Songs From The Big Chair

Beautiful, harmonic, vintage 80s. Tears for Fears are still viable as a band. Their lyrics transcend. "Songs From the Big Chair" is timeless.

Very fun. I'm not sure what you'd call the sound that Tears for Fears is notable for, but it's so distilled in this album it's easy to see why it's their most successful. My favorite song was The Working Hour.

Always reminds me of High School. I wore that album out in 1985

Another teeterer between 4 and 5

Shout. Shout. Let it all out. Everybody wants to rule the world

⭐︎4.3 U2以前の最高のブリティッシュロックバンドという印象。 アメリカでもヒットしたのが分かる、キャッチーな曲が多く、陰鬱な曲は少なめ。 あっという間に聴き終えた。

Fantastic album, you’d think that Everybody Wants To Rule The World would be overplayed by now, but it’s just a timeless song.

It's nice that the original is available on Spotify, alongside the deluxe and super mega deluxe 3000 editions. Shout and Everybody Wants To Rule The World are the obvious stand out tracks here, but the other stuff is fun enough to just about get a four.

Knew the hits, but hadn’t heard the album tracks. Mostly bangers.

Holiday club Friday night

The early 80s really did turn out to be a golden age for pop. Didn’t like this at the time as I was too rock, punk n indie but looking back the pop music scene was so good, this is just a very good record with a number of great songs that were singles 4 Star

80s tastic

Once at a party the host put shout on loop and waited for anyone to notice. When I did he gave me an expression of "don't say anything". From there I slowly went insane for about half an hour while everyone else just lived their lives without noticing they were hearing shout over and over and over again. It's a great song and perfectly sits in the background but not in a diminishing way. Great album and representation of the time.

Shout works, but it's too long and that newave voice. I am curious about what else is on here. Oh Everybody Wants to Rule the World. Why does this song work? And Head Over Heels? Surprised that I know three tracks from this one 1980s album. A cohesive album that avoids being repetitive. Taking some swings on composition. The tracks just often go on too long and get lost in the weeds. Still not my cup of tea, but a solid album.

First time I've listened to the full album. I never realized there's a whole other song that leads directly into Head Over Heels. It's really the three hits that kept me into this one, but the rest is solid, too.

Top pop.

Day 34 First listen- So many classics in this album and it flows beautifully, is so smooth. What a gem! (4.5/5)

Shout and Everybody Wants To Rule The World are a masterpiece!

thought they were the one hit wonder, but this record is amazing

I was only familiar with the hits, and sometimes with these albums, the rest isn’t worth listening to. Not the case here. I enjoyed everything - save for the ridiculous “I Believe” which goes out of its own way to sound cheesy. It’s all that stops it being a 5 for me.

A brilliant album that puts a pensive and solemn spin on the synth pop of the time. There's so much I love here: a well placed sax will always drop my panties and it happens again and again on the album. The Working Hour - sublime. My favorite Tears For Fears track is Head Over Heels but I never realized that its iconic melody is quietly used in the track immediately before it, which beautifully sets up the moment when it explodes into being on the piano in Head Over Heels proper. It's all very rewarding.

The quantity of UK 80s bands on this list is utterly ridiculous but this was one of the few decent ones. Not the most essential album ever but a decent listen 3.5*

Big Tears for Fears fan, but I consider this album to be their 3rd best after Seeds of Love and The Hurting. It may be that many of these songs were ubiquitous in 1980's and beyond, lessening their resonance. To me Shout is the weakest track. I Believe, Everybody Wants to Rule the World, and Head Over Heels are stronger and more impactful on multiple listens. Frankly, the transitions and seamlessness across tracks makes the individual songs more impactful. The transitions from I Believe to Broken and to Head Over Heels makes for an album experience that they leand into more with Seeds of Love.

True 80's goodness!

I know the two hits from this record. Shipping those. I’ve heard them enough. Ok, this record is really great. It should have gotten way more acclaim than the hits. This is a great album.

Pretty much any other synth pop band from the time is better.

Some very solid tunes. Feels very 80s but at the same time does not feel terribly dated. Head of Over Heals is a fantastic song.

4/5

7/10 This album has got a lot going for it. There are some great hooks, but also some really interesting explorations of sound and momentum through the tracks. I particularly liked the fact that, for the most part, it wasn’t just a verse-chorus-verse repetition with only the lyrics changing, there was constant development throughout the songs, which kept them moving and interesting right to the end. It was also much more rocky than I expected, and some of the guitar playing was great. I gave up writing about how 80’s the songs were about half way through my song-by-song. But it’s so brilliantly 80s. That’s the kind of thing that can rub people the wrong way, but I want my 80s music to sound like 80s music. Sure, I’d maybe have a personal preference for the reverb to be toned down a bit, and for some of the obvious ‘synth playing a real instrument sound’ tones to have a bit more subtlety, but it just captures a sound and a feel and doing too much to change it would lose all that. Some of the songwriting was fantastic and they never really played it safe, with the possible exception of I Believe, but that worked as a nice palette cleanser before they went a bit wilder towards the end of the album. There were places here and there were things didn’t completely connect with me, but there wasn’t really a point at which I couldn’t appreciate at least something of what was going on. All in all, a really interesting album, and, for a pop record it didn’t just do things by the book, which is always a pleasant surprise. Shout - 80’s drum machine and synth programming ahoy! It’s a good song. There’s perhaps not as much variation between the dynamic of the verse and chorus as I’d like, but it does build interestingly with new parts adding depth as the song progresses which is an interesting approach. By the end, I’m certainly enjoying where they’ve built it to. The Working Hour - This is so reverb soaked that it gets a bit lost in the wash. There are some nice elements in here, but it’s a little bit meandering. It’s all pretty competent and well made, but there’s nothing that really hooks me in. Everybody Wants To Rule The World - My son hates this song. He says the lyrics are stupid. But it’s a great song. There are a lot of parts that come and go. The band seems very determined to avoid repetition by adding extra elements, which helps to maintain variety, especially with a pretty basic and repetitive drum machine pattern sitting under everything. There’s good bits of drive, some light and shade and some great little hooks and motifs that do enough to hook you in but aren’t overdone. Mother’s Talk - I really love some of the synth lines on this. It’s got a lot going on. It’s another one where it doesn’t rely too much on hooks, but theres is so much of interest that it doesn’t need to. At about 4 minutes it just goes a bit off the wall. I don’t know if they were aiming to make a pop record, but if they were, I really appreciate that they were brave enough to do stuff like this on it. I Believe - This is a bit more mundane. It’s a pretty little song and it grounds things after the end of Mother’s Talk. It was a nice bit of a breather from the more frantic and busy tone of the surrounding tracks. Broken - This has got a great kick, especially off the back of I Believe. Again, there’s a lot going on, with quite a bombastic overall sound and elements of slightly discordant brooding in the bridge section. I’m kind of sad this is short as it is, because it’s really good. Head Over Heels - It’s interesting the way this takes some of the elements from Broken and then does something very different with them. There’s a really nice groove to this. I think in places this track perhaps more than any other sounds its age. Some of the synth and samples parts show their age in a bit too obvious a way. But it’s still a really decent track and is a pretty interesting production, the way it blends out of and then back into the elements from Broken, finishing with a live section. Listen - This has got that building feeling similar to some of the earlier tracks, but also has areas where it dips in intensity before it grows. It’s a slow burn, and it’s got a lot going for it. A really nice, brooding, almost intense ambient way to end the album.

