Reviews (page 12 of 15)
enjoyed this more than I thought I would but the whole album doesn’t really hold together enough. The experimental stuff veers into 80s low budget PI/ cop show TV series in downtown LA … was a bit boring. SHOUT is a stone-cold gold-plated banger. It’s protest through synths and pure vocal force. Rule The World - excellent Head over Heels - pure 80s classic Listen - I bit tokenistic ‘world music peace love we’re so kewl’ … kind of thing head teacher at my primary school would play at assembly to be ‘right on’… like Enya or Jean-Michel Jarre 😂
When this was new, I thought I was too cool for it. But I absolutely was not.
EWTRTW is absolutely top tier, Shout Shout and Head over Heels are great, and the rest is just meh. Mixed bag here for only 8 songs
Not the best front-to-back experience ever but crazy highlights. Didn’t think Tears for Fears had a song like Listen in their bag tbh fair play
Yeah why not
Some 5’s, some 2’s. What a shame
Oh so this is Tears for Fears. To me this is one of those bands that you've heard but didn't know you had. I recognised a bunch of these songs but it's the ones in between that I wasn't to fussed on. Still a solid listen if you dig your 80s pop synth/rock.
Sounded familiar, then "Everybody..." started.
I've somehow never given much thought to Tears For Fears outside of their singles. This was a pretty solid album front to back (though the ballads left me flat). The Genesis albums from this era have a certain hold on my imagination and I imagine if i had come to this closer to real time, it would have been formative. But will I ever listen to it again? [looks around; whispers] Probably not…
I need to spend a few more listens with this. The rock opera of “broken” > “head over heels / broken” was unexpected and way more prog than I anticipated. Of course “everybody wants…” is always a good listen.
‘Head over heels’ serves as a high water mark when I think of popular 80’s songs. 5 outta 5, a perfect tune.
I really can't stand the opening track (giant skip), but 'Everybody Wants to Rule the World' rocks. I feel like I would have enjoyed this album had I been there.
Decent—stranger than I thought it would be.
6/10 3 good songs, the rest are just ok and largely forgettable. Disappointing, really, as I was expecting some solid 80s nostalgia and then a realisation how much better Tears for Fears are than I gave them credit for. This happened with Simple Minds. But here, the musical landscape between the hits felt great. Couple of chords, lots of synth. Bloody devils horn grating on my ears.
A surprisingly good listen. Eighties synth pop. There is an ambitious variety of sound here and it only occasionally veers into John shuttleworth territory.
5.5/10 Yes to the hits. No to everything else Highlights: Shout Everybody Wants to Rule the World
Ok
Butthole slippery
Very listenable 80s album with several big hits.
I think they took themselves a bit seriously back in the day, but this is a decent album. Everybody Wants to Rule the World is clearly the standout song.
Another bunch of 80s synth pop. Sure it's seminal, important to the movement synth pop, but it's still bloody synth pop.
Not bad but not a huge fan.
06/2025 Hotel, Gili Asahan, Indonesien Selbst die wenigen Hits ziehen sich ewig.
classic but i've been burned out on in this grocery stores
Very 80’s - some nice work done on the synths. Strong vocals and would be fun to dance to. 3.5 stars
Dad- 7 Mom- 9 Mike- Lori- 6 Michael- 8 Miles- Cole- Avg-
Very 80s! I want to like Tears For Fears more than I do. But they’re a singles band - I don’t think the album tracks are all that - and even then they’re a bit… weird. I kind of love the super 80s production though and the last track had some synth sounds that reminded me of later dance music!
Mixed. Some really strong tracks that don’t sound dated in there, but fades towards the end where some do sound dated.
They were definitely doing something cool and made a lot of hits, but it’s just not for me.
Singles are great the other songs sound a little dated
Pretty decent album. A couple of big hits on one album, and good to hear the context for Broken fully. I don't think anything super stood out to me re: style or composition or music, but maybe I just don't know the specific history about this album.
Overall solid album for me
Cheesy synth pop.
So back when I was growing up, the local news station my parents watched in the morning would play "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" during the traffic report so now whenever I hear that song I still get this weird trigger where I remember being a kid and it's way earlier than I want to be awake, waiting for my mom to make me Eggo waffles for breakfast or something... Anyways, that song is a timeless banger. Shout and Head Over Heels are also both good, but the rest just feels like an exercise in studio wankery.
it has the deep cuts that I’ve always known and loved, but listening to the whole thing through didn’t impress me as a whole
Some good singles but don’t agree it is an overall great album
Skulle vært ei stjerne mellom 3 og 4 ja. God miks av 80s poprock og lounge. Ikke feil, men ikke helt riktig heller.
