expected it to be. Tiger is my favorite.

Classic

lots of fun tracks

Eh

Title track is NICE

abba definitely owns

Just out at the airstrip with my Swedish pop group. I won a contest so they have to hang out with me and sit in my weird helicopter. That is at least what this cover looks like. No smiles, all business. I am really dreading this, I have to say. Well. Start your engines and set course for post-disco and may our journey be guided by the steady hand of reason. When I Kissed The Teacher - Right off the bat, the worst song title in human history. That accent is HEAVY. Yeah I mean I bet the teacher is petrified because he’s going to lose his job after being accosted by a Swedish high schooler. I can’t let you get close. Take a swing. Eh. Listen. Besides the boneheaded lyrical content, this is a nice song. Pretty nice soundscape and melody. Dancing Queen - Do we really include entire albums for singles? I don’t mean albums for people who are alone. We covered that with “The Verve” and Radiohead. Well this is one of the most popular songs, seemingly ever. “You turn em on… you’re only 17.” Perfect. Hey! It was the 70’s. I do not enjoy this song. Moving on. My Love, My Life - All the words I try to find, I cannot seem to find a way to possess the elusive adjectives to properly describe this song. Ah! Like a bolt from the blue, there it is. I present to you “Meh.” Dum Dum Diddle - Jesus. The new heavyweight champ for dumbass lyrics. Sounding like a Japanese arcade to start and then the repetitive droning pop wears out its welcome pretty quickly. Knowing Me, Knowing You - Ugh. I’m so bored. What can I say about this? Money, Money, Money - What a devastating uhh critique? I can’t tell if this is a critique of rich people because it sure sounds like “jeez I just want to marry a rich guy.” Cutting edge feminism here from the Swedish songsters here That’s Me - More of the same pop music. This is endless. Why Did It Have to Be Me? - That’s what I’ve been asking! Finally, a point of relation here. I really would’ve been fine never hearing a full ABBA album. This is the worst song by far. Jingle Bell Rock played through an eastern bloc radio during a work lottery announcement. Death on wheels. Tiger - Holy hell, will this ever end? There are like 4 songs left. Nay, exactly 4. I wanted this to actually be about a tiger. Perhaps stalking the streets of Stockholm. Arrival - We are entering the atmosphere of KlagNar 27. Scanning for Swedish Pop Groups. Oh good. Nothing there. Proceed to land. I swore this place would be swarming with fair haired crooners. Thank god we can continue with our research mission. Jones, collect some samples. Jones? Why is there a blond hair on your spacesuit. Oh god, what’s that sound. I knew it!! Ripped apart to the tune of dancing queen in the far reaches of the cosmos. Fernando - The worst song so far. Is this about some fireworks display? For you, for me, for liberty? What the fuck is this? Happy Hawaii - No, it’s happy Birthday. Is it? Isn’t it borthday? So many questions. Gee I’m really glad we included this Kids Bop Beach boys song after 40 minutes. What a fantastic romp through mediocrity. The theatrics and the lyrics drag this to my own personal musical hell. I can’t say this is the worst music ever released and I can barely even say it’s cynically made. The performances feel like they believe in this garbage wholeheartedly. I just hate it. I can’t do it. There are some songs that I could see enjoying g if they changed the lyrics and presentation but that’s pretty much changing the whole song, and I can’t award points based on that. Truly difficult to get through in every way. I shall never return. Well, except every time somebody deems it necessary to play these songs in public places. One day we’ll be able to coexist without a dimwitted soundtrack. That’s my vision for humanity. 1 HIGHLIGHTS: Herregud, det här är verkligen ganska fjantigt?

Just not for me.

oh boy

Yup, that's an ABBA album. They were a very tight group!

Saai

A nice one, some great songs on there

While I’m a fan of the Swedish Supergroup ABBA’s popular works, I’ve never listened to a whole album. Although my mom got this on 8 track for Christmas way back when, I don’t really remember listening to it. There’s a significant drop off in quality from the hits to the album tracks. Honestly it’s just filler dreck. Knowing Me, Knowing You is doing all the heavy lifting here. I tried Mom.

It's ABBA

Can’t fault it for what it is, and what it is it does well. For me it’s impossible to sit through this entire album. So saccharine and honestly boring. Not dropping to one because of notability.

