Songs From The Big Chair

LOVE IT

mirá lo que me haces escuchar, es hermoso

such a good album, grungy, emotive and cinematic. I like the repetition in most of the lyrics and some of the guitar solos are really fun. Also each song is nice and unique, keeps things interesting throughout. Always a big fan of half the song being purely instrumental and a slow build and I feel The Working Hour and Listen do just that. Everyone wants to rule the world is one of the best songs ever made so this 5/5 was almost inevitable.

Sounds like the typical 80's Pop Rock of that era. It has some of their biggest hits on the album and is probably their most well-known. It's a really good album! Definitely a staple of the era!

No Notes

I understand more about Oneohtrix Point Never, listening to this album.

I really liked the songs here. Like all of them, really nice, will definitely listen again

Perfect album. 10/10, no notes. Everybody Wants to Rule the World is the greatest song of the ‘80s, and one of the best in general, period.

Cudowne Ofc. Chłopaki trochę mylą że są z depeche mode

Wszystko co było w Vice City to z automatu 10/10, niech zyja 80s

Brilliant album. One of my favorites.

Every KING needs his Big Chair. Great album front to back. Besides the many great classic singles off this record it's absolutely bursting with creative energy. Big recommend. Fav tracks: Shout, The Working Hour, Everybody Wants to Rule The World, I Believe

Fantastic album littered with bangers. About as 80’s as you can get. Fav Songs: Everybody wants to rule the world, Head over heels, Listen

Already know and love basically every other song on here so filling in the gaps was really cool. Roland and Curt are next-level and getting to see them live is something I'm really glad I did. Head Over Heels is the level of song some people work a lifetime trying to create and they did it at like 23. Bonkers

So glad i listened to this full album. truly classic bangers. a lot of the songs i knew already but there were a few that were new for me, the working hour stood out the most to me from those and itll definitely be in my rotation 😌 also, the version of head over heels ive mainly listned to didnt have the same outro as this and it was a nice lil surprise o: fave- head over heels (unoriginal ik but its just so good)

a cover to cover listen every time, has several bona fide bangers we all know but everything in between gels well imo and makes for a solid experience. i do gotta say it's always kinda jarring when a voice like That comes out of a twink. fav: broken/head over heels

10 stars!!!

music is love

After a million blandly generic new wave albums, I finally got one that actually deserves to be on this list. A little drive and a guitar or two make this one SO much better than its much shittier peers.

Shout 10/10 The Working Hour 10/10 Everybody wants to rule the world 10/10 mothers talk 8/10 i believe 10/10 broken 9//10 head over heels 10/10 listen 10/10 CUMPLEAÑOS CHICA NO HAY QUE PREOCUPARSE

Amazing album, despite its years, the album feels fresh, it's filled with emotion and meaning. Recommended, always.

Man I love this record. Awesome atmosphere, awesome songwriting. Highs and lows.

Favorite Track: Everybody Wants To Rule The World

Uno de los mejores álbumes de la historia. Personalmente recuerdo despertar los domingos temprano con mi papá cantando Everybody Wants To Rule The World a todo volúmen. Mi infancia resumida en un disco, indescriptible, así como es indescriptible el olor a huevos revueltos en el calor mañanero de Morelia. Inolvidable.

Classic.

One of my favourite albums of all time, top 3 for sure, and it showed up when i mentally needed it most. The album is about arm chair psychology, which fittingly follows their first album all about childhood trauma. The songs fit the core narrative to a tee (i mean the opening line is “Shout, Shout, let it all out.” with the ordering being just perfect, i’d like to point in particular to the broken->Head over Heels->Broken section being about temporary or false love bringing you out of your despair but the second it leaves you immediately go back, and i love the closing track following this as an ethereal, soul-piercing track that gets to people at their lowest and gets them to “Listen” as the title suggests. If your heart is open, this album will heal or enlighten you by the end. Because i adore this album so much, i won’t do standouts, i’ll instead rank the songs, with even the lowest ranked song being loved. The Working Hour > Head over Heels > Everybody Wants to Rule the World > Listen > Shout > Mother Talk > I Believe > Broken (might not count if you interpret broken as simply a transition before and after HoH). I’d say the top 5 of this ranking are some of my favourite all time songs, which is insane for a single album to do. Also The Working Hour is such an underrated song it blows my mind, the power of radio hits will overshadow even the mightiest of tracks. Frankly it’s a shame that the album itself is overshadowed by the 3 radio hits on it. I could gush about this album forever but i’ll leave it there.

so good

The best of the 80s. Great album, great band!

Fun album, very nice instrumentals

Ok, four songs in and I can’t stop singing. This band has released some seriously great pop music. Absolute classic bangers. Intensely mid-80s. But it’s a perfect example of contemporary instruments incorporated into a traditional structure. Really catchy lyrics that lure you into a deceptively sophisticated arrangement. Drop Everybody Wants to Rule the World in a gathering of Gen-Xers and watch them take that chorus at top volume. Ok, forgot how great this record is. Saved every song. Easy 5/5.

No notes.

✨🤯✨🤯✨🤯 my honest reaction

Fantastic pop songwriting lifted to another level with expansive and lush new wave influences so you can easily make a 40 minute pop album with just 8 songs and they’re all great and you can pull several singles despite length and they each feel timeless etc. etc. It’s one of those pinnacles of what you could do with the glossy and rich 80s production and two guys (well one guy) with a good voice and ideas. Loved it for a long time, gonna continue to love it, gonna be now returning to accidentally singing it and quoting it a bunch again now.

All their bangers condensed into one album? Hell yeah!

