November 2, 20213 yr Three months ago I had no idea that I would be so excited about a new album release like this. I've never paid much attention to their music, I was just a casual listener only familiar with the most well-known songs from the Gold Album. Don't Shut Me Down blew me away. I'm so glad that after Voyage I'll still have a full discography to venture into.
November 4, 20213 yr So, I heard the stream for reviewing purposes and it's pretty much what you expect based on the 3 singles. I don't think there will be any additional album seller songs on the album. Little Things doesn't really work imo, but it might get some playlisting as a Christmas song and that's their best bet for a fourth chart hit. Edited November 4, 20213 yr by Sour Candy
November 4, 20213 yr I’m going in with the mindset that it’s a “greatest hits reworked” style experience, which the 3 singles suggest we’re going to get. I fully expect it’s going to be more of a cherry pick affair than a cohesive album. However, as others have said, I am BLOWN AWAY by the 2 lead singles which more than justify them entire endeavour.
November 5, 20213 yr I Still Have Faith In You - Still utterly majestic, I know everyone else has picked Don't Shut Me Down as ''the'' track from the album, but this is it for me. It sounds like classic ABBA, updated perfectly and I love the anthemic chorus. When You Danced With Me - I feel like this one might take a few listens, synth bagpipes (or any bagpipes) are NOT FOR ME. It's giving me Highland vibes and I like the sentiment. It's giving me WAISAD vibes. Little Things - I'm torn on this. Childrens choirs are, as a rule, horrific and should be banned by law. On the other hand I like the simplicity of it, the sentiment and the vocal. I also love the link to Don't Shut Me Down ''I listen a song my Grandma sang'' cut to Agnetha. Don't Shut Me Down - Great, obviously. The perfect mix of ABBA's quirky lyricism, melancholy and Agnetha's reading of the lyrics makes for a classic in waiting. Just A Notion - Still a little jarring hearing the original vocals, especially in context of the album, but it does make sense without the context - this is ABBA looking back at where they were, looking forward to where they are going (i.e. THIS IS IT) and it makes sense. I like it. I Can Be That Woman - LOVE this. It's very ''standard'', it doesn't do anything you don't expect it to. It sounds very classic ABBA and Ag's vocal is just glorious. It's probably the best vocal on the album. Keep An Eye On Dan - The synth line on this is GLORIOUS. It's got that slightly OFF vocal vibe that much of The Visitors did (in the best way). Bumblebee - Frida's time to shine and boy does she shine. It's a little TWEE lyrically, but given I was expecting a Bang-a-Boomerang style number I am very pleased. It's stately and elegant and I rather like the lyrics, even if the central conceit is a LITTLE strained. No Doubt About It - Did they just lift this directly from Shine? Frida 37 years ahead of the game! I love it, but it should be about 5 minutes long. That's actually a bit of theme here, lots of songs should be longer. Just A Notion, this, When You Danced With Me and... Ode To Freedom - The instrumental is gorgeous. The vocal is gorgeous. The perfect swan song. Except, it should be twice as long with an extended instrumental and build into a final chorus. 10 I Still Have Faith In You 07 When You Danced With Me 06 Little Things 10 Don't Shut Me Down 08 Just A Notion 09 I Can Be That Woman 09 Keep an Eye on Dan 08 Bumblebee 09 No Doubt About It 08 Ode To Freedom Ultimately it's a GIFT FROM THE GODS that it even exists at all. That it's good, almost great, is more than we deserve. I can definitely nit pick and I'm sure, in time, once it settles I will have some gripes about the production choices, vocal processing etc, but for now I am THRILLED. (I also now feel justified in buying one copy of every version of the album)
November 5, 20213 yr When You Danced With Me - I feel like this one might take a few listens, synth bagpipes (or any bagpipes) are NOT FOR ME. It's giving me Highland vibes and I like the sentiment. It's giving me WAISAD vibes. Little Things - I'm torn on this. Childrens choirs are, as a rule, horrific and should be banned by law. On the other hand I like the simplicity of it, the sentiment and the vocal. I also love the link to Don't Shut Me Down ''I listen a song my Grandma sang'' cut to Agnetha. YES and YES What a bizarre choice of NMF single
November 5, 20213 yr I had one listen to this bleary eyed and it sounded great on the first listen overall - much better than I could have ever expected and much less of a leftover demos feel that I was half expecting after hearing Just A Notion. But I'll buy the CD later and listen to it properly. I completely agree on the Highland comparison on When You Danced With Me, that jumped out at me too. Interesting to see that as 'the chosen one' by Spotify - track 2 on New Music Friday UK!
November 5, 20213 yr Really pleased from my first listen. Still pinching myself that I’ve lived to see this moment really!