I've listened to this album a bunch of time over the months every time I come back to this project and I just need to leave a damn review. "Shout" is an absolute banger. Got me so pumped every time I listened to this and then the rest of the album just flows past and nothing grabs me in the same way. I love how big and full everything sounds.
Sound album.
Just an okay album. I’d probably rate it two stars but the singles from this album bring it up a star.
Single are good. Rest is fine.
Very solid middle of the road 80s synth pop
Outside the hits, not much here
I can see why most of the tracks here were put on the best of album. The remaining tracks that weren't on the best of aren't great unfortunately, leading to an unbalanced album as a whole
top songs: everybody wants to rule the world, head over heels, shout, broken some really good songs, others dragged a little
Songs from the Big Chair, Tears for Fears’ 1985 synth-pop opus, straddles the line between grand ambition and brooding excess. While the band’s rock-tinged electronics aim for emotional gravitas, the album can feel a bit ponderous—especially in its deeper cuts. Still, it boasts undeniable highlights: “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” is a gleaming pop gem that would’ve made a killer opener, setting a more accessible tone. “Broken” stands out with its pulsing synth bass, serving as a moody lead-in to the more expansive “Head Over Heels/Broken,” whose extended coda—chopped from the radio version—feels both epic and indulgent. The final two tracks, oddly presented as live versions, close the album on a slightly disjointed note, making this chair not quite as big or comfortable as it could’ve been.
Fav: Everybody Wants to Rule the World; Broken; Head Over Heels
There's a reason you only know the 3 great songs that are on this album. And they are truly great songs. But there are only 3 of them...
7/10 Obvs has some bangers on it, such an iconic 80's synth pop album but listening back to front was a bit monotone for me - good background music though. I do love Head Over Heels, always have always will. Going forward I will continue to listen to the songs I already knew. Songs added to playlist: - Shout - Everybody Wants To Rule The World - Head Over Heels
Some very solid songs, other much less solid songs. They lost me a bit at the end of the album.
EvErYbOdY wAnTs tO RuLe ThE wOrLd 🇬🇧
I enjoyed this album. I already knew some songs from it, so it was cool to actually listen to the album.
Like all the hits on the album but rest was pretty meh.
Well folks, I'm not going to sugarcoat this one. It's two legendary hits and a bunch of stuff I'd really rather not get involved with.
Not bad, kind of forgettable while still being enjoyable.
3/5
Better than Coldplay.
Pretty good
I actually listened to this one once because bo and Noah were talking about it. This was really good. It’s crazy how you get an idea in your mind because you heard their one hit from the 80s (over and over and over….thank you Mr. Morris and his weight lifting tape), and think they are not greet. But turns out they have a lot of songs you’ve never heard that are really good!
To be a sax player in the 80's, you must have been in demand!
Great! But doesn’t feel like a real album, lotsa filler.
TRÄNEN FÜR ÄNGSTE freumi so medium aber mal gugge! iwie het shout chli wenig bass? finds suscht sber na cool und kenns sogar aaaaber chli z lang für min gschmack the working hour isch huuuere schön, au wenn auuu chli z lang aber es flowed schön innenand inne everybody wants to rule the world isch natürlich en riese banger, wo au nöd z fest usglutscht isch? d hihats findi recht geil DUGUDÄGADUGUDÄGA de schluss vo mother's talk gajt DUMM jaa dass es lied wie I believe na sin platz findt, macht iwie sinn bin nöd megaaa überzügt, iwie schona schön aber chli sehr langsam UH de übergang zu broken isch aber sexy listen findi seeehr cool als closener hmmm also s hetmi idem sinn positiv überrascht aber weiss nöd öbi es 4i geh chan. glaub eidach es gueets 3
Not really my jam. I get why people like this album. I like the piano and percussion. Too slow for me
For the record I’m biased already. Actually really enjoying shout. I don’t know when I’d listen to it regularly but it’s got this kind of grimy build up. The vocals don’t overpower the instruments, in fact they have a couple solos for different instruments. Very good layering. Mother’s talk was also kinda fun but this “I believe” isn’t striking any chords with me. “Broken” was almost perfect but it ended so weakly. Cool moments but can’t say much stood out to me.
