Reviews (page 5 of 14)
I really like head over heels but the other songs just don’t do it for me
When to listen: videogames, 80s diner, members only jacket vibes. Have always appreciated the hits from this album but very much enjoyed the whole thing. Fun stuff.
Really enjoyed this album. It actually has alot of depth, which I haven’t really noticed before. I thought some of the drum programming was surprisingly smooth. Infectious, even! Great songs. 3.9/5.0
I think "Shout" and "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" are great songs. "The Working Hour", "I Believe", "Head Over Heels" or "Listen" are also very good (and that already makes 75% of the album). So yes, this is a solid 4-star album for me.
Didn't think I was going to enjoy this as much as I did. Classic album that hit me on a good morning for listening. Really fun listen.
loved it!
Clássico
Great classics never knew who sang them.
In 1985, Tears For Fears quietly released a masterpiece. Songs From The Big Chair is a stunning release. The quality of the recording, the songwriting and lyricism, musicianship; everything is top tier and has aged excruciatingly well. It's so close to a perfect record. Unfortunately, "Shout" stands out as a weaker track than the rest, but even then, it's quite listenable.
Electronic rock/pop. Pretty solid.
Great songs, few flaws
Really rich sounding record, sophisti-pop masterclass
Conocía tres canciones del álbum, de las cuales dos no sabía que pertenecían a la misma banda. Me gusta el sonido grave y la tendencia ambiental, las baterías potentes, los múltiples instrumentos, acompañan bien una voz tan solemne. Los temas 1, 2 y 8 fueron mis favoritos.
New wave, pop rock, progressive pop, synth-pop.
*1985 *Shout, Everybody Wants to Rule the World, Working Hour, and Head Over Heels… *Only 8 songs (41 mins), so even though there are some misses, 2 are massive heads, 1 is a medium hit, and another is a good top 40 at the time song. RATING -7.5/10
Four stars for the singles alone. The rest of the album was meh for me
Was late and fell asleep listening to it. Knew some of the songs
Great album. Every song was good! Honestly wish it was longer :D
> the Beatles The epitome of 80s pop
Incredible synth pop. I can't believe it's taken me this long to listen to this the whole way through. Funnily enough, the songs I know the most off this weren't even my favourite ones. The song that stuck with me the most was probably 'Mothers Talk', it was just so fun!
Good album. Great band.
Первый альбом, который выпал в этой лотерее. Довольно плотный в начале, далее скатывающийся в какую-то теплую меланхолию. Пока что точно лучше большинства, что я слушал последнее время до этого ресурса. Но поставлю 4
retro wave vibes. I didn't realize I already knew some of these songs as classic "80s" songs/samples.
Ah that sweet radio sound. good
Still sounds pretty unique. It’s clearly from the 80s, but it’s got a sound all of its own as well. Wonderful pop album. Up there as one of the greatest the 80s had. Solid 4 for me.
This album is making me nostalgic for an era I wasn't even alive for
Big, staggering, echoey vocals. Iconic songs of epic proportions. The 80s at its very best.
Solid album with some great hits. First time listening to it all straight through!
sonaba bien
I've been waiting for some 80s New Wave on this list!! Vocal power and a voice that flies on the wings of an angel and then lingers long afterwards.
Phenomenal album with powerhouse vocal performances and sophisticated song arrangements. The lyrics are all interesting and varied, and unsurprisingly these songs have been extensively covered. Shout, Working Hour, Head Over Heels, and Everybody Wants To Rule the World are all among the best songs of the 1980s period. But as an album, the rest of it is very well produced but not as memorable.
Very familiar with this one but mostly just the big songs off it that got a lot of radio play. Mostly a chilled-out listening experience, but Shout can get ya pumped up for sure. Good vocals, good synth, good record.
Wow I really Liked this one a lot more then I expected to. Recognized a few popular hits "Everybody Wants to Rule The World" and "Head Over Heels". TOP Song: Shout 3.5/5 Stars rounded to a 4
Very cool. You can see why they're still selling out arenas today. Big first half, ok second half.
classics
Fue un buen álbum listen me gustó mucho y ya había escuchado head over heels , shout y everybody wants to rule the world las demás también me gustaron pero que nunca haya escuchado , listen fue la mejor, va para la playlist.
Banger after banger
3 really great songs, 4 very good songs, 1 ok song. I’ll let everyone else decide which ones they are.
Okay, so this was actually a great time.
