ABBA Gold

iTunes Review

ABBA may be the most enduring four-letter word in pop music. It’s ironic that the Swedish quartet kicked off its triumphant streak of international hits with a song named for a famous defeat: “Waterloo”. As it turned out, ABBA conquered nearly every corner of the planet by the end of the ‘70s, thanks to their near-flawless amalgam of high-gloss harmonies, indelible melodic hooks and universally-appealing lyrics. Gold is a solidly-packed overview of the band’s lifespan, moving from exuberant youth (“S.O.S.”, “Mamma Mia”) through a confident maturity (“Dancing Queen”, “Knowing Me, Knowing You”) towards a bittersweet conclusion (“The Winner Takes It All”). From the giddiness of “Take a Chance on Me” to the nostalgia of “Fernando” and the desperation of “Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)”, the group connected with the most primal of passions. Three decades later, the vocal blend of Frida and Agnetha retains its mesmerizing shimmer, while Bjorn and Benny’s songwriting continues to grab ears around the globe. The group remains synonymous with inspired pop craftsmanship, canny image-making and an elusive sort of innocence – qualities captured in the tracks of this collection.