Pop! The First 20 Hits

Capping off what had been an astonishing run of commercial success in the UK in particular — of those said twenty hits, more than half had been top tens, and the compilation’s tie-in Abbaesque EP of covers gave them a number one with their sprightly riff on “Take a Chance on Me” — Pop! fully lives up to its billing. Vince Clarke and Andy Bell’s seemingly unstoppable way around celebratory confections, yearning confessionals, carefully pointed protest songs and more, sweet falsettos and shimmering, addictive synth melodies were all perfectly presented.