Songs From The Big Chair

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

Siin albumil on 2 ühte kõige paremat lugu üldse (Shout, Everybody Wants To Rule The World) ning ülejäänud kraam siin plaadil on stiilitruu, aga jäävad ikka eelmainitule kõvasti alla. Super 80ndate kuulamine, 4.3/5

First time hearing this record. I've known the singles since they were hits and they are great examples of 80's MTV Brit Pop, but hadn't heard the album cuts. They were fine. I supposed this is a good example of 80's pop so maybe should be on the list but again, no reason to hear this before I die.

They were boring when I was a teenager in the 80s. They're still boring. The 3 singles from the album hold up, but the rest was unlistenable.

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.

carried by the singles a little bit, but still a pretty great album overall. deserves to be one of the 1001? yes and despite my intense love for The Seeds of Love, they're probably fine with just the one

its solid, but its mostly based on “everybody wants to rule the world” and “head over heels”.

Interesting sounds and good musicality. 3.5/5

I think this a record that really represents the time it was made.

Surprisingly substantive! I’m not a huge fan of the big single, EWTRTW, but really like the other two, Shout and especially Head over Heels, and was impressed with a few other tracks too. They went beyond just pop and pulled in rock and other elements, and had some depth to their lyrics. The production is very of its era, which is my era as a Gen X. I was 15 when this came out. I’m teetering on the 3/4 line here. I do love synth. Fuck it, grade inflation.

3.5, surprising for such an 80s album

A really strong start then it sort of blends into more of the same in the second half. If I could rate the two halves it would be 4.5 followed by 2.5

enthusiastic, energetically young, smooth and “new”? fading outros and repetitive choruses, but that doesn’t take the beauty out of it. 80s sound for sure. Very fresh sonically, atmospheric and crackly. The feeling of being in an arcade. If I had to choose one pop rock album, it would be this. (even if I don’t dig pop rock too much.)

I thought it was cool how long all the songs were, not really the kind of music I like but I still enjoyed it. SOMETHING HAPPENS AND I'M HEAD OVER HEELS!!!

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

能听出年代感，还是挺舒服的

Awwwwww yeah. This album has held up! Even better now than it was in 85.

Destroying my soul but in a cool chill way

I can’t tell if they invented the sound of the 80s or they ripped it off for 40 minutes. Best to play it down on the middle on this one.

Als actieve 80s hater zou je verwachten dat ik hierbij weer een zakdoekje nodig heb om m'n tranen te deppen, maar dat valt reuze mee. Het is ongelofelijk 80s natuurlijk, maar het doet ook een beetje denken aan The Cure. Het klinkt blij en goedkoop, maar tegelijk ook heel donker en diepzinnig. En dat vind ik dan wel weer leuk. En van de manier van zingen kun je zeggen wat je wil, maar zingen kunnen ze wel. Ik heb hier niet zo veel op tegen. Ik denk aan een 3,5 naar 4. Het is genoeg om m'n aandacht er bij te houden en me nog te vermaken ook. 'Broken' ken ik van Donnie Darko ook. Lekker.

Hadn't listened to this entire album since its initial release. After almost 4 decades I find that the singles from it are still amazing, but the rest of the album isn't as nostalgia inducing. It was nice to have on while I was working though

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.

Stylish pop music that mostly satisfies

I like it. It's a classic.

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

me pareció bacano, tiene ahí or de temas conocidos y otros que no pero igual buenos, si tiene ahí unos que no me gustaron tanto pero overall chimba

It's the sound of the 80s. An entire album of it is too much though. 2/5.

Shout: Love how the song starts and gets straight to the point. Honestly, I really like this song. The production really sold it for me. Sounds like I'm in a movie and running away from something or someone. The Working Hour: Ooooh the sax coming in like that was amazinggg. However, not really a song that I want to listen to all the time. Not bad, just not for me fr. Everybody Wants To Rule The World: Always a pleasure listening to this song. Mothers Talk: Not for me. Again, production is really good. Just not hitting my ears, musically. Love the breakdown for the last minute though. I Believe: Love a good slow jam. Broken: Nice, short, exciting. Also, the seamless transition Head Over Heels *chef's kiss* Head Over Heels: Always a pleasure listening to this as well. Listen: An interesting outro Overall: 7.8/10 very solid album. Enjoyed listening to every song!

