Songs From The Big Chair

Atmospheric while also being poppy. Still feels fresh 40 years later. Has both very well known songs, and also songs that would be considered lesser known. I am almost on the verge of giving this a five. Actually the more I think about it, the more I like this album. Fuck it.

It's hard reviewing an album that's perfect but here's me giving it a shot. I've been well acquainted and quite familiar with Tears for Fears's work for quite some time now. It's obviously all the smash hits I know them for, but I'd be lying through my teeth if I didn't start grinning when I saw this album as the next to listen to. I was excited and I had damn good reason to be. This is the album with Shout! With Everybody Wants to Rule the World! It's quite the star studded affair and hopes were high. Suffice it to say, this album didn't disappoint, not by a long shot. The aforementioned Shout kicks off the album in a downright chilling manner. The samples and loops used are accompanied by ice-cold keyboards and Roland Orzabal's chilling vocals. If I didn't know about the song beforehand, it would've probably stunned me into silence. It's a masterful track and the first one, no less. Moving on from there, we descend into smooth jazz with The Working Hour. It's yet another superb blend of various different genres, but the mood of desperation and bitterness rages on. These guys have a lot to say on this album and they don't mince their words or leave out details; they get to the point backed with vast arrangements and multiple different things happening at once. Nowhere is that better enunciated than on The Working Hour. Moving on from there we have the smash hit of the album Everybody Wants to Rule the World. I don't think I need to say much about it. It was always an iconic track and one I've known for as long as I can remember. The message often flies through people's heads but the truth is the commentary on corruption and dictatorial rule that was prevalent during that time (after all, this album was literally recorded at the pinnacle of the Cold War of the 1980s) will always be ahead of its time. The arrangement is glistening and glossy, while the lyrics, continuing with the theme of the album, are anything but. Another iconic track that proved to be an intergenerational hit. From here on out we really get to the meat of the album. Mothers Talk is more of a drum exercise than the previous few songs incorporating world music elements and in the process almost sounding like a Talking Heads leftover. Of course I mean that in the nicest and sincerest way possible. I Believe is built upon one of the sparser arrangements of the album. It's also my favourite song of the entire album. The saxophone solo merely sealed the deal, but even before that I was entranced by Roland's lonesome vocals and the slow, brooding drums and piano. From there on out we enter what I like to call a medley of sorts. Broken kicks off where I Believe left off and it's one of the more vibrant songs of the album. It gets into gear almost immediately and in its 2 and a half minutes accomplishes a lot with seemingly nothing. After that we have another instant transition into Head Over Heels, another well known track off the album and another absolute masterpiece. I wouldn't be surprised if people write this song off because of its pop sensibilities ,but I like it directly because of that. The poppier nature of the track serves as a cleanser to the past few moody songs that have preceded it. The live snippet of Broken, featured earlier on the album, makes a cameo at the tail end of the song, following another seamless transition. I don't find much rhyme or reason in putting that short snippet there, but it really does the track no harm and it's not something worth wasting energy over. The final track on the album is also the most emotionally poignant and daring. Listen starts off simple enough with a keyboard line, but eventually crescendoes and evolves into this African chant-like structure, furthering their relations with world music. Drums are barely present and yet you don't notice it, because the squealing guitar and atmospheric keys more than make up for it. What a joyride this album was! Who knew that a simple band from Bath could string along different genres so easily, seamlessly and in a way that amplified their messages and improved their songs. From start to finish, this project is an all killer, no filler affair. It's also one of the few albums whose album cover defines the music present on the album. The monochrome cover perfectly encapsulates the music behind it. The arrangements are often cadaverous and chilling, other times hypnotic and soulful and on occasion smooth and mellow as well. The lyrics get to the point and the core of many sociopolitical issues of the time. Sensational doesn't even begin to describe it; this underrated gem is a must for everyone trying to broaden their horizons as far as British 80s music goes and further acknowledge Tears for Fears as one of the most underrated bands of the 1980s. 10/10

Masterful pop production. It wears its era on its sleeve, which is perhaps the only complaint, but also a big part of the charm. There are plenty of legitimately interesting ideas across the eight songs, while they all manage to sound like the commercially successful pop music which they were.

