Minor Earth Major Sky [Import]

a-ha | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 1, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: WARNER BROS UK
• ASIN: B00004SYWZ
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (146 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #76,132 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #85 in Music > World Music > Europe > Scandinavia > Norway

Track Listings

1. Minor Earth Major

2. Little Black Heart

3. Velvet

4. Summer Moved On

5. The Sun Never Shone That Day

6. To Let You Win

7. The Company Man

8. Thought That It Was You

9. I Wish I Cared

10. Barely Hanging On

11. You'll Never Get Over Me

12. I Won't Forget Her

13. Mary Ellen Makes The Moment Count

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

After a seven-year absence during which the Norwegian pop trio went off to paint or record solo albums, A-Ha return with Minor Earth Major Sky, their sixth studio album. Recorded in New York over the course of a year, this one is filled with characteristically subtle melodies, sweeping pop production, and a haunting melancholy. Some tracks (like the winsome "Sun Never Shone That Day") border on the bland, but there are songs that have bite--such as the icy, William Orbit-style ballad "Little Black Heart"; the big, blowsy title track; and the satirical "The Company Man," where the band sing frankly of being ripped off by their record label ("Deals fell into our arms / And out of our hands"). There's also a nod to the Beatles' "Eleanor Rigby" in the epic, socially conscious ballad "Mary Ellen Makes the Moment Count." --Lucy O'Brien

Product Description

Unavailable in the U.S. Minor Earth/Major Sky was the sixth album from the Norwegian trio, released in 2000, and their first full length release in eight years. The trio's mature, melodic and atmospheric songwriting skills come to the for on this album. While they never revert to the bubbly sound of 'Take On Me', a-Ha managed to create an updated version of their sound without relying on retro-synth nostalgia. Minor Earth/Major Sky features 13 tracks including the singles 'Summer Moved On' and the gorgeous 'Velvet'. Warner.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

75 of 78 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Minor earth well worth the major wait, May 2, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Minor Earth Major Sky (Audio CD)

Wow. This new a-ha album is the album I always wished they made. A-ha suffered greatly from never being able to sustain an album with sheer quality, they've cracked it. Maybe it took this time for them to open up and give more meaning to their songs. A classic example of that is the haunting "To let you win" which stands out as a major progression in Morten's songwriting ability which was only hinted at on his debut album Wild Seed. "Velvet" will be familiar to the die hard fans, but this track now oozes class with Morten's vocal, which will always have been a classic in it's own right. A pleasant surprise was the exceptional "I wish I cared", written by Magne on his own, this is his best song to date, although he'll never admit it.

This is not a singles album in a commercial sense, apart from the first single "Summer moved on" and the insanely catchy "You'll never get over me" which will drive you to heaven with it's stunning melody and backing vocals you would be pushed to find songs which will do well in the current market place. My only hope is that A-ha will defy that, as their record deal depends on this album being successful. Even if this is not the case and they never make another album I will always be grateful that they found the will and resolve to make this album which has touched a part of me I thought was lost forever.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Probably a-ha's best album up to date. Spine Chilling!, May 4, 2000

By 

F. Lensley (Randburg, South Africa) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Minor Earth Major Sky (Audio CD)

I have been anticipating this album for the last year and when you wait for something so long then it's usually a anticlimax. Not true about Minor Earth/Major Sky. It's beyond my wildest expectations. It's a master piece of pop/rock music.

A-ha songwriting skills are execptional. The melodic music descripes their lyrics in great technicolour. Together the music and lyrics create a visual image in your mind. Listen to the rock based Minor Earth/Major Sky - it has a feeling of epic vastness to it. "Little black heart" is spine chilling with it's haunting melody."Summer moved on" is classic a-ha. All the songs deserves a mention, the list just goes on and on.

Over all the music can probably be descripe as elecronic with acoustic instruments intertwined - they make use of the acoustic guitar a lot which works beautiful. All songs sound different but there is a unity on the album. Only A-ha can make beautiful melancholic upbeat music. Good production really support the great music.

If you are a A-ha fan then you'll love the album. If you don't know A-ha then check it out if you want somthing different from today's mainstream pop that doesn't have any artistic integrity.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FIVE STAR CD, April 26, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Minor Earth Major Sky (Audio CD)

This is a terrific cd! It's bursting with potential radio/single hits. Besides the masterful first smash "SUMMER MOVED ON",there's the second upcoming single: "MINOR EARTH MAJOR SKY"; with it's guitar riffs & rock beat.The ballad "VELVET" which was said to be the second single will no doubt come out as one sometime. Then there's "LITTLE BLACK HEART"; "THE SUN NEVER SHONE THAT DAY"; "I WISH I CARED"; & the beautiful and moving ballad "TO LET YOU WIN". AHA has long been ignored in the U.S. while continuing to have hit after hit in the rest of the world. Still, there are those of us here that have appreciated their great melodious music beyond the hit "TAKE ON ME". Hopefully, with better promotion, more people in the 'States' can enjoy their music too. Check out any of their 5 studio cd's;all solid. Also another five-star cd is MORTEN HARKET'S solo cd "WILD SEED".Great listening stuff!