I loved this album. Every track was huge!

Quintessential 80s synth pop album, and its good fun to listen to. Several of the hits have been stuck in my head intermittently throughout the day, and... honestly, I'm not mad about it.

İt is too long of a album and i didnt like the genre

Holy cow. What a masterpiece.

So many hits in a 45 minute album

It’s Ella, so it’s good, but it’s just too long.

Awesome

Everybody wants to rule the world is one of my favorite songs ever, but the rest of this album was just fine! Enjoyed it, but no new favs.

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.

Very nice. Shout is perfect!

Even the songs I've never heard before are amazing

Sooo many good songs I never knew were tears for fears in this! Everybody wants to rule the world instantly went on my likes, what a song. Really enjoyed this one

It's a fantastic album with incredible production and arrangement. It emerged like a rocket from the sea of new wave at the time and still persists. Not perfect but a damn good album.

Дуже стильно та хітово

Дуже люблю цей гурт, тут легко 4.5

Knew the singles, never listened to the album. Now that I have, I think I'll just stick to the singles when they come on the radio. Not for me.

Hmm. Head over heels is an amazing song which bears repeated plays. The rest of this album is so pompous and lecturing though. From the annoying front cover to the patronising album title this is one to steer clear of. Apart from that one song of course.

Hadn't ever listened to anything else from this other than the 3 that everyone knows! I get why those are the standouts, they are by far the standout tracks on this album, but I enjoyed the others too. 'The Working Hour' was really interesting, why do so many 80s songs loooove that type of drum... Good album!

Gru approved.

Dieses Album gehört definitiv zu den besseren der 80er Jahre.

Really good, obviously heard most of the hits before, but the others are really great as well. the synths and stuff are used in a really catchy way, but also very atmospherically, so some of it feels a bit proggy in some areas. The singer is great as well, very much a typical 80s singer, but still very good. Speaking of the 80s, this album is maybe the most 80s 80s album, the reverbs are great though, and are on nearly everything. I do like the little bits of guitar that are splashed around. Favourite songs: all but I believe.. Overall around 8/10

This album was great. The sound was very interesting and the lyrics were catchy. I have only heard “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” and “Head Over Heels” before, and while these were good I found myself much more drawn to the messages in both “Shout” and “Working Man.” It was a much more political album then I expected, discussing the Cold War, gender roles, and class struggle. Overall a solid 9/10.

This contains many of those typical 80's sounds (synthy and jazzy with drum machines), and I got the vibe of that era's sitcoms and movies as I was listening. But I could also hear dark undertones, which I particularly like in music. "Listen" was an interesting atmospheric tune I enjoyed at the end of the album.

Great album. Not perfect, but great.

Two hits ("Shout", "Everybody Wants To Rule The World") and an almost forgettable rest. 2,5

I really enjoyed this album. I knew some of their tunes but never listened to an entire album before today. Good stuff. Everyone Wants to Rule the World is the stand out by far. It's a great song, but don't sleep on the back half of this album. It's got some really good tracks, I enjoyed Broken a lot. This album got added to my library.

A really great album that id give 4.5 if possible.

I used to think of Tears for Fears as a typical example of that very specific 80s pop sound, without really listening closely. But once I paid attention, I realized the music isn’t light at all. The rhythm section is solid, and at times the grooves even feel slightly funky, which I didn’t expect. That subtle depth is what makes the band more interesting than I had assumed.

The album notes says this 1983 release was meant to prove that Tears for Fears wasn’t another Duran Duran or Thompson Twins - 😆- but you were laddies, you were. Just like everyone else in the 1980s. This doesn’t age well.

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.

Some massive hits on this one

Fantastic album, so many favorites & new favorites!

Brilliant album

As solid a 4 as they come

Aged pretty poorly given synth pop falling out of favor in the 90s. In general the album feels pretty jumbled and disjointed, the thing that prevents it from being 1 or 2 stars is the staying power of the hits included on this album, especially considering many different groups (Weezer, Lorde) covering everybody wants to rule the world in the 2010s

Strong start, the hits are hits for good reason. Weaker middle. Mothers Talk and I Believe are a bit too experimental 80’s pop for my liking. Head Over Heels is a decent track that needs to be a minute shorter. The closing track Listen was a surprise change up and a great way to finish - takes it from 3 up to 4 stars.