As a mid-80s LP goes pretty decent, three hits with acceptable other tracks. Not quite all killer no filler but perfectly listenable.
muy lindo álbum con pocas canciones pero melodías y ritmos muy variados
Worth a four just about for the two famous stand out tracks. The rest is a nice eclectic mix and at only eight tracks it does not out s many albums.
I grew up in the 80’s, so I was oversaturated by 24 hour MTV videos of “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”, et al. The album does stand the test of time PRETTY well, though.
Pinnacle of 80's pop
If all the songs were as good as “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”, it would be perfect. As it is, it’s only very good. Guess what I added to my playlist.
3 huge hits of my memory serves me well…defined th decade
Really solid album they were on a generational run. My favorites were head over heels, everybody wants to rule the world and Broken.
Excelente
När han började sjunga i head over heals fick jag gåshud. Nåt med den där melodin som går rakt in. Otroligt svag för tears for fears. Inte riktigt 5a, men nästan.
I en genre jag vanligtvis har ganska svårt för sticker Tears For Fears ut. Tror dom har DET. Eller så har dom bara en liten gnutta extra komplexitet och galenskap vilket Dino Von Bryman hyllar.
Some iconic hits. Others were okay. The strongest song is "Everybody Wants to Rule the World."
Si
Rate: 8/10.
I’m not good at discerning why I like things very much but great album, shout and everybody wants to rule the world are my top songs.
Some pretty classic songs/riffs in here. Not my favorite type of music, but def can appreciate it. 4/5
It’s very 80s. Everybody Wants To Rule The World is such an iconic banger as well
No. 397/1001 Shout 4/5 The Working Hour 4/5 Everybody Wants To Rule the World 5/5 Mothers Talk 3/5 I Believe 4/5 Broken 3/5 Head Over Heels 4/5 Listen 4/5 Average: 3,88 New Wave is generally not my favorite genre. But this was really good. I enjoyed the long musical introductions to the songs.
It's already a classic. One of the best-produced albums in history.
Este álbum es más que "Everybody wants to rule the world", sin demeritar lo maravillosa que es esta canción, todo el mundo debería darle la oportunidad de escucha activa a este álbum, simplemente acostarse en la cama, con la luz apagada a escuchar todas las canciones. . Diseño de portada: 3.5/5 → Portada con personalidad, pero bastante simple. . Canciones favoritas: "Broke", "Head over heels" y "Everybody wants to rule the world"
I liked it
Not quite a one hit wonder, considering they have plenty of big songs. But clearly one track dominates the rest. Nevertheless, it is truly a great one and Shout is also a favourite of mine. This is what I would consider to good side of 80s music.
An incredible album. The hits are great but there’s not really a bad song on it. I would put this up against almost any other 80’s new wave synth pop album and think this would be as good or better than almost any of them. No question it belongs on this list.
only one song I knew about. I understand why it was well received at its time. it must have been an engineering marvel and very fun to listen to. I can't relate to it that much today though
Steven Wilson mix of this album? Absolute music.
This was my first time properly listening to Tears For Fears. I was quite surprised. I was expecting a few well known classics and a lot of forgettable filler. It's actually really solid all the way through. Shout is a fantastic opener. Sometimes I hate it when things sound dates, but this sounds very 80s _in a good way._ I have a newfound respect for TFF.
Tears For Fears frappe fort avec un excellent premier album des années 80, peut-être certains sons qui sont moins intéressants d'autres mais c'est un bon album symbole de cette période marquante de la musique. Chansons favorites (pas dans l'ordre): Shout (intro incroyable) The Working Hour EWTRTW (classiccc) Head Over Heels
4.4
Holy shit, I actually found an 80s pop album other than MJ or Madonna that I enjoyed immensely! All things are possible! A delightful blend of rock, jazz, and synth, I had a good time listening to this album. A couple big hits (‘Shout’, ‘Everybody Wants to Rule the World’) and some solid deep cuts (‘Mothers Talk’, ‘Head Over Heels’). This had that “80s sound” but did not feel dated, the arrangements are fresh and they didn’t spam the synth as a crutch, it’s mixed in very nicely with the guitars and brass. Did not like the ballad songs ‘I Believe’ or ‘Listen’, but everything else was really good. A solid 4/5
Pop music done right. Beautiful melodies and songwriting, tight band and layered arrangements. Lovely.
I could hear tinges of my favourite artists in this. Not quite what I'd normally listen to but I felt connected to it. Quite surprised!
