BRIGHT LIGHTS DARK SHADOWS The Real Story of Abba

It ain’t exactly Keith Richards’s LIFE, full of hair-raising stories of rock-and-roll, but, as its title implies, this book exposes the humanity behind the otherworldly presence that is the Swedish band Abba. In the 1970s they were pioneers of dance pop and world music while maintaining a sleek, detached edge that, at times, made them seem cold and calculating. The text is delivered deftly by Adrian Mulraney, whose familiarity with stage performance in Australian theater makes him a natural for the high drama of Abba's up-and-down saga. His voice resonates with a condescending tone that decries the ego game of pop success while revealing the intimate details of the musicians’ personal lives. J.S.H. © AudioFile 2012, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 2012]