Scoundrel Days is actually my favorite a-ha album. The title song is utterly brilliant, and Manhattan Skyline is one of my faves of theirs also. The big singles Cry Wolf and I've Been Losing You are also classics. The 12" versions of those last three are pretty sweet, too.

I recommended a couple of their more "modern" sounding albums for you, but if you're into the '80s stuff, then just keep digging. As I said, there are more winners than losers on all of their albums.

I consider myself a big a-ha fan, and yet I find most of their albums to be a 50/50 split of great tracks and forgettable ones. The only exception to that is Minor Earth, Major Sky, which I consider to be their greatest album. Not a bad track from start to finish, and quite a few stellar ones, especially "I Wish I Cared," my all-time favorite song of theirs.

Additionally, I'd say their 90s output was by far their worst. I think their best work was on their first two albums and everything they've done post-2000. There are also a few gems on Morten Harket's solo albums.

^ Well, they only released two albums in the '90s, one of which, Memorial Beach, I think is an underrated masterpiece. Definitely their darkest, moodiest work. Great to listen to on dark, rainy nights.

I agree about Morten's solo work. Wild Seed is full of great tracks, and there are gems on all of his albums. But I could say the same about Savoy and Magnes' solo albums. These guys are just good songsmiths all the way around.

Wasn't Stay on These Roads a 1990 release?

yes - 'Shadowside' from off of the 'Foot of the Mountain' album.

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color me clueless of Morten Harket's solo albums - just bought five of them from Amazon marketplace.

Wild Seed is awesome. The others are hit-and-miss.

SoTR was released in 1988.

Oh, right right right. I think I lump SOTR with their other 90s releases because I think it, MB and EOTSWOTM are their weakest albums. For a band largely thought of as a one hit wonder 80s group, I think their strongest work has been done post-1999.

New track! I'm really liking this - and it reminds me a lot of songs like Lifelines, and Velvet.

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Massive world tour going on. And they're returning to the U.S. for the first time in 32 years. Sadly only three dates so far, all in Los Angeles at the Wiltern. Two of the shows are already sold out. They really do need to play more cities in America. At the very least NYC too. I would love to see them, never have. "Hunting High and Low" was such a great album.

https://a-ha.com/tickets

I'd see them if they came to the East Coast.

Actually it's only been 9 years since they were last here, and NYC was on the list that time (since we drove from Michigan to see them)! That was actually their.. um.. "Farewell" tour.

I saw this during Tribeca and it was pretty good. I don't think it has US distribution yet.

I'll see this. Since they aren't fucking touring the U.S. properly anytime soon

The most ridiculous playlist I've made on Spotify:

24 tracks--90 minutes--of different "Take On Me" versions & covers
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/50..._branch=1&nd=1

do you think we would still remember this song or band if not for the video? I think they had a couple of singles back in the day that charted but I can't recall anything but this song from them, yet it's one of the most played songs out there.