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Almost as good as The Warrants...

01/14/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This album lived up to the expectations which were first created in 1985 with the release of the hit single (with the equally successful video clip) Take on me. But, it wasn't as good, or as fulfilling as John Doe and The Warrants: The Hits 1984 - 1990. My recomendation to any A-Ha, or Duran Duran fan is get yourself a copy of this, or any of their other hit albums (Sleep On Monday, Her Name was Lena)as you definitely won't be dissappointed.A top album - John Doe and The Warrants."

Scandinavian Talent!

fabio-italy | milan, italy | 11/25/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I was 14 when a-ha stepped onto the scene in 1985.
Definitely the idea for the TAKE ON ME video was stuning, all that cartoons/live mixing was fresh stuff.
Plus the song was catchy and fast became a # 1 hit on both sides of the atlantic.
THE SUN ALWAYS SHINES ON TV did just great here in Europe but failed to repeat success in the US - although the mannequins storyboard for its video was just as good.
And the musical bridge boasts a great violin section.
A-ha proved to be polyedric artists: HUNTING HIGH AND LOW, TRAIN OF THOUGHTS are just nuggets, THE BLOOD THAT MOVES THE BODY and THE LIVING DAYLIGHTS (from the 1987 James Bond original soundtrack) border closely to high-class pop.
MANHATTAN SKYLINE and I'VE BEEN LOSING YOU are possibly the best tracks off their second album, while STAY ON THESE ROADS is a simple, well-crafted, radio-friendly tune.
The unreleased track MOVE TO MEMPHIS is stunningly poly-rhythmical, sensual and sung by a dark-voiced Morten Harkett.
The guys are long gone from the top of the charts but they're definitely not from my heart!"

Bringing it all back

Robert J. Kerr | London, UK | 10/25/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Wow. I looked at the track listing, and thought
I maybe recognised four or five of the songs.
Putting the CD on, I found I knew maybe four or
five by heart, knew the first verse of four others,
and liked the rest.My favourite has to be "The Blood that Moves the
Body" -- is there another song about the Japanese
tradition of seppuku? All these songs bring back
memories, especially "Stay on these Roads" which
came out around the time my family emigrated
from Ireland. A-ha did very well in Ireland, and
I seem to recall several #1s. Even now the songs
stand up to comparison with modern song writing,
lyrically and melodically. "The Living Daylights"
is the only rival to Goldfinger for best Bond
theme, and "Hunting High and Low" has the creepy
subtext of the best ballads (think "Every Breath
You Take").A concentrated hit of 80's nostalgia that won't be
taken out of my CD player for a while."