Reviews (page 8 of 15)
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
One of the albums I think of when I want classic 80s music. A lot of songs are very repetitive though
i love tears for fears!!!
Good album. Was surprised at how many songs I was already familiar with on it.
Jako mi je drag ovaj album, totalno mi paše i volim te zvukove. Baš fino! 🥰 Bit će 4/5 ili 8.5/10.
Better than I remembered
Didn’t think I’d care but that was actually really good
A couple duds brut really good
The first album I've had on record so far. Enjoyed this album a lot, and think it flows really nicely. Standout Tracks: - Everybody Wants to Rule the World - Head Over Heels
The saxophone. One of a gazillion reasons why the 80's is my favorite musical decade. Love the alligator mouth trio of Broken>Head Over Heels>Broken. But not quite a five, I'm afraid. 4.5
It was the best
Some good songs and a good length. I can't say the whole album was strong because there were a couple snoozers in there. But overall it was a good album.
The singles are obviously excellent, as to be expected from songs that are pillars of 80s pop, and while the rest wasn't bad, they did feel a little weaker, with most of the songs feeling a hair too long. Most of the material felt like the same riff or synth pattern repeated, and a little more shakeup would've been appreciated. Still a great album with fantastic performances from the band.
Its pretty good
Mostly typical 80s Brit-pop. But I remember really enjoying the radio singles back in the day, so they score some positive nostalgia points for that.
While I don’t love this, it’s more interesting and creative than other albums of its era. I do really like the 3 hits. Nice to hear the true ending to Head Over Heels/Broken which was cut off on radio play.
Tengo naturalmente cierta tirria a tears for fears porque sus canciones más populares (que son precisamente las tres grandes canciones de este disco) están tan trilladas, con un sonido tan datado, que pensaba que no me iba a gustar el disco, pero realmente el disco funciona bien.
Nostalgic since it's pretty much the Donny Darko soundtrack.
Did't know all these bangers were on one album.. super experience overall
A really good album, I loved the songs Shout, Everybody Wants To Rule The World, Head Over Heels/Broken and Listen.
Very 80s album. Has that smooth melancholia that grips you and very emotional vocals over great instrumentals. Head over heels is amazing.
Only ever listened to the \"hit\" by tears for fears so this is the first album ive listened to all the way through and i was quite surprised at how good it actually was
норм. последняя песня вайбовая, напомнила М83
Heard this before, proper 80s classic. Definitely prefer the more well-known songs, but it's just a really good album. Fav tracks: Everybody Wants to Rule the World, Head Over Heels, Shout
An awesome band and probably their best album. Some are total fives. There are some songs that I would write lower, which is why this album gets a four out of five.
Top-tier 80s pop. Sounds like it was recorded in a big shipping container. Shout and Everybody Wants to Rule the World the highlights.
Great album! Head Over Heels is one of my favorite songs of the 80's; the bass line is just so damn good. Rest of the album is good-to-great. 4.4/5
Great album. I listened to it for another list. 4/5
Wow, no idea this album had so many bangers 4/5
This is one of the big ’80s classics for a reason. Tears for Fears take heavy ideas, society, power, fear, politics, mental struggle and wrap them in beautiful synth-pop and new-wave production. The songs sound catchy and fun, but when you actually read the lyrics, they’re much deeper than most pop from that era. The production is carefully built. Nothing here feels like “let’s just make a hit and cash in.” The arrangements are thoughtful, layered, and emotional. It’s pop music, but it’s made with real artistic vision. “Everybody Wants to Rule the World” is the clear highlight. The melody is gorgeous, the pacing is perfect, and the lyrics about power and control still feel relevant today. It’s easily one of the greatest songs ever written. “Shout” has an incredible build-up and huge intro, and “Head Over Heels” is another beautiful, emotional track that shows how good they were at balancing pop hooks with meaning. If the closing song was a bit stronger, this might honestly be perfect but even as it is, it’s still a classic. A smart, emotional, and incredibly well-made album.
good
Shout! Let it all out! Everybody Wants To Rule The World Did not know the two above songs were by them! "The Working Hour" was good too, nice Saxaphone
Great 80s pop album. I forget the name of the guy who sings, but he has one of the best voices out there. It was cool to hear some of the songs transition into one another. Didn’t expect it. There are a lot of classics here, but I didn’t enjoy everything else here. Shout is a classic, but I find that song annoying. I got the idea of the ending song Listen, but it went on too long and I wish it was just the instrumentals without lyrics. Standouts: The Working Hour, Everybody Wants to Rule the World, Mothers Talk, Broken, and Head Over Heels / Broken.
Once again the authors favourite genre. Quite left field to even discover this. Bizarre.
Loved the mullets. Loved the vibes
Sexy and timeless
There are a few bangers that are always a good listen, but I don't love the album as a whole. It's interesting to listen to the "b sides", but I don't exactly enjoy them. I know they were exploring psychological turmoil and social issues, and I appreciate that.