So mich of this list is dedicated to exploring every facet of post-punk and new wave and, as much as I don’t want to, that means covering synth-pop New Wave. It’s hard to do that without Tears For Fears. (Obviously) I came into this expecting to [intensely dislike] this record for being total cornball music. Oops. This record is surprisingly eclectic and dips into jazz and ‘world’ music m much more than I could have guessed it would. Maybe I shouldn’t be completely shocked by the jazz - I’ve already reviewed Cafe Bleu by the Style Council, and I know my dad has a sizable collection of jazz records from the 80s - jazz seems to have been very much in the zeitgeist. To be clear, it still has cheeseball synth-pop moments. I expected most of the record to sound like “Everybody Wants To Rule The World”, or “Head Over Heels”, but that sound is actually kind of an outlier. I expected to suffer through this record so I could say I heard it, and then move on. But I don’t think I got everything in that first pass and need another listen. I remember “Shout” being darker? This morning I’m struck by the much more whimsical synth work than I’ve ever registered before. And a pretty decent guitar solo. But six and a half minutes? “Broken” and “Listen” also have bigger, rock-adjacent, guitar solos than I would ever have guessed. “The Working Hour” throws all that jazz and world music at you early. I’m a sucker for gratuitous saxophone work, so that long intro really perked me up.
super solid. definitely high and low points but good average
Classic 80s pop with a few bangers. Interesting how many of these songs have been done both other artists. That tells you something
Really good
Solid album - quintessential 80's! Several mega hits on this - Shout, Everybody Wants to Rule the World, Head Over Heels and the rest were pretty decent. Loved Mothers Talk; Listen and Broken were a bit whiny for me though. Overall (4)
Pretty good, just not memorable
banger
Classic 80's album. I didn't know this was who wrote the two hits on this album which I feel are iconic. I feel like the other songs went on for too long, but that could just be my attention span at the time of listening. I wouldn't mind owning it.
I don’t love the album, but the hits make this a solid four. Everybody wants to rule the world it’s just a fantastic song, and for me it will always be washing dishes in the back of my first job at an ice cream shop the early summer after 10th grade.
not as good as Joni Mitchell’s Blue
Me gustó mucho este album, ya conocía 2 o 3 canciones, pero no tenía el nombre de la banda. La voy a seguir escuchando porque siguen haciendo musica actualmente. Las canciones que más me gustaron fueron: Everybody wants to rule the world, que la amo, Shout, y Head Over Heels. Hay de todo en el album, tiene una linda variedad entre canciones "más arriba" y mas tranquilas. Lo guardé y lo volvería a escuchar.
This album is so cohesive. The hits do not get in the way of how well it's orchestrated. Such a fun and satisfying listening experience.
Lo mejor que me pudo pasar un lunes a la mañana. Viva el synth pop!
What a great listen! I had a lot of fun with this album, it just gives off good vibes and happy thoughts. My favorite was Head Over Heels.
Banger album, all songs are good, head over heels clears tho
Good listen, lots of hits on this album. I wouldnt say there’s any skips but I don’t love it enough to give it a 5
So fun and fresh. Grooves are interesting and the singer is awesome
I'm familiar with the hits from this album, but I've never sat down to listen to it start-to-finish. This by no means bad, but there aren't hidden gems. The hits are great, the other songs are okay. That being said, I think I'll add this album to my library based on the strength of the hits.
Nice, classy and cheerful
80's pop at its popiest. Shout and Everybody wants a to rule the World are the big hits, but goddamn do I enjoy the jazz opener in The Working Hour. Kinda a weird album.. Only 8 songs but it feels like it could have been a single release but has some extra filler added. Still has a couple bangers too.
I had a roommate who hated Tears for Fears, but I genuinely enjoy them. Their music has kind of a cinematic quality like it's coming straight out of an 80's movie. Didn't realize, but it looks like all of their biggest hits were in this one album.
Quintessentially 80s, but this time in a way I enjoy.
I imagine this big chair is like the Big Comfy Couch but more serious.
First impressions: Oh it's that one album yea ik it Shout - I swear I've heard a parody of this song before without ever actually listening to it, lmao The Working Hour- Funky beginning Everybody Wants to Rule the World - Still good Mothers Talk - Ok this might be my favorite, very dramatic OKAY THE ENDDD I Believe - Mellow Broken - head over heels but SCARY Head Over Heels - Still good Listen - Nothing too crazy, good vibes tho Overall: P good
classics nun groundbreaking
Rating: 3.8/5 Gimme that sax! Listen again?: maybe, I hear those hits enough to last me Listen if: I want to live in a John Hughes movie for 45 minutes Sound: 80s jazz club in the jungle with a keyboardist
holy nostalgia
We all know them from "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" - but everything else has been great so far. The album has the same vibe as that song, but adds different details so it doesn't just feel like a copy and paste of that song with a different tempo like some of these older albums do. I think this is a 4 for me. I am pleasantly enjoying the album and have found myself listening to it without really thinking about it. Vibes are 80's synth rock.
comfort music, most of it anyway. good soft rock from some of my more formative years
It’s an album that takes me back to a specific moment in time. Comforting.