Verrassend leuk album. Grote hits, jazzy tussenstuk

Bien.

this thing gets better everytime i hear it

Excelente, espetacular!

Great from front to back. Songs blend from one to another seamlessly

Perfect pop album. Almost every song is a banger. The sound of the synch work on this are immaculate. Looking to buy and will be listening again for sure

Great album

Goood

Great album. Seminal work from this band.

Holy cow this was better than I expected. That medley in Broken is the kind of thing you don't hear anymore. And this production bangs you upside the head in a good way

I was never a massive fan of TFF but three huge hits and a very listenable album pull this easily into 4+ territory. 4½

Yay. Synth pop. Love it. Saxophone on The Working Hour is unstoppable. A work of art start to finish. Duck it 5*

One of my fav albums

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is probably the best an 80s band can sound like. I mean, the sounds are well within its time period, and at the same time, it doesn't sound dated at all. It's mature and majestic pop music with fantastic songs. Absolutely great album.

I’ve learned to respect this band more and more. Excellent musical quality and great production.

zero skips

Amazing album but hate the cover

Synth pop seemingly has 500 artists with 5000 same-sounding albums. When it works though, then it works, and when it's at its best, then it has all-time staying power - which these guys have managed to do. Not a perfect album, but this is one of the best synth pop duos to ever make music, so we'll honor it by giving it an extra star.

Great álbum

This was great I had a good time listening to this

It's true, its a Madworld and everybody wants tot rule it.

There are a lot of rightful complaints about the overexposure of British pop albums on this list, but I can safely say that this is one of the few from that group that actually belongs here. The production here is just impeccable, very much the quintessential 80's album without sounding incredibly dated. Everyone knows the big singles already, but there really isn't any filler here. Any one of these tracks could've potentially been radio hits. Partly a testament to the efforts of the two faces you see on the album cover: Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith. Both can belt it when they need to, but also slow things down in the more tender tracks. Both are also talented on guitar/bass and keyboard/piano, which are prevalent throughout. "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" rightfully gets its flowers, but I've personally always been keen on "Head over Heels" as being the highlight track here. Incredible album, welcome to the 5 club.

Great album. Only 2 songs that aren't bangers

Here is how old I am: When I finally started asking for my own collection of music my mom got me hooked up with the Columbia House special where you order 1 record full price and get like 8 more for a penny each. This album was on my first order. I still own this copy, on vinyl! 10 year old me had real hit or miss musical taste but this one is still fantastic. There are NO skippers on this album and maybe its youthful emotional connection but this is one of the albums I will award 5 stars until the day I die.

one of the best albums from the 80s

Tears for Fears manages to captivate the listener with deep, melancholic lyrics that still carry a strong sense of hope. The album features timeless classics like Everybody Wants to Rule the World, but I also discovered several amazing tracks I had never heard before. Overall, a very successful and memorable album. ++ : Shout Everybody Wants to Rule the World Head over Heels Listen

Damn, talk about an album full of hits! Does it sound modern? No. But hey, this shows that 80s pop music still hits! 9/10 Outstanding

this is biased because i already adore this album, but i can’t possible rate it below a 5 :> it’s such a versatile, synthy, energizing album packed with bangers, from soulful vocals to eccentric beats i love you tears for fears

I already had the privilege to have Everybody wants to rule the world in my playlist, and also to get reminded of Shout, and even discover new gems like The working hour. Or it is even an album I liked with a high percentage of it as a whole

Great flow from track to track and great production and it has everybody wants to rule to world on it so best I can do is five stars

Their second album. Pop / Electronica. Shout is a banger to open with. What an atmospheric and massive song, it has such presence. Everybody Wants To Rule The World is a gorgeous track with great vocals and production. The album as a whole has lots of variety and it works.

I didn't realize I knew this many Tears for Fears songs

Favourite Songs: Shout Everybody Wants To Rule The World Mothers Talk Broken Head Over Heels

ABSOLUTE CINEMA Немає жодної поганої пісні, буду переслуховувати не один раз, особливо вечорами)

Poquitas canciones pero suficientes diría yo. Broken y Head Over Heels/Broken hacen una OBRA DE ARTE sonora. Shout es buena, potente. Everybody wants to rule the world es el mejor sonido del universo. Que inicie el álbum con shout y termine con listen es muy full circle de su parte. Se lucieron

My mum said she bought this album when it came out so I had to give it a 5. Love you mum 😊 (It's an excellent album as well)

Fuck yeah. Ful mam rada ta album. Yay za dober zaključek tedna! "Shout" je amazing in odličen za začetek. Ugh, I love it. Po pa gentle saksofon na začetku "The Working Hour". Ampak sm kr mal pozabila kok je epski komad v bistvu, isto hud. In, ugh, smo že v "Everybody Wants To Rule The World". Ker fakin banger. Faultless komad. Še naslednji mi je kul, "Mothers Talk", kljub temu, da vključuje več teh 80s elementov, katerih nism tok fan - tinny bobni, hiter ritem - pač bl ta pop sound 80ih. Je pa bas insane. Ena balada, po smo pa že basically pri uverturi ("Broken") v enega mojih najljubših komadov ever: "Head over Heels". Video je amazing, a hilarious, komad mi je pa itak, kot rečeno, dbest. Začetek, stopnjevanje, vokali, besedila - I love it all. In tok mam v glavi sam te moje najljubše, da pozabim, kot že pri drugem komadu, da je preostali album equally good - zadnji, "Listen", spet epski, počasen, chill, ampak rewarding. Grem še enkrat poslušat. Pa verjetn pol še enkrat.

Atmospheric 80s pop rock, that picked up where the progressive rock post-script left off. Love this album.

