Reviews (page 10 of 16)
Loveeeed this. Absolutely non skippable
One of the greatest new wave albums ever, really nothing more to say
There are a few bangers that are always a good listen, but I don't love the album as a whole. It's interesting to listen to the "b sides", but I don't exactly enjoy them. I know they were exploring psychological turmoil and social issues, and I appreciate that.
Shout and Everybody Wants To Rule The World are good, the rest was a bit dull.
In an earlier review I claimed that the 80s have never really done it for me. Perhaps that was not very well thought out. Because this was the shit! Maybe needed one or two more bangers to get a fiver. Simpsons: No
Shout and Everybody Wants To Rule The World just about drag this up to a 3. The rest is a solid 2.
They have got a couple of good songs On here ( Shout and everybody wants to rule the world). Even though Shout is a good song it does go on for a bit too long. The second side of this album drags it down massively. Also my favorite tears for fears song isn't on here which hasn't helped it.
Pretty good album for something that feels very 80s. Shout is a banger and Everybody Wants To Rule The World is too but I don’t like it as much. The rest didn’t do much for me, just felt a bit weird but not weird enough to be interesting.
I like the dreamy industrial feel of this. Very cloudy, yet mechanical and sonically bold. This album is quite front-loaded ngl. The second half of the record is moodier and doesn't have as strong a footing, with the low moment for me being the song I Believe, but I enjoyed Head Over Heels as well as the closing track, which has some nice ambient vibes to it. It's an album that doesn't say that much, yet it has its heart in the right place when it comes to its topics. It's not an outwardly political album, in the sense that it's pretty safe and doesn't even talk broadly about its issues, but it's pretty clearly informed by the Thatcher years and the rising tensions of the Cold War, with themes being anti-elite, anti-war, anti-nuclear, and, to an extent, even anti-capitalist, one might say? It works thematically, for sure. P. S. My first impression from listening to this record was, "Wow, this sounds like Depeche Mode!" I did not even know Shout is not a Depeche Mode song, but now I not only know that it isn't, but also that the vocalist from Tears for Fears literally admitted to being not just inspired, but also jealous of Depeche Mode, to the point of saying he thinks Shout would be better as a Depeche Mode song. Crazy and surprisingly humble. Actual rating for me is 9/10, or 4.5/5.
Brilliant 👏
Fantastic synthpop album with plenty of known songs including one of my all time favorites in "Everybody Wants To Rule The World". Apart from the songs, the production is really great and to top it off, it didn't drag on forever. Quick 41 minute album filled with great songs... don't bore us, get to the chorus! 9/10
I've heard this many times before. This is a good, but not great album. Head Over Heals and Everybody Wants to Rule the World are sounding a bit schmaltzy these days. In general, this album doesn't have the edge, bravado or strong themes of the first album. That album deserves to be on this list...I don't think this one does.
It feels like a 1980s movie. The nostalgia swarmed my brain throughout the album. The singing, rhythm, and beats are great. This album has been a pleasant surprise to me. Favorite Track: "Everybody Wants To Rule The World".
an album I like a good deal, but one which I don't have much to say about, apart from "wow, this is layered!" the operative word here is "Big". this is quintessential eighties pop rock fare from top to bottom; most of these songs hit you with a wall constructed of shimmery guitars, icy synths, big drums dipped in thick reverb, and gripping vocal leads. over time, I've grown to really appreciate the tropes from this era of pop, tacky though they may appear on the surface to modern ears! this decade had a very particular production quality, an ethereal nature that always nevertheless feels like it's operating at a slight distance from me as a listener. there's a sort of intrigue in that dynamic that Tears for Fears, Talk Talk, Kate Bush, Depeche Mode and many more utilized to pretty tremendous success. the three biggest (and Big-est) songs here are big for a reason! I'm not sure I had ever heard the full 6+ minute version of "Shout" before but, damn, it's worth every second! a simple, perfectly orchestrated slow build if ever there was one. do I need to say anything about "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" other than "how did this almost not make the album?" I almost forgot "Head Over Heels" existed, so it was a pleasant surprise to be reminded of it again; I'll never get sick of a crafty modulation between a song's verse and chorus. the deeper cuts are nothing to sneeze at either! "The Working Hour" has some incredible saxophone work from Will Gregory; "Mothers Talk" has maybe the album's most infectious drum pocket; "I Believe" feels like a cabaret number floating through space; and I like how "Broken" frames "Head Over Heels" and gives it a greater musical context to exist in, then leads into the dreamy, near-ambient closer, "Listen". I definitely didn't expect to like this as much as I did! hoping for more surprises like that in the days to come. light 9/10.
Amazing
Shout and Everybody Wants to Rule the World are great, everything else is just fine.
Yeaaaah
A landmark classic that defined a generation of Cocteau Twins enthusiasts, Tears For Fears showed everyone that they had access to an era-defining reverb by writing music that has aged into our hearts - not in our faces.
Heard of them and know a few of their songs.
There are few albums that remind me more of my mom than this one. I grew up on this record. What an incredible opening track. This record is such a solid synth pop record. I love it.
Super fun album! This is pure 80s gold. Its definitely one of those 80s albums that sounds exactly like the decade, which kind of traps it in time a bit. No matter what, you can't listen to it without dredging deep into nostalgia. That's not a knock at all though. This album rips. It goes hard. Its synth-pop at its finest. The lyrics are definitely pop heart throb influenced, but the instrumentation is really tight. They're playing with a lot. It feels very Depeche Mode but then has really cool sax parts and elements. This is great for exactly what it is and when it came out.