Everybody Wants to Rule the World carries this album so much.

They may not be my favorite, but so few bands can really lay claim to being *the* sound of their era. Tears for Fears so perfectly encapsulates the mid-80s in sound and style. There's a reason these songs are used to immediately set time and place in movies set in the 80s (and also inexplicably Marty Supreme which was set in the 1950s), just like Fortunate Son and Time of the Season are used as shorthand for the late 60s. For better or worse, this album IS 1985.

Insanely long Intros on many songs Broken is 2.38 min and the Intro is 1.40 seconds. Its like its training my patience. Ofc the classics "scream" and "everybody rules the world" just work out. "Head over heals" is definetly my overall favourite. The rest just doesn't stand out to me and is even boring. I wish there would be a category on here that explains music creation theorie instead of so much history.

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

Pretty solid album full of new wave bangers

Great stuff. took me back to those fun years .

day 1, immediate banger. shout - such a bop, tho feels a bit repetitive towards the end. the solo is nice. the working hour - cool sax intro, i kinda like the instrumental parts, rest doesnt really catch me. everybody wants to rule the world - wrong, i dont. banger tho. mothers talk - dont have muchto say for this one. pretty decent ig i believe - pretty. instrumentals and vocals compliment eachother nicely. the clapping in the last quarter was a bit irritating broken - banger, maybe my favorite of the album head over heels - pretty decent listen - pretty mid, not a bad outro to the album but not strong either. overall its ok, very 80s. not the biggest fan, shout and broken are my favotrite songs on the record.

Feels melancholic yet yearning, about lost love, goals, ambitions in the 80s with some generic pop in it

Excellent album.

Un disco innegable, mas allá de los mega hits como Shout, Everybody Wants to Rule the World y Head Over Heels, crea una atmósfera de misterio y está cantado con un nivel de emoción altísimo. Nada que decir.

This is pretty cool. I’ve never actually listened to this whole album. Nice drums

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)

Side B of the original vinyl. Just superb

LOVE

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

Ah, 80s electro new wave. Classic songs Shout and Everybody Wants to Rule the World. How can it get less than 4 stars? Listen has similar initial melody to Talking Loud and Clear by OMD Actually beyond the big singles the rest here is more of a vibe than a collection of songs. Best (new) track - Broken 4 stars

This record just oozes 80's in all the best ways. Favorite track: Everybody Wants to Rule the World

Pleasantly surprised by the non-single tracks here, moody and experimental.

it was gooood, liked the singer's voice

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

I really wanted to love this but I just didn’t. It’s a shame because Everybody Wants To Rule The World is genuinely a perfect song in my mind and I liked Shout and Head Over Heels but everything else fell flat for me.

Classic album

j’adore cet album ça faisait longtemps je l’avais pas ecouté !

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

I’ve heard head over heels probably 100 times alone but hearing it with the rest of the album made it like 10 times better especially its motif being in broken

2 hit songs and a whole lotta garbage

Really solid pop music with some massive hits mixed in. Really enjoyed the whole project, even though this genre isn’t one I prefer to have on repeat.

A very solid 3 but I didn’t love it enough for more. Everybody Wants To Rule The World is a great song and the production throughout was good, albeit very 80s.

Heard it before. Now this is a good 80s album. I wish I could give it 4,5 because I do love it but there are 2 songs on it that I like a bit less and I think for a perfect score I need to enjoy the whole thing. Nevertheless, it's an absolute classic 4/5

fire

Ah, good high school memories with this one. The hits alone make it a keeper.

Now it's getting better

Good Album. The sound is catchy and makes me move. Everyone wants to rule the world is a classic. Just love

I really like this one and some famous songs as It’s so nice

Okay thats my dads playlisty hahahahah

the joy i felt when i received this album😻😻

Ouiiii

Riktigt classic 80's, och håller rakt igenom

Ett genomgående härligt och karaktäristiskt sound. Kanske att flera låtar är lite längre än de hade behövt vara bara?

Ett fåtal ordentliga bangers räcker ibland!

Ikoniskt men inte så kul att lyssna på alltså.

This was certainly their pop moment . . . and it was a big one! The songs are as ear-wormy as you probably remember them. If you're too young to remember 1985 and have somehow managed to avoid hearing this album your entire life, be warned. You WILL get these songs stuck in your head!!