Banger. I'd only ever heard Tears for Fears on soundtracks or in commercials. All the songs between the hits absolutely rule too.

So good, only bangers pretty much. Weaker songs add ambiance that add to the stars of the show. Songs transition between each other which is so rare nowadays but so cool when it happens. Easy 5/5 for me

Amazing album top to bottom every track is a hit with only maybe one i wont revisit.

Straight classic bangers. Helped me channel my inner finance major during my first day working at a bank

come onn. even fw Listen this time

Probably one of my fav albums from the 80s

Great album

Loved this record since ‘85!

This album for me is sheer brilliance and paved the way for their masterpiece sowing the seeds of love. Thank God for WLIR, that radio station formed me and was a constant source of new, interesting and fabulous music - I was I think in 8th grade when I 1st heard them, Change and Pale Shelter / the Hurting started it and my appreciation only grew from there. Getting older and realizing how good Roland and Kurt really are, listening to 40yr old albums and thinking, wait are you even better now, how is that possible. The songs on this album are like old friends, always so happy to hear from them.

A towering achievement. As likely as any album of it era to make it to 2085 and beyond. It manages to be both big yet spare. Excellently crafted songs that continue to offer something new around every corner. Endlessly listenable. Blending man and machine - and saxophone - into a delectable stew. Perfection.

A genuine masterpiece. I never get bored of this album.

Fav- everyone wants to rule the world 5/5

Completito

Love it, classic 80s sound

5 before listening songs that were ahead of there time just brilliant imagery and vocal Melody galore

Yes! Such a great album. I somehow feel nostalgic for it even though it came out before I was born.

est ce que j'ai besoin de le réécouter pour le noter ? non mais est ce que je vais le faire quand même ? oui été 2024 en boucle

Absolute top-notch production, combined with the Tears of Fears flair. What’s not to love?

Ethereal, some well known tunes but even the ones I didn't know slapped. COME ON

Best pop album of the 80s? Definitely up there.

Amazing production, something that still feels completely new

This sounds like pure awesomeness!

muuuy bueno. Mix entre lentos, rock y sintetizadores muy bailables. Se siente como estar en los 80

This is excellent: very 80s, done very well. I was pleasantly reminded that I knew a couple of the hit songs ("Shout" and "Everybody Wants to Rule The World"), and I had a great time getting to know the rest, especially the quasi-ambient tour de force "Listen," which ends the album.

One of my favorite 80’s albums

At first I wasn't digging it too much, so I took a break from it after the first song. But then I came back to it and it all clicked. I think it's probably the quintessential 80s album. It's got it all. Its most popular songs are incredibly solid and not only are they really catchy but they also have a very tight production. The big surprises for me were the tracks that had extended instrumental sections. "The Working Hour" is wonderful and I also really love how "Broken" fits as a sort of extended intro to "Head Over Heels / Broken", turning both songs into a suite of sorts. "I Believe" has some wonderful chords. Really captures that nostalgic 80s vibe (does it make sense to speak of nostalgia? either way, that specific timbre of the keyboard is very reminiscent of 80s arrangements). Also I really liked the outro track: "Listen", until I actually read the lyrics and found out that the lyrics in the choir are meant to be in spanish? but it's a very broken spanish and also they spell it out weird so it ends up sounding as if I was listening to some African chant. I'm not sure on how to feel about the track now

During my great Tears For Fears phase of 2015 my friend once asked me to turn this album off because 'they are whining'. Still not over it.

Owned A solid gold masterpiece

Finally! One of my favourite albums that I still listen to regularly. Besides the obvious bangers and all-time classics, this is such a well-executed production, and, along with the songwriting and excellent instrumentation, it forms a true gem in pop music history. Although intended to be commercially successful (which it definitely was), they still managed to be more explorative musically and honest and direct lyrically. They were able to reproduce this quality even live, which can be heard at the end of Head over Heels/Broken (one of my favourites!). They used a live recording with a cheering crowd (this is no simple studio overdub!), and you do not notice the transition from the studio recording to the live band.

One of the greatest albums of all time. Starting with Shout and The Working Hour, you already have two of the best songs of the 80s and haven't even hit Everybody Wants To Rule The World yet. This might be the best three-song opening ever. Mothers Talk is a brilliant track in its own right, full of studio experimentation. I Believe slows things down... leading into one of my favorite combinations on any album -- the Broken/Head Over Heels suite. I love the way Broken hints at Head Over Heels and then explodes back in after the conclusion ending with thunderous applause. Concluding with the contemplative and atmospheric Listen works so well too. I don't think I'd change a thing. Other notes -- I think The Working Hour has the best sax performance in a pop/rock song. The Dave Bascombe production is top notch. His work on this album attracted the attention of Depeche Mode for Music For The Masses, giving us another of the greatest 80s albums. All this said, I might reach for The Hurting slightly more these days, but drawing Songs From The Big Chair over a weekend and playing through it a few times, I'm sure it's Tears For Fears' best. It just might be the best album of the decade.

A stone cold classic. Underestimated this one most of my life as just a typical '80s synth pop confection, but it turns out this is one of the defining records of the decade. It's near perfect, every song adds a piece to the puzzle, from the big singles to the more subtle bits. Head Over Heels is the absolute peak for me, such genius. No longer underestimated, true greats

Riktigt bra 80-tals sound. Albumet är väldigt enhetligt. Favoritlåt: Head over heels

The first half of the album - specifically the first 3 songs - are very fun, very evocative and very moody, in a great way. The latter half of the album is a bit more esoteric, with the short track Broken working well for me, yet the last one Listen being a bit of "nothing". Despite that, entire album holds a consistent quality with no real drastic dips, and it works well as pleasant ambient music if nothing else, with just enough odd and fanciful tones to be interesting and inspiring. Although I'd usually reserve it for something in my primary genres (heavier, more modern takes on metal and its related genres), I think this album was just pleasant and "beautiful" enough to leave a mark. Objectively I don't think it's quite a 5-star album, even subjectively, but it is very good and I happened to enjoy it very much on this day.

