a-ha reuniting
 

I know there are a few a-ha fans here, besides me. The group announced that they are reuniting for a new album and tour via a press release you can read here: http://a-ha.com/

I'm astounded. I thought for sure that their "farewell" of 2010 was going to be for good (bar the occasional one-off for a ceremony here and there), but am super excited to have new material from them. I sure hope they throw in some US tour dates.

Re: a-ha reuniting
 

My initial thought was "Yay, I guess". I'm happy there'll be more for sure, but there's that little hint of being disappointed in the hype of the farewell and now it's meaningless. I'd think the people who went way out of their way for the "final show" may be a little more upset. But a new album.. and maybe they'll come back to the states!

Re: a-ha reuniting
 

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Re: a-ha reuniting
 

Yes it does make the whole 2010 tour kind of seem like BS now. Guess you can never take a band's word when they say "this is it." I really did think that was the end. Hard to believe that was already 5 years ago. I heard they were going to do this "one off" gig for Rock in Rio but didn't expect to hear about a whole tour and new album. I personally haven't really been into their albums since Memorial Beach. The 2000s ones have their moments, but I don't know they just don't do it for me. I saw them in 2005 at Irving Plaza (first US show since 1986) and 2010 at Nokia Theatre. I would see them again if they played around this area.

Re: a-ha reuniting
 

The other day I was coincidentally thinking about a joke situation I came up with about 12 years ago involving going to an A-Ha concert. I'll start thinking about Led Zeppelin shortly.

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interestingly I was listening to 'Foot of the Mountain' the other day and thought "man oh man - I'm so sad I missed that final concert of theirs".

well - I might have a chance now to see them (maybe).

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"Foot of the Mountain" was an amazing album.. the next one has a lot to live up to.

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If their new album is anything like <i>Minor Earth Major Sky</i> (their last great album, IMHO), I will definitely see them live.

Re: a-ha reuniting
 

ah meh

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Oh I so hope they announce UK dates for August!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

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I don't love "Take On Me", but I know a lot of people really like a-ha, so give me some recommendations for albums that have material better than "Take On Me".

Re: a-ha reuniting
 

Literally every album has stuff that is much better than "Take On Me". Knowing your sensibilities a bit, I'd recommend Minor Earth, Major Sky and their last, Foot of the Mountain. But frankly, they don't have any stinkers in their catalogue.

Re: a-ha reuniting
 

I have this CD and bought it as a blind buy despite having only hard a couple songs of Hunting High and Low and the song from the Bond movie. Like every song on it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headlin...e_Hits_of_A-ha

Re: a-ha reuniting
 

Awesome, thanks! I'll report back after I listen.

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Glad to hear this ... their "farewell" concerts weren't close enough to get to, so hopefully they'll play some US dates closer to home.

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I should probably explore them more myself--they're in my wheelhouse as far as 80's new wave, but they never grabbed me enough to delve deeper. I love their Bond theme, but didn't care for any of their other singles.

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Minor Earth, Major Sky is fucking brilliant.

Lifelines and Analogue were both solid. Foot of the Mountain was really good.

All of their albums have worthwhile material. Maybe my favorite song of theirs is "Dark is the Night for All" off of Memorial Beach.

Re: a-ha reuniting
 

o-ho

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Well, I was going to listen to those, only to discover they're not available on Spotify, rdio, or Amazon Prime. Any other options you guys know about?

Re: a-ha reuniting
 

So the question you're asking is:

Is there a better song than A-Ha's "Take on Me"?

Re: a-ha reuniting
 

My question was, give me recommendations for albums with material better than "Take On Me", which Numanoid did.

Since the suggested albums aren't readily available, I'm listening to what is available. Hunting High and Low was hit and miss, even excluding "Take On Me", but I'm about halfway through Scoundrel Days and it's excellent.

Re: a-ha reuniting
 

I was just attempting to make a joke referencing the Steve Winwood thread. I failed apparently.

Re: a-ha reuniting
 

Oh, haha. The question is, is there a better song than Steve Winwood's "Take On Me"?

Re: a-ha reuniting
 

“Summer Moved On” and “Minor Earth Major Sky” are both on their hits album which is in Spotify.

My favorite song from <i>Minor Earth Major Sky</i> is “Mary Ellen Makes the Moment Count”:

Re: a-ha reuniting
 

I wonder if they've gotten any better at playing live...

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Re: a-ha reuniting
 

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.

Re: a-ha reuniting
 

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.

Re: a-ha reuniting
 

^ 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.

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Wasn't Stay on These Roads a 1990 release?

Re: a-ha reuniting
 

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.

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

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SoTR was released in 1988.

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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.

Re: a-ha reuniting
 

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

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A-ha world tour
 

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

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

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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. ;)

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

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