The Visitors (1. October 2008)

Abba's final studio album tends to divide opinion, but for me it was a fine way for them to finish thier active recording career together.
'One Of Us' was Abba's last major international hit and is probably the best known track here. The follow up song in the UK was 'Head Over Heels' which shocked everyone by peaking outside the UK top 20.
Was it all over for Abba?. Well, in terms of major hit singles it certainly was (in the US 'When All Is Said And Done' flopped also), but this album gave us a few treats and an indication of where Benny and Bjorns musical interests were going (ie musical theatre).
The title track is a mighty song that I always thought could have been a massive hit in it's own right. 'Soldiers' is a lovely Agnetha song, and 'I Let The Music Speak' sung by Frida screams 'Musical!'.
'Two For The Price Of One' is a slightly naff song but 'Slipping Through My Fingers' inspired by the rapidly growing up daughter of Bjorn and Agnetha, and 'Like An Angel Passing Through My Room' more than make up for this.
A couple more single relases aside (and a rather successful Greatest Hits album, a stage musical and an iternationally successful hit movie) is was the end of the road for Abba and I for one am glad that they finished where they did .At the top.

Good if You Listen Carefully (19. September 2008)

And finally we come to the break-up album - the final studio offering from Abba as we knew them and another musical shift in direction. It's only when you listen to the various albums carefully that you notice a definite change to cope with the times and there is a feeling that a break-up after this album was inevitable with Bjorn and Benny looking towards new projects.

The opening track "The Visitors" is an almost frightening climatic offering. The group have said that at this point things were beginning to fall apart with little or no enjoyment from recording and playing together. This is possibly reflected in the lyrics for "When All Is Said and Done." Certainly from an artistic point there is considerable merit in this album. "I Let the Music Speak" hints at the direction Bjorn and Benny would be following in the future. It's a slightly bombastic song that you could imagine turning up on the West End stage.

This takes more listening to than probably any other Abba album and because of that it is strangely rewarding in its lack of immediacy.

Great album. Mamma Mia soundtrack isn't a patch on it! (19. August 2008)

The original and the best ABBA. Nobody can rerelease/rerecord these songs to make them better. Includes classics featured in Mamma Mia! the movie but the original is definitely the best in this case.

An undiscovered gem (14. August 2008)

I've just downloaded this and I can't believe I missed such a cracker when it was originally released. 'One of Us' is just the perfect pop song and 'The Day Before You Came' has to win the prize for the best lovesong written while the writers were breaking up with their partners. Perfect pop.

One of the best albums of all time by any band, ever! (7. August 2008)

The Visitors is one of the best albums ever made by any artist, ever, period. Right up there with:
-The Beatles - The Beatles (white)
-Beach Boys - Sunflower
-Bee Gees - Living Eyes
-Bee Gees - This Is Where I Came In
-Kate Bush - Hounds of Love
-Stackridge - Something for the Weekend
-Tears for Fears - Everybody Loves a Happy Ending.
Packed with amazing song after amazing song and including one of their best ever: "I Let the Music Speak". Sheer genius.
Sad that so few people have yet to discover it. For those of us that have, however, life is glorious!