A solid slice of eighties song writing. It’s ok
Didn’t know I knew it!
Good album but not my thing. 3/5
Rather boring and pretentious. Couple massive hits, but aside, nothing great. Good album for the boys. Bad album for me. 3/5
A solid listen and moodier than I expected based on the single.
Sometimes seems a five, sometimes a two. I feel cheated
Everybody wants to rule the world and head over heels are all time songs in my opinion, shout also gets close to that tier. The rest of the album is alright but maybe forgettable. I think Tears For Fears is more of a hits band than an album band for me, but enjoyed it
At parts sounds interesting and idk why reminded me Alan Pearson's project tho
👍
The 80s yay
A pop rock, new wave, synthy kinda joint. There’s a lot of undeniably catchy hooks. I’m not sure if I like them, but they’re memorable. The music is well written and densely layered but not overdone. It’s cool at times (and the extended instrumental breaks are solid), but can also get a bit cheesy or a little to smooth. The Slower, simpler songs are quite dull (I believe was rough for me), while more energetic and fuller songs are stronger. I’m not fully bought in, but they’re song writing, melodies, and instrumentals are all pretty quality.
Catchy tunes.
Two hits I moderately enjoy and have heard too often squashed between deep cuts which are adverse to my personal taste.
Absolutely loved the more instrumental focused songs. I had a hard time enjoying the pop songs. The 80s sound feels too dated.
Kind of cool, very 80s. Everybody wants to rule the world is a banger. Kind of like a less electronic, more dramatic Pet Shop Boys
I don’t like 80s
Nicht ganz gehört
The big hits ( shout and EWTRTW ) are iconic 80's pop songs...and rather good ! The rest of the album is weaker. Worth 2.5, going for 3 for the memories and rhe impact on contemporaries.
It’s oy
I had the hair, the sweaters, the music video habit to feed, and this was a big thing in the time of The Police, Michael, Born in the USA, and all the great music of the mid decade in the 80s. I recalled slow dancing to “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”, but it seems to have a different connotation 40 years on.
Solid, very ‘80s sounding
The entire first half of this album is stone cold bangers and then it just plateaus. I wish they’d kept jabbing on different directions but it’s like they ran out of songs. Still, impeccably produced and a real pop sensibility to the darker synths makes this the peak of New Romantic music.
standouts are obvious but the supporting cast is perfectly satisfactory
listened to some before but i still enjoy. def a weird kind of vibe to the music and what they are trying to do here but still enjoyable.
Quite an accomplished Pop album. I can't hate on it. 4 certified hits that I would never opt to put on but can't deny their success.
Big hits very strong, other singles good, album tracks boring
Of course I love Shout and Everybody Wants To Rule The World from radio play and various covers. The songs Broken and Head Over Heels caught my attention as well. I'd probably give the album a 3/5. Some standout songs and a few that I don't really love
310/1001 Qué de tiempo sin escuchar a esta gente! 🌕🌕🌕🌑🌑
Mostly good ish.
Hits only at the hits.
There are some bangers…but also some flops, so I’d call this average
As an 80's kid, I was (and still am) into Husker Du, The Replacements, REM, Echo & the Bunnymen, The Smiths, etc. This album was "meh" to me then, and still is today. Elevator music.
Good: synths tasty, hits hit, good 80s Bad: some of the sins are long and kinda boring
You listen to enough New Wave, and you realize how Big Tent it really is. This is definitely closer to a Eurythmics then it is to an ABC, to its detriment for me. It definitely has three killer songs, but even so I wouldn't call it my favorite New Wave jam.
What's the big deal with this album? Yeah, it's decent, it has some hits that are good, but songs like Shout are awful, and the deep cuts are bores. So many better albums came from this era of synthpop, and before, so why does this album get all the new wave glory? The Fleetwood Mac of synthpop, in that aspect. It's good, but not the best.
Very 80s. A handful of fun popular songs. Otherwise unremarkable
Normally synth-pop and Brit-pop turn me off, but these guys escape some of those limitations, like this 6 1/2 minute opener followed by another 6 1/2 (albeit boring) minute cut. Mothers Talk borderline electronica at times and gets quite noisy. They easily lose me (pop psychology blah), but when they bring in the electric rocky guitar (yay). Bold move, close with a near 7 minutes of wandering. Too bad they lose focus there.