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

Can I appreciate that some women adore ABBA, sure. Have I had fun karaoking ‘Fernando?’ Yes. But really…no to all of this. It sounds like a kids’ album. I was not in the mood for cheery Swedes. If you need to play ‘Dancing Queen’ at a wedding reception to get out your glam vibes. Have fun, no judgement. But I don’t want to listen to a full album of this.

A little too show choir for me.

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.

Small doses, but I have to admit it fun and from a songwriting perspective... well written

Some hits that are no surprise, and some not-good filler. Hits carry the album, of course I guess “Dancing Queen” would be added to the list

Fav: Why Did It Have To Be Me? Notes: Ups and downs.

Abba plays like a soundtrack to family vacations when I was just a lad. Undeniably fantastic vocal harmonies and some decent arrangements. Dancing Queen still slaps, even after hearing it at every dance I've ever been to. The hits on here are solid, the filler is pretty meh and even approaches annoying in its Abba disco-ness. Fernando ftw.

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

Den anden ABBA plade vi havde var federe, men det er altså stadig en banger-parade.

There's some timeless bangers on here, I just don't really enjoy this style too much.

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

Not great, but entertaining. 6/10

Classic tracks, teeing up for my favorite ABBA to come!

Dancing Queen, banger Knowing Me, Money, also bangers. Album growing on me 6 tracks in. Back half of the album not catching me as much. Solid 3 stars.

Contain classic bops that just hit right but the rest are easy to forget.

i love ABBA

love pop music

It's a terrific pop album, the singles are obviously the standouts (i'm including Fernando), but the album tracks, particularly on side B are also worth a listen. Dancing Queen is such a banger on it's own, I'm very happy I can give this a 5.

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.

ABBA is fun.

Knew some, some catchy. Dancing Queen album

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

So whimsical and fun!

Listened on 5/23/26 5/5 Favorite songs: all of them (and obviously Dancing Queen which is my all-time favorite) My obsession with ABBA and Mamma Mia makes it impossible to be objective here but if you didn’t smile and dance while listening to this album then you’re a sociopath

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.

Gear: ZMF Bokeh Artwork: 🚁🧔‍♂️👩‍🦰👱‍♀️👱‍♂️ Production: 🤔😐👍 Music: 💃👑💰 Rating: 🫎🫎(🫎)/5

They are a pop band and I dig their hits but their other stuff I can't take or leave.

Of course I liked it. It's ABBA.

Pretty impressive and well done pop album!

Classic ABBA

ABBA being an Abba

I think I preferred The Visitors, but I’m still enjoying this in spite if myself.

Really good album Abba duhhh

ABBA is about as neutral of a band as I can imagine, so this album fit that in it neither excited nor disappointed, and the only song I can recall from this is Dancing Queen which was played multiple times a day, every day, at the Value Village where I worked in my early 20's. That all said, I guess by my metrics I have to give this a 2 because I would never choose to listen to this album.

This was fine to good. Some of the back half was pretty interesting. I liked The Visitors more though. 3/5

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.

Världsklass!

ABBA makes heartbreak sound like a Eurovision afterparty where everyone’s smiling through tears and champagne.

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.

ABBA is one of those bands where the hit singles are better than the albums. This one is fine and it's fun but not really my thing. I do want to thank ABBA's music for inspiring some of my favorite pop stars of the 2010s though.

Heard across the country in town halls, country hotels and renovated barns at every wedding reception - a testament of the unbelievably wide net ABBA cast across the UK audience. The melodies are meticulously composed, infectious and difficult to get out of your head. This band & album are the epitome of 'innocent fun', which is great for parties/discos, but isn't quite gritty or meaty enough to keep me engaged for the whole record. Shame that I can't include 'Fernando' on this listen (as it was not on the original release), I expect the rating would've gone up 1 or 2 half points if so. Best Tracks: - Knowing Me, Knowing You - Dancing Queen Worst Tracks: - When I Kissed The Teacher Rating: 6/10

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!!! :)

ABBA isn’t too bad, but they’re just a band I’m never going to get into. I think it’s because every time I hear them, it takes me straight back to that scene in Addams Family Values where the scout leaders lock Pugsley and Wednesday in a log cabin and blast “Dancing Queen” to torture and “normalize” them. As it happens, “Dancing Queen” is on this album, so when I listen to ABBA, I can’t help but see them as a torture weapon wielded by strait-laced, nerdy normies. Lol!

