Contemporary Reviews of The Original 1981 Release
Billboard: "The inevitable culmination of introspection, experience and fantasy into a marriage of music and words that is Abba's first true masterpiece – song after song... Abba and pop music at its endearing best."
Trouser Press: "Its high points must be the sort of thing you hear in heaven..."
New Musical Express: "The Visitors" provokes...thoughts after you drift away with those exquisite harmonies..."
Los Angeles Times: "Biggest departure to date from the bubbly, sprightly pop sound which first brought fame in the mid-70s...While rich, sophisticated music isn't as instantly accessible as Abba's past hits, in the end it's just as rewarding....Abba's thoughtful treatment of mature themes here shows impressive growth..."
Creem: "Abba feel. Abba are socially concerned. In fact, Abba take things so seriously and react to life and love with such overwhelming intensity that Ingmar Bergman would do well to sign them on for a soundtrack."
Melody Maker: "Music like this is a juke box dream, golden sparkle and inspiration that's instantly singable yet lasts a virtual lifetime..."
A negative review came from Rolling Stone magazine's reviewer who sorely missed ABBA's upbeat tunes: "The boys and girls of Abba are in a slump. Synth-drenched, melodramatic balladeering seems to have supplanted almost entirely the perky pop."
Even more intriguing, however, was that the reviews of The Visitors now freely included references to " Beatles' psychedelic harmonies, moods and textures", "George Harrison's beguiling eastern charms", and "Steven Sondheim's dark melodies". It reflected further shifting of critical attitudes towards the essence of ABBA's music.
Read more about this topic: The Visitors (ABBA album)
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