Music Review: a-ha: Lifelines
Written by: Kage Alan

         Album Rating: B

The biggest problem with a group that starts their career off with a couple
of major pop hits, in this case "Take On Me" and "The Sun Always Shines On
TV", is that we hate when they don't follow up in the same style.  How many
of Britney's followers would remain loyal if she suddenly did a Blues album?  
a-ha's second outing, "Stay On These Roads" was a moody piece, but contained enough clever hooks and decent vocals to find an audience.  "Stay On These Roads" was much more pop oriented and did well, but it's also the last time the group would sound that way.  "East Of The Sun, West Of The Moon" was the most mature a-ha has ever and is probably the strongest album by far, but the final album before the group disbanded, "Memorial Beach", was an exercise in watching paint dry.  It was a boring disaster and I wasn't sorry to see them split up.

After a long absence from the scene (and after the lead singer had a couple
of less-than-stellar solo albums), a-ha reunited and recorded "Minor
Earth/Major Sky".  Fans were ecstatic and so was I until I heard the album.
It was a definite improvement over "Memorial Beach", but still struck me as
dull, though my opinion was in the minority.  Now, two years later, we have
"Lifelines".  While not perfect, I like it quite a bit better than "Minor
Earth".  a-ha may still be a mature band, but they've found a way to merge
that maturity in with some strong vocals that provide the kick I felt the
last album lacked.

"Lifelines" starts off with a song of the same title.  It's a soft and slow
melody, but Morten Harket's vocals are strong, melodic and clear, the best
he's sounded in a long time.  "You Wanted More" picks the pace up a bit and
adds a slightly more robust beat than before and again features a decent
hook.  "Forever Not Yours" varies the beat, but still showcases Morten's
strong vocals.  Much of the album continues on in this same manner, either a
little slower or at the same pace as the second track.  When it's not always
musically exciting, it is vocally and vice-versa.  I found myself really
enjoying the slower "Time & Again" and "White Canvas", the upbeat "Did Anyone Approach You" and "Cannot Hide", the 60's sounding "Afternoon High", the bombastic "Oranges On Apple Trees" and the duet with Anneli Drecker on "Turn The Lights Down", easily the best track on the entire album.

Morten has really gone to great efforts to promote his vocal range on
"Lifelines" and it comes through beautifully.  Even if I wished for something
more pop oriented, I was just as happy to sit back and listen to him sing.  
Unfortunately, the album's biggest weakness lies in that it features 15
tracks and begins to sound like the CD that will never end.  Some of the
weaker songs could very easily have been left off, thereby showcasing a
tighter and better sounding album.  The thing is that "Lifelines" is a very
good album once you get through it and start realizing the rich material
that's included, but you will find yourself skipping over the filler tracks
to get to your favorites.  While this is not an uncommon practice, it is
unfortunate with this CD.

Instead of going from strongest album to weakest this incarnation, a-ha seems
to be strengthening their approach and improving on their previous comeback
effort.  I only hope that they continue to learn what works on this album and
apply it to the next.  Long gone are the days of "Take On Me", but a-ha still
has heart, something aging fans like myself continue to appreciate.  We
sometimes need something slow and melodic and "Lifelines" fits the bill.  Now
where's my walker?  I need to get up and find my Snoop Doggy Dogg disc.

COMMENTS:
Date/Time of Posting:  Aug 29 2002 / 06:49:56
IP Address:  213.8.222.15
name = LIRON
comments = DO YOU REALLY THINK THAT A-HA COULD HAVE DONE BETTER? WELL IF YOU WILL ASK ME I THINK THAT "LIFELINES" IT IS THE BIGGEST AND THE MOST MAGICAL ALBUM THAT I EVER HOLD AND IF YOU WILL LISTEN CARFULLY YOU WILL SEE THAT BEHIND EVERY WORD IN THE SONGS THERE IS A MEANING
LIRON FROM ISRAEL.

Date/Time of Posting:  Sep 06 2002 / 00:50:08
IP Address:  63.150.66.66
name = Nic
where = darkknight_hk@hotmail.com
comments = one of the best one hit wonder 80's band and still the best music video i have ever seen (take on me), Morten Harket's vocal range is almost or just as good as U2's Bono.

Date/Time of Posting:  Oct 29 2002 / 21:54:10
IP Address:  66.31.60.176
name = Professor Statik
where = statik@esotronica.com
comments = Not to invalidate this otherwise honest and positive review, a-ha's actual 2nd album, SCOUNDREL DAYS, remains one of the most underrated albums of the 80's.  Definitive pop with major signs of maturing.  STAY ON THESE ROADS (their 3rd album) was a mixed bag...ranging from overpoduced throwaway kitch-pop (i.e. YOU ARE THE ONE) to fairly powerful orchestrations (i.e. the title track).  I remain, as always, eager to hear more from them.  :)

Date/Time of Posting:  Oct 28 2002 / 05:49:01
IP Address:  62.172.118.237
name = Kenny Wong
where = KWONG@Hotmail.com
comments = Alan, Memorial Beach was a masterpiece of an album and signified the change in direction and maturity of a group on par with the Beatles when it comes to diversity... By the way you sound a muppet, what ever happened to Scoundrel Days?? Stay on these Roads was in fact there 3rd album!!  I have witnessed some great live acts in my time (U2, Depeche Mode) but these boyz from Norway win hands down, how Morten hits those high notes i'll never know.  Next time Alan get your facts right before reviewing a group.  As for comments on Minor Earth, Major Sky being dull this also tells me your music preferences suck.  Next you'll be giving A grades to Gareth and Will...

Date/Time of Posting:  Nov 07 2002 / 18:43:33
IP Address:  68.64.102.201
name = jeff
where = littlebibs@yahoo.com
comments = Enjoy all the comments about Aha
what I do know is they have made some really intense mature music and I'm
not a music critic but I have enough of a music collection to know that this  is music I'll be listening to for a long time and thanks Aha

Date/Time of Posting:  Nov 19 2002 / 04:01:39
IP Address:  81.21.197.82
name = Blanka
where = blanka_mae@yahoo.com
comments = Maybe it has many disadvantages and isn't as good as earlier albums but I completely agree with jeff- it is music I will be listening to for a long time... maybe years:) I like this band since they have recorded theyr first album and I won't change my mind even they get a little bit worse...I can still listen to pieces I like the most:)I am glad they are.