SOMETHING HAPPENS AND IM HEAD OVER

Classic. Feels like I took a time machine back to the 80s listening to it

Mom bought the first Sony Discman, the D-50, shortly after it came out: a minimalist, chunky half-cube of a gadget with an LCD readout, maybe four buttons and a volume dial. It was the future. It played shiny discs that had a prismatic glow when you held them under light. As far as I was concerned at five or six years old, it was magic. Among the discs Mom would purchase following her acquisition of the new magical music machine: selections from The Beatles’ catalog, Phil Collins’ “No Jacket Required”, Simon and Garfunkel’s “Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme”, a host of classical and new age recordings and this record right here, Tears For Fears’ “Songs From the Big Chair”. If you asked me the name of my first grade teacher or what I got for Christmas in 1987, I couldn’t begin to tell you, but I remember sitting in our living room on the dark blue carpet popping this disc or “No Jacket Required” or “Help!” into the CD player like it was yesterday. …Fuck me, I loved “Sussudio” back then. Now I’ve a got a closet full of prismatic discs that haven’t seen the light of day in close to two decades. For me, they’ve been rendered obsolete by the even more minimalist and thin rectangular slab that nearly everyone on earth carries with them at all times and by a format that’s even older than the compact disc: the vinyl record. I’ve been collecting vinyl for nearly a quarter century now and have found that I prefer the experience of listening to the medium that preceded the cd when sitting crosslegged on the floor of my living room. So here’s to the Compact Disc and all the other inventions that changed the world and have since been relegated to dust: Sic transit gloria. (Glory fades)

Excellent synth pop album. A more accessible, but still very interesting, successor to their debut The Hurting.

There's no way to remove our own biases, experiences, and subjectivity from, well, anything, really, and rendering an opinion on music is no exception. This is one of my favorite albums of all time. It surprised me when it was released and fell in love with it (its release year, 1985, was the year I graduated high school and entered college) because this was so popular and I fancied myself quite a bit of a hard rocker and wannabe punk rocker who was just way too cool for silly ol' popular music (I was then, as I am now, completely full of poop). Didn't matter though: this band, this album, these songs...they all gripped me. I know it's all associated with what was, for the most part, an extraordinarily memorable year for me, in many outstanding ways (had some really crappy moments, too, but that's how life does its life thing). I have a particular fondness for Roland Orzabal's voice and I believe he is an underrated guitarist. (Speaking of guitar, Neil Taylor's outro solo on "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" is excellent.) Curt Smith's voice is great, too, and his bass playing is also overlooked. They are actually fantastic musicians, composers, and writers. A good look into their abilities can be found YouTuber Rick Beato's 'What Makes This Song Great' episode on "Head Over Heels," one of my favorite of many favorite TFF songs. Check it out if you're interested. So glad this project gave me an excuse to listen to this masterpiece all the way through again. 5+ Stars from me.

Everybody Wants To Rule The World is an 11/10 track. Rest of the album didn't do much for me

Everybody Wants to Rule the World was my favorite song then ("Real Genius" anyone?) and remains one of my favorites to this day. The whole album is iconic; an 80's colored jewel that continues to sparkle even as the years tumble by. Thank you to the reviewer who mentioned Beato has covered Head over Heels. Heading there now.

I love the variety of music, I love how songs are interconnected, and I love the music. Especially the lesser known songs (eg Broken).

Very 80s. Starts strong but fizzles

Super into this. What's not to love about 80s synth pop?

Disliked this band for multiple reasons back in 1985. Notably their image, fan base, music videos and especially the music itself. The image faded, the fans dispersed and the videos are relegated to YouTube obscurity. Yet the music endures. I can’t.

Saw a tweet one time that was just this picture, captioned “these honkeys were COOKING” and it’s so true. ‘Shout’ is just one of those few 80’s gems that will never be replicated. It’s got AURA. It’s got ATTITUDE. This can be said for the entire album actually. Tight, direct song structure that knows when to slip in and out of instrumental atmospheres. A massive generational pop hit. One iconic vocal melody after another. A mystical album ender. Socially conscious messaging. This album has it all and doesn’t overstay it’s welcome at all. Perfect! It’s incredible that we got this less than a year after Purple Rain. It’s worth noting that they’ve done the impossible recently - they made a song that’s unique and new sounding, unlike every other legacy band from the 80’s or earlier pumping out nothing-burgers to cash in on yet another world tour. Check out ‘No Small Thing’ it’s worth a listen

I love this album. Was already familiar with several of the songs but hadn't listened to it all of the way through. The way Broken hints at then shifts into Head Over Heels is fantastic.

