Rick-An Ordinary Fool
Well-Known Member
I received my Target CD with exclusive cover art this past Mon. I really prefer this cover art over the standard as I've always felt it's not an ABBA album unless it shows them on the cover. Ha. I wished the poster inside has also been the same as the cover but unfortunately it's not. My CD came kinda flattened and was a bit worried looking at it...yet once I took the wrap off I was able to mold it gently back in shape and square it off as it should look. I wished there had been at least 1 more photo of the group inside as I don't think the one they used compliments the group. How could they use a photo with Frida's head near the staple? lol
I agree with how Harry worded it above....for me, I have never really liked every song on an ABBA album. If I play an ABBA album it's usually to hear 2-4 songs that I really really like and I want to hear them again. No matter how many times I try there are just some songs I really don't play off a ABBA album.
I've been able to listen to Voyage through 3 times and just like their past albums, there are some tracks that I instantly like and will reach for this album to play those tracks in the future. There are some songs I just don't like and most likely won't play them much.
The only thing I will say about the mastering is that while I don't consider this CD brick walled (loudness wars) it is still quite loud and it shows up on certain tracks. Why does the volume on new CD's have to all be at the same loud volume, meaning instruments, vocals, backing vocals, everything just seems like it's pushed up in the mix like each is fighting to be the loudest. I feel that I might enjoy it a bit more had it been mastered like the "Thank You For The Music" Box set. That set just sounds superb to my ears, even some of the singles that were meant to sound loud as to get your attention, they sound even better on this box set because it's mastered so well.
I'm not your ordinary listener and usually don't follow what everyone else feels is the best off the album. So it is with Carpenters where I enjoy the album cuts so much more than the hit singles. Ex. Look To Your Dreams, Because We Are In Love, You're The One, B'wanna She No Home, Goofus, Tryin' To Get The Feeling Again and (I'm Caught Between) Goodbye And I Love You. I would gladly replace any one of their hit singles with one of these album cuts as they touch me more emotionally and isn't that what music is all about.
So from a few listens, these tracks are already favorites and will most likely be the ones that will make me want to listen to this ABBA album again and again.
I Still Have Faith In You (this one pulled at me on first listen, very touching and a bit melancholy yet introspective)
Don't Shut Me Down (really like this track, so refreshing and nice to hear a whole new arrangement, lyrics and their voices again)
Just A Notion (always loved this demo on ABBA deleted, I only wish it wasn't so loud here, I do prefer the simpler arrangement from the demo. However I find that if I listen to this on my Sony MDR headphones, it sounds a bit better and not as loud, not sure why but that's how I hear it. I've read some people say this is the worst sounding off the album but I disagree. It's loud but still enjoyable.
Ode To Freedom (I actually think this is my one of my favorite songs off the album, for me it sounds like a movie soundtrack, I absolutely love how this song opens and how I feel after listening, I like this one a lot.
Those above are my top favorites however there are quite a few I don't really enjoy. When You Danced With Me, I Can Be That Woman, Keep An Eye On Dan (this seems to be a fan favorite but it's not doing anything for me) and Bumblebee.
So I'm super happy they came back together and made this album and I hope it's not the last but maybe we will see a few more to come.
Bonus (My Opinion) I think my favorite ABBA album has to be The Visitors with Super Trouper a close second. There are just so many songs from both those albums that I will listen all the way through because I like every song.
I agree with how Harry worded it above....for me, I have never really liked every song on an ABBA album. If I play an ABBA album it's usually to hear 2-4 songs that I really really like and I want to hear them again. No matter how many times I try there are just some songs I really don't play off a ABBA album.
I've been able to listen to Voyage through 3 times and just like their past albums, there are some tracks that I instantly like and will reach for this album to play those tracks in the future. There are some songs I just don't like and most likely won't play them much.
The only thing I will say about the mastering is that while I don't consider this CD brick walled (loudness wars) it is still quite loud and it shows up on certain tracks. Why does the volume on new CD's have to all be at the same loud volume, meaning instruments, vocals, backing vocals, everything just seems like it's pushed up in the mix like each is fighting to be the loudest. I feel that I might enjoy it a bit more had it been mastered like the "Thank You For The Music" Box set. That set just sounds superb to my ears, even some of the singles that were meant to sound loud as to get your attention, they sound even better on this box set because it's mastered so well.
I'm not your ordinary listener and usually don't follow what everyone else feels is the best off the album. So it is with Carpenters where I enjoy the album cuts so much more than the hit singles. Ex. Look To Your Dreams, Because We Are In Love, You're The One, B'wanna She No Home, Goofus, Tryin' To Get The Feeling Again and (I'm Caught Between) Goodbye And I Love You. I would gladly replace any one of their hit singles with one of these album cuts as they touch me more emotionally and isn't that what music is all about.
So from a few listens, these tracks are already favorites and will most likely be the ones that will make me want to listen to this ABBA album again and again.
I Still Have Faith In You (this one pulled at me on first listen, very touching and a bit melancholy yet introspective)
Don't Shut Me Down (really like this track, so refreshing and nice to hear a whole new arrangement, lyrics and their voices again)
Just A Notion (always loved this demo on ABBA deleted, I only wish it wasn't so loud here, I do prefer the simpler arrangement from the demo. However I find that if I listen to this on my Sony MDR headphones, it sounds a bit better and not as loud, not sure why but that's how I hear it. I've read some people say this is the worst sounding off the album but I disagree. It's loud but still enjoyable.
Ode To Freedom (I actually think this is my one of my favorite songs off the album, for me it sounds like a movie soundtrack, I absolutely love how this song opens and how I feel after listening, I like this one a lot.
Those above are my top favorites however there are quite a few I don't really enjoy. When You Danced With Me, I Can Be That Woman, Keep An Eye On Dan (this seems to be a fan favorite but it's not doing anything for me) and Bumblebee.
So I'm super happy they came back together and made this album and I hope it's not the last but maybe we will see a few more to come.
Bonus (My Opinion) I think my favorite ABBA album has to be The Visitors with Super Trouper a close second. There are just so many songs from both those albums that I will listen all the way through because I like every song.