It was an interesting mix of Pop, jazz/blues and something of the aethereal 80's vibe. Overall not a bad album. It was all very pop but something a little deeper. I was not a big fan of I Believe, it was sort of slow and blah. After a pretty up beat start, it seemed really down. Everybody Wants to Rule the World is a winner in my book. I didn't realize they did Shout and Head Over Heels, so that makes it pretty cool. The Working Hour and Listen weren't too bad either. Listen was cool but it got a little long. I wonder with songs like Listen, is that something the band really liked and believed in and so they fought to get it on the record but the producers were like, nope that is not good but we will give you one.
I love all the hits on this album, and the rest of it was pretty interesting too. It's kind of broody and introspective, but with totally radical, totally 80s new wave vibes. Had a great time listening, it's aged like a fine wine!
I mean they really cranked out the bangers on this album didn't they, beautiful soundscape and aggressively 80s, doesn't get much more fun than that.
some all time hit bangers with a lot of cheesy cheesy fillers. almost didn't make the 4-star rating.
EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THIS FUCKING WORLD
I was not a fan of Tears For Fears when this came out. However, time and maturity have a way of changing even strong opinions and I recognize the quality of this album.
A couple of decent songs and the rest is crappy 80s pop.
Love this album. So many memories.
This album has so many hallmarks of what I hated most about 80s pop (cheesy sax and electric guitar filler, plodding pace, repetitive). But, some catchy melodies and hooks, esp. Head Over Heels.
EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD:speaking_head::fire:
80’s pop rock. Not my thing.
Great album. Personal favourite is Head Over Heals 4/5
cumpleaños chica no hay que preocuparse
Great guitar playing for the time period, when a lot of the playing was excessive and tasteless. Awesome songwriting. Strange chord progressions that caught me off guard but worked well.
Some classics. Some new wave garbage
Yllättävän hyvää synapoppia! 4/5
Megahitin ulkopuolella laimeaksi jäävä kasaripoppislevy. 2/5
For some reason I've always held this album to a high regard but never really listen to it all that much at least not as much as *The Hurting*. And I think a lot of it has to do with the big singles definitely "Shout", my favorite, and "Head Over Heels"are just magnificent... and" Everybody Wants To Rule The World" is undeniably a perfect little pop song. But not much else draws my attention.... Side 2 itself, other than the aforementioned "Head Over Heels", seem to be more about sonic texture rather than song craft and it kinda lost me there. High 3.5, but 4 on the app (7.8) ★★★½
This starts off really strong, even if this 80s production is not my favourite, but it meanders off after a while. Low 4 stars
I think "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" and "Head Over Heels" are really good. Never been too crazy about "Shout". The rest is just sort of meh filler. 3.5 stars since there's a couple of gems in there.
Two regular gothy synthpop dudes strike up the courage to make one of the landmark albums of the 80s and maybe the greatest album of the century perhaps. It’s a production extravaganza with a luxuriance of whirring, grinding, despairing synth mixed with more relaxed, natural and polished instrumental tones and Orzabal and Smith are on super top form vocally as well. Featuring a trio of hugely successful singles and top of the lungs anthems which land so monumentally in a tracklist that is insanely tight and magnificently sequenced. A lot variety as well from the monstrous, mechanical stadium synth rock of Mothers Talk and Broken to the beautiful smooth jazz anguish of The Working Hour and the meditativeness of I Believe and more mystical closer Listen. Easy 5 stars.
One of the great albums from my youth. It holds up so well. It's basically a concept album -- musical themes come and go throughout. So many good songs here. Solid contemplative pop that I know note for note. Unexpected bangers: Mother's Talk, Broken.
soundtrack to every 80s movie type beats.
-i had of course heard the orgasm beauty that is EBWTRTW before, and was not disappointed by the rest of the album. I’m a fan of Depeche Mode and was surprised how much a lot of it reminded me of them. Every track has a great atmosphere and it never gets majorly boring -Favorites are Shout, Everybody Wants To Rule The World, and Mothers Talk
Great album. Forgot about these songs but man are they good.
Quite liked this, even the tracks I'd hadn't heard before
Peak 80's right here. A lot of the typical 80's sound is off putting, this nails it to perfection.
Catchy 80s fare
Quintessential album from the 80s. I love the cool transitions between the tracks and in my humble opinion, doesn't sound like any other album that came out around the same time. "Head Over Heels," alone, easily makes this album a 5/5. "YEAH!"
A handful of quintessential songs of the 80s, but if you remove them, the album is sort of meh.
I was surprised by how fantastic this album is. The tv show Psych, with frequent 80s “homage,” gave Tears for Fears special place in their 80s pantheon. I thought that whatever band held that spot would be kitschy and overblown. But I was wrong! Shout and Everybody Wants… are both deserved hits. The Working Hour is my favorite song on the record. Big fan!
Everybody wants to rule the world is an all-timer. The rest of the album doesn’t really do it for me
Ik heb het geprobeerd, echt waar. En muzikaal is het her en der best goed hoor. Maar die jaren-80 kopstem zangstijl kan ik me gewoon niet overheen zetten. Dramatisch.