Absolute classic. I met Roland in at The Ivy in LA once. He was lovely.

Fuck it, too many hits and the 2nd disc makes this another 5.

wild how the 80s exist huh first track is lame but everything after is pretty great. everyone wants to rule the world is some of the best shit from the 80s prolly. this was before pop artists stopped making 6 minute songs so a couple songs drag a lil but never too bad since theyre all good anyways. 9/10

my era music. The hits are there and enjoyable, rest of album pretty good too.

This is crazy 80s sound, like super cheesy I would never listen to this. Oh well. Sticking with it. Only on song 2. On the last song. This is really bad. Awful.

WHEN THE WIND BLOWS WE CAN WORK IT OUUUUT

One of the best albums of the '80's, hands down

Perfect modern pop album! If u like depeche mode - listen!

Super relaxed album. Best song is for sure "Everybody Wants To Rule The World". Best deep track is "Listen"

I love this band and album with my whole heart

I wouldn't mind listening to the happier songs 24/7. The other songs are somewhat more boring, though

Probably top 3 albums we’ve listened to thus far yeesh.

OMG, was a great album, automatically added to my favourites

Amazing!

I fucking love this album. Only listened through it entirely about 3 times, but I've heard Everybody about a thousand times. So glad that the whole thing is just as great.

so funky cool

Excellent

1985!!! yo era un niño cuando sonaba esto en la radio pero aún lo recuerdo. Está bien, las dos canciones que recuerdo son un bombazo: "Shout" y "Everybody Wants to Rule the World". Solo por eso merece la pena, el sonido años 80 real también es un extra.

I was today years old when I found out “Shout” was not a Depeche Mode song lol. That EWTRTW song is a meme, a beat up meme also. Good I hate the 80’s pop sound. So cliché, so clownish…

Shout....can't bear to ever hear it again....Head over Heels...same. The only redeeming song on this album, to me....is Everybody wants to rule the world....that song is a classic!

All the was bad about 80s music, 41 minutes and 52 seconds too long.

Музыка: 9/10 Разнообразие: 10/10 Тематика и вайб: 10/10 Цепляемость (отдельные песни зашли): 8/10 Реиграбельность (можно ли рандомно врубить на фон): 9/10 Итог: 9.2

Still rules the world

Almost perfect. The ultimate 80s album. One that has grown on me over the years rather than one I was drawn to immediately (The Smiths were everything in ‘85, but the more I hear this album the more I love it. Almost brings me to tears of joy and nostalgia every time.

The Good: anthemic album off an age gone by The Bad: that too many people confuse this with Synth-Pop The Ugly: or just plain’ ol’ po’ p’ Back in the day, like any teenager, I too enjoyed Everybody Wants To Rule The World, while Shout was a little beyond my taste at the time… Today, I wish I could go back in time and actually purchase the album and listen to it countless times, like I did to the more poppy contemporary artist such as Prince, Phil Collins, Duran Duran. Madonna, What and later George Michael. Tears For Fears are one of few acts that survived the ‘80s and when you listen to their “old” recordings now, you realize that how great the stuff is. It has held up wonderfully, even if it sounds like the ‘80s, it isn’t like listening to Spandau Ballet, or ABC, or Bronski Beat, or any true synth-pop from that era. 5* even if, technically speaking, it should get a 4 1/4