Great production. Love the vocals and the synths sound fresh and not dated. These songs are so catchy and get stuck in my head for days. This is what pop music should be.
I would have loved to be a young adult in the New Waves 80s. It’s a bit daggy but so optimistic and expansive and GOOD. I love the echoey bounce sound of it all that make you feel like you’re in the room with them life (albeit an empty warehouse), particularly on show in The Working Hour. I also didn’t read the song list pre listening and generally never know who sings famous songs so was SHOOK when Everybody Wants to Rule the World came on! 4 stars
I love Tears for Fears!!! This sound is just so quintessentially 80s to me and I never want to part with it. The hits really hit, and the transition between Broken and Head Over Heels/Broken is just SO GOOD. I did immediately follow it up with In Love Again by the Rogue Traders, which perfectly samples Head Over Heels, and I recommend you do the same! This is a begrudging 4 stars because they did lose my interest at Mothers Talk - I Believe
Obviously have heard the hits before. Not much substance asides from them, but decent album
Great album. Just wish shout wasn’t turned into an English football song. But overall this was a great listen. I mean it pretty much speaks for itself. Everybody wants to rule the world is the obvious belter. What you want from an 80s band, pure gold
Very nice listen to this to start the week nicely. Love Shout, Everybody Wants to Rule the World and Head over Heels, just great and classy songwriting. I also really enjoy the singers voice! The Steven Wilson remixes sound amazing too.
the 2 song is beautiful n da other ones r good heared some classic
amazing
I had dismissed this band because I've heard the song Shout so many times and never thought it was good. But, I hadn't actually listened to it. This whole album has a really cool sound and is New Wave that is complex and musically satisfying.
surprisingly enjoyable. 3.75
More enjoyable than expected
In my minds eye, one little boy - one little man. Funny how tiiiiiime fliiiiiies. An album that contains three of their most hit singles and instantly takes you back to a place in your memories every time that piano melody hits. (You mess with the bull, you get the horns; October 2, 1988)
muy buen disco
Great easy listening start to finish with some memorable hits.
The hits are hits for a reason. This album is one of those cases of "we can't make it anymore, we don't know how." Like I don't know if it's something to do with the guitars or the vocals or the old 80s synths or the way everything layers up on every song. 40 seconds into Broken you feel like 2 different songs are playing in each ear. Not every song is super memorable and most of the songs are 5/6 minutes so it's not perfect the full way through but there's real magic in there.
this album is interesting to me because i love it but it has properties of albums i hate - in fact the reasons i dislike them (long and repetitive songs). It is also an interesting combo of instant hits and songs you have to kinda get into idk. Great album. mothers talk gets that white boy groovin i have cried listening to head over heels before and i actually cant remember what i was associating it with to make me cry anymore which is an interesting personal thing
Carried hard by the main 3 the people know But still synthy and beautiful.
This album is a lot o fun
SOMETHING HAPPENS AND I'M HEAD OVER HEELS
Already listened to that album before
I was not a huge fan of Tears For Fears back in the day, so I wasn’t thrilled when this one popped up. But I was pleasantly surprised. Even though I’ve heard many of these songs 100 times, I was able to pick up layers that I had not heard before. Especially with the Dolby Atmos mix. This is a great example of how Atmos adds to listening experience!
exelente para la oche
Peak 80s vibes. This album has a couple of the best songs of the decade.
8/10 80s pop bangs
Da hani kei Tears for Fears verschwendet für die Songs from the big chair. Eigentlich all Bangers vo Tears For Fears uf dem Album. sehr fest gnosse
Yeah mal was vibigs und abwechselnds. Guete 80ies disco flair wo da vo de rear boyzs transportiert wird. Hend irgendwie ihre eigeni style ohni zu fest nach standard gedöns z töne.
spass ahgseid spass gha differenz 0 head over heels isch und bliebt eine vo de beste songs ever written! tears for fears isch wüki immer eh wahri freud – han grad no es zweits album müesse nahdopple für d'höchtspunktzahl längeds aber leider knapp nöd bruche aber glich grad 4 nastüechli zum mini tränli tröchne
I really like the 80s pop vibe of this album, I'd say it's quite dynamic as songs like I Believe will feel mellow whereas a song like Head Over Heels will be more uplifting and energetic. It feels quite experimental in a good way, is it my era? No. Do I like the vibe? Yes. I did enjoy the retro vibe to this album.