Lots of hits on this one album. Very solid but seems like a one hit wonder of an album.

Franchement, j’ai adoré. Quelques énormes classiques c’était très sympa Intro et outro top Pas 5 parce que c’est quoi ces mulets de salopards ? (Et puis la delux qui dure 5h aussi faut pas abuser)

The opening track, Shout, could've been overly repetitive. But its track length was actually pretty good, and with a few added instrumental solos, I could see this being a top-tier 80s track. It's catchy, intense, riveting, and easy to get an audience to roar along to. Musically, it's a little dull (and we encounter this issue throughout the album) but this isn't too much of a problem. Normally the production of 80s pop records is a bit frustrating, what with the airy, generic percussion, overuse of synths, and questionable use of echo effect in most vocal parts. But Tears For Fears pulls it off really convincingly. It helps that they incorporate some pre-80s sounds, particularly in the guitars – such as in Everybody Wants To Rule The World. (Side note: I love this song. As do a ton of people, clearly!) As another reviewer wrote: "Masterful pop production. It wears its era on its sleeve, which is perhaps the only complaint, but also a big part of the charm." The tracks are long but don't really overstay their welcome, especially as background listening. Normally I'm not a fan of five-plus-minute tracks unless they're some variety of prog. Despite this, Tears For Fears make good use of slow, dramatic tempos and engaging textures to combat this and get away with an 8-track, 40-minute album. Indeed, lots of factors here shouldn't work but do anyway. Even the weird falsetto(?) delivery in the song I Believe has this weird charm (helped substantially by the beautiful sax and piano parts) that makes it very difficult to hate. 4/5 Key tracks: Shout, Everybody Wants To Rule The World,

So bombastic and tied to it's era that it really shouldn't work in 2025 but as if by some magic it transcends what limits the appeal of a lot of mid-80's mainstream pop - the production, the drum sound, the sleeve design

Forgot what a great album this is - the way the tracks flow from one to the other as if it were a single symphonic opus - particularly Broken into Head Over Heels with the Broken reprise. 41 minutes of pop brilliance with no filler - what more could you ask for?

SOMETHING HAPPENS AND IM HEAD OVER HEELSSSSSS I NEVER TOUGHT MUCHHHHH TILL IM HEAD OVER HEEEELSSSS Ya me recomiendan uno bien famoso wow. Shout, Everybody Wants to Rule the World y Head Over Heels son all-timers obviamente, pero los otros 5 temas la verdad que no me llamaron mucho la atencion. Tema favorito: HEAD OVER HEELSSSSS

Неплохой альбом по преимуществу спокойной музыки. 6,5 из 10.

Cool

excellent album! so many great hits and the unknowns are solid

This is fantastic. I don’t know why people compare them to the Beatles. To me they’re just a great band with a really unique sound.

KUUROKIN kuulee vuosikymmenen.. heh

A great 80s synth-pop album that occasionally indulges in cheesy saxophone, maudlin crooning and unfortunate experiments like the interminable Listen. Hard to argue that Shout or Everybody Wants to Rule the World or Head Over Heels aren’t great though.

I love this Donnie Darko soundtrack. For real, though: SFTBC feels huge and atmospheric and eternal. When I was growing up, I came to realize that Tears for Fears belonged to the cool part of the 80s, the New Wave branch inspired by Joy Division. Even as a teenager, I could tell that Shout was a monumental song, Everybody Wants to Rule the World a melodramatic anthem, and Head Over Heels heartbreaking in the love it described. But despite very good familiarity with the hits, I’d never heard this album from beginning to end until now. I’m really pleased with it. It flows nicely between bigger and smaller numbers, and there’s a strong sense that the individual parts are there in service of the whole. This would have been one of my favorite albums when I was 16, no doubt. As it stands, it’s a really really good record.

Loved this. I’m a sucker for an 80s vibe. I thought all the songs were different and had their own unique style. The Working Hour gave: “I’m a deadbeat detective but I wasn’t always this way…” as a man sits at a diner on a rainy Sunday evening. He goes to pay for his meal and his eyes flash to the small photo of his wife. It will always be there no matter how much time has passed since she’s been gone. The three of them used to go spend so much time together, him, his wife, his partner. But after his wife 3 years ago and then his partner stepping in front of that bullet… these Sunday nights won’t ever be the same

Better than I expected. Some well known hits but the songs I didn’t know also landed.

It’s alright

4.2

I was familiar with the singles, but had never listened to the full album. Pretty great vibe throughout. Excellent 80s synth pop.

At the time a very popular album with two classics with extremely beautiful intros

Great album, 80s synth pop done right, some big hits but all the songs are so well constructed, an album that flows well from beginning to the end

Good mix of depressing pop songs and ballads

Muy buen album, conocia alguna pero realmente me ha gustado mucho

Classic album. Listened to this one vinyl from my mums collection as a kid.

Love it

Didn’t know these guys had this much game. An unexpectedly really good album that I only knew as a one hit wonder. Just really enjoyable listening.