Peak 80s

Tears for Fears, a band that made Pop music that sounded 80's but was much less annoying than most and aged pretty well. Their blend of Synthpop and New Wave with catchy melodies and hooks that created the anthemic and introspective masterpiece titled 'Songs From the Big Chair\". It's one of the best Pop records released in the 80's and maybe of all time. Multiple classic songs are featured here including the generationally known 'Everybody Wants to Rule the World' 'Shout' opens the album in the typical blend of Synthpop, New Wave & Big Music that is present on the pretty much every song here. It also gets a little progressive by bringing in slight notes of Industrial into the production which as weird as it sounds, works really well. And even at its nearly 7 minutes of length it really keeps the attention of the listener with great performances and production. The song is so unbelievably catchy and melodic that I am mad that not every 80's pop band with a smiliar sound turned out like this! The bridge is crazy and the whole way they keep the flow of the song and add more and more detail is phenomenal. It's a hypnotic and atmospheric listen especially in the second half, nearly ethereal. And the way it changes its emotional depth by adding slight changes but keeping the same rhytmn and melody. Yeah, I think you get that I really like this song. It's perfect start to finish. On 'The Working Hour' they take on a very mature and sophisicated nearly Jazzy sound that stands in complete contrast to the darkness that the first song ended on. It does take time to build up but it's worth the wait. The vocals are really good and the calm sound is very relaxing while keeping the intricate production. Do I love it? No, but it is a great song nonetheless even if it does drag a little and feels streched towards the end. And to return to the greatness of the start, 'Everybody Wants to Rule the World' with the intro that everybody recognizes. What can I say: the song is perfect in every way. It's romantic and full of great lyrics and songwriting. Do I prefer it over 'Shout'? No... that one's got my heart even more than this classic. 'Mothers Talk' gets a little funky and artsy with the influences ranging from Dance-Punk to Industrial Dance. All of it gives a lot of similarities to Depeche Mode's early stuff. It's very groovy and interesting by being kind of weird with the details in the production. I really like it for the raw and energetic performance and chorus. It's really good, like incredibly good and if they would've left the outro away, it might've been perfect. The albums second half starts with 'I Believe' which returns to the calm and relaxed sound that nearly feels like some Lounge music with the simpler production. Again, I think that makes it a little boring for my liking even if I think they did a great job. It just feels too much like background music and doesn't grab my attention enough for me to genuinely appreaciate the song. Luckily, 'Broken' returns to the Dance-Punk influences in an even punkier way. That results in one of the most underappreaciated tracks on the album. Just because it's short doesn't mean that's worse. Quite the opposite actually, it's incredibly groovy and energetic and I love it. The other song that most know is 'Head Over Heels' because it is one of the best songs on the album. The chorus is so intricate and emotional, the vocals are performed to perfection. The production, songwriting and melody are all curated to its greatest possible form. And as if it wasn't enough, they added a little bit of 'Broken' to the end as a kind of continuation of that. Another perfect song. The album ends with the weirdly ambient 'Listen' that closes the album in a minimal but hypnotizing finale that includes many details from choir to glitchy video game sounds to whips to tribal anthems. It's a magical and atmospheric experience, relaxing and sentimental without being boring. Yes, it's not one of the craziest songs but it has so many incredible moments that I feel like the vocals weren't actually needed at all. This closes the album in the way it should've ended. favourites: Shout, Everybody Wants to Rule the World, Head Over Heels, Broken least favourites: I Believe, The Working Hour Rating: light 9 https://rateyourmusic.com/~Emil_ph for more ratings, reviews and takes

Und immer schön so’n büschen Hall drauf, gell? Nein: Wow. Das ist mal ein „Album“: ordentlich Abwechslung, feine Dramaturgie, Ruhiges und echte Knaller – das alles bei konsistentem Sound und hervorragenden Musikern. Souverän, zart, geil.

This album may have the most new-wavey vocals I've ever heard - it's that seamless switching between soft and smooth, and deep, towering cadences. I heard this album a while back, a couple of times because I liked the song 'Everybody Wants to Rule The World', but I don't remember many songs off of it. Re-listening to it now, I can see why. To me, it sounds like the type of album you'd thoroughly enjoy while listening, front-to-back, but the next day you'd struggle to remember a single song off of it. Relax that's just how I feel! I'll need to test that hypothesis again now, though I won't be able to update this review with the conclusion. Anyways what am I talking about? Oh yeah, this album. Nice, colorful, fluttery, well-produced, new-wavey power music that can very comfortably soundtrack a walk through a tropical beach. 'Shout' is the perfect, anthemic, and catchy opener this album needed; and while I usually dislike clean saxophone lines in '80s (white) music, the one on 'The Working Hour' managed to win me over. 'Head Over Heels/Broken' is another incredibly solid cut with one of the most earwormy choruses here. The synth lead and pads that open up the song 'Listen' are yet another incredible production moment here, the entire track is ethereal, sounding like you've stumbled upon this gorgeous bio-illuminated grotto in the middle of the jungle. It's got ambient elements like that. I tend to use the descriptor "clean production" with a negative connotation a lot of the time, but despite this album being the epitome of that descriptor, I'd say the shininess of the production only helps elevate its lush and scenic sound. The high quality of it all makes everything just pop. A great album with a great sound that captures its era beautifully, there's a reason this album's so revered in the new-wave world. Let's hope I remember how much I liked it come tomorrow night.