Mellow and chill listening
the big songs on here are unimpeachable. actually almost perfect. but the connective tissue just isn't there. i enjoyed this album, and i'm glad i listened to it, but i don't see myself playing anything but the heavy hitters in the future.
i hate where TFF are going with the AI slop nowadays, but this album is really something special. the three pillars of the album are the mammoth hits: shout, everybody wants to rule the world, and head over heels. these three tracks really define this album, and it's awesome to hear their riffs and instruments woven throughout the album. broken is a nice little extension of head over heels, and the latter half of the album closer listen reminds me of mad world, which is pretty slick. with that said, for being such a notable 80s band and album, the other ballads on here truly stink. not sure how they flubbed that part so badly but they just don't hit at all for me. that ballad sound is also responsible for the worst two minutes of the working hour. still, the high points on this album are so high that i've really gotta hand it (my five-star review) to them. favorites: shout, the working hour, everybody wants to rule the world, broken, head over heels
Discazo con temas clasiquísimos. Mi favorita es Head over heels, pero me gusta mucho que es como escuchar el soundtrack de laberinto si no lo hubiera hecho Bowie.
Eelsker 80'er-lyden, og everybody wants to rule the world er fantastisk. Det bliver bare ikke rigtig bedre end det, langt fra. Det er for langsomt og fløde, sådan noget a-ha f.eks. bare en del federe. På en bedre dag kunne det måske have været 4, lige på grænsen men tror det trækker ned at der er så meget andet godt at hente i det lydunivers
my era music. The hits are there and enjoyable, rest of album pretty good too.
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.
Shout has to be one of the most iconic songs of the 80s. Instantly recognizable for anyone who has heard music before. And then Everybody Wants To Rule The World comes along and it's probably only slightly less iconic. It falls off a little after that but is a great album nonetheless. Perfectly encapsulates the pop music of 1985. I find it hard to rate this one too, 4 seems a little high but 3 isn't enough. We'll call it 3.75/5 and round up.
Of course knew a lot of songs but hadn't never closely listened to them - a lot better than the general cheesy 80s impression you get from hearing them on TV. Still not something I think I'd come back to much but can recognise that's it's a well crafted album.
Not for me but I like the flow
Sneaky good
A great one.
Obviously all 5
Not a fan.
own
Some cool songs (I.e. everybody wants to rule the world), some songs that are a slog to get through (i.e. I Believe). Overall rating: not bad
Fun 80s pop. Two standouts, but maybe I'm just not too keen on 80s music.
Great to hear this again.
I actually don't like Shout, never have, and that's the best track on the album. Why are the songs so long? They don't need to be! The Working Hour slightly reminds me of U2, which is a horrible band. The bass line on the start of Broken is awesome, the song is not. Well, not an album for me.
2 were good
I’ve the instrumentals. The notes. The lyrics. The vibe.
Pretty great. This album sounds like the ‘80s in the best possible way. Hippie voice: Hey man, is that Songs From The Big Chair? Then turn it up, man!
Here’s another great one, this one I have on vinyl, but I don’t break out often enough. The hits still hit and the deeper cuts are great as well. Love the tribute to Robert Wyatt!
Pretty good! I liked it more than I thought I would.
Fun
Magique. Le cœur des 80z
All the classics. Really a vibe from beginning to end.
this has always been one of my favorite albums so i might be biased. What a soundscape, what excellent excellent brilliant 80s pop. no other words can be spoken. 1.) everybody wants to rule the world 2.) the working hour 3.) head over heels / broken
Brilliant album. Still sounds as good as when it first came out
Some classics, would listen again
Hard to explain how big this was if you weren't there in 85.
2.5/5 - Everybody wants to the world was great, hence one hit wonder. Liked Head over heels/broken too
So good. So 80s. Immaculate production. Bop after bop. An easy 8.5 to 9/10
Classic.
Strong 3 light 4 Def a good listen, some memorable tracks no fillers and a solid sound .. shout is great track
Pure 80s
I liked it better than I thought i would
Still listen to this album on a regular basis 40 years later. Fantastic!
The singles are great but less keen on the filler
Pretty awesome album. I’ve probably heard every song on here before, but never listened to it as a whole. It’s amazing how many hits came off of this one record.
It's great, heard it many times before
It was a shame the rest of the album wasn't like Everybody Wants To Rule The World because that song is a solid 10/10 Another 1 or 2 songs I knew and liked but overall the album was a bit boring 3 ⭐️
Really quite atmospheric - you get a sense of this in the big singles from this (Shout & Everybody Wants To Rule The World) but a lot of the rest of the album is less of a hit-factory and trying it's hand at a lot of different instrumentation and gifting a lot of space and time to it (such as on closer Listen). It's quite interesting and as a whole album does work quite well, but I do wish there were a few more hooks in some of those more atmospheric tunes. Highlight track is (somewhat obviously) Everybody Wants To Rule The World - which really is a 10/10 perfect song. This was interesting and expansive. 7.5/10.
I did listen to the whole album....
Album itself was alright. Some of Tears for Fears best pieces were in there but other than that, it was pretty mid.
5 estrelas, do começo ao final só tem obra de arte
This is the only album I know from this artist. I do know more tracks though. I do enjoy this artist and music very much.
Actually good music from the 80s? It’s more likely than you’d think
Not as bad as I expected
- Mehr 80er geht nicht - Ich vergesse immer wieder, wie viele verdammte Hits die hatten und wie viele davon auf diesem Album sind - Und ich vergesse auch immer wieder, dass ich die irgendwie ganz geil finde, auch wenns zwischenzeitig sehr kitschig wird - Hatte mit einigen Längen sehr viel Spaß bei dem Album 4/5
Better than I remembered.
