The Visitors (ABBA, 1981)

Listen to The Visitors, understand ABBA.

In the genre of pop, ABBA is one of the most popular, well known groups to contribute to the genre. When most folks think of ABBA, they think of tracks such as "Mamma Mia", "Dancing Queen", "Waterloo", and "SOS". When people think of ABBA, they tend to ignore their final work which is without a doubt their most mature, realized album.

During this time in Benny, Bjorn, Anna, and Ann-Frida's lives, the two couple has just recently divorced. Though they continued to work together, the tension became too much and the group split, making The Visitors the last album ABBA would produce.

While most of ABBA's previous work was fluffy, fun and, light (though incredibly well crafted), the final album carries a darker, more somber tone. It deals with multiple themes such as war, loneliness, nostalgia, and sadness. Mirroring the feelings of the four at the time, The Visitors showed fans that ABBA could be versatile.

The brilliant production values are definitely not compromised here, merely changed in sound and style. Benny's piano is still distinct, Bjorn's guitar is unique, and the ladies' vocals are immaculate as usual.

I think what impresses me most about this album is the power behind the lyrics. I'll be the first to admit it: while clever, and well written, the lyrics of ABBA's older work is fluff and nothing more. They're nothing deep, insightful, or fresh. However, with The Visitors, Benny and Bjorn's lyrics reach a level of insight and depth that really makes me feel sad that ABBA didn't continue in this vein of songwriting.

Whether they've written about the war (The Visitors), or just about the pain of their separations from their spouses(When All Is Said and Done; The Winner Takes It All), the lyrics never feel hokey or stupid. In fact, it might be safe to say that this album has some of the best songwriting of the 80's. Here's a sampling from a couple songs on the album:

Soldiers write the songs that soldiers sing
The songs that you and I don't sing
They blow their horns and march along
They drum their drums and look so strong
You'd think that nothing in the world was wrong
Soldiers write the songs that soldiers sing
The songs that you and I won't sing
Let's not look the other way
Taking a chance
'Cause if the bugler starts to play
We too must dance
-Soldiers


Slipping through my fingers all the time
I try to capture every minute
The feeling in it
Slipping through my fingers all the time
Do I really see whats in her mind
Each time I think I'm close to knowing
She keeps on growing
Slipping through my fingers all the time
-Slipping Through My Fingers

All in all, I must say that I'm quite impressed with the note ABBA chose to take off on. It's almost as if they wanted, for just once in their careers, to actually be taken seriously. It's as if for once they wanted to be seen as more than just the band with the catchy dance tunes.

In my eyes, they succeeded.

10/10