I first heard this band on TV ads for one of those MEGAHITS OF THE 80s compilation CDs and though that 'Shout, shout, let it all out, these are the things I could do without' was a hilarious thing to say in a song. But you know what, there are things I could do without and if I could just shout to let them all out, I would love to. Everybody Wants to Rule the World rules. That little guitar intro thing that's pushed aside by the two synth chords, ooh baby! So simple, so effective, just pure pop perfection. Head Over Heels has an incredible piano riff that builds tension and releases into a floaty verse and propulsively off kilter chorus and some totally unique vocal delivery. The rest is full of cool tones and textures, angsty vocals, smooth sax, glossy simmering synth surfaces and rubbery bass and some of THE definitive 80s drum sounds. Drags a bit on the slow stuff in the middle. It's like if Splenda was an album.

My distaste for 80s synthpop instantly leaves my body like an evil spirit the moment I hear the opening notes of "Everybody Wants To Rule The World". There's some filler on this album ("I Believe" is boring as hell), but it's still like Top 5 synthpop albums of all time. They really let it all out.

TFF, were you progs out of joint? Just a little bit? You mind if I respond in kind? Had my second listen had been on the whispering domestic speakers of the first rather than headphones, I would’ve dismissed this with Simon’s “go to the Greatest Hits” instruction, but a closer listen unveils a well-balanced, nicely-lit structure, with gentles wafts of charcoal, designer hash and hot tarmac, held up by two mighty singles, tapering to a moody spot at the back for the devotees. I’ve spent the last two hours preparing for our first Canadian Thanksgiving, and I think the Turkey fumes and heat have infused into my bone-house. The lyrics are abstract, but not pretentious, which is a hard combination to achieve, and in part due to the musical context: the urgency in the songs alternates between being martial, foreboding, or introspective, avoiding monotony, and the words come off as code between lovers and comrades. Now all is clear: Tears for Fears were the secret Bath Resistance.

Oh yeah - probably the first album I really appreciated as a whole, as opposed to being a few songs I liked co-mingled with boring ones I tolerated and/or fast-forwarded. Being made from wall-to-wall 4 min+ bangers that flow into each other probably helped. Not quite as good as I remember, unsure about the proggy/proto-Enigma last track, but a nostalgic 4* nonetheless. Those haircuts!

All the hits and with some be great (to my surprise) prog rock and truly industrial sounds tucked away between them.

I think this might be the album that most properly represents the ‘80s. 4.5/5

Such a classic.

While i always enjoyed the radio hits, I really got into Tears for Fears in my late 20s when they reunited for the album Everybody Loves a Happy Ending. I used to think songs from the big chair was hits and filler, but now I enjoy the whole album as one consistent statement.

The atmosphere of these tracks is immense, for some reason I’ve never listened to this album before, but I can hear it’s influence all over so much music that I love, Nine Inch Nails being a big one. The foreshadowing of the hook from Head Over Heels in the previous track, Broken, is something I really didn’t expect. I love when this sort of thing happens in an album, it makes the act of listening to an album more rewarding than listening to individual tracks. Definitely an album I’ll be coming back to.

one of the best albums ever made ever.

Lata lata 80. potrafiły być głębokie i ludzkie pod swoją syntetyczną powłoką. Piękno, które wynika z wyważenia między introspekcją a przebojowością - daje poczucie bycia zagubionym w przytłaczającym świecie. Zespół inspiruje swoją sztukę (nawet nazwę) pracami Arthura Janova - ojca teorii o traumach wyniesionych z wczesnego dzieciństwa. Nawet pomysł na nazwę zespołu jest zainspirowany przez rodział o koszmarach z jego książki "The Primal Scream". “Basically, if they are allowed to be themselves in their waking hours and are allowed to let their natural crying out, then they won’t dream up monsters at night to be scared of because they can’t face the reality of being scared of their parents. (..) Since emotional stress is the central issue here, the solution... is to encourage an emotional response so intense that the years of hidden anger and hurt are allowed to surface from the depths of the unconscious.” To zabawne, że "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" stało się takim radiowym klasyczkiem, bo jest bardzo mroczne i ciężkim kawałkiem o ludzkim pragnieniu kontroli. Niemożnością kontrolowania własnego życia, co zostaje błędnie ukierunkowywne na pragnienie dominacji nad innymi. Na pewno płytka uderzyła mnie mocno przez moment życia w którym jestem, ale dla mnie to arcydzieło i mega mocne 5.