I enjoyed this quite a bit

The singles off of this album are great, but the rest of the songs fall flat for me.

I'm sorry but I love this. Forgive me.

These guys are alright. I'm not a big dance music fan but ABBA is always fun

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.

One of the things I will never understand about language is about how accents don't translate to music (Outside of country drawls). If I didn't know these guys were from Sweeden I wouldn't know it from the way they sound. Maybe their uncomplicated lyrics demonstrate a loose grasp of the language but you know if they spoke to you it would sound like the Swedish chef, all "Shmorking da borking, flerfing das kerfing". Makes you think.

An odd mix of bangers and dross. Proof that even the best aren't perfect. Brilliant at times , awful at other times.

Disco de hits

Absolutely sublime music. Everyone should own at least one ABBA album- I suggest Greatest Hits. So good!

2.5/5

Some absolute stone cold bangers (Knowing Me, Money, Dancing Queen obviously) and some absolute steaming tripe (Kissed the Teacher, Dum Diddle). But overall, undeniable.

GIMMIE

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.

2,5

Good pop album like ABBA’s signature style, catchy songs ear worms infectious

I was 12 when Arrival came out and since I already had the rather prematurely released 1975 ‘Greatest Hits’. I trotted down to Woolies and gave them my £2.99. It was a great album and I loved it. But I was only 12. As I got older I was laughed at by my older step-brothers who were into hard rock and metal. I learned to hide my love for ABBA. I got into rock and metal. I’ve not listened to this album in 45 years (though I've abviously heard the mega-hits off it endlessly). And it’s still as good as I knew it was. So 12 year old me was right all along. Dancing Queen might be in my top 10 favourite songs of all time. And any other track on the album could have been a worthy single. I'm glad Fernando wasn't on the 1976 album at purchased by me, because I've always thought it was a bit duff. 'Arrival' is a perfect closing track so I would hope they didnt just tack Fernando onto the end of side 2 on the Aussie version like they have done on the Spotify stream. Do youself a favour and stop listening after 'Arrival' ends. Don't sully perfection. (edit. I managed to get through that review without once fawning over Agnetha. I'm so proud of myself)

"Arrival" is the fourth studio album by Swedish pop group ABBA. Pop and euro disco are the Wiki-listed genres. First euro disco album ✔️. The album became one of ABBA's biggest albums hitting #1 in the UK and #20 in the US. ABBA are/were Agnetha Fältskog (vocals), Anni-Frid Synni Lyngstad (vocals), Björn Ulvaeus (guitar, vocals) and Benny Andersson (synths, marimba, chimes, accordions, piano and backing vocals). In 2024, it was selected for the US National Recording Registry by the Library of Congress. "When I Kissed the Teacher" opens the album. A bouncy pop song with acoustic guitar and multiple layers of backing vocals. Agnetha on lead vocals as she had a crush on a teacher and kissed him. Pretty proactive for 1976. Well, the second song is "Dancing Queen." Disco beat, piano, a soaring synth and vocals. Strings and high production. Maybe, the definition of a catchy song. Ah, the joy of dancing. It was inspired by George McCrae's "Rock You Baby." They keep the hits coming with "Knowing Me, Knowing You." A wobbly synth melody. Anni-Frid with forceful vocals in a break-up song. I actually like this song (who cares?). The second side had songs I hadn't heard or, at least, I don't remember hearing. "Money, Money, Money" has a prancing piano which has a real Eastern European sound to it and, what do you know, the original song title was "Gypsy Girl." Anni-Frid singing about a hard working woman who needs a well-off man. No, the Survivor song is not the first time "eye of the tiger" is used in a song. ABBA does it in "Tiger." Their most rockin' song and an interesting guitar riff. A warning about the cities, drugs or both. Catchy, poppy, well-produced songs with great lead and backing vocals. It made them international stars. I was pretty unmoved by this album. It's fine, it's pop, there are songs I know and don't hate. I liked their other album "The Visitors" much more. But, hey, it's the album with "Dancing Queen," "Knowing You, Knowing Me" and "Fernando" on its 30th Anniversary CD/Vinyl. So, there you go.