"Shout" and "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" are all time classics! The rest of the album could be dog water and it wouldn't bring it below a 3. I'm glad that the other songs are solid, and I really like "Head Over Heels".

So fun, I love music like this

Still a fantastic album containing some massive hits from the 80s. I'd forgotten how good the song "Listen" is

Very very nice!

Very of it's time in terms of production and instrumentation. Some incredibly beautifully recorded instruments, and interesting song arrangements. The piano on 'I Believe' is just gorgeous. This album is a masterclass on the use of the stereo field. It's immersive whilst retaining clarity in each element of the mix. Personally, not all the music here is my type of thing but it has to be a 5 star, purely for how well it was crafted.

The hits on this song are top-notch, but the in-between are much better and much more diverse stylistically than I expected for an 80's pop rock band. Happily surprised

This is such an 80's sounding album, but not to its detriment. I think it adds to the charm of it. I've honestly never been a fan of 'Shout'. Never liked it, and listening to it as the opener of this album I haven't changed my mind. I also don't think there's any need for it to be over six minutes long. The next track 'The Working Hour' is much better. Soaring vocals, great saxophone throughout, including a cool solo opening and closing. There's a more uplifting and hopeful sound in this track. 'Mothers Talk' had a slight tinge of an industrial sound but still keeps a big chorus. 'I Believe' is a really nice ballad with some lovely vocals which segues nicely into 'Broken' which has a catchy bass riff before the guitars come in. The bands biggest hit 'Everybody Wants To Rule The World' is an 11/10 song. One of the greatest pop singles of all time in my opinion. From the opening short synth intro and little glistening guitar riff, then the plodding bass coming in. After the second chorus the electric guitar comes in and the vocals step up a gear. Then the outro guitar solo with a slow fadeout. It's a phenomenally good track with an ethereal quality to it and a hugely catchy vocal line that you'll be humming to yourself for ages. It's a great album and one I'm glad I finally have been able to listen to considering how much I like their signature song.

Didn't think I'd enjoy this as much as I expected to

pica, tem varias relikias 🙅‍♀️ ixquece mas eh gostoso de escutar

As a self-proclaimed 80s lover, I'm excited to get an 80s classic. I've, of course, already heard Shout and Everybody Wants to Rule the World. The latter being one of my personal favorites. But I don't think I've heard any of the others. I love an 80s synth pop / new wave influence. It's definitely a pop album, don't get it twisted. But I love pop. Pop is my jam and I'm not ashamed of that. This is a great example of a pop album that can be for people that don't like pop. It's silky, spunky, real, detailed, and absolutely glorious. There's the hallmarks of a great 80s album, drum fills, slutty saxophone, synth upbeats, drama filled singing. But the best part about this album is that none of them feel overdone. There's a perfect balance of not too much and just enough. It feels authentically 80s without being cheesy in today's world. It feels fresh, it feels like I'm watching a John Hughes movie for the very first time again. I would listen to this on vinyl and wistfully smile the whole time.

you can never go wrong with them. i love their music always and forever.

I think that 'everybody wants to rule the world' is one of my favorite songs, I liked the other hits a lot - 'head over heels' and 'shout' , didn't love the others. still going to give it 4 for the tunes

https://youtu.be/w0TYun-Nq1Q?si=CD6slDaiMya_tq5d

I found Tears for Fears far more deep, serious, moody and interesting compared to the likes of Duran Duran/Spandau Ballet etc of that era. Their tracks throughout this album are very layered & melancholy. A nice revisit to an album I really loved as a teenage lad.

Woefully underrated by me. Another discovery from the synth pop era. This is taking a lot of inspiration from prog rock on the non hit songs. Lovely stuff.

Another era defining album/sound.

I had only ever heard "everybody wants to rule the world" but the rest of these songs are good as well in my opinion.

Wow, really loved this one. Maybe it's because I'll always be a sad little emo boy at heart. Maybe it's because I'll always be a sad little emo boy who loves Donnie Darko at heart. Or maybe it's because it's just a great album!

Solid album

Classic album with some bangers

Absurdo de bom, mas fica o sentimento de que as músicas entre Everybody wants to rule the world e Head over heels não tem uma autoridade própria, só servem de transição para Head over heels. Músicas favoritas: Shout, Head over Heels e Everybody Wants to rule the world.

The year was 1985... hardcore punk was almost passe... The new wave and electronic era were next... the first time i heard Tears For Fears... the quality of the vocals were stand out... as were the songs... "Pale Shelter" was the first song i ever heard by them... and i LOVED the album "The Hurting"... which i would easily give FIVE STARS... This is the album, however, that most people, at least in the USA, were introduced to Roland and Curt... "Songs From The Big Chair" is more polished than the debut... and has some killer songs, singing, and playing... "Shout" into "The Working Hour" into "Everybody Wants To Rule the World" into "Mother's Talk" is as good a four song stretch as any record in the 80's... "Head Over Heels" was a natural hit... and the best of the rest of the songs on the record... i give this one 41/2 Stars... some weaker tunes and whiney lyrics take away a half star... still a TOP album and one you MUST hear before you die...

8/10

Shout was the first record I ever bought. I don't like all the songs on the album, but they're all very well-crafted. Production is excellent. Favorite song by a mile: shout

An 80s classic! Head Over Heels, Shout, and of course Everybody Wants To Rule The World ❤️

Amazing, artistic, quintessential80’s album 9/10

I really enjoyed this one.

Great album. Broken/Head Over Heels/Broken is fantastic! Good sangs I already knew, but the rest of the album was varied and excellent.

Surprised by how much I enjoyed it!

Really great stuff! Very impressed because I didn't realize just how atmospheric their music is. Loved nearly every song on this album.

I love this. So many jams. I want to hear what they’ll do without the Blue Man Group as a backing band, though.

7/10

Motivasio a tope

Probably a 3.5 for me, fun album and some hits throughout

classic

Discazo

i knew a couple of sonhgs but overall i really liked it! fav Head Over Heels!

Great record. They get unfairly dismissed as an “MTV Band” unfortunately. This one’s in regular rotation.