One of the best of the 80s, which is definitely not my favourite decade. Feel like I should give it a 4, but still felt like giving a 3 for some reason. Great classic songs, and even the more unknown ones do not disappoint.
One of the best pop albums ever made.
Includes a track that I think encapsulates 80s pop music in Everybody Wants to Rule the World. Never listened to it entirely until it was recommended here, but I think this is absolutely brilliant. Pop music to be sure but with progressive songwriting sensibilities.
When this hits, it hits so hard. But then there are songs like Broken... You're in a studio. Why use a digital keyboard?!? Just use a real piano! The misses here are as big as the hits.
Enjoyable throughout, wears the 80s on its sleeve - banger after banger.
Thoughts before listening: I'm excited about this one. I know the hits, but I've never listened to this album. I've always dismissed these guys as your typical 80s pop fluff, but I've seen some write ups on them recently that have me intrigued. Maybe there's more substance here than I assumed. Review: "Shout" and "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" are both bangers that have stood the test of time and still standout as highlights of the 80s. I am also enjoying "Head Over Heels" which was also a hit although not as prevalent as the other two. The rest of the album is fine although these aren't good enough songs to rise above the 80s overproduction. Its the synths and weird muted electronic drums that drive me crazy about 80s pop music, and both of those sounds are prevalent on this album. 3-stars
Shout and Everyone Wants To Rule The World are great, the rest of the album is solid but doesn't hit that same level
80’s are a great pick-me-up
6/10
It’s alright, it just keeps going and I’m bored. Some decent song transitions though.
A collection of great pop songs. I love shout and everybody wants to rule the world and the transition from broken into head over heals was great
This is such a staple of the 20th century, it's difficult to be objective. So I won't. I like it more than many other albums, but not as much as others.
This continues to be a genre that I simply do not care for. 2.0
Masterpiece 10/10
i wouldn’t choose to put most of this on, but it’s good music
Great album Great music Pretty great
Major bias because my favorite song of all time is on this album. Don’t care, it’s a masterpiece.
10/10. This is one of my absolute freaking favourite albums in this 1001 album project!!! I fell in love with it when I first listened to it!!! It is possibly my favourite pop album of all time!!!!! :)
Didn't love the album, but the song radio after was good.
3/5
Great album, a little slow in parts
Great album with some nostalgic songs from the 80s. Solid album.
I admit I didn’t pay much attention to these guys back in the 80s. So I was storied by the strength of this album. Their orchestration sets a distinct mood. Good listen.
overall it was alright, im not a super big fan of new wave and the way the bass and synths sounded in the 80s (and drum machines. come to think of it i hate most of the instrumentals). but it would be silly to deny significance of this band. spotify also played Mad World by them automatically after this album, and it sounded weird af, plus made me feel very uncomfortable knowing it actually is the original YNN
Between the limited peaks of their radio hits are deep valleys of meh
Obviously the big single (Everybody Wants to Rule the World) is great; rest of the album is fine; final song is pretty chill.
it only two known songs and one that i don´t hear it but when released i heard it a lot on the radio, "everybody wants to rule the world" in the Live Aid year they released a single with a litle diference being "everybody wants to run the world"
Absolutely essential 80s pop listening. The songwriting and production quality are immaculate.
80s synth poprock writ large. VERY of its time; some tracks difficult to listen to; nice to hear motifs appearing in different forms throughout.
I love this album! It makes me feel like I’m in an 80s coming of age film.
Yes, this is 5 stars
5/9/24 A short album with 8 songs, but I found myself not getting bored of the album and will look to listen to it once again. 3 out of the 8 are classics.
Some good, some bad
Well aren’t they a pretty pair of boys on that album cover? I do quite like Tears For Fears, so it was a happy moment when saw this generated, although I’m unsure if I’ve actually listened to an album in full by them before. I’ve certainly commented this many times before, but 80’s synth does hold a soft spot for me. It’s a sound that I can’t help but love. Also, the fact that so many songs from this album still get regular airplay indicates others may think the same too. And I’m not surprised. This is a pretty banging album.
2,5
Certainly there were big songs from this album but with that said I did not not know how the rest of the album would be. In short, it was pretty darn good, start to finish. "Shout", "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" and "Head Over Heels", are, of course the most notable songs on a very good Brit Pop album!
Killer album. Atmospheric yet catchy and poppy. Production is awesome, great drums and variety through out. Would be an excellent driving at night album Fav song: Shout, Everybody wants to rule the world, Mothers Talk, broken, head over heels
It's not their fault I don't like new wave 🤷♀️
Oh no. OK. Fair shot........ I find this awful. Not grating, but not yo my liking.
Great album. Not a bad song on it.
None more 80s-sounding. I reckon I wanted to like this more than I actually did. I enjoy the hits but found much of the rest a bit po-faced.
Buncha great suggesetions lately! Of course 5/5, this album is an icon.
Hits are fine, but was never into these guys.
En oikein tykännyt. Mahtipontista, mutta tylsää. Kasarisoundia pahimmillaan, peukalobassottelua, chorus-efektejä, läiskivät rummut ja ohuet syntikat.
I had higher hopes for this record because I like Everybody Want to Rule the World. Unfortunately a lot of the other songs kinda fell flat. Seems like another record that made this list just because it has one or two massive singles. Not really a full album you need to hear before you die imo.