Really enjoyed this one. Love a bit of a jazz influence Favourite song is ‘head over heels/ broken’
The hits on this album are iconic, generational classics. The other tracks were not quite as catchy as Shout and Everybody Wants to Rule the World. Still, the haunting chamber pop rock sound was enticing! 7/10
3.5/5
Not sure if this is a great album, but it certainly has quite a few great tracks.
The hits are great. Some of the other songs on this album are okay, and the last one is way too long. Solid 4/5
The '80s seem like a fun time, but it did seem like Shout was never going to end
I was surprised to find out that the name of the band and a big lyrical influence was primal scream therapy. The two hits are great and there were a couple of other points that caught my attention. Overall a lovely sound.
Very 80's, but I won't pretend like I don't love it. So many iconic songs on here that I've heard over and over but will never tire of. Favorite Songs: Shout, Everybody Wants to Rule the World, Head Over Heels
No puedo ponerle menos, tiene canciones muy memorables.
Me pareció un álbum muy ochentoso con muy buenos temas que no conocía. Juegan con distintos ritmos y pasan de temas melancólicos a más rápidos. Me gustó la conexión de sonido entre la canción Broken y Head Over Heels.
Could grow to a 5. Really good, very big sound.
Overall quite good album. Nothing mind blowing but also definitely nothing to complain about.
Shout- such a fun song and the music video is so 80s. Those kids are all probably older than I am. lol I love, Everybody want to Rule the World. For such a short album, there are some real classics on it. I had never heard of Tears for Fears before and it is probably because I barely remember the 80s.
Kind of the epitome of 80s albums. And Head Over Heels is an absolute banger (outside of the major singles “Shout” and “Everybody Wants to Tule the World”).
Gotta love some 80s cheese. This is a perfect example of an album that should definitely be on this list: it so perfectly captures the style and feeling of a decade, and it's a damn good example of it too. Lord almighty this is an 80s album, and while it doesn't always work, the good songs are so freaking good. Also for some reason, Orzabal's voice just scratches that itch in my brain so perfectly. Fave tracks: - Shout - Everybody Wants To Rule The World - Mothers Talk - Broken - Head Over Heels
Top tier 80s album. Banger after Banger
Knocked it out of the park with the first song, followed it up with some absolute crackers. The rest of the album was a bit of a fizzle for me, but mostly it shone.
Good compositions, liked the order of songs
7/10 yay
Head Over Heels clears
Multiple great songs
Like it or hate it, this album and its massive hits were everywhere in 1985 and into 1986. Its success was outdone only by its ambition. These guys were talented and clearly aiming to make bigger and deeper music than their contemporaries. In only 8 songs, they cover a huge range -- the sing-a-long anthem Shout contrasts with the inscrutable Mothers Talk. In retrospect, though, did Tears For Fears make a lasting impact? These songs still sound so distinctive. Maybe no one even bothered to try to imitate them.
good fuckin' album
This has some absolutely insane songs on it. "Shout", "Everybody Wants to Rule the World", and "Head Over Heels" were already in my rotation. I assume I've listened to the full album previously, but not in a while if ever. "Mothers Talk" is really sweet too. Great record overall. Would probably give it like a 4.25 or 4.5 if the ratings were more flexible.
7/10… new wave / sophisti pop / *1985
7/10
Fantastic album. I liked it much more than I thought I would.
Good album. Notable tracks include Shout, The Working Hour, Everybody Wants to Rule the World, Head Over Heels. Every song on the album is pretty good though.