Two bangers make it legendary. Everybody Wants to Rule the World + Head Over Heels (Donnie Darko ❤️)

Some good songs on here I have never heard. Really enjoyed the listen. Listened twice!

great work

I don't say this often but some near perfect pop songs on here. I tend not to like some of these cheesy 80 songs but you can't deny "Shout" and "Head Over Heals" and I get this weird nostalgia for "Everybody Want To Rule The World". Rest of the album is meh. 8/10

Deluxe edition had a lot of extra tracks I didn't care for. Original version is still good.

Cool Album.

Un clásico. Una de las portadas más famosas de los ochenta, hits universales como Shout y Everybody wants to rule the world y otras canciones que las complementan para crear un álbum New Wave synthpopero que marcó a toda una generación.

Perfect until the last Song. Seriously though some of the best pop music ever made

Another dang classic! Another 4 or a 4.5 to me, I’ve spent enough time with the album to say that I’m not sure it’s perfect to me, but I do really love the hits, and there are some serious sleepers like I Believe

Solid album! Never knew there was a whole intro song to Head Over Heels. Couple skips but a strong, tidy effort.

Enough great songs on this classic new wave album to overcome the filler

Pretty good! Really well constructed, it flows between the hits thoughtfully and I didn’t feel like skipping much aside from the 6 minute saxophone solo in the second track.

One of my dad's 80's albums that i listened to the most growing up.

Thought it was really enjoyable. Unexpected for me as I normally don’t really like the 80s synth pop sound and this embraces that sound fully. Everything was mixed beautifully and with both clear individual pieces and complex layerings that I thought created an interesting soundscape. Happy I was exposed to something so different I enjoyed so much. Highlight for me was “The Working Hour”

I was wondering if the album's very well known singles would dominate too much, but the album supports them and provides a perfect context. I particularly like how Broken acts as an introduction to Head Over Heels, and tbh it's such a good song that any excuse to listen to more of it is welcome

Classic. Cool synths. Throaty vocals, not always in tune. Some great songs though, with catchy melodies.

Sleek '80s synthpop hits with dark aura, pretty high highs but outside of Head Over Heels, the second half is kind of a lull Still a good bunch of staple songs, it's an enjoyable album to listen to, lull included

Great classic album by TFF with some iconic 80's hits. Only topped by their Sowing the Seeds of Love followup, which I thought was a stronger and more enjoyable experimental release.

Some really solid songs on here but I can only do so much Tears for Fears and Curt Smith’s voice. Overall it’s really good, but just not really my style for a lot of it.

surprisingly good? didn’t expect tbh

I’m actually really surprised how much I enjoyed this one. I know of Tears For Fears but have never listened to them before and I had them down as just being another generic 80’s band. This however was brilliant with one exception, I didn’t like the song I Believe at all. Gave it two goes and I just doesn’t click with me. Top Track - Everybody Wants To Rule The World

Ik ben altijd sceptisch als het gaat over popalbums uit de jaren 80 waar synthesizers de hoofdrol in spelen. Maar dat dit een iconisch popalbum is, ga ik niet ontkennen. 3.9

Good album, lots of sax, long songs

This just squeaked in at 4 stars. There were a couple of track that I thought were weak

Hard to deny the hits on this one. Some of the album cuts are touch and go, but worth its classic status

Sounds like it was recorded in a cathedral, or should be heard in one. TFF made pop music sound so epic that I can remember many bands trying to copy that huge feeling. The hits are endlessly replayable, and the lesser known tracks ring with emotion. There was nothing like Tears for Fears.

Great songs

not at all what i expected, but good jumpy vintage 80's music

+1 for nostalgia bangers.

My hair isn't fabulous enough to match the 80s-tastic vibes!

In the world of pop, there was not too much bigger than this at its release in ‘85. The notable hits are here and the album flows and plays through well. Brilliant placement for “Head over Heels” in the soundtrack of Donnie Darko-slow mo scene piling out of the school bus and into the HS. Forgot about “Mothers talk” which is also a strong deeper track. Not quite a 5 but the impact almost gets it there. 4.5/5

With four of the eight tracks being certified hits, this album was played everywhere all at once at all times during the latter half of the decade. And although I wasn’t a huge fan of the band then, I remember enjoying the album. And it still holds up.

Hold the rotary phone! I enjoyed this far more than expected, as this isn’t really my decade. Actually ran through most of this twice. Definitely fairly loaded with some hits and will revisit.

I’ll admit I held a grudge against these guys for a very petty reason. A girl I was dating (and actually became my wife) put Sowing the Seeds on a love making mix tape and made me absolutely despise these guys. But I’ve come around. Of course Shout is great and after hearing a breakdown of Everybody Wants to Rule the World (maybe by rick beato) I have a lot of respect for that song. Mothers Talk is annoying. Head over heels is obviously another good. Enough here to go 4.

Although I find most of the other tracks kinda meh, Shout, Everybody Wants to Rule the World, and Head Over Heels are enough to elevate this album to "great" status. Cool hairdos, too. 4.25.5

Really enjoyed this…. And never made a connection in style between TFF and Arcade Fire till today… but there it is AF took wholesale inspiration from these guys.

Soundtrack to about every film in the 80s

This was great. Lots of hits and the ones I didn't know were good. No low points.

Good shit.

It's not the apex of the new wave era, but it's a key player and for that it has my admiration.

So many hits on this album considering it was the number one album in the US. Brings me back to the days of the breakfast club.

I knew quite a few of these songs, but I genuinely didn’t even know the name of this band! My mom must have listened to this album while I was growing up. As a result it’s quite nostalgic for me.

BANGER

Probably a top 20 shower singing album. On another, 2 of the best mullets in music history.

Tears 4 fears

Very solid

Soft 4. Familiarity outside of the hits is low but the sound is unique and interesting

I haven't listened to this in a really long time ... this was great!

Great album. You hear a lot of Depeche mode and even tool beginning here.

The sound definitely shines through the good part of the spectrum of eighties sound. Sounds great. Ambitious song crafting.

Excellent Album

Enjoyed it a lot - some great tunes and some lesser known gems too. Not an all timer but still great

"Shout" is a masterpiece. I love the instrumental part of the album, it's very well done. "The Working Hour" beginning – I'm levitating with the sax melodies. It's the best song out of the album for me. "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" and "Head Over Heels / Broken" is overplayed, sorry. "Listen" sounds like a lucid dream. Fairy vibes, some magical world.