It would be a sacrilege to give this anything but the full 5 stars. "Shout" was massive, I remember singing it in the back of my dad's car on my way home from my grandparents house on a Friday. I appreciate them more now. The atmospheric guitar and solos are sublime. Some great tracks here, each one deserves a 5.

One of the great albums from the 80’s!

Perfect album. One of my favorites from high school. Played it over and over.

Never owned this album but Shout, Everybody Wants to Rule the World, and Head over Heels ruled the airwaves just when I first became conscious to the concept of top 40 radio. Very cool to hear the extended versions and the whole album. Will be purchasing this vinyl pronto.

Anyone who grew up in the USA during the 80s... this is one of those albums we all have in our CD collection.

Genuinely fantastic song writing an music perfection

Starting this album I didn’t know that they sang Shout but I was aware they sang Everybody Wants to Rule the World. I also didn’t know what Head Over Heels was but when I listened to it I had definitely heard before. My Highlights are Shout and Everybody Wants to Rule the World (of course) and then Broken and Head over Heels. My lowlight is I Believe. To give some insight that I think is important for this review. I grew up in a household where my parents were always playing 80s music and so this sound is very nostalgic to me. It truly does feel like coming home and I felt myself dancing in my chair multiple times and singing along more times than I could count. To start, Shout. Its an all time great, a song that inspired thousands of covers (probably exaggerating) and I’ve listened to covers of this song in at least half a dozen different genres. It’s great and…long. Now in these reviews I have ragged on long songs but spoiler for the rest of the review only one song started to overstay its welcome but I would listen to them all. I want to add a new award for myself to give out. The Golden Track. My favorite song so far and Shout takes it. It’s so good and his voice melts into the music. It’s so good, I want to use words like euphoric but I feel like it will be overselling it. The Working Hour is next and its…good. I would even say I like it but it’s not Shout and I was just recently reminded how good that song is. BUT it has a saxophone and I’m a sucker for saxophone. The soundscape of this song is like a 10/10 for me but the vocals don’t land for me despite sounding good. Overall, I really liked it and would listen again if the mood called for it. Everybody wants to Rule the World is nearly as good as shout. It brings back memories of watching Breakfast Club and I can’t untangle it from that nostalgia and I don't want to. It does what I now realize all good Tears to Fears songs do, marry a beautiful and interesting soundscape with fantastic vocals. Mother’s Talk is an interesting song that starts in a very interesting place. It has a beat that I couldn’t help dancing to with the driving percussions and synth beats. I Believe is the low point of the album for me but it isn’t that low. It does overstay its welcome but I really liked the sound of the instrumentals in this song. Subdued but it feels like this song has a purpose and I wouldn’t skip this song immediately but I wouldn’t seek it out. Broken is a triumph. The shortest song on the album comes in and smashes you wish a great drum section to start and then the guitars come in and I’m vibing already. They keep adding more instruments and I don’t care that there aren’t vocals until the end because I’m somewhere else when this song is playing. It’s so good and I wish I had more words to describe how much I loved this song. Then comes Head Over Heels, which after the vocals came in I realized I had heard this song before. This is really really close behind Broken and honestly I think they work wonderfully as a back to back duo. That piano at the beginning just builds and builds until the guitar comes to sing along beside it. Then the drums bring us to the full sound. I sang along and then when we got to the Broken Reprisal at the end I fist bumped to myself. What a wonderful back to back set of bangers. Listen is an odd song but that starts with odd almost unsettling music and operatic moments. Again its weird but I don’t mind because I’m along the ride for this song. I want to see what they do next. Odd percussion sounds like stomps or even muffled gunshots. I have no idea what the lyrics are about. I think if I had to guess its about moving on from struggles and traumas but that is really pushing it. I wouldn’t skip this song but I do think this song is most interesting when listening quietly with your headphones on. Overall this album surprised me. I assumed Tears for Fears were a two hit wonder. But I absolutely loved this album. It makes me want to learn more about music overall so I can explain why it tickles my brain so much. I put the album on again as I wrote this and I enjoyed it more the second time. I don’t know what they did before or after this but I am floored by this selection of songs. All said and done I give it 5 out of 5 Tears.