easy listening pop rock
Classic 80's music. Not originally a huge fan. Too "pop" and not alternative enough for me at the time. Pitchfork: 8.9 (2017 review - seems like cheating - posthumous rating) Rolling Stone: n/a Best Songs Shout Everybody Wants To Rule The World Mothers Talk I Believe Head Over Heals / Broken
Favorite Song: Head Over Heels
La transición de Broken, Head Over Heels y Listen está bien sabrosa 😫
1. Shout (6:33): blank song for me, like NOT bad, but I won't actually listen to it again I fear. 3.5/5 2. The Working Hour (6:31): The sax is so beautifully added omg, it's the perfect emotional or giddy scene, full of emotion but tender at the same time, love it. 5/5 song 3. Everybody Wants To Rule The World (4:11): I love this song, as a society, it's impossible to be bored, the strings, the piano, the vocals, the percussion, the length, everything is amazing. 5/5 4. Mothers Talk (5:06): this doesn't sound as dreamy as the others, more fierce. I do love that chorus, it's catchier than the other ones. Loved the last phrases, really reminded me of head over heels, I wish the instrumental outro part was shorter though- 4.3/5 5. I Believe (4:55): There's something as gentle like something sensual, slow pace dance and intimacy as a whole. I'm not really paying attention to the lyrics though, usually for an album they're not updated entirely. OMG THEY ADDED A SAX 5/5 6. Broken (2:39): this one is the shortest one in the album and it's giving interlude. Sums up the energy of the whole album actually, such full instrumental, the guitar makes me NUTS. 5/5 should be a complete song IMO. 7. Head Over Heels (5:02): wait now I get it, the OG tittle was /broken, makes so fucking sense, also, this one's better, the instrumental is just a little less full. Love this fucking song so much, it slaps over and over again, not so fan of the outro though and I fucking hate those claps... 4.9/5 8. Listen (6:53): angelic ass intro I love it also it feels like an outro from the album, with the soft synths and all. Great outro but won't listen as a song like the others. 4/5 Final score: 4.6/5 ⭐
I think it is a love or hate band. I like their music very much. The cover of this album...
I don't know why but I have just always loved Head Over Heels. Could've done without "Listen" and its repetitiveness. So some great songs but also some duds.
this is one of my rare 80s exceptions. I've never listened to Tears for Fears in full album! I also didn't know they looked like such babies with such low voices. fascinating. So much fun.
I would be remiss if I didn’t commemorate this album by posting about the Weird Al–inspired parody I wrote in high school. Trout, trout, swimming about Fish in the water going in and out Come on! I’m angling for you. Come on!
very unique and distinct sound. Has a few classic hits, and a few I haven’t heard but are also great like head over heels. worth a listen.
A couple of these were definitely “filler”. But those three big hits more than pull their weight.
When you think of the 80s these guys are definitely it. Something about his voice with progression of the instruments.
Brill. Loved the lead singers voice and the drama of th music
7.0/10
from one album where I only know the main single to another the first track becomes funky outta nowhere what is that saxophone jezus EWTRTW still sounds futuristic and yet so very eighties 40 years later Ironically I don't really want to listen to Listen the last album should have been a 3, this is a solid 4
Massive pop architecture with real emotional weight underneath. The singles soar, and even the deeper cuts carry that dramatic, widescreen feel. A touch glossy, sure, but the songwriting earns the scale.
Astonishingly fresh and good album.
Love!!
8/10
I'm really not into 80s new-wavey, synth heavy albums, but this has gotta be the best of the bunch.
Shout - 5 The working hour - 3 Everybody wants to rule the world - 5 Mothers talk - 4 I believe - 3 Broken - 4 Head over heals - 5 Listen - 3
Listened driving to and from work. Really great record. I knew a couple of the big hits but the rest sounded great too. Not sure if put them in my daily rotation, it's not the kind of music I typically reach for to be honest. Enjoyed my time with it.
This is really good. Putting aside the two I knew (tracks 1 and 3) this is a really strong album. The Working Hour, Mothers Talk, Broken and Head Over Heels are all great tracks. Loved the mixture of styles and synth. Solid 4/5.
The mixing is undeniably professional and detailed, but the dated 80s "patina" and that constant reverb are just too much to handle. While the musical quality is clear in tracks like The Working Hour or Broken, the lack of internal evolution in these long songs makes the overall experience feel repetitive and tiring.
Superb synth pop. Play it, love it, remind yourself that Head Over Heels is one of the best songs ever made, listen again
first time listening to this, amazing album. between 4 and 5
gostei da fotografia da capa, no começo achei que ia ser uma merda mas ao decorrer do album se mostrou ser uma grande masterpiece, instrumentais maravilhosos
Great album. Three big hits and no filler.
Absolute must listen from the 80s synth pop movement.
9 / 10
Excuse me. Excuse me. Why is there a man who looks exactly like Curt Smith from Tears for Fears playing an acoustic set next to that tree and your swimming pool? - Shawn (Psych) Overall very vibey experience. Obviously some absolute classics. It was a good thing to put on in the background studying for mid-terms. I think my favorite discovery was Mothers Talk, which was a song I had heard but didn't have any connection that it was tears for fears. I also listened to the Everybody wants to Rule the World Song Exploder.
