Alphaville's Forever Young > Human League's Dare.
That album by Alphaville is fantastic. Every song (save for one?) could have been a single.
However, the first two A-ha albums are even stronger. EVERY FRIGGIN' SONG IS FANTASTIC. Utterly heavenly. I love those first two A-ha albums.
But I could also say the same of OVERKILL or DAG NASTY or TEARS FOR FEARS—first two albums for each of these bands were amazing, then, downhill.
There's something wonderful about
Dare! that just didn't happen on any other album. I think it's the production, synths used, the lyrics, the arrangements....its just a unique product.
I love Alphaville Forever Young, though, so I won't begrudge anyone who places it over
Dare!.
Personally, I think Human League went way downhill after Dare!, but I digress. Hysteria is flawed, step backwards from Dare!, but I still like it. Then...ouch.
Now, the first two Dag Nasty albums are really great, even if the vocals are strained/atonal/something askew. It doesn't matter.