In an earlier review I claimed that the 80s have never really done it for me. Perhaps that was not very well thought out. Because this was the shit! Maybe needed one or two more bangers to get a fiver. Simpsons: No
I like the dreamy industrial feel of this. Very cloudy, yet mechanical and sonically bold. This album is quite front-loaded ngl. The second half of the record is moodier and doesn't have as strong a footing, with the low moment for me being the song I Believe, but I enjoyed Head Over Heels as well as the closing track, which has some nice ambient vibes to it. It's an album that doesn't say that much, yet it has its heart in the right place when it comes to its topics. It's not an outwardly political album, in the sense that it's pretty safe and doesn't even talk broadly about its issues, but it's pretty clearly informed by the Thatcher years and the rising tensions of the Cold War, with themes being anti-elite, anti-war, anti-nuclear, and, to an extent, even anti-capitalist, one might say? It works thematically, for sure. P. S. My first impression from listening to this record was, "Wow, this sounds like Depeche Mode!" I did not even know Shout is not a Depeche Mode song, but now I not only know that it isn't, but also that the vocalist from Tears for Fears literally admitted to being not just inspired, but also jealous of Depeche Mode, to the point of saying he thinks Shout would be better as a Depeche Mode song. Crazy and surprisingly humble. Actual rating for me is 9/10, or 4.5/5.
It feels like a 1980s movie. The nostalgia swarmed my brain throughout the album. The singing, rhythm, and beats are great. This album has been a pleasant surprise to me. Favorite Song: "Everybody Wants To Rule The World".
Shout and Everybody Wants to Rule the World are great, everything else is just fine.
Heard of them and know a few of their songs.
It was an interesting mix of Pop, jazz/blues and something of the aethereal 80's vibe. Overall not a bad album. It was all very pop but something a little deeper. I was not a big fan of I Believe, it was sort of slow and blah. After a pretty up beat start, it seemed really down. Everybody Wants to Rule the World is a winner in my book. I didn't realize they did Shout and Head Over Heels, so that makes it pretty cool. The Working Hour and Listen weren't too bad either. Listen was cool but it got a little long. I wonder with songs like Listen, is that something the band really liked and believed in and so they fought to get it on the record but the producers were like, nope that is not good but we will give you one.
some all time hit bangers with a lot of cheesy cheesy fillers. almost didn't make the 4-star rating.
Love this album. So many memories.
EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD:speaking_head::fire:
Great album. Personal favourite is Head Over Heals 4/5
cumpleaños chica no hay que preocuparse
Great guitar playing for the time period, when a lot of the playing was excessive and tasteless. Awesome songwriting. Strange chord progressions that caught me off guard but worked well.
Some classics. Some new wave garbage
Yllättävän hyvää synapoppia! 4/5
For some reason I've always held this album to a high regard but never really listen to it all that much at least not as much as *The Hurting*. And I think a lot of it has to do with the big singles definitely "Shout", my favorite, and "Head Over Heels"are just magnificent... and" Everybody Wants To Rule The World" is undeniably a perfect little pop song. But not much else draws my attention.... Side 2 itself, other than the aforementioned "Head Over Heels", seem to be more about sonic texture rather than song craft and it kinda lost me there. High 3.5, but 4 on the app (7.8) ★★★½
This starts off really strong, even if this 80s production is not my favourite, but it meanders off after a while. Low 4 stars
One of the great albums from my youth. It holds up so well. It's basically a concept album -- musical themes come and go throughout. So many good songs here. Solid contemplative pop that I know note for note. Unexpected bangers: Mother's Talk, Broken.
-i had of course heard the orgasm beauty that is EBWTRTW before, and was not disappointed by the rest of the album. I’m a fan of Depeche Mode and was surprised how much a lot of it reminded me of them. Every track has a great atmosphere and it never gets majorly boring -Favorites are Shout, Everybody Wants To Rule The World, and Mothers Talk
Great album. Forgot about these songs but man are they good.
Quite liked this, even the tracks I'd hadn't heard before
Catchy 80s fare
A handful of quintessential songs of the 80s, but if you remove them, the album is sort of meh.
the big songs on here are unimpeachable. actually almost perfect. but the connective tissue just isn't there. i enjoyed this album, and i'm glad i listened to it, but i don't see myself playing anything but the heavy hitters in the future.
Discazo con temas clasiquísimos. Mi favorita es Head over heels, pero me gusta mucho que es como escuchar el soundtrack de laberinto si no lo hubiera hecho Bowie.
Shout has to be one of the most iconic songs of the 80s. Instantly recognizable for anyone who has heard music before. And then Everybody Wants To Rule The World comes along and it's probably only slightly less iconic. It falls off a little after that but is a great album nonetheless. Perfectly encapsulates the pop music of 1985. I find it hard to rate this one too, 4 seems a little high but 3 isn't enough. We'll call it 3.75/5 and round up.
Here’s another great one, this one I have on vinyl, but I don’t break out often enough. The hits still hit and the deeper cuts are great as well. Love the tribute to Robert Wyatt!
Pretty good! I liked it more than I thought I would.
All the classics. Really a vibe from beginning to end.