Couple proper bangers in here, all time classics. Shout and Everybody Wants to Rule the World. I love the use of saxophone throughout.

bit of a lull in the middle but solid album. Shout is an absolutely cracking opener

AMO esse album Head over heels minha fav

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

Heard

Not badd it also had one of my favourite songs soo☺️😝😝

Everybody wants to rule the world is perfect

Great album; high 4

I was a much bigger fan of this album than I thought I would be. There's a song on here for everybody - moody, serious, dancing, of course the banger that is "Everybody Wants to Rule the World." Loved the sax throughout the album. Some songs felt a little too long for me - 41 mins for an 8 track album is a bit much. Big fan though.

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!

The Singles are classic, but there was redundancy in the rest that took the edge away. Will listen to the classics forever, but the filler brings it down as an overall.

Excelent 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.

Shout Solid, too repetitive for my taste, The working hour Cozy intro, not really my taste Everybody wants to rule the world Banger. Mothers talk Solid I Believe Not my taste, def not bad Broken Loong intro, PERFECT transition to next song Head over heels Another banger Listen Not my cup’a 3,75💿

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.

6.5/10

Solid

Great songwriting, great production. The singles still hit even though I’ve heard them a thousand times.

This one was lit there are like two or three benchmark songs on this one where I was like wooooaaah I gotta listen to this more. Good stuff. Wish I could give it 3.5 stars but I’ll do 4 in lieu of that tbh it deserves the extra half point

Every song is good. Pop dudes used to rock the hell out.

Лучший синтпоп альбом

This album was very good. It reminded a lot of dépêche mode. I already knew the song every body wants to rule the world, but I didn’t know anything else by tears for fears. I liked the voices and instruments a lot. Tough I knew everybody wants to rule the world prior to listening to this album, all of the songs were good, and some might even be better. I’d say this is a high four.

I enjoyed this album; the background was pretty cool. It got pretty repetitive, though, and I can’t say I loved the songs. This was a high 3.

Something that occurred to me is that this sounds a lot like Depeche Mode. Like a lot a lot. It was a really good album, even beyond the hot song. Really high 4. Favorite Track: Listen

Love head over heelz

Enjoyed it, but not my favorite flavor of 80s new wave. I had heard the hits from this album, but this was my first full listen. I like some of the non-singles better. Shout is a great song, but goes on at least 2 minutes too long.

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"

One of the better 80s albums

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

I was just telling someone how much I enjoy 80s Pop! Shout, Everybody Wants To Rule The World, and Head Over Heels were existing favorites that it was good to hear in the context of the full album for the first time.

I am pretty sure every Tears for Fear song I know is on this album. While I struggle with most 80s stuff I can see the roots of some music I listen to daily in this album. Rating this much higher than I would have thought when it first came up. Another surprising listen.

Very 80s and most of the songs are hits

Decent. Not my thing but not bad.

80s pop is somewhat of a blind-spot for me. The 80s nostalgia bait slop that has shoved down our throats since I've been born has soured me to lots of stuff that sounds like this. "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" and "Head Over Heels" are fun, and some of the other tracks are spacey and texturally cool, but I don't think I'd check them out again. Still a decent record.

One or two songs weren’t for me but most of this album is great!! I love the general vibe, even if it was a song I didn’t enjoy as much

Missed the boat on this. Was okay

Probably could have been recorded at no other time than the 80s. Production that glows, it's so highly polished. Linn drums and synth along with a male voice that's filled with emotion to the point of melodrama. On the surface these are bangers. Shout is a magnificent opener and there are tracks that sound amazing - Head Over Heels and Everybody Wants to Rule the World in particular. The problem is, once you get past the surface, they're not really a lot of fun. Deadly serious young men talking about pop psychology and the troubles of the world. And as deadly serious young men do they expect to be taken seriously, without a whiff of irony or humour. Best enjoyed as a sort of darker Human League and don't think about it too much.

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

better than the album cover

Didn't bang as hard as I thought it would. Couple of donkey kongers so it gets a 3

leipe sound , soms net iets te natjes

classic 80s, didn't realize all their hits are on that album

Not my thing, but it was alright I guess.

