Hunting High and Low

I have now rated just over 50 albums and, as an interim conclusion, I can definitely say that there is too much new wave/80s synth pop on the list. Nevertheless, when looking back at pop history with a comprehensive approach (and a list of over 1000 albums must of course have that), there's no getting around a-ha's “Hunting High And Low.” In my opinion, “Take On Me” is as 80s as it gets and probably one of the most influential songs of that decade. I actually still had the title track in my ear, even though I don't think it's that great. To be fair, I have to admit that “Hunting High And Low” is a piece of music history with considerable earworm potential. But my new wave quota for this year is now used up.

Take On Me has a special place in my heart as a track that reminds me of a particular moment in life. Notwithstanding it's a classic anyway.
The rest are pretty good mid 80s pop. Morten Harket struggles sometimes; his range is great but his tuning a bit suspect in places. But then he was probably very much chosen as a frontman for his looks rather than his singing talent.
The single releases were obviously picked well, but the rest isn't all bad.
Generally a 3, but boosted to 4 because of Take On Me

'So needless to say / I'm odds and ends, but I'm me.' 'Take on Me' is a synth-pop classic, a tune known by millions but remembered by none: played in countless backgrounds, in the foreground it's actually catchier, impressive even. But the rest is an uninspired meeting of David Bowie and Morrissey. Morten Harket is a failure of pop sensibilities since he bemoans unironically and insincerely, a debacle no hit single can ameliorate. Add to that 80s production that's indeed too of its time, and you've a pop record I'd like to appreciate far more than I do. 'Love is reason enuf' to move on from this one-hit blunder. I was waiting for an a-ha moment. Instead I got plenty of uh-ohs, oy-veys, uff das, and here we go agains.

This album really soundly embodies the kind of aesthetic that I think people are trying to tap into with '80s nostalgia stuff. It's clean, sort of futuristic, and its lineage can be traced back to new wave. The synth usage here is *very* '80s, and the sound comes together. Although what this album is most well known for is *undoubtedly* Take On Me. Just about everyone has heard this song, and it is overplayed, but it *is* good. Also, it has a pretty killer video. Everything else here is largely decent synth pop and new wave. The songs are catchy, the production is good, and if you like '80s pop, you'll love this. However, I don't really like that much '80s pop, but I still think there's something here.

I was pleasantly surprised by this album. Lovely vocals and dark synth with beautiful lyrics. I only knew this band for Take on Me so really happy to finally hear this.

Yes, yes Take On Me is one of the greatest songs of all time, and a blast at karaoke. Cool. Whatever (shout out to Reel Big Fish's fantastic cover though. Every classic song could use a good ska cover).

Can we talk about how the rest of this album is nothing but certified bangers? How the hell are they a one hit wonder (and I'm honestly guilty of this)? I know they were huge in Europe, but how come Take On Me was the only thing that really got big in the US? The fact they weren't huge in the US is probably the biggest musical crime in history.

Either way, what I think is propelling this album is the lingering melancholy throughout the whole album. I'm quickly learning that 80's music generally needs some sort of edge of somber to work well. Otherwise you get sickeningly upbeat trash like Scritti Politti (and no I won't give that album a break). And A-Ha have the melancholy down to a science. It's not as down as The Cure, more on the same wavelength as New Order, but it's still there and it's fantastic.

a-ha deserved better.

Take On Me is amazing. The rest is ok 80's noise.

Another instance of an album predominantly included for the hit single. The rest of it is OK, if not a bit subpar. 2.3/5 - > 2/5

Better than Coldplay

Fairly inoffensive.

Solid album. "Take On Me" and "The Sun Always Shines On TV" on here.

This was their debut album? God damn, that's incredible! And it still holds up - the poppy, synthy goodness is on full display here and I vibed to every second of it.

Better than I thought and more than just Take on Me.

Two masterpieces of 80s pop. And some other songs.

A-ha is Norwegian?! Take on me is the only song I know going into this. Other tracks are super 80s. Not sure the rest holds up to take on me, 2*
Highlights: take on me (obv always a banger)

I liked this. Softer than I usually like, but there's some good songs on here. 3.5/5

The hooks/choruses are pretty basic, but the rest is interesting and sometimes surprising.

I see people describe A-ha as a one hit wonder quite often, which just doesn't seem accurate to me. Despite this, before actually listening to this album a few years ago, I would say the same thing. Take it as a sign of my U.S. brain thinking our popular culture is the end all, be all. A-ha had multiple other hits on this very album, but I didn't recognize that until I sat down and listened to their discography. Now I, myself, am a preacher at the house of A-ha, and this album is assuredly one of the reasons. It starts with one of the most iconic pop tracks of the 80s, walking that fine line between new wave and cheesy late 80s pop that it just feels like its oozing the sound of the era in the best of was. However, I think the album only gets better with some of the other tracks, as they stand out in a way very similar to the opener, and it makes the album a very solid piece of lush 80s pop. Morten Harket has one of the best voices in pop, and shows off his chops here in a way hardly have rivalled. Perhaps some of the tracks here could stand to be a bit more memorable overall, especially when put against the greats, but you're still getting what is, in my opinion, one of the best straight synthpop records of its time.

Kinda meh. The highlights are good and the other songs are just kinda there. Not bad, but not super memorable. The singer has great range as demonstrated on Take On Me, but I don’t think he uses it well enough on the other songs where most of the time he’s just doing his best Morrissey impression. Favorite songs were Take On Me and The Sun Always Shines On TV.

1.9