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12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Another Timeless Album, 22 Feb 2005
This album is very nearly as good as its predecessor 'Arrival' from the previous year 1976, and that is truly saying something. And what it perhaps lacks in continuity, or marginally in consistency, it almost makes up for with the stupendous highs that are achieved on this record.The opener 'Eagle' was initially disappointing to me on early listens, perhaps due to its slower pace but this opening track has really aged well to the point where now it is the classic it undoubtedly is. If not to freak out to on the dancefloor, at least as an album track to listen and Soar To. I apologise to my good friend Todd for my ill-advised comments about this song! It may not grab you in the way 'When I Kissed The Teacher' did as the opener of 'Arrival'. But in its own majestic way it is mesmerising and highly evocative of the lyric's subject matter: the most wonderful bird in God's creation flying so high. Over Mountains and Forests and Trees. In a way the second track 'Take A Chance On Me'is a bit of a let down after the opening track. But then again, it is so undeniably catchy and so typical of the Happy Go Lucky songs that this band produced by the bucket load that it is pretty hard to fault this song. And the impact on first listening of those first few lines with those 'take a chance take a chance take a chic-a chic chance backing vocals' from Bjorn and Benny back in 1978 was so Huge in my experience that it is guaranteed a High Place in my affections. 'One Man One Woman' is another (of so many) examples of an album track that prompts that same seven word sentence: 'How Come This Wasn't A Single?!!' The closing number of Side 1 (the vinyl record we're talking of course) was the first single I ever owned. And that may be why it is up there in the upper etchelons of all of Abba's songs in my book. Or of anyone's songs for that matter. But subjectivity and sentimentality aside, this song is truly amazing. Incredibly melodic, really great heartfelt lyrics. Many do not rate Benny and Bjorn as serious lyricists. But I do. This song says more to my ears than the whole of Punk put together. Not surprisingly therefore that it is remembered somewhat better nearly three decades on than any of that Anarchy In The UK rubbish. Sorry Tim. But if Side 1 was close to perfection, Side 2 is rather less so. The opener 'Move On' with its silly deep voice man contributing trite rubbish is only rescued by the melody and uplifting chorus. And then only marginally. 'Hole In Your Soul' was an OK attempt at disco but Abba were to do far better in this field on their next album 'Voulez Vous' (1979). Here, this track is amusing but, ultimately disposable, filler. But just when you think they've lost the plot along comes 'Thank You For The Music'. Which may not be the best song ever recorded. But is probably the happiest. The fact that it appeals to almost anyone of any age is to its eternal credit. This song will be played and loved in centuries to come. 'I Wonder' is another lost gem of an Abba ballad, similar to 'My Love my Life' from Arrival in this respect. A melody to die for. As with 'Arrival' this album ends a little uncertainly, with the jerky 'I'm A Marionette', interesting but hardly the stuff of greatness. But as with 'Arrival', this album contains so much quality material that it is somewhat churlish to snipe at its minor flaws. Here we see Abba basically still on top of the world. Flying high. Over mountains and forests and trees. And History is behind me on this one.
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