Es esch vorallem shout and everyone wants to rule the world guet. Söscht esch es emmer no sehr okay aber ned revolutionär oder so.

I don't think it's quite a 5 as the second half is a lot weaker than the first, but it's still a damn good album.

It agonises me that I can't love this as much as I wish I could. EWTRTW is perfect, and the other songs are also very good. Just didn't connect with it as much as other stuff I've listened to.

An album of hits with some nice deeper cuts

Really great album. Has a unified sound while each song still feels unique, Everybody Want to Rule the World is an all-timer and Listen really stood out this time. I Believe is a dud that slows the album down however imo

“Dad, what did the 80’s sound like?” Here ya go. Listen to these 8 songs. It’s crazy to put out 8 songs and 4 of them are still be played and recognized 40 years later. I don’t think I would immediately think of Tears for Fears as an iconic band, yet they have lasted generations. That’s crazy to me. What a feat to put out an album where half of your songs have long term staying power

One hit wonder lowkey but it is a banger

great stuff

Nice ambient synths and a strong general mood through the album

This album definitely has some of the best hits Tears For Fears has to offer including Shout, Everybody Wants to Rule the World, and Head Over Heels. All three of those songs I, of course, enjoyed. Outside of those three, I thought that the album was great. There were 1 or 2 that were perhaps a little bit lackluster, but for the most part it was consistent and an enjoyable listen.

Stellar, powerful, sensual. Yes.

Some absolute corkers here. A high 4.

Amazing. Feels like it really has a finger on the pulse of the time. Fun to hear a ton of these songs in context.

Some absolute bangers, 80's. Biggest song is crazy famous

Liked this better than I expected. The hits were good but surprisingly the rest of the album wasn’t bad either.

1. I love New Wave and 2. This album has some absolute classics in it, and even the ones I wasn't familiar with were quite good. I didn't know Broken or The Working Hour but they're very good. And also head over heels is (obviously) just the best.

Thought this was gonna be another album where I think “okay but not my genre.” The first 3 songs on this are insane. Loved it. If it was a bit longer with the same quality it would be 5

Some big singles on this which still sound great today (Shout, Head over Heels in particular). Album tracks are a bit hit and miss though. The reason I always thought of them as a singles band. Would give it 3.5 if i could.

Enjoyed the songs on here that I hadn't heard. Much more experimental than I was expecting, overall though the production and lyrical content was a treat. 7.7/10 Fav tracks: EWTRTW, Mothers Talk, Broken

3 bangers and a few boring songs, not too much dead weight, great 80s sound and a mellow voice. One whole star for Everybody Wants to Rule the World.

Tämä oli hyvä kokonaisuus. Hyviä ralleja, voisi kuunnella uudelleenkin.

This album is better than I remember. No bad songs and a handful of catchy hits.

80s pop but better. 4/5.

Pre-listen: I've already got one of these songs in my liked songs list. Solid Album! 4/5. It's got a few bangers, and unique singing voices.

Some phenomenal songs and some ok ones. Very 80s sounding. I feel like if I listened to this a lot it would grow on me.

Enjoyed, especially because I grew up listening to a lot of these songs. Fun vibes.

Some great singles, works well as a complete album too. Likely one I won't return to but it's a strong record

My ears say cheers to Tears For Fears

Solid songs and album

Mucho amor

Hui. Das isch tüüf i minere Teenagerziit gsi😂. Isch immerna nice zum Lose und soo typisch für dazumal.

shout isch soooooo en banger. d drums de synthibaaaaasss aaahh. geile scheeiss. richtig cheesy 80er. scho seeehr cheesy haha aber riiiese opener. the working hour eeeewigs intro pure cheesr aber suuuper irgendwie. findi etz chliiii viel. everybody wants to rule the world isch ein vode beste songs vode 80er. de groooove. d bridge goht sooo dumm. sie wirked wie es doofs achtzger duo aber sie hend gwüüsst. mothers talk hani seeeehr streng gfunde zum lose. i believe seeeehr seicht, super kreativi melodie und s sacophon isch nice und s klavier eig au. aber s schriiter mer chli z langsam voraa. head over heels isch sehr cute. ich glaub ich cha dem album nöd tüüfer als es vieri geh wege paar rieeese banger aber finds etz nöd so u glaublich geil. aha am schluss macht head over heels no gaaanz anderi sache. wow. cool. hö ihm isch live???? listen isch etz au nöd soooo geil sehr kreativ hübsch gmacht aber sehr seicht. trotzdem e vieri well wenns groovt gohts loooos.

Super god, masser af hit sange

Honestly a vibe, knew a couple songs already and had on one my like songs. Usually more into fake!80s than real!80s, but this is chill. Very listenable.

REJOICE shout- 6 the working hour- 6 everybody wants to rule the world- 9. white people dont make music like this anymore mothers talk- 6 i believe- 6 broken- 7 head over heels- 9 listen- 5

Love ❤️

It has the "x" factor, these are hits. 4.

I really dislike the synthetic sound of most 80s music, but a quality song is a quality song. Personal enjoyment: 4/5 Relevance to this list: 5/5

Talented pop artists stuck in the 80s, but I can't hold that against them. Some big tunes, even the smaller ones seem to be crafted. Not much to say here because it's not like an arrow to my heart, but it's good.

Yeah 80s songs, I grew up in the 80s-90s, and discovered this musing a bit later, transports me to that age, a bit nostalgic. I will give a 4 even if is around a 3.7. But has several nice songs.