An album that perfectly captures the vibe of its decade.

What a perfect time chamber of the 80s. So good.

Yeah, this is a masterpiece. Pinnacle of 80s synth-driven musique concrete that charted well. Listen to the whole thing.

Perfection. I will always love this band

A pretty perfect 80s pop album and very cool to hear the extended versions of all these songs.

This album is amazing. Back in the 80s, when I heard TFF on the radio, I was never really into them. Across time, I learned to like them more, really becoming more of a fan starting with the Elemental album. Certainly, there have always been a few really big songs on this record in Shout, Head Over Heels, and Everybody Wants to Rule the World. I was always partial to Shout, personally, though a buddy of mine recently said he thought the last of these was one of the top 10 songs of the 90s. As I think about it more, I think he is really right. That song just hits differently, even if Shout was more appealing to my ear across the years. Either way, these two tracks in particular are iconic songs from the 80s, which elevates this album to one of the most important of the decade. Beyond these three, there's more to like on the album. Broken, both separately and connected with Head Over Heels, is excellent. Mother's Milk is a nice bridge from who TFF were prior to this record and what they had become at that point. The Working Hour was a track I had not heard before, but I found myself instantly enjoying it. Listen was a unique way to close the record. Just very different. The sole song I didn't think was at least really good was I Believe, and even that has some value to it, especially in how the vocals play out. It strikes me as something very similar to what you might find on a George Michael record. All summed up, given that it is basically a cover-to-cover listen and has two of the best songs of the decade, this rightfully is a 5-star record.

The working hour is great underrated

I love the 80's

This is a classic album. I wasn't alive yet but it is absolutely nostalgic sounding. It has great production and catchy interesting hooks, and some of the best 80s hits in one album. Everybody Wants to Rule the World remains my favourite song here.

A lot went wrong in Thatcherite Britain, but my word was it good for music quality. This album has all the best of British prog/pop rock: a political consciousness, darker atmosphere, and varied sounds. I'd heard the big hits (Everybody Wants to Rule the World, and Head Over Heels) on this album before, but the rest of the album was equally good. Mothers Talk is a new favourite of mine!

geweldige plaat. fave blijft Head Over Heels

No notes, all bangers

Perfect. No notes.

I was 7 years when this album came out. I never listened to it then, but I heard the most known songs on the radio and kind of liked them. Then many years later I saw the movie Donnie Darko and really fell in love with that soundtrack. Head Over Heels was on that soundtrack as well as Gary Jules’ cover of Mad World (from their first record The Hurting). But anyways I started going more back to Tears for Fears’ songs, though through their most common songs on mp3 and later Spotify - still not listening to their full albums. That’s why I’m really glad this «challenge» gives me the push to go more in the depth of the artists I should know better. So, Songs From The Big Chair. I had to give it a second listen to give the lesser known songs another chance. At first listen I thought they were a little to anonymous compared to the big hits, but now I like it a lot better. A really good listening point is the buildup from Broken to Head Over Heels/Broken. Favourite songs I already knew and was a fan of: Head Over Heels, Shout, Everybody Wants To Rule The World. Favourite «new» songs: Listen, Broken, The Working Hour.

Peak 80s. It sounds SO FREAKING GOOD. I'll ignore the ubiquitous 80s saxophone thing here. :-)

money

Classic song after classic song, quintessential 80s.

This has to be a top album of the decade, no? Between the iconic hits, the songs are beautiful 80s pop. Excellent

Such a potent brew of angsty new wave. This and Hounds of Love (both 1985) are kind of the peak of the whole genre. Poppy and accessible but still a major artistic statement and in total control of the technology rather than getting swallowed whole by it.

I have a very big bias toward 80s synthpop. It’s the genre that the typical “80s music is the best music” crowd always rallies behind, and that honestly made it hard for me to really look forward to playing this album. I’m very happy I did. I really loved songs like “Shout,” which of course I already knew, but it sounds so much better when you actively listen to it. That very 80s synth looping throughout the track works perfectly, and there’s some really nice, subtle guitar work layered into the mix that gives it more depth than you might expect. There were also songs that surprised me, like “The Working Hour.” Roland Orzabal’s vocals are amazing on this track, and the smooth trumpet work adds such a rich, atmospheric feel to it. It’s one of the standout moments on the album for me. I have mixed feelings about “Everybody Wants To Rule The World.” It’s an amazing, undeniable masterpiece of a song, but it’s overplayed. It’s also become the flagship for the stereotype that “the 80s were the last good era of music,” which I really, really hate. That said, I did enjoy it more in the context of the full album. It fits naturally into the overall flow. One of the reasons I think I love Tears For Fears more than a lot of other 80s synthpop is the vocals. A lot of vocals from that era feel lazy or strangely mixed, like they were recorded in a completely different room. Here, the vocals feel present, emotional, and properly blended with the instrumentation. There is one song that brings this album down for me: “I Believe.” Everything before and after it has such a great tempo and feeling, and then this track comes on and it just feels slow and boring. It really interrupts the momentum. If “I Believe” wasn’t on this album, it would have scored even higher for me. Still, this album truly belongs among the greats. 9/10.

already know head over heels; absolute banger as well as everybody wants to rule the world cant wait to listen to the rest of the album

Head Over Heels is one of my favorite songs of all time, but really it’s a no skips album. Highly used in soundtracks for a reason.