Classic!!

PERFECT!!!!! BEST ONE YET

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

Perfection. I don't know, but it clicked for me. So many iconic poppy songs, I like almost every single one on this album :)

Classic good times music

Never really listened to Abba outside of some unavoidable singles. I'm dubious... Yeah, I can appreciate the production and pop hooks but this isn't my jam. Dancing Queen does kinda bop though.

Dancing Queen, Knowing Me Knowing You, Money Money Money, AND Fernando are you KIDDING me

The bangers are bangers and I indirectly owe my marriage to half of ABBA but,,, idk. (also, some surprisingly Celtic-y stuff in here as well!)

Funk soul brotha

Lots of classics on here that I really love, though some of the songs I didn’t know made the album slightly less impressive to me. They definitely share the same feel as the songs I already knew but just fell short. This album’s still a 9/10 to me because the hits really do hit. Dancing Queen, Knowing Me, Knowing You, and Fernando all on the same album is a gift.

I don't really like ABBA. They have some great songs, but on average, their music is whatever (which is typical for popular pop artists, to be honest). This album is no exception. I don't hate it, but it's just so unremarkable. For every artist, I would rather them release less music and focus on the quality. I don't care how much great music a band made combined over their albums; the most powerful experience is a single album with a very high concentration of bangers (compilations don't count since the songs in them were not originally designed to go together). ABBA can make good music, but their albums tend to have a couple of good songs (Dancing Queen, Knowing Me, Knowing You, and Money, Money, Money for this one specifically) and the rest is filler.

As my first real listen to ABBA I was expecting to be horrified by whatever it was that's given them their eternal mass appeal. But actually I was sort of encouraged at how creative and earnest all of this is. There are some strange moments. Tiger is the band's apparantly urgent PSA about the dangers of big city life, told through the eyes of a serial rapist. But if these quirks are the cost of having creativity in pop music, I'm here for it. I'm interested in how Abba was able to churn out so many enduring hits without becoming formulaic: I guess the Swedes really are just that good at pop. Fernando is probably my fave. High 3.

First off, check out that album art would ya. Isn’t it heinous? None of them look happy to be stuffed into that tiny helicopter. Come on guys, it’s only 1976! And you’ve just released an album with some of your biggest hits ever - far worse times are ahead for each of you, believe me. Also isn’t it weird to name a record ‘Arrival’ when you’ve already released a steady stream of chart toppers like Waterloo, SOS, and Mamma Mia? I’m pretty sure ABBA ‘arrived’ sometime around their Eurovision win in 1974. “But is the music any good?” I hear you say? Irrelevant. This is ABBA. The drunken gen Zers belting out Dancing Queen in the streets as you make your way home from a big night out renders that conversation meaningless. Money, Money, Money, Fernando - the songs on this album will endure long after we’re gone for the simple fact that they are brilliant, joyous pop music. However, if I’m ever choosing to put on an ABBA record, it’s certainly not one that opens with a playful dalliance between a teacher and smitten student. Arrival definitely shows its age here and there. And, also, what the hell was that Hawaii tribute as the closing track?? The listing of these songs sometimes felt entirely random. But hey, this is ABBA we’re talking. They’re getting decent marks. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

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.

It's good but i feel like the only reason i like it sm is because of mamma mia not because i just like the music

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

It’s ABBA, just some extremely basic but relatively enjoyable pop music. Nothing special

I had fond memories of singing ABBA with my dear departed mother on long road trips. I wanted to like it again. But i do not like it now. The songs are trash. Overly serious for such mundane and even silly topics (“i kissed the teacher;” “dancing queen”). The lyrics are simply dedigned to rhyme and scan — the story they tell is often internally inconsistent (“there us nothing we can’t do” & breaking up is “the best I can do”?? — weak!) & always delivered as if everything depends on *this one song*. There’s no snap to this pop — it’s all hyper-orchestrated and soulless. I guess they harmonize well enough. A two bordering on a 1.

Almost annoyed by how much I enjoyed this album.

Well made, but too sweet for me. I totally understand why they were so popular. Favorite song: tiger.

