ABBA - Super Trouper

My wife has requested that I review an ABBA cd so have decided to listen to 'Super Trouper' their 7th album which came out in 1980. ABBA feels like a teflon band. They are omnipresent. There songs are everywhere and Mamma Mia has probably made about 50 billion from the stage and film versions. How can you really not like them when they've released so many delicious pop confections? Especially if you are female or possibly gay. (Is it okay to say this?)

'Super Trouper' is the first song on the cd and irresistably catchy with the ladies vocal harmonies being the focus. 'The Winner takes it all' is next and completes a strong 1-2 punch. It is a song which is meant to be sung in the shower or into your hairbrush. 'Andante, Andante' is a ballad which feels like a b-side to one of their better songs. A lot of the songs use synthesizers heavily as a base for their music. 'Me and I' is a pleasant enough pop song with good vocal harmonies from the ladies including some brief vocodered ones. 'Happy New Year' feels full of melancholy despite the perhaps ironic title. ABBA are good at making light music with occasional touches of sadness. 'Our Last Summer' was used in Mamma Mia and is okay but doesn't really ever build into anything much apart from again having strong vocals. 'The Piper' sounds like something which is meant for the theatrical stage but isn't a very interesting track. 'Lay all your love on me' is another song which stands out because it is a little more upbeat than a lot of the cd. 'The way old friends do' is a torch song ballad that ends the cd and it feels a bit like 'Auld Lang Syne' or something Vera Lynn might have done.

There is a recognisable 80's feeling to the music but most of the songs have aged well. The singles are the strongest songs on it and your best bet might be to just pick up one of the many greatest hits cd out there.