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

I like the 3 over played radio hits but not much else

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

so so so overly 80s but not like that horrendous

7/10, the songs are longer which is awesome, it also has a funky feel to it

Save:0

already had a few songs saved but this is a pretty awesome album. objectively good but some of it is sorta forgettable i think.

Cool album, I was only really familiar with the singles but the whole thing is worth it

One of the greatest synthpop album ever made.

A strong synthpop album with anthemic songs, super catchy and engaging, full of details and subtles arrangements. I love this one!

Great album, Head Over heels/broken is a top track for me

Pretty good overall. Obviously "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" is a mega hit but I found "Shout" and "Head over Heels / Broken" great as well. I don't think I will be returning much to this album but it wasn't bad.

It was a very gloomy day that I listened to this album, which really matched the overall mood. Obviously loved Everybody Wants to Rule the world and head over heels, and Shout as well. I hadn’t heard the last song on the album, Listen, before, but it was really good. I didn’t really care for the other ones, they were too 80s. The songs were all very long.

I liked a lot of this. Very 80s, but in a good way!

Peak 80s awesomeness.

Everybody Wants to rule the world is one of the greatest songs of all time. Shout is goated too. rest is ok

The 3 big hits are so monumental and make this a quintessential 80s album. I love how rich the production is, especially the horns and synths. Not to mention the soaring vocals on much of the record. Sure, it hits a bit of a lull on track 4-5, but those tracks work well in context. The transition from Broken to Head Over Heels makes it all worth it, and the closer is sufficiently dramatic enough to make the whole project feel complete.

Het album bevatte een paar hits die ik kende, het had behoorlijk jaren 80 achtige sounds die ik tof vond, shout is een goed nummer maar wel lang, er komen ook heel veel verschillende instrumenten en partijen bij kijken, dat is echt meer iets van die tijd maar in het huidige tijdbeeld duren nummers wat korter en zijn ze minder langdradig, ik vond het leuk om naar te luisteren maar ik zal het niet nog eens op zetten.

The hits were blatantly the best songs on this album. It was too New Wave, too synthy and too digital for me. This was not awful but I am not a fan.

Not for me

Hahahaha I never knew these guys… till I heard ‘Shout’ and ‘Everybody wants to rule the world’. Man this definitely makes me go back. Like when I was 3… hahaha the album over all is definitely 80’s, synthesized, electric guitar, etc. I did enjoy the whole album through.

Coming in with some classics! Solid album! From recognizable hits to new discoveries that feel fresh and alive. A album that deserves to be on this list. Shout!

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.

Feels like it's fresh out of a time capsule. It might be a defensible choice for a shortlist of representative albums from the 80s. I like it. On our last trip to Epcot, we got "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" as one of our Cosmic Rewind songs (the coaster picks a song for your ride, out of six or so options). My son latched on to the song and now I associate it with him. That nudges the album a little higher for me.

The album name definitely lead me to believe this would be a snoozefest. How wrong I was! Instantly recognize the opening song 'Shout', which has probably been sampled thousands of times. It's a cool song, but a bit too monotone perhaps. Definitely cements that british synth band tone though. The real star of this album is 'Everybody Wants To Rule The World', which to my surprise has a whooping 2.3 billion listens on Spotify. Which is almost as much as Michael Jackson's most listened to song!? Crazy. The song is really good, and just has such a tasty chord sound in the opening it's crazy. The whole album is unapologetically 80s sounding. I'm usually not a fan of albums that sounds its age too much. Especially the 80s could have sounds and instruments that have aged very, very badly. But here it works. And the singing from Curt Smith is just stellar. Really think he does a good job. Overall I think the album is just short enough to be really tight, and there is a good mix of songs here to keep it interesting. 3 great tracks in 'Shout', 'Everybody Wants To Rule The World', and 'Head Over Heels/Broken', with the rest of the tracks being good as well really makes the album deserve a high rating in my book. Was deciding between a 4 and a 5, and was determined for the latter after finishing it the first time. But I think it's more reasonable with a strong 4 still, not letting myself get carried away with the excitment of hearing something for the first time and it being good.

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.