There’s a kind of spiritual wrestling happening beneath the polished surface of Songs from the Big Chair. It’s an album that holds both the ache and the beauty of being human—full of longing, anger, vulnerability, and a quiet search for wholeness. The big songs—Shout, Everybody Wants to Rule the World, Head Over Heels—are still stunning, decades later. Not just because of their hooks, but because of how honestly they tap into something deeper. Shout isn’t just a protest anthem; it’s a call to let go of the silence we’ve been taught to keep. Everybody Wants to Rule the World is both an observation and a confession. And Head Over Heels captures the kind of love that feels tender, unsure, and real. But it’s the album’s quieter moments—I Believe, The Working Hour, Listen—that open up the most. These are songs that ask more than they answer. There’s space in them. Room to breathe. Room to feel. You get the sense that Orzabal and Smith weren’t trying to explain life so much as sit honestly in the middle of it. That alone makes this album different. It doesn’t flinch. What keeps it from being a perfect record is maybe the very thing that makes it work. There’s a kind of distance, a tightness in the production, that can feel a little too carefully constructed. But maybe that’s part of the point too—how often do we try to control our chaos rather than risk letting it all spill out? Songs from the Big Chair isn’t about having answers. It’s about the tension between control and release, success and inner peace, the public voice and the private soul. And in that way, it still speaks—maybe even more clearly now than when it was first released.

Solid not something id own

Yeah, great album!

The 80s is so strong with this one in the best of ways.

This album is wonderful. Tear for fears has been very overlooked and so this is really good.

Great Album 4.5 stars

Listened in June 2020. Two absolute classic pop songs, don't listen to the rest often.

It's the 80s, so GIVE ME REVERB, GIVE ME DELAY. Seriously, the production rocks, but some sounds are very much a dead giveaway to the year this was made. There's some cracking tunes on here, Mothers Talk being one besides the obvious 3 I really enjoyed. I probably wouldn't come back to play this album as a whole to friends though, as it would just seem like I was trying too hard. 8.5/10

A contender for possibly the most 80's sounding album ever. Phil Collins really did a number on production back then, huh. Shout and EWTRTW are such massive songs it almost overshadows the rest of this album. Though the songs that aren't enormous hits aren't too crash hot. They're good, but very forgettable. Enjoyable listen, but can't say I'd see myself coming back to anything except Shout, EWTRTW, and MAYBE Head Over Heels.

Massive sound, endlessly satisfying. 9/10

New Wave has become my new "no thanks" genre. I just haven't really heard any New Wave albums that I actually really enjoyed. This is the first one that has changed my mind. I think part of my feelings towards New Wave is that there's a cliche/trope/expectation for vocalists that I just really don't like. I can't really explain what it is, but I know that I don't like it. This album does still kind of have that singing style that I don't really like, but everything else about this album is soooo good, that it really only keeps me from debating about if this album is a 5/5. This album is honestly pretty incredible. It's a ton of fun, and the big hit of "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" does elevate the entire album. The transition between "I Believe" and "Broken" also does something to me deep down. Favorite Song(s): Shout, Everybody Wants to Rule the World

Three tear the house down bangers on this album in Shout, Everybody Wants to Rule the World, and Head Over Heels. Broken leading in is crazy good as well. The album only falters in the center with Mothers Talk and then the even worse I Believe. Those keep it from 5/5 status but a great album overall none the less.

Masterful pop production. It wears its era on its sleeve, which is perhaps the only complaint, but also a big part of the charm. There are plenty of legitimately interesting ideas across the eight songs, while they all manage to sound like the commercially successful pop music which they were.

Just realized the version I listened to is not in order but surprisingly I found myself listening to most of the album a few times. I enjoy the African rhythms and the quality of the engineering is great. A surprise.

Really good and consistent effort from new wave pioneers Tears for Fears. The big songs on this album are definitely the best which leaves something to be desired for the other songs on here but it's still worth listening to this album just for the big songs

Excellent album, I've heard it many times and enjoy it each time. Their other work is fantastic as well. Very chilled out but not too chill vibe to it. The vocals on this album are top notch and draw me in every time. Excellent beats too, synth pop type stuff that I really enjoy.

What an album !! 2 major tracks on it

Strong start with Shout. Incredibly 80s in the best way. Beautiful wall of sound. Synth-pop, new wave.

I was really happy with this one because I loved tears for fears in high school. this is probably my favorite 80s band out of all that I have listened to so far. this is the only album I have listened to all the way through by the band. I liked every single song, but my top three were "mothers talk," "i believe," and "broken." I will admit, it is kind of difficult to relisten to an album you associated with a bad time in your life and still think it is amazing, because those emotions linger. but this album is really top-notch. I might not relisten to it fully because of the bad memories, but I will definitely check out their other albums since I do not have anything attached to those yet. I love all of the experimental noises and the surreal feel—such beautiful songs and a great album for sure. 💜🎶

Didn’t realize how many I already knew

Very clearly 80s, but still manages to sound relevant. I knew most of the tracks without having heard the album as a whole.

4/5

I am incorrect

That was a fun one. So many songs ive heard before

Melancholia plastered over with teeth.

When I was a kid, I thought he was saying, "Everybody wants to move away" and I thought that was sad.

Kwintesencja lat 80. Album prawie kompletny. Kompozycje, które zapadają w pamięć. Ballady są najsłabsza częścią tej płyty i jedynym powodem dla którego ostateczną oceną jest tylko 8/10.

Gets off to a bit of a shaky start but the second half of the album is flawless, really enjoyed the run of songs from Broken - Listen. Favourite tracks: Broken, Head Over Heels & Listen. Probably will revisit. 4/5

Enjoyed this album

Enjoyed

Kind of a banger here.

Fun!

Nice and short compared to a lot of the other albums. 40 minutes is really the perfect amount for an album.

Good classics album w hits galore

This is the 80's kind of music I like. A couple classics, a few others early on that were new to me and sounded good. 2 songs were really boring though. But overall I enjoy the darker synth wave sound of the album.

I had a little sinking feeling about this when I got it, after a few poor similar albums that just felt like a let down, but this really delivers. The two big singles are obviously very good, especially Everybody Wants To Rule The World, but they by no means do the heavy lifting. It's actually a really consistent and well put together album, and I'll be coming back to this many times.

Really good album. Standout songs: Broken, Head over heels I believe

Rätt bra!

Head over heels is a banger

4 out of 5. Not their best album but certainly has some of their best songs.

Nice 80s

A little rough in the middle, but bookended by some of the greatest songs of all time. Listening back to this now, it's shocking how much artist like George Clanton rip their whole shtick entirely.

i fucking love 80s synth pop

I really enjoyed this album and I was excited to get it. Although some of the songs were long, I didn't find myself getting uninterested on many occasions. Shout was probably one of my least favorite songs on the album, and Everybody Wants to Rule the World can be argued as one of the best songs ever written. The groove is so unique and fun on its own, and I've heard so many great covers of this song. On some of the unfamiliar songs, there was always something that made it interesting to listen to. The album is HEAVY 80s, which is more susceptible to the "cheese factor", but it still slapped and definitely deserves to be in the 1001 albums everyone should listen to before they die.