Finally an 80's album that is actually good.
The two monster hits make it worth the price of admission. But the rest of it is pretty good too. Little more mellow little jazzy which I kinda like.
Everybody wants to rule the world - iconic song. Album started off a little slow but I was definitely bopping my head by the end of it.
this record gave me pretty much what i expected, with cool pop influences and some unshakeably catchy riffs. i enjoyed curt smith’s vocals as well. you can hear an almost “mod” like influence in this record, under the layers of 80s pop, that i also appreciated. whilst i do like the album, i did find it a bit repetitive, but if i listened to it more often, im sure i would come around to it more.
I liked it a lot, especially the slower tracks like "I believe" and "The Working Hour" and of course the hits, "Everybody Wants to rule the world", "shout" and "Head Over Heels" great album
Album was alright. A few notable songs that I was familiar with, but some of the other tracks were really slow and boring. 3/5 Probably won’t listen again
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
This was a revelation. Why’d I like it so much, beats me.
tears for fears man! can hear the vague kraftwerk influences. some parts of the album are a bit of a drag but overall great stuff. 3.8*
Oh, it's just nine inch nails
Forgot how good this album was happy to visit it in full
good 80s album, unfortunately i'm not super into it. I like the popular songs mainly.
Very 80s and in this case it's not for me. I find it doesn't age very well. Some songs like Shout are annoying but, others like Everybody Rules The World are great. Worth a listen but not going back to often.
Excellent
Just a band I've never liked so it's a big 👎 from me
could i write poetry to this? n
I hoped I would like this more than I did.
First listen. Ok.
Top of the charts 80s new wave banger
This album is a fucking 10. No more notes required.
Back to the new wave pop-rock. Yay. But actually, I do like Tears for Fears. Of course 'Shout', 'Everybody Wants to Rule the World', 'Head Over Heels / Broken' are all-time classics. In particular, I liked 'Listen'. Just cool vibes. Half of the album being spectacular is a pretty good track record.
Nice album. Shout and everybody wants to rule the world are classics.
Some of their big ‘uns on here.
I have the vinyl album and at least one 12" single, maybe a few. The album actually holds up pretty well all things considered. The songwriting is good, and the other elements are solid as well, interesting instrumentation, evocative vocals.
Not really a fan, but surprised at how many of these songs I knew.
Tears for Fears is one of the better pop groups from the 80's in my opinion. This is their most notable album, and it's pretty damn good.
Jest kilka utworów znanych z radia. Zawsze to miła niespodzianka dowiedzieć się kto wykonuje ten znany utwór, który słyszałeś milion razy. 4/5
Dnl
Side A is one of the most immaculately produced, intricately detailed, tightly crafted Side As in pop music history. The only real complaint you could lobby is that some of the songs — especially the opener, “Shout” — go on for a bit too long. Like, a 9.5/10, making you expect nothing less of perfection from the rest of Songs From The Big Chair. Side B, on the other hand, is a lot weaker. Still good new wave era pop, sure, but nowhere near the caliber of the first half. Really, “Head Over Heels” does the heavy lifting on this side, as “Broken” is an interlude more than anything, though it’d be great if it’d been expanded to a proper song. The other two tracks, “I Believe” and “Listen,” are softer, overwrought piano ballads that haven’t aged very well. The synths sound overblown for the first time, and the gloss and shine read as too clean. It doesn’t help that these also aren’t the strongest tracks here, regardless. Songs From The Big Chair is one of those records that you can keep on your record player for a week without flipping it over. And while I don’t hate Side B, I wish “Head Over Heels” was just on the first half, because it would make life easier. It’s one of those records that could have been flawless, and may have felt flawless in the ‘80s, but has too maybe weak moments to get there. Still, its strengths still hold up very well, and that makes it a worthwhile listen, even after all these years.
4.5/5. Welcome to your life.
So many hits on this album! I don’t listen to a ton of 80s music, but I do like Tears for Fears and I got to see them in concert once. Head Over Heels is my favorite song on this record.
Too 80´s for me
Songs From the Big Chair is Tears for Fears' second album, and the work that pushed the pair to world-wide fame. Tears for Fears made very well produced synth-pop, and their work dominated the pop charts in the 80's. This album includes two of the band's biggest hits: "Shout" and "Everybody wants to Rule the Word." The later has become one of the canonical songs: it's a tune that has had such enduring popularity that everyone in the world may recognize the chorus.
Wow this has an unusually high rating and "Everybody wants to rule the world" is the most mid song ever. Surely their less popular songs are better, right? No
never actually listened to the combination of Broken and Head over Heels before now, I have a whole lot more appreciation for both songs as a singular entity now
Big chair songs
It's ok. Couple of great hits, couple of really dated sax romps. Are those hits worth the whole album? I don't think so, though they are really good. There's a reason you haven't heard the rest unless you're a fan. But those hits! I'm not quite Head Over Heels, but I'll Shout 3 Stars.
Brilliant but over so soon!
Wow, i severely underestimated these lads. Really legit song writing on here, I’ll try and dig into the rest of their work.
Yes!!!!!
4.5/5... something happens and I am indeed head over heels
Feels like a greatest hits record of the 1980’s. I really like shout and head over heels, the rest of the songs I don’t care much for. The entire production feels very 80’s cheese.
This record was on repeat in the mid 80s, this record and their second were a big part of my late teens and early twenties.