Een jaren tachtig-plaaaaat.... Een schoolvoorbeeld zelfs. Drums, keyboard, saxofoon, hoge zang. De videoclip bedenk je er zo bij (zanger in halfverlichte kamer in een onbewoond oud huis, flitsen van een schaars geklede dame in het rood, dat soort werk). Toch snap je wel dat dit soort platen bij de ukkies van nu weer populair zijn. Strakke muziek, melodieus, bombastisch, en in het algeheel verrekt vakkundig in elkaar gestoken. Mij klinkt het bij vlagen toch iets te gedateerd, maar al met al is er niks mis mee.

Hét album om te demonstreren waarom je jeuk krijgt van jaren '80 muziek. Ik vraag me werkelijk af hoe je het voor elkaar krijgt om zulke opgeklopte muziek zo saai te krijgen. Shout is het meest enerverende nummer. Maar als je het daar nu van moet hebben...40 minuten deze muziek is al te lang. Dat wisten ze zelf ook. Dus ze breken het nog met het nog saaiere Broken en sluiten af met Enya-achtige klanken.

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.

4/5 красиво и чувственно спето, немного вайб депеш мод понравилась i believe, head over heels, концовка mother talks, начало the working hour Обязательно еще раз переслушаю

Humm... Pas sur de comprendre pourquoi cet album a été sélectionné. Ou je suis passé complément à coté. La production sonne dans le 80's le plus mainstream et sorti des 2 hits rien de bien passionnant à écouter.

Better than I as a too cool for school teenager in 1985 would like to admit.

I always lumped Tears for Fears in with the likes of Duran Duran, Pet Shop Boys, Human League, etc., and never really paid much attention to them, although it was impossible to ignore their massive pair of hits from this album ("Shout" and "Everybody wants to rule the world"), both of which seemed to play constantly on the radio for years. I was a bit disappointed that the rest of the album didn't really live up to the legacy of those singles, but I'm glad to have gotten a chance to hear something else by them (and to revisit "Head over heels"), and I thought it was more interesting than I expected, albeit marred by a very 80s production quality and style. I was surprised to read that one the tracks was included in the "Donnie Darko" soundtrack ("Head over heels"), as I thought the only Tears for Fears song in that movie was the amazing cover of "Mad world" by Gary Jules (in contention for the best cover song ever, I'd say). And I'm sorry for them that they chose a very Hall & Oates-style album cover; I'm guessing they've regretted that cover for many decades now.

Enjoyed this more than I expected too, though wish the album title was "Songs From the Good Chair." Though I'm not a big fan, they've got my respect.

Old favorite of mine from the high school days.

i love new wave

me recuerda a mi papá y me da vibras a Beril en los años 80

A bit boring but competent

Mjög góð lög en stundum aðeins of eitthvað

Allt epískt við þessa plötu 🪑

det er virkelig lyden af 80'erne, hvis jeg skulle importere en far der aldrig er kommet videre ville jeg sætte det her på. (min far)

Heard quite a few songs from this, never the album itself. Although it may have quirks from 80s music (such as the way the songs end) it still manages to sound fresh. Favourites: Shout, Everybody wants to rule the world, Mothers talk, Head over heels 4 because I round down a 4.3

Track 1. (Shout) Very long lol. 7.3/10 Track 2. (The Working Hour) Noticing a pattern, these songs are long af. 7/10 Track 3. (Everybody Wants to Rule The World) Best song in history. Most iconic song of the whole 80s decade, I believe. 10/10 Track 4. (Mothers Talk) 8.3/10 Track 5. (I Believe) 7.6/10 Track 6. (Broken) So 80s. But less than half the song is actual singing, so. 6.8/10 Track 7. (Head Over Heels) Already know and love this song, so fire. 9.5/10 Track 8. (Listen) Ok Lantio kings. 6.7/10 Overall Score: 7.9/10

In future I am ditching the track by track note system in favour of listening to the album in full before sharing my thoughts. Tears for Fears second album is undoubtedly great the themes are great and the lyrics are both well written but also well performed. However I feel like some of the songs failed to hold my interest wether that be with repetitive instrumental or being overshadowed by the other superior songs. The production is phenomenal and this album really does deserve praise. 8/10

Good but maybe not my taste Especially liked: Broken

loveeeeed this

Good album. I really like the singing 6/10

This record came out when I was 13 and the singles were ubiquitous. Unlike a lot of other 80s pop hits, the tunes here never got old for me. Shout, Head Over Heels, and Everybody Wants To Rule The World are some of the best pop songs of the era, and despite sounding VERY much of their time, they hold up. The rest is pretty strong, I enjoyed everything other than the last track, which drags on and on and goes nowhere. Easily forgiven when the rest is so good

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

Bangers in the first disc then it becomes very experimental and remakes of the good songs.