I looked up what big chair meant and saw that it was a reference to an older movie and how a character called the chair that they sit in for therapy as “the big chair The overall theme of the album to me seems to me just experiences or different kinds of sessions or conversations one might have with their therapist or issues that they are working on. I think it shows just the way lift of ToF by having this theme while producing some generational bangers Shout, with its repeating chorus and synths wave, it’s up an equally moody and powerful anthem. Wether in your car, in a session, or at a concert, it’s an uniform g Carson call to make yourself known by shouting Working hour has goddamn wonderful sax intro and throughout. It sticks the most with the therapy theme since a session might usually be an hour with the refrain of “Find out what the fear is about”. Everybody wants to rule the world is already iconic just at the guitar intro followed by frognizible synth and increasing smoothly delivered message of world domination and control. Passing sinister over tones as a pop hit isn’t new, but this is surely might be the biggest hit to do so Mothers talk: with exploding drums and fast synth, there’s a lot of energy and I’m fascinated with the journey of the song takes me. Seemingly about war “when the weather starts to burn then you’ll know you’re in trouble” while not as well put together and smooth as last tracks it’s a welcome change “I believe”: a jazzy introspective break to all the 80s synth. “Broken “ doesn’t do too much for me. A short two minute jam that not only introduces next track but lifts the hook and some lyrics from the next one. Forgettable imo “Head over heels” my fave track. From the opening hook, it sets the tone for being completely enamored with someone, while your feelings aren’t necessarily being reciprocated. An amazing vocal performance even with the ending “la la”. Listen doesn’t reallly do much, I feel like it’s background music and while the ending refrain is nice I don’t think j I’d go back litening Overal this is an enjoyable album from to start to finish with nothing I would overtly skip, maybe end early to skip Listen. An amazing piece of introspective work well gilded with 80s pop synth scene to become timeless. The hour is up,

Have to confess my bias upfront - this was a favorite album of mine when it came out, and this was the second concert I went to. So I have a real soft spot for this album. That being said, I do genuinely believe this is a phenomenal album - superbly crafted pop rock, completely captures its time without by and large feeling dated, impeccably produced with exceptional attention to detail (which unfortunately became something of a hurdle for Orzabal going forward), on the cutting edge at the time in use of technology, and very interesting in terms of the range of genres and musical ideas explored (for a pop album). I'd give it 4.5 stars if I could, and will let my soft spot elevate it to a 5.

Shout, great for a ring tone

All time favourite

did they know they were making one of the best albums ever? Did they know they were making history?

This sounds like the soundtrack to a movie set in the 80s.

A great album from beginning to end. I still maintain though that Track 2 (The Working Hour) should’ve been placed further down the running order – it’s a bit too slow and jazzy, and comes too soon. I’d move it to third, followed by Everybody Wants to Rule the World – that would’ve made for a better sequence. Standout tracks: too hard to pick – it’s a cohesive album overall filled with (commercially successful) hits. A rare combo!

A very fast 42 minutes

One of the only 80's band my mom played in the car growing up that I really liked. It still holds up really well. Best Song: Shout Rating: 9.0/10 Stars: 5

love love

Without a doubt one of the most timeless albums of the 80s, and in fact all time. The four singles alone make it a classic, but the deeper cuts display a more experimental side to the coin that are only hinted at in Mother's Talk. It's a perfect blend of melodic pop and avantgarde angular themes, with a dash of jazz and desperation...in other words, everything the "new wave" was supposed to be about. It's a perfect score regardless of the ranking system.

Great listen.

This record is sick. So damn cool. Synth pop legends. A handful of all time bangers. Shout is perfect. The guitars dont seem like they would rip but he'll yes they do. Very few tracks here that aren't worth every second. Its just so good. The vocals are great. Its the whole package. Just listen to this

This is one of the best albums of the 80s, full of genius melodies and masterful arrangements. "Head Over Heels" is a song that transcends time and emotions, such as grand song. "Shout" and "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" are genius singles. But also the deep cuts are fascinating, like the Robert Wyatt pastiche "I Believe" or the powerful rage of "Broken". This is one of my all-time favorite records, and nothing less than a masterpiece.