это очень хорошо конец альбома правда подкачал немного но в целом работа ощущается очень качественно особенно поразил уровень записи

I loved this album. Every track was huge!

Holy cow. What a masterpiece.

Awesome

Liked Tears for Fears in everything I've heard, but it's only when you listen to it altogether like this you realise how good they were. This is a great album. Starting with the anthemic 'Shout', it's repetitive in it's chorus but the music going on behind is pretty layer with loads of different instruments here. You then get a bit of jazz-tinged shit with the sax-laden 'The Working Hour' before it rolls into 'Everybody Wants to Rule the World' - one of the great 80s hits. This band had a good knack of making quite dark and heavy subjects sound light and uplifting. 'Welcome to your life, there's no turning back' is a marvellous opening lyric. From there, you get a lot of variety with 'I Believe' a ballad nothing like the rockier 'Broken' then into 'Head Over Heels' which cleverly segues back into Broken at the end. Head over Heels is optimistic (or obsessive depending how you look at it) but sounds joyful, losing the cynicism and anger of some earlier tracks. Stunning song. These songs are more complex instrumentally than one might think at first and have great lyrical depth. The album finishes with the hypnotic and meditative 'Listen'. Despite being probably thought of probably as a new wave/synth pop act because of the era and their peers, this is really a big rock band embracing the style of the age albeit with more expansion and intricate arrangements. This is low-key one of the best 1980s albums I've heard and should be celebrated more.

Even the songs I've never heard before are amazing

Дуже стильно та хітово

Never in my life would I think I’d enjoy a Tears For Fears record. But this record was fantastic. Through and through. New wave or synth pop is not my thing. I think the vocal production on these genres are always too much. Even this record was a bit much… but I guess stylistically, that’s the intention. The lyrics and melodies were great. The music was catchy and interesting. I’ve heard the singles far too many times but they’re good. Might be in a good mood tonight because this is my second 5/5 I’ve given on this list.

Fantastic album, so many favorites & new favorites!

4.5/5 Stars Top Songs: Head Over Heels, Everybody Wants To Rule The World, Shout

Great stuff. took me back to those fun years .

Excellent album.

Surprised by how much I enjoyed this!

Many Incredibles songs, a few kind of very 80s songs that are not super exciting. Overall, great.

It’s iconic—one of my favorite albums of the ‘80s. It almost defines the era

Yes.

Coincidentally, this gets generated a few days after I watch Marty Supreme. For those who have seen the movie, you know what I'm referring to. If not, move along. Even without that in mind, the music stands out. This is the best synth-pop you can get from this era. Absolute hit after hit, masterpiece after masterpiece. It's insane how stacked this tracklist is. Hit single > Great follow-up album track > the big one > Hit single > Slow-down track > First part of musical motif > Second part hit single > First part reprise > Closing symphony. Beautiful stuff, I get why the guy from Psych was obsessed with this (9/10, 5/5 on this scale)

Great album with a lot of bangers. Excited to hear more of their music.

so many bangers from one album wow!! so so 80s. such a great time

A classic. Doesn't have a bad song. Never feels old.

Now it's getting better

the joy i felt when i received this album😻😻

Ouiiii

LOVE tears for fears. It’s such a good feeling album. I cannot explain how much I love it lolz

One of the best albums of the 1980s. A sublime mix of pop, rock, and new wave with hints of prog in there as well. Just an utterly superb album!

This is an album in the classic category. Well engineered, sophisticated new wave/rock. The songs are varied by the singers, tempo and style. A personal avorite.

First 5 yet! Have always been a fan of their hits, but this album in full is a masterpiece. That Sax!!!!!

Now THIS is a perfect '80s pop album. 8 songs, barely 40 minutes, all killer and no filler. Beautiful mood and atmosphere.

I was surprised that I hadn't heard more of the songs on this album. But I loved it, it's such an emotional journey in the best 80s new wave way possible. So dramatic and fun.

Лучший синтпоп альбом

Love head over heelz

I mean c'mon. Easy 5. "Shout" and "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" were already familiar to me but also enjoyed "Head Over Heels" "The Working Hour" and "Mothers Talk"

5/5. Masterful album. The production, the arrangement, the bare bones structure of each song, the vocal performance, everything is outstanding.

So well produced and every song is a banger. Quintessential 80’s pop rock. SHOUT!

Oh boy. This one is near and dear to my heart! Back when I was a kid, I’d listen to this cassette while I mowed our lawn. I feel like this tape survived a number of Walkmen. What strikes me listening to this album today is the immediacy and intensity of the songs- "Shout" is so insistent! There is such an energy to these songs, even the slower, more mellower ones. The happier songs balance out the dark, more serious ones. It's nearly perfect. "Head Over Heels" has to be one of my favorite songs of all time. Stupendously good. And then to finish the job with "Listen" - which always sounds like the movie "Legend" to me..... incredible. Easily - FIVE STARS

Was one of the first albums I bought as a kid with my own money, loved it then, and still love it know!

100/5 - hands down, one of my favorite albums of all time

This is a really strong contender for my favorite synth pop album ever. These guys were on such a creative run with these songs. So beautifully produced. Also I have to give them huge props for trimming this project down to its most minimum concept. Zero bloat. Every song is important, and in its place. The working hour is a masterpiece, and one of the greatest prog synth songs I have ever heard.