I wish I had known about this album when I was into lying on the floor and going on a musical journey.

Fabulous production, big sound - and some great tunes. If 'woman in chains' was on this album, it'd be five stars - but it isn't, so just 4 stars.

Classic 80's record.

Not sure exactly why I'm not at a 5. The hits are iconic, and there are a few on here. The production shines. Keyboards rule, but they do it in style. And while I like all of it, it seems a little... empty? I feel like there should be a little more to it. Could be wildly unfair, but I'm sticking to it. Very good album.

The 80s production is strong with this one, and I never cared too much for Shout or Everybody Wants to Rule the world. But Head Over Heels is an absolute banger. In fact, that mini suite was fantastic. This is a 3 in terms of my personal enjoyment, but I'm giving this a star higher because I dig their ambition and their lyrics. This is smart music, well presented and performed. It's just not my bag. (Having read Niko's review, I think she nails why it never really grabbed me. Too self-important and humorless. Still, it does what it does well.)

It really is a classic album. I cannot fault it one bit. The broken to Head over Heels transition is superb. Head over Heels is a perfect pop song. The album is littered with Nostalgia. Very close to 5 stars

Solid 80s shit. The hits are the ones that stick out, but maybe that's familiarity. But real songs with real lyrics, never gets old.

Ci sta

A fantastically fascinating snapshot of the 80’s. The instrumentation feels cohesive across the record, but also very different and adventurous between songs. Multiple all-time classics (Shout, Everybody Wants to Rule the World, Head Over Heels/Broken) to sing along too.

I had to Shout when I heard this one. Definitely give this one a Listen.

Ricura. No lo puedo juzgar de manera imparcial porque me encantan los singles. Es mi lista así que le tiro un 3.8

basic b coming out, I love Everybody Wants To Rule The World why doesn't Head Over Heels have more listens? this is also on my certified bangers list 4/5

The singles were great, the rest of the album was good but more ambient and avante harder than I was expecting. I can hear the influence on nine inch nails from this album. Will be good for repeated listening

It's not something I find myself listening to much and I personally get tired sometimes of their whole multi-layered reverb vocals thing, but it gives them their distinctive sound and no denying this an absolute classic that practically defined the '80s.

It is impossible to hear "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" with fresh ears, but the Teutonic march of much of the rest of the album still hits for me. Yes, "Shout" is ridiculously serious but they do it enough times to wear you down which is a triumphant twining of pop art's form and function. Yes there is a lot of sax in the non-hit recesses. Yes, they are not particularly fun but it was the twilight of the Reagan and Thatcher eras. Yes, it sounds like Yes did in 1985, with all the orchestra breaks. I don't know if I'm making excuses for them or for me, but it still sounds fresh for being so dated.

Everything beyond the singles was new to me; turns out that means a little less than half the album was stuff I already knew. One of the songs I didn't know was "We Can Work It Out," and that song alone guaranteed a 4 from me. Holy crap, what a banger! Everything else is icing on top, there isn't a bad track on this one.

Is this my favorite record from the 1980s? No, definitely not. Is this my favorite "eighties record"? Yes, 100%.

Great stuff

That was a good album, lots of classics

The live tag at the end of Head Over Heels is wild. This whole album feels like quintessential 80s synth pop, but it also feels better than that label

I'm way more in to the power synth rock versus the power saxophone ballads. But the vocals are like creamy butter throughout. There are too many hits on here to handle. I love the sound of the 80s, and this is really it.

Production is pretty impressive. One of the tunes would’ve made great Michael Jackson tracks.

This album contains two of my favorite Tears For Fears songs, Shout and Everybody Wants to Rule the World. The rest of the album does not seem to achieve those same heights but there is some very cool atmospherics and the musical arranging and production is spot on - adds up to a strong 4 for me.

it was okay. loved 2 songs

Paar geweldige nummers, paar mindere, maar merendeel toch wel erg goed. Blinkt niet uit in originaliteit.

Great classic album filled with soaring vocals, dope bass breakdowns, and unique instrumentals. Standout tracks include Shout, Everybody Wants to Rule the World, I Believe, and Broken.

That '80s thing where the saxophone comes in and everything gets real smooth. Fascinating. I recall when the hits from this were all over the radio. Didn't mind it then and don't mind it now.

Tears For Fears - Songs From The Big Chair An almost perfect album. First song that I ever heard of them was the third track "Everybody Wants to Rule The World", which was enjoyable to say the least. So when I saw that that track is on this album, I didn't expect much, that the rest of the songs were going to be inferior or bad compared to that iconic song. I was wrong. This album offers some genuine good catchy songs that have that 80's feel to it. It really makes you want to move to the beat, I don't know how else to describe it. Overall, this is pretty good. 1.- Shout = 9/10 2.- The Working Hour = 10/10 3.- Everybody Wants to Rule The World = 10/10 4.- Mothers Talk = 8/10 5.- I Believe = 8/10 6.- Broken = 7/10 7.- Head Over Heels / Broken = 10/10 8.- Listen = 9/10 FINAL SCORE: 8.9/10

Low 4 Shout and mother talk dragges it down Good atmosphere overall

#490. Three great songs, no terrible songs. What more could you want? Oh yeah, I want every album on this obviously incorrectly named book to be like this. 4/5: fantastic

Har hørt shout før, men ikke denne versjonen... What det er jo helt sjukt heftig. Dette albumet er så close til å være et 10/10 men så kommer plutselig "I believe" som er helt jævlig... Tynn og kjedelig ballade med nada å gå på. Avsluttningslåta er også helt OK. Men fy faen resten er jo BARE bangers. Nå har jeg sikkert hørt på denne plata på repeat i 24 timer haha

Head Over Heels is a GREAT song

Underrated band, and an album that took me back....

I love eighties music. This was particularly great. A lot of songs that I didn't know were by Tears for Fears.

