First serious piece of publishing about swedish pop phenomenon, "Bright lights, dark shadows" is authoritative, informative and well researched music biography that explores not only four celebrated individuals but also the important role of their manager (who emerges as hugely likable rogue, chain-smoking and heavy-drinking buddy everybody would like to have), their geographical, musical and social background and what it meant for musicians of than-peripheral north european country to explode on international music scene. Since I am from "peripheral country" myself, I understand perfectly what Carl Magnus Palm has to say and how difficult it is to break into "big time" not to mention hostility at home and suspicious attitude self-important music establishment has towards "provincial newcomers". Reading about all the harassment they had to endure at every step, it's miracle they actually created any music at all - author cleverly explains prejudice music circles always have about commercially successful acts and how every victory (be it Eurovision or chart-topping album) was quickly turned against Abba to the point that their music was not played in their own country for the unspeakable sin of being successful.
Palm is very good at his writing - he never gushes or fans over his subjects but clear-headedly states the facts, numbers and informations, explains how story unfolded and provides some very interesting anecdotes and opinions along the way: Benny describing "schlager" music like country with german beat and Agnetha reflecting on their Australian experience saying "It's a thin line between ecstatic adulation and menace. It can turn around in a flash."
Excellent music biography - probably definitive on this subject,hardly anybody can improve - that is deservedly classic. I actually read it twice, and in both occasions it was truly page-turning, one-sitting experience. Couldn't put it down first time around and yesterday treated myself with it again, love this book.
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