So, after all the euphoria started to die down, as is the way in the sparkly world of pop music, the little girls stopped screaming so loudly and Morten, Mags and Pal finally got around to making a follow up to "Hunting High And Low".

Can still remember the first time I heard the lead single from this album, "I've Been Losing You", on the radio. The DJ in question, believe it was Radio 1 actually, had been saying how they were going to be playing the as yet unheard new single from a-ha. After the song finished, he began talking and was caught out by the "fake" ending.

This sounded radically different to what I'd heard from a-ha previously. Having been a massive fan of "The Sun Always Shine On TV", I knew a-ha could turn their hands to symphonic, BIG sounding pop records, but this was a revelation. Morten's voice sounded slightly more hoarse and worn than it had done previously, the track chugged along menacingly, sequenced synths were buried deep within the mix and the drums, well, it sounded like the drums had been turned up to eleven! (copyright Spinal Tap).

Yet this new, "grown up" sound was still balanced by a-ha's pop sensibilities, a cracking melody that allowed Morten's voice to soar over the arrangement. I was hooked.

From the moment I bought "Scoundrel Days" on vinyl, I was awestruck. There are some truly wonderful pop songs and esoteric lyrics to be found on this album. The title track, "The Swing Of Things", "I've Been Losing You", "Manhattan Skyline", "The Weight Of The Wind", "The Soft Rains Of April" still sound as fresh and vital to me today as they did in 1986. Although some of the synth pads have dated somewhat (there are Yamaha DX7s all OVER the place) the production still sounds great with plenty of room for the melodies and Morten's ever beautiful voice.

The only minor hiccup is Mags' playful "Maybe, Maybe", which to this day still sounds like a musical joke ("Maybe it was OVER when you chucked me out the ROVER at full speed", hmmmm).

To this day, "Scoundrel Days" remains one of my favourite albums of all time, a piece ofmusic that really does "take you on a journey". I remember being 15 years old, listening to it on my walkman headphones as I was in bed at night, the music cunjouring images of landscapes and wide open spaces. Morten's voice on "Scoundrel Days", the title track as he hits the high note just before the second chorus STILL sends shivers down my spine - "And SEEEEEEEEE as our lives are in the making"!!!

Just buy it. It's bloody brilliant!

"Scoundrel Days" - I'm not sure many people even knew this album existed. I for one think it is as good as "Hunting High And Low". A-ha shows a little more maturity and innovation since their previosu release. There's a spiritualness to "Scoundrel Days" that was just touched upon on their first album. My all time favorite A-ha song is "Scoundrel Days". It starts low, builds and hits you hard in the chorus as Hacket belts out some of the best lyrics from any A-ha track. I also like "I've Been Losing You", "Manhatten Skyline" and "We're Looking For The Whales". I can't believe you can only get the import of this album now. That's a shame, since it is such a strong effort by a misunderstood band.

I'm a huge classic rock fan but always loved this album! It is a lot more sophisticated than the Hunting High & Low album, and a lot darker which is probably why it didn't catch on in the US.

The way the music flows UPWARD on a sad song like "Soft Rains of April" is genius...this a similar effect the Beatles used on "She's Leaving Home".

The title song is very visual...like it could be the soundtrack to a short film. And the structure of "The Swing Of Things" begins to get more more complex than that of the usual pop song (you can hear A-ha getting out of the vein of Verse/Chorus/Verse/Chorus/Instrumental/Chorus).

There are also just some catchy pop tunes like "Cry Wolf", and the really bad "Maybe Maybe" which sounds like it was just a throwaway fun song (though possibly good as somewhat comic relief for this otherwise dark album). Aside from "Maybe, Maybe" I can listen to this whole album.

Scoundrel Days is a very different turn one would expect a-ha to take after the commercial success of their debut Hunting High and Low. while it is not a musically challenging album, it is certainly a striking and very darkly emotional one. the well-crafted music sneakily delivers some of the most aching lyrics of a-ha's career. there is an obvious artistic difference between this album and their debut-- Morten Harkett's voice is much richer and seems more involved with the words (best example of his emotional investment is the quiet moment during "The Swing of Things:" his voice during the line "an ocean between us and room in my bed" is particularly haunting) and the music sounds wider. they take their time with the songs-- nothing is rushed through. Scoundrel Days is one of the most adventurous, emotional pop albums I have ever heard, and the songs stay with you days after listening. this album gives much more than one expects from what is supposed to be a simple pop album-- it has a well-defined soul. for this reason I am giving it the highest-possible rating.

"Hunting High and Low" is a great album, but this is an even better follow up. It's A-Ha with their similar melancholy/pop formula, but with some more sophisticated touches. Songs like "Soft Rains Of April", "October," and "The Weight of The Wind" prove that the band can tone down their poppiness and still sound good while other songs like "Cry Wolf" and "I've Been Losing You" are right on the traditional A-Ha mark. Other great songs include "Scoundrel Days" and "The Swing of Things" and even the "pop-trash filler" such as "We're Looking For the Whales" and "Maybe Maybe" are no slouches. Not to me anyway. They may not be as impressive or profound as the other tracks on this album but they are still fun to listen to and to me they still add to it in a positive way. Overall, Scoundrel Days is a great piece of work. Recommended.