After 40 years, ABBA has a new album!
Ooookay. I don’t know whether to be thrilled or aghast at this.
I listened. I am definitely thrilled.
Their new songs sound like choir music.
“Don’t Shut Me Down” sounds like classic ABBA, not choir music.
(6) Don’t Shut Me Down - YouTube
I’ve listened to them both and, old and crusty I may be, unable to sift actual worth from nostalgia perhaps, they both sound pretty bloody good to me. I was uplifted, they put a smile on my face.
They sound like classic ABBA and I’m not sure there’s any greater praise. B+B never stopped being great songwriters and A+A sound as wonderful together as always. I think they’ve timed this pretty well. The world could do with bit of ABBA right now.
Please seat me in the aghast section.
ABBA was a fusion of traditional European pop styles – Spanish, English, German, rock, light opera and more. It was always slightly edgy and completely familiar.
Where are the hip-hop, punk and k-pop influences? The melody is still as good as ever, but I was expecting new elements in the instrumentation and orchestration.
Listening to Don’t Shut Me Down, the first thing in my mind was how A and A sound much older, because they are.
The second thought was a slight disappointment at the insistent synth bass in the song. Rutger Gunnarsson (RIP) was a tremendous bass player, and someone of his caliber playing bass, with surprising note choices and tasty fills would’ve made the song more special.
Towards the end of the cut, I felt ABBA crammed everything they know into the production, like making damn sure the cake is rich enough. Maybe a little less would have been more.
In general, it felt like ABBA picked up where they left, close to 40 years ago. The music has an old feel to it. The song is deffo ear candy that rewards repeat listens, and very much ABBA.
I Still Have Faith in You is similarly a very familiar-sounding song, an attempt at a reflective power ballad of sorts. I’m not especially fond of it. The melody hook that carries the song isn’t strong enough, and with that much repetition starts to annoy a little.
I hope these aren’t the best songs of the upcoming album, but I fear they are. No-one makes their best work at 70, be they Macca, Dylan or Bowie. If so, this is a B+ effort, but only in relation to the tremendous earlier ABBA.
I have always believed that K-Pop was a ripoff of J-Pop right down to the hairstyles.
Thankfully absent.
I enjoyed the two songs. I’m never got around to listening to ABBA’s entire discography because I was never a big fan in the sense of not going out of my way to go through it all. But whenever their songs come on the radio I enjoy it. Very upbeat sound and nostalgic feel.
I didn’t think Agnetha would ever agree to perform again. I guess a digital tour made all the difference. She doesn’t have to face any crowds. It’s such a shame stage fright stopped her career.
I’m very happy a new album is coming out. I would hope there’s more maturity and retrospection in the music. Their life experiences should influence the music they write.
Well it’s time to enjoy some new music. 
I haven’t heard Abba’s albums. Except for the hits album. I always assumed there would be a lot of filler material on the albums. That’s typical for pop groups.
While I wouldn’t go so far to say that every one of their songs is great, I will say that many of their non-single album cuts are really good.