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The Visitors -- ABBA's farewell

JB@aol.com | California | 01/27/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Although ABBA recorded for a few years after The Visitors, this album was their last working album. If you're expecting the chirping bubblegum of hits before, you might be disappointed with this album. This album sports a slightly different sound for ABBA. The lyrics are darker and more mature- a slight departure from the light bubblegum sound of pervious albums. Critics sum up the darker mood of this album to stress in the group, but it seems to me that it's because of a desire to write songs that were considered less pop and more developed. This probably is the reason for this being the last working album -- it became more, and more work to come up for new better songs for the group. Stand out songs on this album are The Visitors, When All Is Said And Done, I Let The Music Speak, One Of Us, Like An Angel Passing Through My Room and Soldiers. Added songs on this CD-You Owe Me One, Under Attack, The Day Before You Came and Should I Laugh Or Cry are an bonus of B-sides that are worth a listen."

If only...

carl2275@go.com | Canada | 08/30/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Ok, since I started liking ABBA in the early 1990s, I had great hopes that the huge revival would convince the group to do some kind of new project together. But since ABBA won't do a tour for a billion dollars, I don't have hope anymore. I take all I can, I buy the old albums, the cover bands' albums, go see Mamma Mia!, get videos and the new DVD Collection to console myself. The light has not completely gone out, though because Agnetha Faltskog is working on a new solo album, I can't wait till she records it this fall. In the mean-time, I'll just cling on to the past of ABBA like listening to my favorite album : The Visitors. Although it doesn't have my favorite song (Summer Night City) on it, it goes into uncharted Abba territory with such dark gems as The Visitors, I Let The Music Speak and Like An Angel Passing Through My Room. The edition I'm reviewing is the one I bought in Canada a few years ago and includes the original Visitors LP plus 4 bonus tracks : Should I Laugh Or Cry (B-side of the One Of Us single), The Day Before You Came and Under Attack (Which were singles from the compilation The Singles--The First Ten Years) and finally You Owe Me One (B-side to the Under Attack single). I just want everyone who says that Abba is a glitzy 70s disco act to listen to this masterpiece which is probably the finest CD in my 300 or so collection. The songs intertwine perfectly and it marks the end of a group, of an era. I always feel melancholy when listening to it. ABBA is the greatest pop band that ever was and they have my infinite admiration."

Very good

PATHERSON | 01/20/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is the last studio release containing original material from ABBA, and it dates back to 1982. IT has a top production, very good songs (my favorite is "When All Is Said and Tone") and deeper lyrics than before, because the band was going through divorce at the time and Ulaveus and Andersson where in a bad mood...Very good."