Awesome album
The platonic ideal of 80s pop yet timeless in its excellence. Shout and Everybody Wants to Rule the World are all time classics. Head Over Heels is basically my theme song. The Working Hour is hugely underrated. I've loved this album for years and will continue to love it. 47/5 stars
I really like this, it’s an excellent listen. My only reservation—I find the general 80s sound to be so of the moment and a little cheesy, like walking into a 70s kitchen, the second you walk in you know when it was made. 4.5
Really well done - I must listen to it again at some point because I've been suffering poor connectivity issues where I'm at here. This really is a great example of what an album should be; there's such a distinct sonic texture to this album, and it feels cohesive and well done. There's a melancholic mystery and mystique to it, and yet, a palpable sense of wonder. I guess I could associate with deep, warm ocean shades of black and blue with fairy pink and white. I adore Listen. Everybody Wants to Rule The World and Shout is great too, and I love the jazzier songs like The Working Hour. Musicality: 9/10 Exceptional execution with masterful skill and artistry. Lyricism: 8/10 Strong, thoughtful, and engaging lyrics. Earnestly, Everybody Rules the World is the biggest contributor here - though the others aren't slackers. That's a 10/10. Production Quality: 9/10 Near-perfect; flawlessly mixed and produced. Artistic Expression: 9/10 Highly innovative and groundbreaking, with a powerful artistic voice. Cohesiveness and Flow: 7/10 Very cohesive, with a well-thought-out structure. Replay Value: 7/10 High; many tracks are enjoyable to revisit. Total: 8.2/10
A terrific album that covers all the bases and I'm sure still helps pay the bills.
3.8
A really impressive array of tunes that became part of everyday life
Have liked this ever since it came out. Hadn't listened to it for some time so was very glad to listen to it again. Have added their albums I don't own to favorites for future listening.
a couple classics. Those perms are hilarious. very 80's. 3 stars basically for some banging singles/haristyles.
It was horrendous only two good songs
A couple of good pop singles, but a lot of the rest sounded like daytime tv themes (The Working Hour, for example). Def not their best album and the production sounds very dated.
There's so much depth to this album beyond the brilliant BIG HITTER singles. Jazz, primal therapy, synth prog - all get a look in. The songs are woven together, teasing of a concept, but keeping the overall story hidden from view. The Broken / Head Over Heels / return to Broken suite wasn't your usual pop album expectation at the time. I rarely give five stars. Big Chair would have received five stars from me back in 1985. Almost forty years on (!) and it still gives me great pleasure. A real treat to listen to.
I have a Best Of compilation album by Tears For Fears and it might as well have been filled with this album (save for a few songs that would be missing). This album should be in my collection.
Beautiful soundscape from the synths, love the singing, and it felt very peaceful and nostalgic.
I really do not like this. I remember back in the mid 80s when the record companies and radio stations were demanding my devotion and assimilation to it by playing it every 5 minutes. I gave it the old college try this morning and ran it in its entirety. No minds changed here.
I have to credit the staying power of a couple of these songs- as I write this, nearly 40 years after this album came out, the current #1 movie in the box office features "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" quite prominently. But outside that and "Shout", I found the rest of the album to be pretty average.
Peak 80s and not in a good way
The big chair is comfy and warm
A couple classics that bring back some memories (e.g., Shout). Not a bad album, all in all.
4/5 - landmark but still not really my cup of tea
I just hear an average 80s album with almost nothing to make it stand out. There's a few good songs like "Everybody Wants to Rule the World". The little details are neat and make me add the "Almost" in my first sentence. But there are many 80s synth pop groups who are better than Tears for Fears. I expected a little better from them. I'll give "Songs From the Big Chair" 3 stars.
Luxurious mullets? Hilariously bad knitwear? Layer upon layer of synth? I'm not sure, but I might have landed back in the early 80s. Which, in the case of this album, is no bad thing. This was always on heavy rotation in our house thanks to my two older brothers, so one I feel I know well. The big hits are there, but "Head over Heels" was always (and remains) my favourite - glossy, luscious, over the top production with soaring vocals - a thing of beauty.
Quite fun.
Some lovely songs and some filler
Gets some stars for everybody wants to rule the world but pretty disappointing for the most part
There were some big hits for them on this album, but I never really bought into the sound.
Would I listen to it again: yes Is it a no-skip album: no Do I like it: yes
Let’s begin by not discussing the two big hits. They stand alone, and are too big for me to see them in the context of an entire album. They also sound like they might be the work of a “singles” band, although past research tells me that’s not really the case. Anyway, I’m going to judge this album based on the other 6 tracks. Yes, 6!!! These songs are long, but for an album released in the CD era, I expected there to be maybe 12 tracks. Perhaps that’s a sign that there’s no filler? Let’s see… Oh geez! This is cheese! I mean that the FM synthesis is all over it. The same goes for the rhythms. They’re really enjoying themselves playing with programmed South American inspired beats, that’s for sure. I wonder what part of England these two Pommies lived in? Was it a mecca for West Indians? Then we have the smoky bar-room jazz (ish) “I Believe”. Not bad, but not my style. If they’d sold this song to a diva of the times, it might have found a lucrative home. Finally! “Broken” is fire! I love the production and there’s an actual guitar front and centre, leading to, oh… I know this song! I didn’t realise from the name that “Head Over Heels” was also a big hit. OK, I guess the album as a whole can be judged with the inclusion of the hits, as they make up over a third of the album. But… that pesky DX7 is back, along with some random samples, covering for the fact that “Listen” is an incomplete song. A decent album, but I’d rather play their “Best of”.
