a-ha - Lifelines

 This is a keeper
This CD was on repeat play in my house yesterday. I am immensely please that I bought it, based on several reviews listed here.

Each melody stands on it's own merit, one different from the other but creating an interesting body of work. Morten's voice melds the different melodies into one beautiful cohesive listening experience.

A-Ha truly has evolved in their music, and this is much more mature and serious than their earlier works. Of the 15 songs on the CD, 4 are written by Magne Furuholmen, 5 are collaborations by Furuholmen/Harket and the other 6 songs are by Waaktkaar-Savoy.

After several listen-throughs I admit to liking every melody on this CD. However some of the songs were immediate stand-outs: "Lifelines", "You Wanted More", "Forever Not Yours", "Time and Again", "Did Anyone Approach You", "Turn the Lights Down" (a duett with Anneli Drecker, whose vocals are also featured on "Lifelines"), "Cannot Hide" and "White Canvas". The lyrics to the this last one really spoke to me, and the last two lines in the song stay with me long after I've heard it: "stories are painted in the lines of your face". June 27, 2007

 Amazing
I had read reviews saying that Lifelines was one of the best A-ha albums ever, but I thought Minor Earth Major Sky was....that was until I got Lifelines for Xmas from my hubby. Every time I'm in the car I have it playing. My 3 1/2 year old even sings along. Truly an amazing piece of work. January 20, 2007

 Just what I'd hoped for as an enduring fan
Hunting High and Low and Scoundrel Days were two of my favorite albums in my youth. I recently wondered "where are they now" and was pleased to find A-ha has continued to make music. I purchased Lifelines with Minor Earth and Major Sky, the singles collection, and their first two albums. I find Lifelines to be very true to A-ha's roots in terms of style, while very much up-to-date in terms of sound. I thouroughly enjoy all tracks but am particularly fond of Time and Again, a masterpiece of lyrical and musical performance. My appreciation to Morten, Magne, and Paul for producing such good work. I highly recommend Lifelines in particular to enduring A-ha fans in America. May 10, 2006

 the same 3 guys, but a knew relationship...
Sorry for my english cuz it's not my mother tongue.

Im an a-ha fans since 21 years now(time goes fast, or I dont want to get old..)Im gonna turn 35 this year in july, Im from Montreal, Canada. I continued to think that a-ha's best song so far it's maybe "the sun always shine on t.v. because of the way the song is structured, I really like the violin-viola mixt with the pop-rock guitar style, I also enjoy the intro very much,(organic-piano-synth combination)it's a perfect song in my opinion, superbly sung with such a sensitive tone of voice from Morten.

For their new cd analogue I tried a different approach, I listen to one song per day, so it took me more than a week to finish it off. I enjoy the experiment but it takes self-control with such a good music, by the way, you always need a good stereo system & good volume to really appreciate an a-ha song.

So I gave only 3 star to analogue cuz it's the first cd that no one of the 3 members did not collaborate together except for only one song, by Magne & paul with the title track. In my opinion the blend of the three, or at least two, obtain better result for a cd as a hole.

I think that a-ha delivered their best song due to the Magne-Paul formula(remember MEMS, Early morning, rolling thunder, moved to memphis, i've been loosing you, stay on these roads)except for summer moved on. even the Magne-Morten collaboration gave good surprising result on Lifeline(by the way I would be curious to see the result of a Morten-Paul collaboration again, cuz the last one was from the first cd), but now it seems like eatch guys do their owne thing & were loosing balance on the final produc.

So that is to say that half the cd stand for a true a-ha combination in terms of music style, & even then you can guess that holyground & make it soon comes from Morten, because of the music gender & the way of signing(remember will seed)but they are two very good song, I enjoy the drum & base tempo on holyground(I seems to reckognise Jorum Bogeburg base sounding here).

I also have the impression that Magne save this cd & his really established himself as a talented songwritter since Lifeline. Paul for his part, are still capable of creating strong songs like analogue(maybe the best of the cd, because he kept the a-ha style on that one, & the drum tempo is efficient with the guitar riff & the chorus).
But i dont like when he force the Savoy style too much, like he did with this cd(he start since Lifeline)cuz we loose consystancy. That doesn't mean that his other 4 songs are'nt good, but simply that they convey to much Savoy taste from them & a tru a-ha fans does'nt need that.

So wath can i say more....maybe that they need to regroup together to be able to reach their full potential...& i'd like to see them try a completely electronic music style ... im sure they capable of doing it...they are plenty of talent, they just need to regroup.

oh! by the way, dont try to compare them with u2, cuz really! there is nothing here to carry a comparison!...with anyone! May 1, 2006

 Wonderful, brings back "A-ha memories"
I love this CD! My favorite is "Time and Again." Also, the title, "Lifelines," is also a pretty song. There are a couple that have to grow on you, but overall, this is a great CD to purchase. I also have "Minor Earth, Major Sky", and that, too, is an awesome CD.

I just find it so disappointing, that they aren't able to make a comeback in the United States. They have so much talent, and the producers and recorders, don't seem to care.

Go ahead and purchase this, you won't be disappointed. Morten's voice, as usual, is an angel's sent from up above - just breath taking. March 21, 2006

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