A tricky one. I always felt that Tears for Fears were self-righteous, self-important, all the selfs. And they were severely humourless to boot. And for that reason I chose not to entertain their catalogue. However, every song permeated the airwaves, the culture, daily life. The fact that I still know almost every word and every tune means that I find it very difficult to judge whether I like the album or it’s just a part of me. Classic 3.5 I guess.
Chiamatemi pazzo si ma pazzo per Gesù
https://youtu.be/bagAoB4o6Os?si=rnav6QOWZ-67g0h9
I will acknowledge that "Shout" is a great song, but outside of that, the album lacks bite. While the songwriting is generally good, this album sounds very much like an artifact of its era. Just not my cup of tea.
The sound on this album is outstanding and it's got a reasonable number of hits!
This was fine, but didn't leave much of an impression. I knew the 2 smash hits on this record already. Probably wouldn't play again but it was okay.
I've never really been a big Tears for Fears person. Much in the same way that most 80's music has always been inherently off-putting to me for it's ridiculous production aesthetic and corny as hell sound that just hasn't, in my opinion, aged well and ruined what could've been a lot of great music for entire decade. I've never given them a look beyond their transcendent hits, two of which make it onto this record. But like many 80's albums on this list, I came away from this one feeling a sense of pleasant surprise. That's directed mostly at the idea that this is rocks a little harder than I thought it could or would. It's so easy to assume that these 80's bands were pure pop, when really they may have just been rock bands that fell victim to the trends of the day. Am I saying I loved this? Not at all. I thought it was perfectly fine as something to listen to while doing something else. But the fact that I found it any bit impressing is a win for this album and for me, because I assumed I wasn't going to like it at all. Three stars. Oh and it didn't overstay its welcome, unlike some other albums I've heard here. Seriously - 8 songs, 41 minutes and they said what they needed to say. What a concept. Standout Tracks: Shout, Everybody Wants to Rule the World, Broken
A rare case where the 80s production is not a disastrous failure. The big singles are great, with “Everybody Wants To Rule The World” being one of the top 3 pop songs of the 80s. Also enjoyed deep cut “Mothers Talk”. I think I am finding that I just don’t like ballads (“I Believe” and “Listen”).
Rock pop influence for 90s. But for me a little insipid.
yhhhh tears for fears!!!
un 3 direi che ci sta
The two-and-a-half singles are great; all-time classics. The album tracks are dreck; unlistenable garbage. Gets you three stars - smack in the middle of the bell curve.
Although I've never consciously listened to this album, I know many of these songs, and the ones I didn't know seemed to fit pretty consistently with the familiar ones. In short, it's what I expected, which isn't bad, but not something I'd listen to regularly.
Definitely the upper echelon of synth pop. I'm not usually a fan of the stuff, but this is as enjoyable as it gets. Also, I can't be the only one for whom the Dennis Miller Show ruined Everybody Wants To Rule The World.
I like shout and head over heels. Very 80s but solid
Apart from the hit singles "Shout" and "Everybody Wants to Rule the World", the rest of the album is meh!
its ok
Pretty good, feels very 80's, nothing crazy though
Like most of the world, I’ve always been super familiar with Shout, Head Over Heels, and most importantly the classic Everybody Wants to Rule the World (for which my sister and I have a high score on the old karaoke video game SingStar, by the way) and loved those songs, but I’d never heard the rest and must say they definitely weren’t as good. Cool vibes throughout but also some of the sounds are a bit grating. I wish there were half stars because this is definitely not as low as a 3 but I can’t really give it a 4 overall, so consider this a 3.5 and I will be revisiting this album.
This was a groovin style, and I loved the main singer's voice. Not something that I'll be playing again though.
A crazy style, almost hypnotic. It reminds me of the music that plays when you’re on hold with the bank lol. Also vapourwave. Theres a cool range of moods they achieve using their sound.
3.5? Some bangers, some bland?
decent decent
Synth-pop with some good guitar work mixed in. I'm familiar with many of the songs and I think the album is OK. Nothing extraordinary but I would still recommend it if someone asked me what I think of it.
The singles are good, didn’t expect the rest to be saxophone ballads.
Hits are bangers. The rest is dated.