Solid, upbeat, a couple bangers. 3.5/5

Much better than I expected. ABBA is one of those bands that is really good at what they do, only what they do isn't very good. Some examples of this type of music include Metallica and The Mothers of Invention.

I actually had a vague awareness of Abba, And figured I might like them. I was very wrong.

What a hateful and irredeemable album.

A few good songs and earworm hits; knowing me, knowing you was a surprisingly good song, still don't love abba

Not my cup of tea, but still a lot of fun. Abba nailed music that makes you want to dance.

I honestly felt like this album flew by. Which I guess is a good thing. Honestly I can probably listen to this album on repeat and it'd still be a fun listen. Even their "worst songs" from this album aren't even bad. They got their own style and rhythm. Add on top of that their singles from this record, "Dancing Queen", "Fernando", "Money, Money, Money" are all incredibly good and featured everywhere. To me, there's absolutely no reason to not give this album 5 stars.

Het doet wat pop hoort te doen, denk ik. Als het iets meer naar disco leunt dan kan ik er wel inkomen, maar gros van de nummers voelen als een 'Kinderen voor Kinderen'-fever dream, of als Sieneke, en ik word er ronduit zenuwachtig van. 4,5/10 Highlights: Dancing Queen Knowing Me, Knowing You

Ja, nee, daar loop ik niet warm voor. De kinderliedjes (When I Kissed the Teacher) van ABBA zijn af en toe leuk om een feestje maar gaan we hier absoluut geen serieuze beoordeling geven. 4/10 Highlights Knowing Me, Knowing You

Obviously we all know that ABBA slaps - Dancing Queen an all time classic that only grumpy grumps (see: stupid teenage me) don't appreciate

Ее

Three stars for Dancing Queen. Rest of the album is forgettable.

ABBA are legends Nuff said

I actually kinda liked this more than I thought, some catchy mf'ers

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.

good

Money Money Money and Tiger fuck so much harder than I expected. I get why this band is really popular, even if it's not really for me

Klink klassiker.

Ståpels

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

9/12 låtar är i min egna Abba Gold-lista, I rest my case.

Det är helt okej Abba. 3 bra låtar av 10

Gör mig glad

I AM THE TIIIIIGEEEERRRR!!!

Disco more like dicksblow.

Really poppy but super fun. Enjoyed it far more than I expected to, honestly. Not the type of music I have ever gotten into but it’s still worth a listen.

That’s an… interesting first track, I liked the album it was good if not a little tried and true sonically. Obviously we have the classic dancing queen which we all know, that’s a crazy big song right there, to me that wasn’t even close to the best song here which I respect since it’s always disappointing to listen to an album and have the only song you know already be the best, but yeah, It was a fun listen all the way through and I can see why this album made the list. Favorite Tracks: Fernando, Money Money Money, and Knowing Me Knowing You.

Average

Shiny happy people singing ...

Not my favorite but a classic

Did not expect this to be this good

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.

No thank you

Classic ABBA

Didn't know half of abba's greatest hits came from a single album. It's pop, it's inoffensive, I'm sure at the time the production and composition were stunning but I can't separate how much I've heard Abba from my review. It's got classics but they're not classics I would choose to gravitate toward.

I like it, I see why everyone likes ABBA.

Classic

Say what you will about ABBA, but the vocal performance and instrumentals are always on point and they have a great legacy. 4/5

I would like this band if they didn’t sound anything like the way they do. 2/5

Not really my style but I can hear why they were popular in the 70’s era. While listening I could hear how they may have been an influence for Belle and Sebastian.

Probably the best pop album of all time, and hard to forget the sheer impact it had on pop culture more generally. And beyond that, it's a great listen for the most part. Dancing Queen (!), My Love My Life, Knowing Me, That's Me, What Did it Have to be Me, Arrival, Fernando, Happy Hawaii! Mamma Mia and people paying top dollar to see their hologram in London, to name but a few of their enduring influences. 5*

Stone cold classic singles but a lot of the rest of the songs are pretty hokey ngl 😭 still 3/5

Nothing screams 70s disco like ABBA

Det startede godt.. Men blev pladen gik i hak, og tilbage var det kun datids pop efter en helt stram skabelon. Jeg fik lyst til at skippe for at komme lidt videre, efter bare 15 minutter...