Amazing 4.5/5 Standout tracks: - Shout (of course) - Everybody Wants To Rule The World (of course) - Head Over Heels / Broken - Mothers Talk <3 <3
My older sister had this on cassette growing up, so it got a lot of rotation at the house and on road trips. Probably one of my favorite keyboard solos every on "Head over Heals"
Amazing album, can't believe how many of their big hits came from one single record! The transition between Broken into Head Over Heels is freaking amazing.
Really don’t care for Shout, likely from too much time hearing it in a certain dishroom, but rest of the album was quite good
Underrated 80's record
Okay did not know Tears for Fears had so many great songs in one album. Aside from the big ones I loved The Working Hour and Head Over Heels/Broken
I forgot how much I like this album. I'm 11 again and singing Head over Heels off key in a most sincere way. However I really like Listen the more I hear it. Nostalgia!!
It's a perfect 80s album. It has big hits on both sides, including Everybody Wants to Rule The Word (to me, a strong contender to the top 10 best pop songs of all time). The songs between the big hits are not simple fillers and add a lot of flavor and depth to the entire album, especially the smooth jazzy The Working Hour or the moody closer Listen. And while I don't love all of the songs individually (Mothers Talk in particular), I can enjoy them as part of the whole listening experience, which makes it a perfect album to recommend to someone who would try to get into listening to entire albums instead of songs or playlists. Someone in the comments recommended watching Rick Beato's video and I second that, it's really great and goes in detail to dissect the sound which will make you appreciate the thought and work behind the music even more.
Liked that!
I enjoyed this! Even though I liked the Tears for Fears songs I knew already it would never have occurred to me to listen to one of their albums. On an unrelated note, I think my dad said he met one of these guys in a smoking area one time. I should ask him about that...
Two massive hits, and you think you've heard all that you need from this album. You'd be missing out on Roland Orzabal's genius as a composer. As with "The Hurting," Orzabal seems equally comfortable creating a memorable pop song as much as an orchestral mood piece. A pinnacle of 1980s pop music.
a great pop album from the heady days at North Staff Poly
The bangers are still bangers, but many of the tunes are products of the times and are a bit dated. High 3
The rise of synth pop and its changing sounds.
Singles where good but, probably won't come back to this. If you enjoy tha new wave, melancholy vibe. This is for you. Not enough songs about big chairs.
When it goes 80s, it really goes 80s. Still. A gem
All time great synthpop tracks mixed in with enjoyable deep cuts makes this a well rounded album. One of the final huge hits of the 80s before adult contemporary had a death grip on the decade.
★★★★★★
Good album. This album is a more sophisticated and restrained than the typical synth-pop, 80s hits. The production is very dialed, lending to a nice atmosphere throughout the album. There are two big classic hits here with "Shout" and "Everybody Wants To Rule The World." I like this one, and it is probably at the apex of where 80s synth-pop can reach for me. ****
best album ever made
Some misses but also some all time greats
The singles are good but the rest is forgettable.
Great album
This has some good songs on it. It's insane to me that they didn't really go further.
Couple of good tunes but otherwise meh.
An absolute gem that encapsulates the 80s mood
Some classics on this album. I never got into this style of music, but I can appreciate the instrumentals. Shout and Everybody Wants to Rule the World are great well known songs.
A classic album with some good hits.
What to say about this one. Listened to the full thing on a flight and then listened to each of the singles a bunch more times to round out the flight time. The singles are standouts on the album. I liked the whole back half better than the front half. A very solid 4.
Don’t think I’ve really ever heard anything but the chorus of the obvious songs. I hated it throughout!
The three songs I knew were great! The rest not so much. His voice got pretty grating after a while.
The hits are hits but w
Nah, not for me, too poppy
solid 5 stars i'm not hearing any arguments right now 💛
THIS ONE HAD SOME HITS??? but the non hits were boring i kept zoning out
head over heels intro is SO satisfying to play multiple air instruments to
damned good!
i think everybody wants to rule the world is one of the best songs ever written, and i was happy to learn that it sits on an album worthy of it. this is THEE new wave album as far as i'm concerned, it couldn't get any better than this
Beautiful. I can sit quietly and listen to all these songs in my mind.
Ох да, наш любимый дынька дарко, в котором звучала песня из этого альбома. В дискографии группы считается самым значимым, хотя звучание на 4 вродь пойдёт (даже с натяжкой). Есть цепляющие песни, безусловно, но лично мне, в основном, было слушать чут чут скучно.
Yea not bad
Un plaisir à écouter après Tank Battle ... Je connaissais les hits : Shout +++ Everybody wants to rule the world +++ Et découvert les autres morceaux. Un peu plus faible vers la fin. => 3.5/5
This album was good, though the singles really keep it afloat. That being said Shout, Everybody and Head Over Heels are bangers. 3/5.
A bit of filler, otherwise good hits
Aye. This is pretty cool music to cook to.
meh
My god, the 80s are present, but the power is unbelievable. The guitars are ripping and the harmonies are floating through the ether. What an incredible show when the chorus’ kick in and the elements combine to create really gorgeous music. This one rips the scales of a 4, but I’m feeling a 5 because of how this moves the soul!
Great album. Liked the hits as a child, so biased, but still enjoyed myself now.
