Abba Generation
Does the world really need the glorious pop gems ofAbbato be slavishly rerecorded by a bunch of Swedish teenagers? The answer in this case is no. The A*Teens alter the near-perfect disco anthems with only hints of more modern, high-tech tweaks. By staying true to the tunes, the A*Teens are really just a tribute band, lacking in any imagination, irony, or insight into how to introduce such songs as "Mamma Mia" and "Dancing Queen" to the next generation. Those familiar with Bjorn, Agnetha, Frida, and Benny, after all, are probably already familiar withGold, which showcases most of these tracks and rendersThe Abba Generationredundant. And those who can't stomach the sugar-coated sprightliness of "Take a Chance on Me" wouldn't touch this tribute with an old platform shoe, anyway. Skip the substitutes and go for the original.--Heidi Sherman