AlexdeParis said:

Its a very straight foward record, a-Ha for me have always done solid work on albums throughout, the only misstep i felt was "memorial beach" and their trip to paisley park and work with David Z. A few cuts on that record are classics, but for the most part it was disjointed and led to their break up.

They have lined things up very well with the distribution and marketing, something that a-Ha have complained about in recent years. This time around Germany got the album this past friday and got the single first, the UK isnt getting the single till July 2nd and the album July 13th, a full month after its release in Geramny and Norway.

I think the album works as a whole.. When listening to the album in a complete sitting.. it sounds wonderful. I don't think the songs hold up individually, but I still think it's a really strong album.

Sdldawn said:

I think mainly because a-Ha isnt a singles band anymore for the most part. I mean they havent really had too many hit singles since what they call "round 1" which was the 1985-1993 years prior to their split and direction change, up till that point they had knocked off 17 straight hit singles in the uk and other markets, but after that it was really only "summer moved on" and "Analogue" that were huge hits, album wise however they have never stopped selling and putting together great albums.

So far, I think its their weakest album of the decade. A slight backwards step.

SquirrelMeat said:

gotta disagree there, i think its far from weak, mainly because its source is the strongest member in the band and thats Magne F. Fan wise its been getting raves, its yet to hit the UK so there havent been any major magazine reviews. I think this album will be there strongest seller, its just something totally different than the last 3. Some people say its a return to "pop" well they never really left it, its just on this record instead of Piano, the riffs are mainly on Keyboards. "Riding the crest" will obviously be the next single and ironically the frame of the song, is there most keyboard driven song, and yet the song is based on an acoustic song that MAGNE f did on his last solo record. Not a weak album, just different than the last 3, its easily the most "clear" record of the decade, they often complained about "lifelines" which was great, but the members felt there were too many "hands" in that record (meaning the 9 different producers). I still feel "Analgoue" though a major success was still overlooked.

I actually think this is their strongest of the decade. It's stripped-down and more focused. I am really enjoying it.
[Edited 6/17/09 17:10pm]

NoVideo said:

thats what im thinking too, im not comparing it with the previous 3 since its in a totally different mode, i cant compare records from artists that have actually had "careers" and "catalogs" and most importantly "longevity"