The Visitors

ABBA concluded their album-making career on a high (if bittersweet) note with *The Visitors* (1981). Marital discord and career pressures sealed the foursome’s fate — but rather than let their legacy peter out, ABBA offered something fresh and inventive. *The Visitors* bears the influence of technopop groups like Ultravox and the Buggles; its sleek sound conceals moody asides and quirky left turns. Themes of disillusionment replace the foursome’s typically upbeat sentiments — the title track throbs with paranoia, while “Like An Angel Passing Through My Room” stirs the ashes of dying love. Songs like “When All Is Said And Done” and “One Of Us” become vehicles for singers Frida and Agnetha to work out their post-romantic angst. The regrets underlying the songs are clearly evident, yet there’s a vigor to these tracks that mitigates the sorrow. The 2001 remastered version of the album includes the band’s final singles — “The Day Before You Came” (a narrative with Kurt Weill-esque musical overtones) and “Under Attack” (a nervously New Wavish tune). Also found here is “Should I Laugh Or Cry,” a non-album B-side with a simmering Euro-funk tempo. These tracks further enrich *The Visitors*, one of ABBA’s very best releases overall.

AllMusic provides comprehensive music info including reviews and biographies. Get recommendations for new music to listen to, stream or own.