Was going into this album expecting a 5 star. Starting of with the excellent “Shout” and then following up with one of the best songs of the 80s - “Everybody wants to rule the world”. Such a good intro, such a good chorus, that song is just 5 stars, no notes. After that the album took a bit of a dip, it sounded too 80s even for me. Luckily “Head over Heels” saves the end with another strong song. Torn between a strong 4 and a weak 5. Going for a weak 5, “Everybody wants to rule the world” really is that good.

Fijn, eindelijk weer een iconische plaat. Vroeger door mij verguisd, want typerend voor de 80s met de synths en drumcomputers. Maar nu durf ik deze zelfs op te zetten zonder dat het huiswerk is. De classic albums aflevering helpt er zeker bij om de nummers beter te waarderen. Het is heerlijk bombastisch, duister en bezwerend. Maar er staan ook grote hits op. En zo'n nummer als the Working Hour is een parel, lekker opbouwend, Disintegration-stijl. Ze weten in al hun nummers alle laagjes perfect te doseren: drums, synths, zang, maar ook gitaar waar nodig. En het wisselt elkaar moeiteloos af. Dat is echt heel knap gedaan. Met recht een notering in de snoblijst, die een complete pagina had verdiend in plaats van een stukje in de kantlijn. 5 sterren waardig.

Allt epískt við þessa plötu 🪑

loveeeeed this

Banger of an album. Hit after hit amd the sequence makes perfect sense with one song taking you into the other for the most part. Repetitive sounds and harmonies make it sound uniform and precise. Loved it

Absolutely brilliant. Wow. Surprised me.

Listened to this while sitting in a big chair and it was nice

"Songs From The Big Chair" is a wonderful album, and in my view is one of the best-sounding albums ever put to tape. It serves as a testament to the era’s unique intersection of analogue warmth and digital precision. Musically, "Songs From The Big Chair" features global anthems that have become part of the cultural DNA: the defiant, stadium-filling "Shout," the ubiquitous and shimmering "Everybody Wants To Rule The World," and the masterfully catchy "Head Over Heels." However, it is how these hits sit alongside its deeper cuts, that make this album so good. The album draws from a fascinating range of genres; from jazz-fusion undertones to progressive rock structures, making it a highly infectious and fascinating listen. It is a record that demands your full attention while simultaneously being impossible not to hum along to. For those who want to explore further, I highly recommend seeking out the versions of the album that include the original 12-inch mixes. While extended versions from the 1980s can often feel like repetitive afterthoughts, the remixes here genuinely add to the narrative of the songs. They provide more room for the arrangements to breathe and showcase the intricate production layers. Specifically, the UK Extended Version of "Shout" is fantastic; it is so well-constructed that it arguably surpasses the standard album version in terms of impact and atmosphere. A wonderful, eclectic and ambitious five star album. Side one 1 "Shout" (5/5) 2 "The Working Hour" (5/5) 3 "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" (5/5) 4 "Mothers Talk" (4/5) Side two 1 "I Believe" (5/5) 2 "Broken" (4/5) 3 "Head over Heels / Broken (live)" (reprise) (5/5) 4 "Listen" (5/5) Total - 38 Average - 4.75 202/1001 113/202 albums reviewed were new to me.

Perfect mix , not super long, packed with hits. Good 80s vibes

Perfect 80s album!

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I loved this album. Each song had me hooked - even the deep cuts. Every song on here is a fucking banger

Masterpiece every song amazing

Another nostalgic album I could listen to on repeat

when i first saw this album, i thought that it would be bad, bc yk the only 2 popular songs were alr but now that i listen to it entirely omg , listen and mothers talk are PEAK , cant believe they arent popular, great album, 9/10

Reaaally liked it

SÅ NÄRA en fullständig femma, men "I Believe" drar tyvärr ner det med en halv poäng. Frustrerade.

I'm already a big fan of this one, to the point my wife hates it. Great pop anthems, somehow captures the vibe of a time that feels familiar but in reality sorta predated my awareness. 4.5 rounded up for Donnie Darko.

this is fye

absolute 80s classic, very well compressed so its not too long and its also a lil diversed with mood. love

Thi is actually really good. I kinda had a suspicion these guys were one hit wonders cashing in on a broader sound. But turns out they WERE that sound. Everybody wants to rule the world is an obvious standout, but head over heels has me going back over and over. Shout is a powerful opener. Broken has shadows of the melody from head over heels which is a cool foreshadow. Listen is a strong finisher. It’s actually a really really good album. Like really good.

una pietra miliare, no skips

about as perfect as a pop record could be. it’s moody, it’s boundary pushing, it’s got that familiarity in the lyrics that change with each listen and as you grow older… it’s got it all!

I think this is a great album. It holds up very well when compared to today's synth pop.

Exceptional

Don’t think I’ve ever heard this all the way through until now, I’m a fan.

This was so good - I feel like Tears For Fears are slightly underrated

HUUUGE

Gear: Penon FAN 3s Artwork: 🧑‍🦱🧑‍🦱📸 Production: 🎧😘🤌 Music: 🌟🧠🔮 Rating: 🪑🪑🪑🪑🪑/5

So refreshing to hear. It was one of those albums that I was dwelling onto things with. It did not disappoint

Loved this

This became my favourite album this year so easy 5 from me. Lush and atmospheric production, strong beats. New wave music done right.

Another classic

Escuche éste album completo por primera vez hace unos 5 o 6 años, y desde ese día no lo he vuelto a escuchar. Veremos que tal, pues recuerdo que me gusto pero a secas, quizas cambie de opinion, o no... Definitivamente me encanto, Mother Talk es la polla

This must be what it felt like going to a club in the 60s and hearing a local band that kinda sucked but went really hard and you never forgot that

An album that both reflects the time period and transcends it. Both fragile and staggering in its emotional sweep it feels about as near a masterpiece of grand synth pop. Like a pros album there are thematic call backs and purely instrumental flourishes that avoid cliche. I still love this album.