Very 80's but somehow still not a terrible listen

I am familiar with most of these tracks! It is fun to hear the synth-y vibe from the 80s again. I still love listening!

3.8 - Some cool sound scapes and I think shout is a great tune

Like a quintessential 80s album with lot of synth... "Shout" and "Everybody Wants to Rule the World". Lot of long songs, but some bangers at 2 of the 8 tracks is a quarter, pretty impressive.

Really good album.

Lots of hits, short and doesn't overstay it's welcome album.

Enjoyed this, although I think of Tears for Fears as being very 80s, I didn't think it was that 'of it's time' and sounds pretty fresh really. Shout and Everybody Rules the World are fantastic songs, I liked Mothers Talk and Head Over Heels too having not heard them before. Not quite 5* as these are some long tracks that can drag a bit, especially the closer Listen. It feels like they wanted to drag out the album over a 40 minute running time without any real ideas to fill the time

What a pleasant surprise! I really enjoyed listening to these "larger than life" synth pop bangers. I would rate it as a 4.75 record because there is indeed one filler song that kind of ruined my listening experience.

Great album that defines the sound from that era with some of their best work.

Tears for Fears is a beautiful band. But needs a specific mood… At least for me

Very good!!

I can feel the 80s coming through my headphones. Wild part is, this could release today and it would be a hit. Some nice electronic vibes to some of the hits, that were ahead of their time.

‘Shout’ is a very good opener. A nice listen for a Sunday morning; it’s chill, but there’s a lot of power behind it, even on the more pop-oriented songs.

Favorite tracks: Shout, Everybody Wants To Rule The World, Mothers Talk, I Believe, Head Over Heels. I expected to like this, then I really, *really* liked it. I love the hits, but this listen-through made me appreciate how weird they are. It can be easy to dismiss radio-friendly bands, but man, this is a cool album. Even somewhat challenging at parts - horns, applause, motifs. Cool! The top review here says something like "I'm on the verge of giving this a five. Fuck it." I'm wrestling with it, too, but I think I'd need more time with it to decide. Going to stick with 4 stars, but this was really a treasure.

Very nice songs like shout.. Very different sound signature

Day 83 - Jan 17th, 2025 I actually liked this one way more than I thought I was. I've always hated Everybody Wants to Rule the World growing up, but now I have a new appreciation for it. 4/5

Tears for Fears - Songs from the Big Chair Absolute Classic. They had a new sound like nobody else at the time and I remember the first times hearing them. Great, strong emotional voice. Solid song writing. Great over-lapping vocals and harmony (like end of Shout with both voices singing different things). Newer digital sound but didn't forget SOLID guitar mixed in. Even had horns, etc. Great band early on and very innovative. Great album. Favorite: Head over Heals Listen End to End Without Skips Rating: 8 - I hadn't heard several - liked all of them

Some absolute classics on this album in the form of Shout, EWTRTW, and Head Over Heels. The rest of the album is a good listen and flows together nicely in a way that somewhat reminds me of Disintegration. Every time I hear Tears For Fears it takes me back to my childhood when I caddied as my regular would only listen to them. Overall really great album, one or two okay songs but the rest are fantastic.

LP

Cool! Creative! Imaginative! Daring!

Beautiful powerful voices in these retro tunes. Can’t believe this album is 40 years old. I’d say it holds up!

I'm sick but this album is so good. thumbs up

Love these guys

Pretty amazing but a bit inconsistent for me … still epic as all hell

First listen on 20250109. Good album. Nice atmospheric aesthetic and perfectly encapsulates the 80s.

I know head over heels and everybody wants to rule the world, I scrolled down and I remembered they have the AI album cover! Ew! Anyway.. I like that I’m familiar with his voice :) Shout: I’m liking this one, I wouldn’t mind this being on in the car but nothing standout really.. A couple minutes later… I liked the organs and how it’s all coming together What is this fade out? Do they not know how to end a song? Haha WHAAT SAX??? Dude this album is so mid so far The twerking hour This feels like an album that would be played on the radio, I’m sure lots of effort went into it but it’s so middle of the road! Oh hell yeah everybody wants to rule the world 😎😎😎😎 i like this one , it’s getting me excited for summer!!! Amazing song! I was dancing to it the entire time! I’m very excited for summer.. will be listening again, and again OHHH YEAHH IM GROOVING TO THIS ONE!!! MOTHERS TALK🗣️🗣️🗣️ very talking heads I believe… uhh I’m not liking this so far but hey the intro could just be long I like the sax, more sax = better album.. according to every music critic ever ‘Tempo change, please!’ To no avail Okay it’s growing on me.. the sax. This is sax Riggs!!! I decided to stop my notes to enjoy the album better, but it really picked up! I’m loving it! Maybe the reason I wasn’t so invested in Bowie is because I was taking notes?

A pretty good record! Everybody Wants To Rule The World is probably the biggest hit, but there are some other great tracks here: Shout, Mothers Talk, Head Over Heels - all fantastic. FWIW I could prob take-or-leave most of the rest of it, but even the other tracks are on brand/theme/feel. Quite cohesive. There is a bit too much synthetic sound on here for me - sucky synth drums and such.

Still exciting in 2025. Catchy and soulful

Really good. One of those albums that need to be listened to in one go.

80/100

This is great. Very 80:s, which I usually tend to not love, but the songwriting here is undeniable.

A certified banger, hit after hit and a great sound. Will visit this port again and again now I've been here. High 4.

Monumental !

Fun pop album that has better stand the test of time than other albums of the 80s

Frábær plata. Einstakt sound og eldist vel að mínu mati.

Classic

Shout- very very 80s in the same vein living on a prayer is very 80s. Not necessarily a bad thing tho- just oddly nostalgic. 7.5/10 ? The Working Hour- interesting- huge fan of the instruments and the mix. 8.2/10 Everybody wants to rule the world- I don't even need to listen to this. One of my favourite songs of all time. Very situational tho (it's hitting tonight). 10/10 Mothers Talk- very meh but gets better towards the end 5.5/10 I Believe- fucking love the piano 6/10 Broken- love the 80s ass guitar. 7.3/10 Head Over Heels- sick riff at the end + full bodied 9.4/10 Listen- I kinda fuck with this. 8.7/10