November 5, 20213 yr Enjoyable album, the latter half especially is beautiful outside of the already released singles. I'm glad we got this in the end. I think "Keep An Eye On Dan" and "I Can Be That Woman" are joining the first two as faves at the very least.
November 5, 20213 yr Enjoyable album, the latter half especially is beautiful outside of the already released singles. I'm glad we got this in the end. I think "Keep An Eye On Dan" and "I Can Be That Woman" are joining the first two as faves at the very least. The taste!
November 5, 20213 yr There’s also echoes of Roxette - Listen To Your Heart in I Can Be Your Woman too.
November 5, 20213 yr My early scores and very brief thoughts after two listens are: 10 I Still Have Faith In You (song of the year contender, so beautiful) 09 When You Danced With Me (I love this sort of thing, anything Celtic meets Scandi sounding <3) 08 Little Things (it's very twee and cloying but sweet, I do have a soft spot for it although the line about grandma is maybe a touch too much) 10 Don't Shut Me Down (another song of the year contender, the way that they managed to distill everything that's great about them into the comeback single <3) 08 Just A Notion (grown on me so much since the first listen, it does stick out but it's so catchy) 09 I Can Be That Woman (So good to see Bjorn hasn't lost his ability to tell a gripping story in a song - some questionable lyrics aside - and Agnetha is so fantastic on this. Can hear Listen To Your Heart here too) 09 Keep an Eye on Dan (the chorus, the production, the synths! So good, and the SOS outro *.*) 07 Bumblebee (the only song not fully clicking with me so far, although Frida sounds lovely on it) 09 No Doubt About It (So jaunty and classic ABBA, Frida sounds so good on this, I too wish it was longer though) 09 Ode To Freedom (for me this is similar to what Sweden were peddling in mid-90s Melodifestivalen, like Den Vilda, or Det Vackraste. I didn't really expect two sonic nods to One More Time on this album but I guess they're all family so why not)
November 5, 20213 yr I'm pleasantly surprised by how high the quality is overall, I was expecting it to be mostly cobbled together reworked bits from the cutting room floor (like 'Just a Notion' was) but it's a really solid, enjoyable album with lots of classic ABBA moments. I loove 'When You Danced With Me', and 'Keep An Eye On Dan' is GLORIOUS. I like it when they used to go a bit out there, and this is quite wacky. 'I Can Be That Woman' is also gorgeous :heart: I'm expecting they'll probably push the Christmas Carol during the festive season?
November 5, 20213 yr About 8 listens later and I’m ready to upgrade When You Danced With Me to a TRIUMPH.
November 5, 20213 yr "Little Things" is very underrated, this track reminds me of favourite vintage Xmas songs like "Must Be Santa" and "Christmas Cards". :wub:
November 7, 20213 yr Some ramblings after (finally) playing it through... I was apprehensive after reading so many disappointing reviews on here. I tried not to read too many of them thoroughly though and I'm glad I didn't. Overall, the album is just spot on! It doesn't necessarily feel like a progression from The Visitors, nor does it quite feel like a forced melange of career highlights with new lyrics, to pander to the ABBA Gold-level listener, more a cross between the two to keep all levels of ABBA fan happy enough with what they've invested in. It's more than I ever could have expected just a few months ago. After one listen, this is my current order of preference from best to 10th best (I can't say worst): 1 Don't Shut Me Down 2 Just A Notion 3 I Still Have Faith In You 4 I Can Be That Woman (B&B should be careful, Tammy Wynette's gross widower will be after them for royalties) 5 No Doubt About It (I felt like I was listening to a track from "Shine". Probably the least ABBA song on the album- a great surprise!) 6 When You Danced With Me (maybe, this is a thank you from ABBA to Westlife for taking "I Have a Dream" to number 1 (does a scampy Frida grin at camera)) 7 Little Things (I think it's sweet and can't see what all the grumbling is for) 8 Keep An Eye On Dan (the obligatory ABBA album track with iffy lyrics...I'd have liked more of a disco sound and I'm surprised it isn't more discoey given the synths that replace traditional instruments throughout the rest of the album.) 9 Ode To Freedom (Jury's out on this one. Nice instrumentation. Unsure about the key it's in as this is lowwwww for Frida. If this is the real swansong I expected something more majestic to be honest.) OK, one song I think is meh v v v v v v 10 Bumblebee (like a bee, it flew over my head a bit.) With Tretow at the helm I think this great album could have had more sheen. But, this is a collection of ABBA songs nobody expected, so to me this is just a huge bonus, made better by the fact this is good enough to be treated just like any of their albums from first time round
November 8, 20213 yr Voyage is highly enjoyable. Just a Notion is brilliant it feels like putting on an old comfy jumper.
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