À primeira vista, Songs From the Big Chair (85) é daqueles discos que facilmente consideramos entre os melhores de todos os tempos. Afinal, temos aqui uma seleção de músicas que se tornaram fundamentais para a indústria musical dos anos 80," sendo Everybody Wants To Rule The World" e "Head Over Heels" exemplos perfeitos desse legado. No entanto, depois de tantas audições, acabei saturando. É um movimento parecido com o que sinto ao escutar Queen: reconheço a grandiosidade, mas não suporto mais a maior parte. E olha que seria muito injusto, para não dizer absurdo, classificar este disco como ruim. Talvez seja o preço de músicas tão icônicas: elas se desgastam justamente por serem grandes demais. O que não tira o mérito de Tears For Fears ter entregado um dos álbuns mais influentes de sua década.
Poucos são os álbuns que eu posso realmente afirmar que estiveram presentes na minha vida desde a minha infância e realmente ter memória das vezes em que escutei, mas um deles é certamente o Songs From The Big Chair. Toda vez que o escuto, automaticamente lembro da minha infância por conta de que a minha mãe sempre amou as músicas que compõem e formam o disco. Dado esse contexto, é um pouco difícil atribuir uma nota sem pensar no lado emocional que todas as músicas deste disco representaram/representam na minha vida - muitas vezes, quando eu estou triste, é em Songs From The Big Chair que a minha mente vai visitar e pensar em outras mil coisas. De alguma forma, eu relaciono esse álbum com conforto e com viagens - então ele sempre faz parte da trilha sonora das minhas viagens (e em 2025 isso aconteceu diversas vezes). Sou encantado por todos os momentos deste álbum, mas seria uma enorme injustiça se eu fugisse do clichê e não falasse que Head Over Heels e Everybody Wants to Rule the World são as minhas músicas favoritas - elas são isso e, ademais, também são músicas que moldaram a minha personalidade. Jamais irei cansar de escutá-las. Eu queria poder atribuir 4,5/5, mas fecharei com 4/5 imbuído da sensação de que estou sendo injusto.
Classico. Não é facil um album produzir 3 musicas tao memoráveis, um grande album. 4.25/5
I've a soft spot for 80s new wave pop rock like Tears for Fears. 'Guilty pleasure' might get banded around, but I don't think you should feel guilty for enjoying this. Terrible cover and album title, but beautifully crafted tracks and catchy ear worms galore.
Heb maar een paar liedjes geluisterd, maar love tears for fears!
een van de meest intens jaren 80 albums ooit gemaakt. favoriet is en blijft mothers talk
Muy ochentoso, me gustó
Classic
Interesting to start this project off with this album! I actually did listen to the extended? deluxe? version for the first time recently after walking out of the theater high off the needle drop at the end of MARTY SUPREME. "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" is obviously one of the greatest songs of all time, but "Head Over Heels" might be more of my personal favorite. Listening to the latter with really great headphones feels euphoric. It's so very 80s which is why I feel like I should like it more than I do, but the slower songs don't really do it for me. But my god — when it hits, it hits! Other highlights: Shout, Mothers Talk
Great one
I like Evb wants to rule makes me sad but happy cuz that one ride on Disney Liked most songs, but the first and last were eh
(Hey internet, why’d you tell the algorithm that I listened to this two nights earlier?) I always felt guilty liking this because I thought there was something a bit soft about them, turns out trying to process your feelings is okay.
Solid album. Quintessential 80s sound.
fav songs: shout everybody wants to rule the world mothers talk i believe wide, polished, poppy 70/100
3.5 stars
3.9 I feel bad, I always dismissed these guys as overly camp(?) generic synth/new wave music - having only known Pale Shelter and Everybody... (although now I think about it, I actually really like those songs so why did I dismiss them..) Hands up, I was wrong. This is dark, moody, nihilistic. I now get why they Gary Numan and Joy Division are referenced in their early years wiki bio, as it's more along those lines rather than a lot of the forgettable 80s acts that appeared at a similar time. Shout is a great tune, mercilessly destroyed by Disturbed which is the main form I knew it in. Everybody is obviously fantastic. But there are lots of other good moments here, the latter half of the album is generally pretty solid, with no real weak points throughout.
Such a great album
80s jams !!!!
Classic 80s hits w/out sounding too 80s
Deep atmospheric tones and catchy pop tracks.
