November 8, 20213 yr Just bought my first new Abba studio album since 1981. That was on vinyl and I trudged through snow to buy it, the biting cold warping the album vinyl for a while when I got home. Voyager I Still Have Faith In You - a heart-warming gentle anthem that celebrates they are all still here and friends, despite of, and because of, everything they went through together. Loved it the moment I heard it. Still do. Frida's voice is warm honey, always has been. When You Danced With Me - Celtic pipes and highland upbeat mood. Frida again on lead, and more of less-of-a-jig then The fab The Piper was (off Supertrouper). Short and sweet and catchy. Little Things - Agnetha on a sweet, gentle, classical-esque Christmas song. This makes the companion piece to Happy New Year so you can have Abba over the entire festive season now. I like kids choirs singing, and it's a very short bit, so it's not remotely cloying as it ends. I'd rather hear this than all of the annual chart Xmas regulars, at least for a few years hearing some less-played stuff! Don't Shut Me Down - classic-Abba styled-pop, a hint of Dancing Queen rhythm, a snatch of If It wasn't For The Nights, and a sort of sad Agnetha spin on a more upbeat pop plea with a great hook. Agnetha's last solo album (with gary barlow and others) had a good vibe like this to some of the tracks. Just A Notion - 50's rock'n'pop throwback, not entirely unlike some of their early album stuff like Why Did It Have To Me, jaunty singalong old fashioned romp from both girls, and delightful for it. I can see why it didn't fit on the later albums, and it was too good to be a B side extra. so a generally upbeat Side 1 if you buy the vinyl version. Side 2: I Can Be That Woman - Agnetha in sad reflective mood on past failed relationships, and I've read some newspaper reviews commenting as if Agnetha is lyrically confessing. Just to be clear, Blorn, the ex-hubby, is the one that writes the lyrics. It's downbeat. Keep An Eye On Dan - Abba back in ominous mood, and a hint of the theatre about it - it wouldn't be out of place in Chess or next to I'm A Marionette on The Album. It's pretty good, though I might have changed the title/hook. production is closer to The Visitors-era, and that's not a bad thing, either. And a little SOS frill to end on. Bumblebee - Frida on lead on another gentle, Celtic-flavoured message-song. Frida is still in fine voice, and I really like this one - seems to be not the most--popular track generally on itunes, but it's just lovely. Intricate and clear and melodic, sadly sweet. No Doubt About It - Not the Hot Chocolate UFO song, for those of us around in 1980, upbeat, bouncy in chorus parts, verses less-memorable, but a sort of OK extra track to The Album as much as anything, bar the vocals sounding more matured. Ode To Freedom - name that classical tune, almost, with added vocal chorus. Classy. Not long enough, both the track and the album, but then I'm being greedy - after 40 years with just bits and bobs released in box sets for completion sake, I never thought there would be another new album: and yet holding back Just a Notion from the box set might seem to suggest it might always be available for some project or other.... Is it the best Abba album? No. Is it the least good? No. Is it good enough? YES. :wub:
November 8, 20213 yr Yes! Just a notice... It's a beautiful and great album. For me ABBA's music has been always a drug against bad feelings and darkness. In my opinion when our World is not in the best form and music scene is slightly degrading it's just in time to get such drug from the best pop band in a history. I really hope they will stay in youth minds not only during this week... Edited November 8, 20213 yr by Better Man
November 8, 20213 yr Listened to the album for the first time earlier. Such a lovely album. It has a very warm, nostalgic feel to it. I can see it doing very well over the Xmas period, not just in its first week. Some really great songs. I think "No Doubt About It" is fast becoming my favourite from the album. Love the singles already released and "When You Danced With Me".