Have been a big fan of Shout, Everybody Wants to Rule the World, and Head Over Heels for years, but it was cool to see the context the songs appear in. Shout was one of my first music loves. It was on a tape my mom got me because I had memorized all of the snippets on the infomercial for an 80s compilation.
Shout // Everybody Wants To Rule The World // Head Over Heels //
Enjoyable album overall, the production was quite unique and more rock oriented than records of the same period, which I liked, with outstanding singles like "everybody wants to rule the world", a classic. There was a certain unbalance between excellent songs, like the aforementioned and other tracks, making the album have a bit of filler material. In terms of 80's albums this one was enjoyable and a good listen overall. Favorite track: "everybody wants to rule the world". Overall score: 7.0/10
Some great classics on there, but loads of waffle
Good album. Not a huge TFF fan, but when they sound more Depeche Mode, it's great.
Can there be such a thing as too 80s and too much synth? This album proves that yes, yes there can.
Definitely some big songs that were pretty good for their era and style. 2.5/5
The most quintessentially 80s album to ever do it. Some really beautiful moments on this but my god it can drag at times. Favourite Track: The Working Hour Least Fav Track: I Believe
Thinking of Donnie Darko and Ferris Bueller
i liked it. didn't enjoy every song, but enough distinct sounds allowed me to feel like i'd return and keep giving it chances. rating may go from 3 to 4 upon further listens. favorites of course are EWTRTW and HOH/B
Shout is a great song
I still prefer the desperation and urgency of The Hurting over the polish and refinement of Songs. But this has aged remarkably well; especially for a big-budget synth based album released in '85.
The definition of 80's cheese. The highs are high, but the lows are awful and drag the rest of the record down. Favourite songs: Shout, Everybody Wants to Rule the World Least favourite songs: I Believe, The Working Man, Listen 3/5
Can only describe as 80s pop in a bottle. Never been a huge fan of Shout but Everybody Wants to Rule the World is one of my favourites. Really enjoyed Head Over Heels / Broken and The Working Hour too. The rest didn't stand out too much to me personally, however it's a solid album nonetheless.
Quintessential 80s tracks. Enjoyed it. Liked some of their songs that I didn’t even know was theirs!
Malgré quelques chansons très accrocheuses avec de bons textes (« Shout », « Everybody Wants To Rules The World » et « Head Over Heels / Broken »), le reste de l’album vieillit mal et est trop sirupeux. Je ne pensais tout de même pas connaître certaines chansons aussi bien en voyant la pochette et le nom du groupe. Merci à la radio Rock Détente qui jouait durant ma jeunesse pour m’avoir donné cette culture générale assez large de la musique des années 80.
Fínasta eitís plata og TFF höfðu alltaf sitt ákveðna sánd. Smellirnir standa fyrir sínu og hin lögin bara fín. 3,5
I suspect if I had listened to this a bunch of times it would have got on my nerves and my score would have gone down, but as a I've off it was a fun blast of nostalgia.
Better than i thought it would be, nice big trax. verrry 80s, second half not as good as first. Baaaangers: everybody wants to rule the world Good trax Shout The working hour mothers talk Meh trax head over heels broken i believe listen
不好听
Not my cup of tea, ali nije toliko ni loše. Ima par hitova koji su mi čak i ok, ima mi na trenutke prog elemenata, ali nije mi ovo sad nešto wow. Ali, bolje od prošla dva albuma Solidno 5/10
SHOUT!
It was okay, Everybody wants to rule the world I feel is the only standout in this album, most other songs feel as if they blend together, listenable, but I wouldn't play it on my own accord.
Ethereal and theatrical. There's a lot of energy and plenty of quintessential 80s sounds with this one, and also a couple of notable hits that have stood the test of time. This is a decent one.
Brought back memories from the summer of 7th grade. I recall like Tears for Fears, but I found the album disappointing overall. The hits were nostalgic but not a style of music I generally favor anymore. Soon after 7th grade, I got into hard rock and heavy metal, developing a taste for drums and guitar over synth. I also listened to their first album, The Hurt, which I prefer, but both reminded me of Ross on Friends playing synthesizer.
Has some bangers but its not complete.
Aside from the couple of hits, this album was disappointingly dull. Should have been a single.
My opinion of Tears for Fears remains unchanged. They're pretty OK.