Absolutely brilliant. Wow. Surprised me.

shout is a great opener. sets the tone for the entire album. broken might be my favorite track !! the synths and the intrumental is banging. turned out to be an iconic start of the yearr!! also, bring back longer songs

Everybody Want To Rule The World er såååååå bra! Mye annet snacks her og som Shout og Head Over Heels. Likte spesielt også sistelåta selv om den var litt sær. Solid 4, kommer garantert til å høre igjen.

Liker det her ganske godt egentlig, deilig 80s vibes.

Likte det overraskande godt. Nokre bangers.

generally good songs but nothing major stood out to me! head over heels is great but ends up being a bit overplayed in my opinion

I really like this album! Shout and Head Over Heels are classic loves for me but I particularly like the latter. I also really enjoy the final track for its ambiance and instrumentals, Listen.

this just screams pure 80’s synth-pop favourite songs: shout & everybody wants to rule the world everybody wants to rule the world has lyrics that are still so relevant today

Interesting. Love the extended bouts of music with no speech.

I obviously already knew the hits, but the best moments turned out to be the non-obvious ones: “The Working Hour,” and the way “Broken” frames “Head Over Heels,”

Such a great album. Head over heels for this record.

Two of my fav songs ever are on here— Everybody Wants to Rule the World & Head Over Heels

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

Ya no le pondré mucho color con esta reseña. Song from the big chair es un álbum ochentero con un sonido synth pop bien característico, muy new wave, tiene buenos clásicas, tengo que reconocer que los 80 debe ser mi década menos favorita en la música, por su sonido que muchas veces me suena sobre producido, donde se dejo de lado el bajo y la guitarra y porque tiene algo muy estético que impacta no solo en la música sino que también en la forma de vestir o peinarse y que creo que tiene una intención muy comercial. Los teclados y producción es muy característica, algo como espacial, harto efecto en voz y baterías. Conociendo la portada pero nunca habiéndolo escuchado, reconozco que esperaba bastante menos. Me sorprendieron las canciones, más allá de everybody wants the rule the world que me dejaron chato de lo viral que se hizo, tiene cosas interesantes melodicamente y termina siendo un álbum no tan synth pop como pensaba, añade elementos análogos como piano, vientos y alguna que otra guitarra. Creo que se gana bien el 3, sin ser sobresaliente, creo que es de los mejores del género y así lo confirma la crítica. Canción favorita: head over heels

"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.

4.06

Synth Pop at its finest. Energetic yet soothing nostalgia. 4.5 album. The dude on the left looks like a younger Jon Cryer. While I’m off topic, Ted Yoder does a fantastic hammered dulcimer cover of Everybody Wants to Rule the World.

80s classics. But I was never a huge fan. Too serious, too self-important.

Classic 80’s album. Great hits surrounded by songs offering something different. Solid album.

An album I avoided listening to at the time. At that time I was listening to alternative guitar music. The singles on this album were huge and on constant rotation. Went back to this album for work purposes (music tutor at college) and realised what a great intelligent brilliantly written pop album this is.

some bangers, glad i gave it a full listen but probs wouldn’t do it again don’t love the voices

The sequencing of this album is really interesting to me because the first half feels so iconic, with creative applications of 80s pop music trends-really driven and exciting- but by the second half the songs start to feel a little formulaic and tired. Favorite Song: Shout

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

Perfect 80s album!

First album yay! It has classic bangers and the rest of the songs go really well. 4.5/5

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

80s pop duo with two huge hits on this album, 'Shout' and 'Everybody wants to rule the world's. The second half of this album was more instrumental.

This album is 75% the greatest album of 1985 and 25% pretty good songs from 1985. I only ever heard the two really big hits before going into this one and was pleasantly surprised by just about everything. Shout and I Believe especially were really good. This is also up there with the Prefab Sprout album on this list for the most mid-1980s sounding album on this entire list, to its benefit. I love overly 80s music. Head Over Heels is a good song, but I feel like sticking a love song right after six songs about war feels a little forced and I'm not too big on the closer. Like I said, 75% greatest album of the year, 25% pretty good.