Everyone knows and (rightfully) loves the big three hits, but the other songs here are just as good, from the beautiful ballad "I Believe" to the African-inspired "Listen." Immaculate on the production side with a great infusion of electronic and organic instrumentation. I expected it to be good, but it easily cleared my expectations and then some.

314/1089 - This is a really good showcase of the technological advancements in the 80s (regarding synths and percussion) while having really catchy songs and varied tracks.

Obra de arte

favs: head over heels, everybody wants to rule the world

For as tiring as it can sometimes be to get yet another 80s new-wave or synth-pop album from this generator, there are certain albums within that descriptor that just make perfect sense for being on this list. These are albums that you can't be upset to listen to because of how iconic and excellent they are, and I can't imagine arguing that this isn't one of them. Yeah, this album's excellent. Tears For Fears have got to be one of the most iconic pop acts of the 80s, right? Maybe not the most iconic, obviously, but when it comes to new-wave bands, they're near the top of the list. Songs From The Big Chair is widely regarded as their best album, and for good reason. This is a remarkably consistent album. This thing is all killer, no filler. Of course, there are obvious stand-out songs that arguably eclipse the rest of the album, but that's not to call those other songs bad. I actually really loved songs like "The Working Hour" and "I Believe." But there's a reason why "those songs" are as iconic as they are. "Shout" makes for a potent opener in the best ways possible. "Head Over Heels" is just lovely. It would easily be the best song on many other albums of this time. It's that good. But I can't say that for Songs From The Big Chair, because we have to talk about "Everybody Wants to Rule the World." This fucking song. It is, dare I say, a perfect song. The balance between the repetitions of the opening riff with the complexities of the song's musical structure work so well to create a memorable tune. The lyrical themes of power and corruption are both perfect for the 80s and also timeless. Oh yeah, the album at large has pretty great songwriting all throughout, but it's at its peak on this song. Honestly, this one song is enough for me justify giving this album as high of a score as I am, but the fact that the other songs are still quite great just confirms for me that I'm making the right call. This thing is fantastic. Light 5/5.

I've been debating on the rating for this one for a while but really shout and everybody wants to rule the world are just amazing songs that should be listened to. The rest of the albums didn't reach the same peaks for me, but was still perfectly enjoyable and good

literally one of the most timeless albums ever created, need i say more? this album is perfect. no notes.

Classic new wavwe!

Has 3 bangers in Shout, EWTRTW, Head over Heels/Broken. They utilize the production of the era in a good way. Much better then say Simple Minds

man i really love this album. the production is unreal and holds up so well. it sounds fucking fantastic. the songs for the most part are really catchy and terrifically written. of course, the big hits 'shout' and 'everybody wants to rule the world' are great, but i also love 'mothers talk' and 'head over heels' which are equivalently great. my only qualm with this album is that there are a few slower numbers that take a little away from the peaks, but other than that, it's a really great album.

"And my favorite band will always be Tears for Fears." Really got into this record bc of Donnie Darko and it contributing to me being confused ab "Is this movie set in the 80s or now??". Also good memories of listening to this while reading early 80s X-Men comics and rocking lil baby Jim. This is one of those special records where half of the tracks on it are on the band's Greatest Hits (and not because the band sucked or only had one record either). I particularly love the musical journey they take us on in 'Shout', where they take 6.5 minutes to transform the song from a 100% synth record, with no organics in sight, to a heavy rock song with a bitchin solo. Always glad to have an opportunity to revisit this one. Always skip 'I Believe' though

хайпует плесень

80s slow jams

That's exactly my music - 80s sophistication.

Et engelsk album så godt at man næsten synes englænderne har eksistensberettigelse på listen. Nogen af de bedste popsange fra 80'erne, men også enkelte numre (Broken!!) der lyder som noget fra David Bowies Berlin æra. Den er så god. Lige nu (fredag morgen) hælder jeg mod 4/5, men altså alt kan ske. Hvis jeg stadig har Head over Heels på hjernen i morgen tidlig må jeg nok bøje mig Slutningen på Everybody Wants to Rule the World hvor c-stykke guitaren kommer ind over den sidste linje 😭🥰😭🥰 det er så godt

Never realized how many great songs are on this album. 10/10

Well. Damn. Det här var en överraskning.

One of my fav albums, so good to dig it back out for this. Undervalued today, but seminal stuff.

Beautiful album! Brought me back in time and brought me back in real time, in perfect time . "Songs from the Big Chair" is a synth-pop masterpiece by Tears for Fears, released in 1985. This iconic album is a time capsule from the 80s, showcasing the band's unique sound, which blends rich and atmospheric arrangements, dense layers, huge drums, lush synths, and powerful vocals. 5/5

A full sounding record in every sense.

The album starts very strongly with "Shout" and then goes from there. It's an inevitability that most albums from the '80s sound particularly dated due to the prevalence of (by today's standards) primitive electronics and synths. Sometimes this makes an album unlistenable and sometimes it gives it charm. Tears for Fears fall into the latter. Great songwriting throughout and some all-time bangers.

Loved it! First album I ever bought too.

The best of 80's synth pop. Favorite songs: "Shout", "Broken", "Head Over Heels". 4/5 Edit: I've been consistently listening to a bunch of songs from this album, so I feel like it should probably be a 5.

Amazing album, one of the greats.