The opposite of a sophomore slump. I was going to ding this by a star for "I Believe," but it's a perfectly executed soul ballad with the same self-observant attitude as the rest of the album, gently laying you down in front of the massive "Head Over Heels/Broken," which rips out your heart then gifts it back to you in a healed, refreshed state where you can now see the world a little more clearly, less shit-stained. Brilliant album beginning to end, with that lush, mid-eighties gloss that can sound dated but here is effective as part of the music, magnifying the themes, spreading the music out. Simple without being boring. Huge without being obnoxious, or tedious. It just has a sincere character, unlike a lot of other so-called synth-pop/new wave from that era - not going to name names because Tears for Fears songwriting and musical chops elevate them to a level that exists sort of above any genre. Unfortunately for us Orzabal and Curt Smith didn't get along well after the next album, maybe got steamrolled by their hype, who knows. Good to see they got back together later because this was a unique sound, great voices, great playing, great songwriting. "Songs from the Big Chair" has aged well, a superior example of what pop music sounde like inthe mid-eighties, and remains one of the best albums of all time.
More hot garbage from British New Wave / Synth Pop bullshit. I truly despise this sound. No denying though - Everybody Wants to Rule the World is a 10/10 song. Shout is actually pretty great as well. Head Over Heels is okay. The other 5 songs? bullshit
Classic 80s, great vibes.
classic Synthpop album
I wanna sit in the Big Chair
5/5
4.8 Este álbum es espectacular. Broken - Head over heels/broken es otra cosa. Temazos.
Head Over Heels rules the world
I really loved listening to this album. I knew so many of the deeper cuts, making me realize perhaps they aren’t that deep!
Excellent writing and recording of happy catchy tunes. This has held up well over time.
A very 80's album with some absolute bangers. The middle does drag a little though
"Commercial" music that does not offend or take attention away from the product advertised.
Idk man. Head Over Heels absolutely fucking goes. After rediscovering it, I’m not surprised if it ends up one of my most played songs of the year. But overall I think this album is rated too highly. I think a lot of the people on this website are rating from a place of nostalgia (of which I am sometimes guilty). The songs are way too long and incredibly repetitive. The music is generally great — very of-the-time. But the vocalists sound like they could be Muppets.
3
Had some good moments but nothing really stood out too wildly. 2.5/5
3.5 rounded up. It reminds me a lot of Depeche Mode, if not quite as good. Synths, reverb, and a dark sound are usually a winning formula for me.
Some anthems on here
Tolles 80er Wave Album mit unverwechselbaren Sounds und tollen Titeln. Let‘s „Shout“ about „Hands over Heels“ so that „Everybody wants to rule the world“ 😊. Leider sind nicht alle Songs so stark aber sie passen insgesamt ins Albumkonzept. Es ist eine tolle 3/4 Stunde back to the 80‘s 😊👍
I forgot how good this album was. Seems like a mix of very catchy and somewhat inventive music.
2024-06-04...
Very 80s. Enjoyed the album but I wouldn't actively listen to it again.
Shout- I've never really been a fan of this song, however, it is nostalgic. It's not a bad song, it's just not that great. I'll just go with this is a good song. It reminds me of being an angsty teen and wanting to scream into my pillow. The Working Hour- the saxophone is scaring me. I have come to the conclusion that I do not like the saxophone. This is a dramatic bittersweet song. It seems pretty mediocre, but it's not bad. Everbody Wants To Rule The World- this is such an iconic and nostalgic song. I can't even say anything bad about it. This is a good, upbeat song. I feel empowered listening to this. Mothers Talk- this is a catchy, heavy, and nostalgic song. It sounds upbeat, yet when you listen to the lyrics, it doesn't seem so happy anymore. This is a good song. I Believe- this is a slow and haunting song. This is also a mediocre song. It starts off slow and it ends slow. The saxophone is not helping, either. This is my least favorite track off the album. Broken- by itself, it is still a good song. It is catchy. It feels weird listening to it, though, because it is the final part of Head Over Heels. Head Over Heels- this is a nostalgic song. The bass does it justice. Although I never really liked it as a kid, it is better than I remember it being. This is not the best track off of the album, however, it is still good. Listen- it starts off with a sweet melody. I feel like I'm in a movie listening to this, specifically Heathers. It doesn't have many words and instead relies on sound effects. I have mixed emotions for this song. Overall- this album is definetly worth the listen. It is easy to forget how good some of these songs are after you haven't heard them in a of couple years. It feels so nostalgic and it captures the sound of the 80s. 4/5
Já conhecia algumas músicas, ouvir o restante das músicas foi só para descobrir que o álbum inteiro é foda.
Love it. Great album.
Hermosísimo, muy actual.
very impressed with this one 4.5.5
Bedste indtil videre
Oh it's iconic alright. But I knew it was time to move on to bigger and better albums when I saw my peers in my freshman year of high school adding "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" to their oldies playlist. I KNEW IT FIRST.
B+ Shout 4 The Working Hour 4 Everybody Wants To Rule The World 4 Mothers Talk 4 I Believe 4 Broken 3 Head Over Heels / Broken 5 Listen 3 WOW this was a shocker. I'm an 80s slut at heart.
Now That's What I Call 80's Music Vol. 1. What a monster of a record.
80’s music doesn’t get much better than this. Many people tried, but Tears For Fears really mastered the formula. While Side One contains the two most instantly recognizable songs, the album eventually peaks with “Head Over Heels”.