Quintessential & Iconic

Pretty good, didn’t finish though

Three or four of the best songs of the 80s on one album, yeah.

love it. a classic

It’s hard to get around just how EIGHTIES this sounds. Not something I would listen to again but not bad. This album is like a food with a very strong and specific flavor.

The hits really are the ones that stand out. A whole lot of sax on the album tracks. Head Over Heels is a terrific song that I kind of forget exists.

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

I fear i get why the songs that are popular are popular. I couldn’t get into it personally

Innovative but low energy

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

shout - any song about family relations is the best thing I've ever heard. "they gave you life and in return you gave them hell." i believe - I love it!!!!!! head over heels/ broken - one of the best songs of all time and I stand on this! everybody wants to rule the world - tbh I just wanna be the ruler of my mind or whatever Timmy said in that interview with Zendaya that time.

good. 8/10

Really great! Love how emotional it felt

pretty solid sound and you can hear the roots of the song, Everybody wants to rule the world in these tunes.

i bought this on vinyl because it has two incredible songs. haven't listened to it as a whole more than once before and after listening again i know why cause this is boring. i like how all the songs are connected.

not as many bangers as expected

Honestly? It’s pretty great. Although some records didn’t click right away. I’ve listened before to the worldwide hit “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” and it still hits me, even the cover by Lorde is a masterpiece. I would probably listen to it again too. They are great, for a duo of white dudes tho lol. My top five are: I Believe, Shout, Everybody Wants to Rule the World, Head Over Heels & The Working Hour. Tears for Fear deserve a 8.5/10 overall.

Already knew a few of the songs because of my childhood but overall a very groovy album. Love the use of the sax and bass.

Too slow

8/10

Sounds 80s, just sounds like 80s! Everybody wants to rule the world~ oh I didn’t know it’s theirs

Would give it a 3 but Everybody Wants To Rule The World is one of the best songs of all time, so bumping up to a 4

Feels classic 80s but I feel like their songs work better individually vs as a whole album

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.

An album of big hit songs that you know, but maybe didn't realize were on the same album. Yes, some of the sentiments and sounds are a little dated, but the tunes are catchy and it works. I enjoy it for what it is...3.5 with a round down because I feel like I'm getting too generous lately.

i feel like id have to listen to this more to get it but 3 for now

Some of the most pure synth pop songs ever written. Some of the filler tracks around the three classics serve to set up or augment the biggies, but as a whole the album packs a powerful punch. The last track drags a bit but it’s hard to not pick when you have three flawless classics in an 8 song set.

this is fye

Clássico esquecido.

A few bangers but the fillers let it down

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

Vividly recall putting ne hair up into a pony tail on the top of my head and dancing to Shout in my grandparents' home office. Do do do do, do do. -Head Over Heels

bangers! lovely listen finished as soon as i got on my change train perfect

Wanted better bangers from the songs I hadn’t heard.

need to listen to more of the songs better but i see myself liking some of these

sadly the best songs on this one ended up being their greatest hits = the ones i already knew. so it felt like i didnt miss out on much but still it was a great listen and i appreciated its consistency 85/100. SHOUT SHOUT LET IT ALL OUT

Very good album. Has so many known and lesser known bangers, and is a good and smooth listening experience over all.

Perfect catchy pop rock.

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

Decent 80's cornerstone.

I don't like 80's music, and I don't like Tears for Fears. But I must admit "Shout" and "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" are brilliant. So a 34 The rest? Typical 80's Keech.

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!

its okay

4/5

not as good as the hurting but still good stuff

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

Not for me.

I knew some of these already but loved it all together. Such a creative and ahead of its time sound. Top Songs: Broken, Head Over Heels / Broken

6/10

Exceptional

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

better than i expected

lot of the good songs :)

Too 80s for me. Couple standout tracks.

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

Very familiar with the band and the songs released from the album, but have never listened to the album until today. Really enjoyed it, singles are still great but the tracks around them are also good. I need to listen to this more often. Very Good

HUUUGE

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

I knew the radio songs, some of the others were not great - and sometimes the switch between songs was jarring. Overall, it is fine.

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

I really didn’t know pop music could sound like this! It feels super jazzy and original with unique instrumentation. Profound joy and sadness are held within. I would compare this to Shower, and I bet this was a bit of inspiration for it.