It’s a decent 80’s pop album. No real duff songs, nice and lean. Thought of Robert Wyatt straight away at start of I Believe and then saw it was written for him sort of. 3.7
I’m not generally a fan of 80’s pop, but TFF bring it big here. Solid throughout, the hits are hit worthy and its production stands the test of time. I prefer the sound of their next album which layers more sophistication to my ear, but this is as good as mid 80s pop gets for me
A positively avant-garde 80’s pop Goliath that is always on the attack, blasting your senses with massive waves of sound. Hard to understate how modern and futuristic it sounds even now, 40 years later.
very good, a couple of amazing songs
I have a soft spot for Tear for Fears. I saw them about 20ish years ago doing an acoustic cafe type of show at the Brickyard in Hartford of all places. It was part of a series of concerts that were hosted by a radio station back then. My friend’s dad worked in radio and got us tickets. There were only around 250 people there and it was just Curt and Roland and acoustic guitars and they absolutely nailed it. Their voices were amazing and their energy and passion were outstanding. The three hits on this album are some of the best songs of the 80’s and the rest are enough to keep it a 4.
This is classic 80s … tight roll those acid-washed jeans, break out the aqua-net and let’s party. The highs are legendary and the rest is fairly typical, if not better than average, pop fair. It’s a living, breathing time capsule.
The hits on this album are some of the best of the era. The rest of the album is good enough.
Something happened and i‘m head over heals🕺🕺 Wir acten mal an unserem best behavior also 8/10
3.5
Liked: Everybody Wants To Rule The World, Head Over Heels, Broken Added: Broken
Great album with an iconic 80s sound. Some absolute classics that take you to that era of music
Of course I knew the hit singles. I lived through them the first time. The rest of the album was a revelation. The orchestration was fantastic, and Curt & Roland's vocals are fantastic. Favorite song is still "Head Over Heels"
This is gonna date me. There was a time before this when the only entertainment I could muster for the frequent long drives I took was a box of old cassettes whose contents seldom changed or grew. In this box was Tears Roll Down, the first Tears For Fears greatest hits compilation, that I bought from a gas station checkout line. I knew and loved the well known singles (most of which come from the album being reviewed here). But I found the other songs at times challenging to like. Given time though and infinite replays, I came to cherish all of the songs. What I didn’t know at the time was that over half the songs from Songs from the Big Chair were on there. This is a nearly flawless album. All of the songs are it could be hits. There is thematic cohesion, incredible production, and tons of songwriting nuance. Love it.
Whaaaat, trodde inte jag skulle gilla albumet eftersom det kom ut 1985 men det va typ bra wtf. Beaten var jätte najs skulle ändå ratea en 4/5 för det var två låtar ja inte gilla så mycket listen och broken.
Amazing album, I've heard these songs a lot and always enjoy them.
this is what i think the 80's sounds like. great album. everybody wants to rule the world is one of the best songs ever written.
track 1: off the bat, im very interested in this. i've heard a lot about this group and the love they get from their following, and admittedly i've only ever heard THE track from this album. but honestly, this one has me more gripped right now. track 2: the opening doesn't immediately grab me as hard as track 1 did, but as the drums start to come in it grabs my interest quickly. track 3: good song, would maybe be a great song but i tend to have a problem with very overplayed songs. still not bad track 4: good track track 1: great, favorite so far track 2: good track 3: good track 4:
#3 Already knew some songs. I planned to listen to this album for ages but never got around to actually do it. It's really great, the kind of clever pop-rock from the '80s that I really love, complex and sophisticated, yet very accessible. Shout and Head over Heels are absolute bangers.
3,8/5 Pop atmosférico de qualidade. Os singles, no entanto, carregam o álbum.
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
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
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.
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!!!
Awwwwww yeah. This album has held up! Even better now than it was in 85.
Destroying my soul but in a cool chill way
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.
I like it. It's a classic.
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
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!
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
So many hits in a 45 minute album
Very nice. Shout is perfect!
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 люблю цей гурт, тут легко 4.5
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.
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.
Brilliant album
As solid a 4 as they come
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.
Pretty solid album full of new wave bangers
Feels melancholic yet yearning, about lost love, goals, ambitions in the 80s with some generic pop in it
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
Side B of the original vinyl. Just superb
LOVE
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
it was gooood, liked the singer's voice
j’adore cet album ça faisait longtemps je l’avais pas ecouté !
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
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.
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.
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
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!
Couple proper bangers in here, all time classics. Shout and Everybody Wants to Rule the World. I love the use of saxophone throughout.
AMO esse album Head over heels minha fav
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.
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💿
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.
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.
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
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.
One of the better 80s albums
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.
Very 80s and most of the songs are hits
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
leipe sound , soms net iets te natjes
7/10, the songs are longer which is awesome, it also has a funky feel to it
already had a few songs saved but this is a pretty awesome album. objectively good but some of it is sorta forgettable i think.
One of the greatest synthpop album ever made.