How Can I Sleep With Your Voice In My Head
A-ha co-founder Pal Waaktar once raised some bemused eyebrows when he claimed his band was more "rock and roll" thanDef Leppard. Indeed, those only familiar with the Norway-rooted/London-based band's lightweight mid-'80s MTV synth-pop staples "Take On Me" and Bond film theme "The Living Daylights" might be surprised at the sometimes muscular, often guitar-driven band showcased in this double-disc live career retrospective. Recorded at dates for the band's 2002 European tour, it stands as a compelling reintroduction to a band that created some of its most interesting music long after its initial burst of MTV-fueled fame. Indeed, the mature dynamics and well-crafted drama of songs like "Crying in the Rain," "Stay on These Roads, " "Time and Again," and "Hunting High and Low" (the latter with an audience sing-along that emphasizes the band's continued Euro following) stand in sharp contrast to their unfortunate flyweight pop stereotype.--Jerry McCulley