November 10, 20213 yr Ode To Freedom and Bumblebee have both been clicking with me in a BIG WAY the last few listens. Obviously this is all I am listening to right now given I have about 20 copies to work may way through. 11 I Still Have Faith In You 09 When You Danced With Me 06 Little Things 10 Don't Shut Me Down 08 Just A Notion 07 I Can Be That Woman 09 Keep an Eye on Dan 08 Bumblebee 10 No Doubt About It 09 Ode To Freedom
November 11, 20213 yr @1458343138238545920 Heard Frida and they played Bumblebee and her choice of Abba song, a non-single, I Let The Music Speak.
November 11, 20213 yr @1458813634205954054 Glad to see them get that Alexa promo. I didn't get the fuss about "Keep An Eye On Dan" when I first heard it, but it's been stuck in my head all day today. :lol: The production is such an ear worm.
November 12, 20213 yr Heard Frida and they played Bumblebee and her choice of Abba song, a non-single, I Let The Music Speak. ‘I Let The Music Speak’ in the iTunes Top 200 - the Frida impact :cheeseblock:
November 12, 20213 yr In Germany Voyage sold more than 200.000 units, that's more than the rest of the top 100 combined.
November 12, 20213 yr The sales are great, im so happy with the result, looks like they will have no trouble going platinum.
November 13, 20213 yr I think after many listens, my rank of the album based on how much I’ve been playing them all is: Amazing 1. Don’t Shut Me Down 2. I Still Have Faith In You 3. Keep An Eye On Dan 4. I Can Be That Woman Great 5. When You Danced With Me 6. Little Things 7. Just A Notion Very good 8. No Doubt About It 9. Ode To Freedom Good 10. Bumblebee The top four will definitely all make my end of year chart, all so great. Obviously Little Things is twee but it’s charming and instantly nostalgic and has been stuck in my head a lot more than some of the others. While I like it a lot, I feel like No Doubt About It should be five places higher based on my usual taste but there’s something not quite making me hit replay as much as I am with the others. Bumblebee is growing but still the only one one I wouldn’t be sad to lose.
November 13, 20213 yr I’m absolutely delighted with this album now. It’s not the most immediate but it’s definitely worth the effort to really get to know. The storytelling and musicality throughout is just exquisite. As for gooddelta’s least favourites, Bumblebee started to make much for sense for me after the Radio 2 interview with Frida. It’s definitely one where you need to connect with the lyrics I think. Ode to Freedom I think is absolutely glorious and would definitely come in my top half. I love the orchestration and the fact that it almost feels like a classical piece. Separately I was wondering what the male lyrics towards the end of Keep an Eye on Dan are and I found out today: “Seven on Sunday to get him She must have lost some weight She looks better than ever Funny how quickly it take me right back to our first date Have I lost her forever? I’ll keep an eye on my Dan I’m a loving man You know that I’ll never upset him I’ll keep an eye on my Dan And I won’t forget you’ll be here on Sunday to get him” So the mum and dad are still in love with each other - isn’t that beautiful and tragic!
November 14, 20213 yr I'm really enjoying the album it just gives that warm, happy comfortable feeling when listening to it.
November 15, 20213 yr In Germany Voyage sold more than 200.000 units, that's more than the rest of the top 100 combined. Here's a press article in German where exactly this is stated: https://www.rollingstone.de/album-charts-ab...voyage-2378459/ 200,000 sales for the Top 100 (except for the number 1)? OMG - how low are sales today!
November 15, 20213 yr #2 in the USA apparently, which is their highest charting album ever over there. Their other highest charting one was ABBA: The Album which got to #14. Amazingly Gold had been certified at 6x platinum for 6 million copies in the US despite only ever charting at #25!! Also to consider they never had a top 10 album prior to Voyage they still have over 10 million US album sales to their name and that is not including all the Mama Mia spin off releases. Pretty incredible really.
November 15, 20213 yr The German figures are pretty mad, curious to know what Helene Fischer and Ed sold there but they don’t usually release figures.
November 15, 20213 yr Thats brilliant for them in America, delighted its done well for them there aswell. With UK sales of Gold, to my knowledge Gold hasn't had multiple different releases, Queens greatest hits has, if it was based on just the original release no re releases etc would Gold be the best selling album ever in the UK.
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