37. ABBA, Gold: Greatest Hits (Polygram, 1993)
In the decade following their dissolution, no self-respecting American hipster ever dared admitted listening to (much less liking) these Swedes. Then, as '70s nostalgia set in, the Uncoolest Band in the History of the World resurfaced, albeit initially as an ironic guilty pleasure, a monument to bad taste and Euro-spectacle. However, this compilation proves what the rest of the world always knew--ABBA wrote great pop songs, most of them as uplifting as they were heartwrenching. Benny and Bjorn clearly wanted to be the Fab Four of their time. Arguably, in Europe and Australia they were, and in terms of quality, their high-grade fluff matches everything on the Beatles 1's--transcends it, even, because there is no room for irony in "Mama Mia", "Waterloo", or "Take a Chance on Me", only two ice princesses singing their hearts out over immaculate, intricate, innovative arrangements that could make you believe in anything.
In the decade following their dissolution, no self-respecting American hipster ever dared admitted listening to (much less liking) these Swedes. Then, as '70s nostalgia set in, the Uncoolest Band in the History of the World resurfaced, albeit initially as an ironic guilty pleasure, a monument to bad taste and Euro-spectacle. However, this compilation proves what the rest of the world always knew--ABBA wrote great pop songs, most of them as uplifting as they were heartwrenching. Benny and Bjorn clearly wanted to be the Fab Four of their time. Arguably, in Europe and Australia they were, and in terms of quality, their high-grade fluff matches everything on the Beatles 1's--transcends it, even, because there is no room for irony in "Mama Mia", "Waterloo", or "Take a Chance on Me", only two ice princesses singing their hearts out over immaculate, intricate, innovative arrangements that could make you believe in anything.
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