Of course I've heard and enjoyed "Everybody Wants to Rule the World," but the rest of this holds up as well. I'm actually more familiar with this album than I first expected. Favorite track: "Shout"

Tears for Fears was a guilty pleasure for me back when I only listened to classic rock and despised anything from the 80s. Even back then I couldn’t deny that songs like Shout and Everybody Wants to Rule the World were great songs. Now I can confidently say this is just an all around solid album that I need to listen to more often!

Awesome album.

No skips. Excellent album.

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

Such a classic.

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

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

one of the best albums ever made ever.

Sztos album, nuff said. W jakiś sposób prosty, ale w tej prostocie tkwi prawdziwa moc. "Shout", "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" i "I Believe" fantastyczne, zwłaszcza ten ostatni to dla mnie top doświadczenie.

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

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

One of the great albums from the 80’s!

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

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

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

Genuinely fantastic song writing an music perfection

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

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

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

Shout, great for a ring tone

All time favourite

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

I've not given T4F enough time in the past, but I really enjoyed this album. 4* but want to check back to see if it might actually be a 5... Edit - this has now become part of my regular rotation, and definitely deserves five stars. 9/10

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

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

A very fast 42 minutes

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

love love

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

Great listen.

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

really more of a high 4 for me, but gets bonus points because I'm in a good mood

Would be perfect if the closer were Pharaohs instead of Listen. Still rounding it up.

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

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

masterpiece

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

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

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

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

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

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

Excellent !!!

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

9/10

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

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

Fantastic

Classic

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

THE ALBUM EVER!!! 10000/10

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

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

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

Based

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

Now this is a legendary band and a legendary album. It really deserved a spot on this list!

Le Jean Jean grunge des années 90 n'aurait pas compris le Jean Jean du futur qui aime Tears For Fears. Dans le style pop new wave ça fait dans l'excellence.

po que isso eu nunca tinha parado pra pegar esse completinho MUITO bom pqp os cara fizeram mágica

PEDRADAÇA ABSURDA!!!! só fragava os três hits deles, mas o album se segura muito bem o tempo todo. lindíssimo e atmosférico, synthpop do BÃO! que surpresa boa pqp

Any album with "Shout", "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" and "Head Over Heels" on it is an automatic 5 stars from me. Besides those even the B-sides like "Mother Talk" and "I Believe" are bangers! Simply put, this is one of the greatest new wave albums of all time and one of the greatest of the 80s overall. Favorite track: Head Over Heels

Beautiful album, honestly a classic

My favorite band growing up, and still a top favorite of mine today. These guys are excellent musicians, and both Roland and Curt's vocals are unique and add so much to their songs. Listening to Songs From the Big Chair after so many other recent albums, which I rated only a one or two stars , points out the stark contrast between Tears for Fears and these other bands. These guys are so polished and the studio album is just so tight. Songs flow extremely well from one track to the next. Starting off with the high energy, angsty "Shout" is an outstanding way to pull listeners right into the action on this album Things immediately seem to mellow out with "The Working Hour," but by the end of track two, there's ramped-up energy in that song as well. The album's, most famous song - in fact, probably the group's most famous song - is their third track, "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" which still sounds fresh and modern 40 years later. Other notable tracks include "Head Over Heels" and "Mothers Talk," but honestly, I can't really find much to critique on this whole album. It's just so polished and the musicianship and instrumentals are head and shoulders above most of the drivel I've listened to within the last several weeks through this platform. Tears for Fears are touring again in 2025 and if you've never seen them live, they put on a hell of a show! High energy, their voices still sound pretty damn amazing all these years later and their music quality has improved, if anything. Highly recommend you check them out.

Somehow I had 3 back to back 80s bangers so far, including this album. Even outside of the usual discussion points like head over heels, everybody wants to rule the world, or shout, there is some fantastic stuff hiding around. Tracks like "The working hour", "Broken" and "Listen were certainly favorites of mine. All in all, it is one that was very much enjoyable.

It's always interesting to finally listen to the non-single tracks on an album that's mostly known for a couple of mega-hits. Or so I thought! "Shout", "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" and "Head Over Heels" were the big hits in the US but in the UK a literal majority of the tracks on this thing charted. Surprisingly, "Broken" is not one of those. Out of all the new-to-me tracks, this one seems like the one best suited for club play.

One of the great pop/rock albums of the 80's A great set of singles of this LP and a hidden gem in The Working Hour which never gets as much airplay as the hits. Top stuff from this duo who are still going.

Truly, this is one of my favorite bands and favorite albums. I wore out my tape back in the day. I think this whole album stands the test of time. It’s intelligent pop. Everybody Wants to Rule the World is a masterpiece - it’s a quintessential 80s song that still slaps today. Shout gets anyone moving. Mother’s talk has some funk to it. Head over heels is so fun to sing along to. It’s an album I love to listen to in its entirety. 10 out is 5 stars!

Timeless songs.

Shout - 5/5 The Working Hour - 5/5 Everybody Wants to Rule the World - 5/5 Mothers Talk - 4/5 I Believe - 4/5 Broken - 4/5 Head Over Heels - 5/5 Listen - 5/5 Average score: 4.6/5 my nostalgia could be clouding my judgement, but damn does this album SLAP this is 80s pop at its finest. whether you were born in that decade or not, most of these tracks can have a way of making anyone reminisce the good times of the past i feel

Music that defined the 80s

Banger

This is one of my favorite albums of all time. I believe it is the pinnacle of that new wave sound. Every single song hits and is unskippable, from the popular singles to the instrumentals. My favorite song is "Head Over Heels", but I believe "Listen" is the most underrated song off the album. I don't know why it enthralls me so much, but I get lost in the melodies every time I listen to it and before I know it, it's over. Just such a great album.

Great album. Very '80s.

Wonderful