A perfect jewel of the 80s! I love this album. So many hits, but they were also doing more interesting things with synth pop than their peers. The way Broken goes right into Head Over Heels is fantastic! 5⭐️

Fun album! The synthpop of the 80's really shines, and the two "huge hits" are true classics. I enjoyed the other songs as well, but overall, a solid 4.5/5 album for me.

masterpiece

An essential 80s pop rock album. Great songs, performed wonderfully, with Everybody Wants To Rule The World, which is slowly, in my mind, becoming one of the greatest songs ever written. 5/5

Classic. One of the several albums on in my house growing up. I've always enjoyed it, usually only came back for the hits so the deeper cuts sounded fresh this time. I never really fell in love with this the way I have for other 5/5 albums and I think its because it lacks a little soul. "Shout" never makes me want to shout - by comparison listen to Shout by the Isley Bros. This is not a soul album, but it does lack something. Head Over Heels is the exception - that one gives me chills.

From my personal 1001 album stats, the 1980s are my least favorite decade hovering just above the 3.10 mark while the 60s/70s decades are nearly at 4.00. One of the things that makes me hate this decade is that it brought a lot of technology-enriched shit that was too raw/early/tasteless to age well. But. This album somehow did it all so well. Its grand, its clean, its catchy, weird, occasionally scary. These songs are great and are sequenced well with many surprises Big recommendation you check out the Strong Songs podcast episode on Everybody Wants To Rule The World. Thanks goes to Pat

I had always thought of Tears for Fears as a total cheese fest - and they kind of are - but it holds up so well. I honestly could not have matched the band name to the songs before this, despite knowing three of these really well. Has a bit of a prog rock vibe to it at times - kind of hilarious how long they milk Shout. 6 minutes! Mothers Talk stands out as a new one to me. I wanted to see how these guys translated live, and watched a bit of this more recent performance - pretty cool! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=roE7-lECtOs The song at the end of the video "Sowing the Seeds of Love" has Beatles "Carry That Weight" vibes, not a sound I would have expected from these guys. Interested to hear more.

I didn't know who Tears For Fears were but I've loved their music for years. This album was a great listen, Soulful, great vocals, great lyricism, some of the great songs ever made in tracks like shout and everybody wants to rule the world. Gonna bust out a rare but well deserved 5er on this one.

Certainly one of the quintessential 80s albums. Everybody knows the first track, but the rest is great as well. No track wasted and a proper classic.

Excellent !!!

First off, I inexplicably confuse Tears for Fears with Faith No More, not musically obviously, just the names. I'll never understand and neither will you. This album feels big. Atmospheric. "Shout" as the opener is huge. I feel like every genre deserves to have a five, this might be the one. Also "Head Over Heels" pops into my head for no reason all of the time, it's a beautiful lil earworm.

9/10

What can I say that hasn't been said? It's one of the greatest pop albums of all time. The production and lyrical content are some of the best ever and the sophistication of synth pop at its highest; it still has a dark edge that their debut had, but now with a more approachable set.

I’m really familiar with the singles on this album, but I’ve been meaning to listen to the whole thing for seemingly decades, and I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed. Everybody Wants to Rule the World just might be the best song of the 1980’s, but I particularly love the way the last four songs on the album fade into one another and share similar motifs. Of all the albums I’ve gotten up to this point this by far the one that excited me to get.

Fantastic

Classic

Holy quintessential 80s batman. Talk about "best in show", how about "best of a decade" ?? I'm gonna add over half these songs to my driving playlist now and you can't stop me.

THE ALBUM EVER!!! 10000/10

Took me back to my teen years when I had this album on repeat. Amazed all the words came back to me. Great nostalgia trip!

11/10 I did a talent show where I lip synced to Shout. I've loved this band since I was 7 years old. This is the first album I ever owned. No notes. Everyone wants to rule the world and head over heels are good enough to get this the 10 even without the personal connection

Ha. So much for my BS. Nah, can't fight it. I was way into Tears for Fears back in the day but as with most things, I kind of only occasionally would be "Oh, that is a really good song" and kinda sorta remember the band name. I am truly sorry for that because... Damn. honestly it was like a first time listen for me. I don't really know if they ever got the credit or ratings they deserved because like I said, I kinda veered off into a techno direction and not so often look back. I should look back more often! This is a REALLY good album and for whatever cheesy eighties looking cover it might be, do not be deceived into thinking this album, musically or lyrically is a joke.

Based

I’ve already saved 2 songs from this album so that is a good sign! “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” is such a bop. Yup, she’s 5/5 stars. Gold certified.