This album is unmistakably from the mid 80s with that characteristic brittle production, booming drums and overly bright keyboard stabs thrown in at random intervals. I found that I preferred the quieter tracks to the better known stadium friendly anthems like Shout and Everybody Wants to Rule the World. Highlight was probably The Working Hour which opens like something off the Vangelis Blade Runner soundtrack. Note to self - not to be confused with Simple Minds
weird to listen to this one in full being more familiar with their later work, which pivots more toward... rock opera type sounds. here they're at their most stripped down i've heard them & that's fine, it suits them better imo. the orchestration in their later records rob them of the simplicity that gives this particular record charm imo. that said, there's nothing in particular here that draws me in.
I remember waiting and waiting for this album to come out, hoping that the trajectory from their first two brilliant albums would continue. Alas it took them 3-4 years to over produce this disappointment, from which they never recovered.
Much filler but greatness too. 2.5 but we will round up.
The singles are so great. 3.5
I had not thought about this album in a long time, and I was a little excited to hear it again when it popped up. I was less excited when I was finished because, even though the big songs still resonate, I was surprised at how weak the fillers were. Back in the day I probably just fast forwarded from one of the hits to the next and skipped the fluff.
There are a few great singles and a couple of other great songs but it leaves me oddly removed from it and not engaged emotionally
Not my thing but solid enough
Everybody wants to rule the Rule is excellent. Overall its a high 3 for the album.
I wasn‘t aware I knew so many Tears for Fears songs.
Three stars because I’ve always been in Love with these two gentlemen, lol, but there are only 3 songs that I like. So 3
Solid but fairly forgettable apart from the two mega-hits.
Hadn't heard anything from this beyond the hits. The rest of the tracks are just as good to me. The "Broken" part of Head over Heels is great and a shame radios never play that part of the track.
3.5
Shout and Everybody Wants To Rule The World are good, the rest was a bit dull.
Shout and Everybody Wants To Rule The World just about drag this up to a 3. The rest is a solid 2.
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'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.
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.
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.
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.
80’s pop rock. Not my thing.
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.
soundtrack to every 80s movie type beats.
Everybody wants to rule the world is an all-timer. The rest of the album doesn’t really do it for me
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
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
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.
Fun
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
Strong 3 light 4 Def a good listen, some memorable tracks no fillers and a solid sound .. shout is great track
The singles are great but less keen on the filler
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 ⭐️
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.
Not as bad as I expected
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.
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.
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
6/10
It’s alright, it just keeps going and I’m bored. Some decent song transitions though.
i wouldn’t choose to put most of this on, but it’s good music
Didn't love the album, but the song radio after was good.
3/5
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
80s synth poprock writ large. VERY of its time; some tracks difficult to listen to; nice to hear motifs appearing in different forms throughout.
Some good, some bad
It's not their fault I don't like new wave 🤷♀️
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.
Hits are fine, but was never into these guys.
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.
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.
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
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.
could i write poetry to this? n
I hoped I would like this more than I did.
First listen. Ok.
Some of their big ‘uns on here.
Not really a fan, but surprised at how many of these songs I knew.
Too 80´s for me
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.
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.
3.8
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.
A couple classics that bring back some memories (e.g., Shout). Not a bad album, all in all.
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.
Some lovely songs and some filler
Gets some stars for everybody wants to rule the world but pretty disappointing for the most part
Would I listen to it again: yes Is it a no-skip album: no Do I like it: yes
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
The bangers are still bangers, but many of the tunes are products of the times and are a bit dated. High 3
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
Some misses but also some all time greats
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.
The three songs I knew were great! The rest not so much. His voice got pretty grating after a while.
THIS ONE HAD SOME HITS??? but the non hits were boring i kept zoning out
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.
Aye. This is pretty cool music to cook to.
meh
"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
2024-06-04...
Very 80s. Enjoyed the album but I wouldn't actively listen to it again.
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.
Classic 80s
Klassieker
Another one where I like the instrumental part of it, but the lyrics and vocals just take it down a bit. But, hey, never realized this is where "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" came from.
