Definitive Singles Collection 1984-2004, The [ECD] - A-Ha

A-Ha will probably always be remembered mostly for their hit single in the 80's ' Take On Me' and the video that accompanied it, which featured groundbreaking animation at the time. But there was always a lot more to a-ha then this, as shown on this greatest hits collection.

While there is that excellent hit, there are also other notable hits, including 'Hunting High And Low', 'The Sun Always Shines on TV' and 'The Living Daylights', ...
...is echoed in the sound of bands around today like Coldplay and Keane, who have both stated that they are huge fans of a-ha. And rightfully so, a-ha have a knack for writing excellent pop songs, which is showed beautifully on the album 'Hunting High And Low'.

But this isn't that album. This collection ranges from 1994 to 2004. And like most bands, the material wavers over time, and gets either less accessible or more schmaltzy. Some ... more

A-Ha will probably always be remembered mostly for their hit single in the 80's ' Take On Me' and the video that accompanied it, which featured groundbreaking animation at the time. But there was always a lot more to a-ha then this, as shown on this greatest hits collection.

While there is that excellent hit, there are also other notable hits, including 'Hunting High And Low', 'The Sun Always Shines on TV' and 'The Living Daylights', which all have a great melancholic quality to them which is echoed in the sound of bands around today like Coldplay and Keane, who have both stated that they are huge fans of a-ha. And rightfully so, a-ha have a knack for writing excellent pop songs, which is showed beautifully on the album 'Hunting High And Low'.

But this isn't that album. This collection ranges from 1994 to 2004. And like most bands, the material wavers over time, and gets either less accessible or more schmaltzy. Some of the later stuff lacks inspiration, like Dark Is The Night' and 'Summer Has Moved On', which are both just average pop songs, which (dare I say it) wouldn't sound out of place on a Westlife album.

So my recommendation is this - if you can get this album for cheap - I did for £2.99 - then it's a nice purchase. But it's an all better investment to get the album 'Hunting High And Low', which is one of the best pop album of all time in my opinion. This collection is primarily good for the first half, but definitely wavers in quality at the end. 

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