ABBA - The Visitors (1981)

[Dammn Baby]

"Its high points must be the sort of thing you hear in heaven..." - Trouser Press

This is such a perfect final studio effort from ABBA. By the time of its release in November 1981, both couples in the group had split, although they had agreed to continue pursuing musical ventures together. The album contains some of their most mature songwriting, best exemplified by the haunting lead single and breakup lament "One of Us". The Visitors underperformed in the US, where it only reached #29, but it did reach #1 in the UK and other major European territories. Critically, The Visitors has been reevaluated in the decades since its release and is now considered one of their most well-rounded albums.

The Visitors was re-released as a special Deluxe Edition in April 2012, including all B-sides and "Under Attack," one of three tracks which was recorded in the spring of 1982 for an aborted ninth studio album (and was eventually released as a single to promote a greatest hits collection).

Tracklisting:

1. The Visitors (Crackin' Up)
2. Head Over Heels
3. When All Is Said And Done
4. Soldiers
5. I Let The Music Speak
6. One Of Us
7. Two For The Price Of One
8. Slipping Through My Fingers
9. Like An Angel Passing Through My Room

Singles:

One of Us/Should I Laugh or Cry
When All is Said and Done/Soldiers
Head Over Heels/The Visitors
The Visitors/Head Over Heels

[God]

After watching Muriel's Wedding earlier this summer I decided to go through ABBA's discography and this is, by far, their best album.

The title track is just as great as (if not better than) some of their biggest hits. I'd call "Slipping Through My Fingers" and "Like an Angel Passing Through My Room" essential as well.