Yeah it's alright
Not bad for the 80s. Parts reminded me a little of Supertramp and I liked the last song for how instrumental it was
I’m disappointed. IMO head over heels is byfar the best song on this album, everybody wants to rule the world is fine, and the rest are all forgettable and not really that fun to listen to. The first two songs are wayy too damn long and so is the last song. 6.5/10 (the math in my head: 4/10 + .75 everybody wants to rule the world + 1.75 head over heels)
One good song and the rest was just alright
Nice album. I can definitely understand why it is on this list. But not my favorite music. It is too smooth (zu glatt)
6.5/10
2 great songs but otherwise nah
Good, solid album. I've noticed that with a lot of 80's albums I recognize the big songs and I am hearing the rest for the first time. Shout and Everybody wants to rule the world are songs I've heard most of my life and enjoy. I think they have a very distinct sound while still capturing the feel and mood of the Era they made music in. Overall a solid album and one I will probably hear songs from going forward.
Besides two of their best songs the album never rose to that level again. Good music though!
I remember this big sound - great vocals, still kind of 'meh. I can listen to it.
Some great 80's action here. The bangers be bangin', the other stuff pretty good.
This was ok - a few good tracks and some nice 80s vibes.
Two great singles and a moody, atmospheric but ultimately not that interesting remainder.
Its giving main character energy - would be an amazing sountrack un a coming of age movie
"Everybody Wants to Rule the World" is top tier, one of the best songs ever made but unfortunately the rest of the album didn't really do much for me. 3 Stars!
This album makes me want to put on a pair of leg warmers.
some nice Classic Pop songs
This is an album that sounds of it's era but has stood the test of time very well. Mature complex pop music which seems to be making a lot of the studio technology and modern instruments but stays memorable. It's a real time capsule of what you could do with an album in the 80s. The hits are huge and sound amazing, the album tracks don't grab me as much but it all goes together as a piece nicely. We should forgive the mullets in this case.
Good group, with good 80’s songs.
Head Over Heels is the best song on the album IMO. I am meh on all the others, including the hits.
I know the hits, although never listened to a full album. I could have done without that
decent, not my favorite new wave, but they did have some hits.
Check out this sweet Everybody Wants To Rule the World cover by Lettuce. https://open.spotify.com/track/7eDa4ResDPNOPAs2mzwz7B?si=ucbQdWv2QEe4lHwPsDRS9g
As far as 80s synth pop goes, this is high quality stuff. Shout is a genuinely cool song. But like so much else from the 80s, the cheesiness of the whole experiment ruins it for me.
znany utwor ale nie moje klimaty
Great song in 'Shout', and 'Head Over Heels' is a catchy listenable tune. Didn't like 'Everybody Wants to Rule the World' when it was first out, but appreciate it much more these days, and especially as it's an iconic 80s song now that accompanies fun online retro videos/memes.
Good. Classic.
Clássico anos 80! Não curto muito
Correcto.
Give The Big Chair a time out in the corner. It got lost somewhere in its past and didn't make it out. Shed no Tears.
Possibly due to listening to this album on a long car ride home and on my 20th birthday, with my life no longer ahead of me and the reaper banging on my door, but it was good. Chilled and nothing special, but it didn't have to be special. Anyway. 3 stars. Cool
3.5/5⭐️ Best song: Head Over Heels/Broken Worst song: I Believe Comments: Listened to this whilst getting the weekly shop and felt like I was in a John Hughes movie
Beetje synthpopperig album? Shout is natuurlijk super bekend, net als Everybody Wants to rule the world. Ben dus wel benieuwd hoe de minder bekende nummers bevallen! The Working Hour heeft een fantastische saxofoon(?) solo aan het einde van het nummer Het is sowieso, 3 nummers in, heel synthig en heel popperig, bevalt me goed! Het is wel echt een typisch eighties album zo. Prima Synthpopy album, niet wereldschokkend, na de eerste 3 nummers kakt het helaas wel hard in. FAVO: Shout, The working hour, Everybody Wants to rule the world
Very breakfast club vibes
Very 80's... but better than I expected!
Cool!
Not bad for the genre imo
the singles are far and away better than the rest of the album but the singles are really good
3 huge hits that are enjoyable but the rest of the album is kind of forgettable. The vocals can be too much at times. I did like the last song too though (since there wasn't much singing). Middle of the road. 6/10 (3/5)
A couple of well known classics on here - that get over played and old. I kinda liked the melodies, relaxing, gentle, and I thought I liked I believe - until I read the lyrics. Guys - It'e NEVER too late to believe!
24/3/26
Totally perfect album for a chill rainy day at home. I love this nostalgic 80s stuff! Listen again: yes Purchase for my collection: yes Favourite Song: Shout, but they all give me the 80s vibes