The eagerly awaited second album gave us all a taste of the versatility that defined a-ha in later years. This potent collection of atmospheric and melancholic melodies blew the lid off the misconception that a-ha were just a synth-pop band with each song perfectly capturing the essence of emotions that we all deal with at different stages of our lives. Scoundrel Days heralded a more mature and rock-based sound whilst still retaining the charm of their earlier work. The songs are all written by either Paul or Magne (or both) with Morten taking a backseat to the song writing focussing on his vocals to stunning effect, in perfect harmony with the emotional intensity of each song.

“Scoundrel Days” (Magne Furuholmen / Paul Waaktaar-Savoy), the breathtaking opening track with its subdued intro taking us through the first verse before exploding into the spectacular chorus, the powerful emotion of Morten’s vocals combined with the music is nothing short of a masterpiece setting a dark, moody scene of struggle and triumph.

“Swing of Things” (Paul Waaktaar-Savoy) is energetic, catchy and beautifully presented with a hint of an orchestral undertone towards the latter half of the song.

The ‘soft rock’ “I’ve Been Losing You” (Paul Waaktaar-Savoy), the first chart release, has a pumping energy with a killer chorus and false ending.

The jazzy blues of “October” (Paul Waaktaar-Savoy) brings the intensity down. Morten sings with the raw emotion of being away from a loved one capturing the emotions and mood perfectly.

“Manhattan Skyline” (Paul Waaktaar-Savoy / Magne Furuholmen) starts serenely, the light and calm 3-beat verses tinged with sadness of leaving then bursts into the amazing 4-beat rock-guitar-driven chorus, taking the listener on a rollercoaster ride, ending on a calm and serene note.

“Cry Wolf” (Paul Waaktaar-Savoy / Magne Furuholmen) with its atmospheric intro and crashing drums suddenly leaps into a high energy beat lasting throughout the rest of the song. This is the second single from the album.

“We’re Looking for the Whales” (Magne Furuholmen / Paul Waaktaar-Savoy) is another high-energy, bouncy song that is true a-ha, catchy and unique.

“The Weight of the Wind” (Paul Waaktaar-Savoy) has an air of dark, intense desperation of searching for a loved one that has maybe been driven away by one’s own demons. Morten’s vocals expressing the desperation of the mood to stunning effect.

“Maybe, Maybe” (Magne Furuholmen) is a fun, enjoyable, catchy, comical and light hearted song in stark contrast to the intensity that has dominated the album.

“The Soft Rains of April” (Magne Furuholmen / Paul Waaktaar-Savoy) is a slow powerful ballad-like song that sounds like someone is desperately homesick and is counting the time until they can go home. Morten’s vocals blend in with the emotional tone of the song.

In summary, this is a masterpiece of an album, widely regarded by many fans as one of a-ha’s best. Even 24 years on, this album hasn’t dated and sounds as fresh as it did when it first came out.