I’m no dancing queen

An album of bangers! Questionable Song - "When I kissed the teacher" - definitely wouldnt be made today, haha. Top Tier - Dancing Queen - forever. Favorite surprise - Dum Dum Diddle.

The hits are very good, but the lows of this album detract from the overall experience. Maybe the sugar sweet singing and disco-pop is too much extended over a full release for me to fully love.

High 3 2 massive bangers, 2-3 good songs and the rest is mehhh Sue me I hate dancing queen

There are singles bands and album bands and - despite what rock snobs may believe - neither is superior to the other. They are just working in two different idioms. ABBA is a singles band and some of the singles on this collection of songs are as good as singles get. But that doesn’t make this an album. That being said, ABBA rule. They are Swedish International Superstars.

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.

I love me some ABBA, but I think there's a reason why I only listen to the hits. When they're good they're great (e.g. Fernando), but when they're bad... oof.

Good vibes only, perfect for a sunny sunday morning like the one today

A few fun well done tunes. They def have their place. Just not in my rotation.

It’s fine — I got distracted. Cool that they kept working after the breakups, and the happy sound hiding sad songs is real, but I’m moving on.

Come for Dancing Queen, stay for Fernando and Happy Hawaii.

I dont know, ABBA is awesome but this whole album was 3 songs and all filler. Disappointed to say the least. Still enjoyed the harmonies and use of unique synths.

Such icons. Not necessarily my cup of tea but I have mad respect and not just for the album cover.

spoko pop piosenki tekst moze nie za bardzo wybitny ale nie jest zle

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.

You'd think I'd like ABBA more given how much I love vocal harmony. Listening to this album, I better understand why folks love them. They're a lot more than a dance pop group. But I still feel like their music is strongly 70s, rather than a timeless classic.

the only redeeming factor was knowing me knowing you made me think of alan partridge

I have very eclectic tastes in music but, deep down, I am a metalhead and heavy rock fan, with regular excursions into Jazz. But I have owned and loved this album on vinyl for years. Arrival is close to the perfect pop album, and ABBA the perfect pop band. There are classic songs here - Dancing Queen, Knowing Me, Knowing You, Money, Money, Money - and the rest comes close to equalling those. The arrangements are wonderful and the sounds so influential (listen to Costello's Oliver's Army immediately after Dancing Queen...). I love this album. It always makes me smile.

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.

So the singles are enough.

Nära 4

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.

The first album so far where I already knew and loved a lot of the music-- mostly due to Mamma Mia and Mamma Mia 2. A collection of undeniable pop songs. Shout out to Tiger and Dum Dum Diddle for their gloriously, delightfully stupid lyrics. I cannot however get behind some of the production choices, to the point where I think My Love, My Life and Why Did It Have To Be Me sound better in their Mamma Mia versions. Next time I want to listen to Abba I'll probably stick to the Abba Gold compilation.

Went in excited because there are a lot of ABBA songs I enjoy, but was a little disappointed. The hits were definitely hits, but a lot of the songs sounded the same. And there was a saccharine tone that started to get old. Overall- not bad, enjoyable at parts. Probably a 2.5/5

Yeah, that's good pop. A bit one-note, but pleasant while it lasts.

yesssssss

Sweet ABBA, sweet childhood memories

The moms were right - ABBA is cool after all. A fine example of a weird band that for whatever reason, the people adore.

The production and arrangements are uninspiring and very samey, and let down a lot of the songs. Listen to Melonie Cannon's version of Dancing Queen to hear how good ABBA's material can be in more imaginative hands.

When I was a kid I set a challenge to myself to see what would happen if I ate 1 piece of every kind of halloween candy in my bag. It was fun at first... then I felt sick. ABBA is like that. I like them in small doses, but a whole album makes me want to barf by the time I get to the end.

So many classic hits. Enjoyable - insane bass!!

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.

So excited to finally get ABBA on this, they always make me so happy. They go so hard. Their harmonies are *chef's kiss* Highlights: fernando, dancing queen, money money money, knowing me knowing you, when i kissed the teacher (still catchy despite the creepiness)

Lots of classic songs, wonderful joyous songwriting. When I kissed the teacher hasn't aged welll lol.

