A swansong made in the midst of the disintegration of personal and musical relationships, Abba spiked their sugary pop with melancholy as the cotton candy dissolved on The Visitors. Which didn’t affect their impeccable songcraft – the synth prog of the title track and coy ballroom blitz of “Head over Heels” show that Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus penned chilly just as well as cheery. Everybody knows that the marriage is on the rocks but appearances must be maintained. Subtext! One of the most awe-inspiring, apocalyptic pop records ever birthed from the land of ice and snow.

– Jeff Treppel