I don’t know what I think about ABBA. Sometimes I really enjoy their music, sometimes I can’t stand it. I had the same with this album: I liked the hits of it, but the rest didn’t do anything special for me really. “Why Did It Have To Be Me” surprised me though: I did not expect to hear such a bluesy song on an ABBA album.

UM HELLO I KNOW MORE THAN HALF THE SONGS AND THEY’RE MY FAV ONES WHO KNEW THEY WERE ALL IN ONE ALBUM THIS MAKES PERFECT SENSE

÷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.

Really really good and fun af. I do have to say though that the last few tracks here, while not terrible, were much weaker than the ones in the first half of the album. Liked 7 out of the 12 tracks. Fav tracks: Dancing Queen Money, Money, Money Knowing Me, Knowing You Eh: Arrival Happy Hawaii

Cheesy, but still fun. Great album cover too.

Listening to ABBA songs I don't know is always an odd experience. This is packed with the hits which are iconic through familiarity, and the others fit in really well. I'm intrigued that their idea of an alien landing appears to just be bagpipes. Not the first time I've heard that either. I suppose if you've tried to understand a Scottish accent it kinda makes sense

Прикольно, но не мое

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

Is it embarrassing to admit when pop music hits the spot?

Everyone likes Abba but not everyone can admit it.

Just fun to listen to. It’s not deep. It’s not thought provoking. It’s just ABBA.

7/10

Okay, I don’t even need to listen to this album… I will because I want to, but I already know 99% of these songs and this is without a doubt a 5

This is a fun Pop album. I like how all the songs are distinctive from one another but still distinctly ABBA. There are some favorites like Dancing Queen and Fernando but I wasn’t overall wowed like I thought I would be.

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.

Not my style

Lyrics are so stupid and everything else is so schmultzy. It feels like the music is too full of itself despite the fact that it sucks. I have personal bias against this but I also just can't stand listening to such hot garbage. SHE'S NOT EVEN PRONOUNCING HAWAII RIGHT!

This album comes with almost 50 years of cultural baggage attached, from Alan Partridge to the musical Mama Mia to every wedding disco I’ve ever been to, along with some of the most memorable songs of all time. If you can put that to one side and listen to this with no pre-conceptions then you are in for a treat. The first thing to say is that this album feels a little like a greatest hits compilation, including ‘Dancing Queen’, ‘Knowing Me, Knowing You’, ‘Money, Money, Money’ and ‘Fernando’, but any of the other tracks can justifiably stand alongside these hits. This is immaculately constructed pop, across a variety of genres from cheesy Euro disco to dark cabaret to good old rock ’n’ roll, not forgetting the majestic instrumental title track. The lyrics have an occasional odd turn of phrase (‘Dum dum diddle, to be your fiddle’) which just adds to their quirky Scandinavian charm when sung by Agnetha and Anna-Frid with just a hint of a Swedish accent. Eurovision-tastic!

This is quintessential pop, with all that implies, good and bad: efficient, overheard, too mellow, entertaining, too predictible. Easy to love I guess, hard to totally hate.

Basically a greatest hits album. Crystal-clear production and great songwriting…in the first half. Second half is definitely weak - Tiger and Arrival are notably bad. Still worth a listen

Pretty good, just not my favorite. 3/5

3/5. I've heard worse. Pretty good listen for the first time.

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.

This was incredibly difficult to rate. On one hand I was reminded of cringe office parties in the early 200s, where Abba seemed to be de rigueur. On the other hand, I remember some of these hits being played on the radio when I was very little, and quite enjoying them. I'm going with 3 stars, for the nostalgia, and the fact that none of the songs are truly awful, which is what I was expecting to find.

point9.

ABBA isn’t my favourite thing to listen to, but it’s remarkable to hear this kind of ultra processed super catchy pop music, but done in the mid 70s and still basically just put together by a band. It takes like 150 people to make this kind of album now and it’s generally not as good. Something in the water in Sweden.

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.

One ABBA song is a tasty delight but an entire album is insufferable. There are a couple hits on the album but otherwise it’s just annoying.

Abba can do no wrong. Ever. Period.

Personally don’t love this album or their music, but I can appreciate its long lasting relevance.

Good abba album. Which is good. But who cares.