So good. So 80s. Immaculate production. Bop after bop. An easy 8.5 to 9/10
Pure 80s
I liked it better than I thought i would
Pretty awesome album. I’ve probably heard every song on here before, but never listened to it as a whole. It’s amazing how many hits came off of this one record.
Really quite atmospheric - you get a sense of this in the big singles from this (Shout & Everybody Wants To Rule The World) but a lot of the rest of the album is less of a hit-factory and trying it's hand at a lot of different instrumentation and gifting a lot of space and time to it (such as on closer Listen). It's quite interesting and as a whole album does work quite well, but I do wish there were a few more hooks in some of those more atmospheric tunes. Highlight track is (somewhat obviously) Everybody Wants To Rule The World - which really is a 10/10 perfect song. This was interesting and expansive. 7.5/10.
This is the only album I know from this artist. I do know more tracks though. I do enjoy this artist and music very much.
- Mehr 80er geht nicht - Ich vergesse immer wieder, wie viele verdammte Hits die hatten und wie viele davon auf diesem Album sind - Und ich vergesse auch immer wieder, dass ich die irgendwie ganz geil finde, auch wenns zwischenzeitig sehr kitschig wird - Hatte mit einigen Längen sehr viel Spaß bei dem Album 4/5
One of the best pop albums ever made.
Includes a track that I think encapsulates 80s pop music in Everybody Wants to Rule the World. Never listened to it entirely until it was recommended here, but I think this is absolutely brilliant. Pop music to be sure but with progressive songwriting sensibilities.
Enjoyable throughout, wears the 80s on its sleeve - banger after banger.
Shout and Everyone Wants To Rule The World are great, the rest of the album is solid but doesn't hit that same level
A collection of great pop songs. I love shout and everybody wants to rule the world and the transition from broken into head over heals was great
This is such a staple of the 20th century, it's difficult to be objective. So I won't. I like it more than many other albums, but not as much as others.
Great album Great music Pretty great
Great album, a little slow in parts
I admit I didn’t pay much attention to these guys back in the 80s. So I was storied by the strength of this album. Their orchestration sets a distinct mood. Good listen.
Obviously the big single (Everybody Wants to Rule the World) is great; rest of the album is fine; final song is pretty chill.
I love this album! It makes me feel like I’m in an 80s coming of age film.
Certainly there were big songs from this album but with that said I did not not know how the rest of the album would be. In short, it was pretty darn good, start to finish. "Shout", "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" and "Head Over Heels", are, of course the most notable songs on a very good Brit Pop album!
Killer album. Atmospheric yet catchy and poppy. Production is awesome, great drums and variety through out. Would be an excellent driving at night album Fav song: Shout, Everybody wants to rule the world, Mothers Talk, broken, head over heels
Great album. Not a bad song on it.
The two monster hits make it worth the price of admission. But the rest of it is pretty good too. Little more mellow little jazzy which I kinda like.
Everybody wants to rule the world - iconic song. Album started off a little slow but I was definitely bopping my head by the end of it.
I liked it a lot, especially the slower tracks like "I believe" and "The Working Hour" and of course the hits, "Everybody Wants to rule the world", "shout" and "Head Over Heels" great album
This was a revelation. Why’d I like it so much, beats me.
tears for fears man! can hear the vague kraftwerk influences. some parts of the album are a bit of a drag but overall great stuff. 3.8*
Oh, it's just nine inch nails
Forgot how good this album was happy to visit it in full
Excellent
Top of the charts 80s new wave banger
Back to the new wave pop-rock. Yay. But actually, I do like Tears for Fears. Of course 'Shout', 'Everybody Wants to Rule the World', 'Head Over Heels / Broken' are all-time classics. In particular, I liked 'Listen'. Just cool vibes. Half of the album being spectacular is a pretty good track record.
Nice album. Shout and everybody wants to rule the world are classics.
I have the vinyl album and at least one 12" single, maybe a few. The album actually holds up pretty well all things considered. The songwriting is good, and the other elements are solid as well, interesting instrumentation, evocative vocals.
Tears for Fears is one of the better pop groups from the 80's in my opinion. This is their most notable album, and it's pretty damn good.
Jest kilka utworów znanych z radia. Zawsze to miła niespodzianka dowiedzieć się kto wykonuje ten znany utwór, który słyszałeś milion razy. 4/5
Side A is one of the most immaculately produced, intricately detailed, tightly crafted Side As in pop music history. The only real complaint you could lobby is that some of the songs — especially the opener, “Shout” — go on for a bit too long. Like, a 9.5/10, making you expect nothing less of perfection from the rest of Songs From The Big Chair. Side B, on the other hand, is a lot weaker. Still good new wave era pop, sure, but nowhere near the caliber of the first half. Really, “Head Over Heels” does the heavy lifting on this side, as “Broken” is an interlude more than anything, though it’d be great if it’d been expanded to a proper song. The other two tracks, “I Believe” and “Listen,” are softer, overwrought piano ballads that haven’t aged very well. The synths sound overblown for the first time, and the gloss and shine read as too clean. It doesn’t help that these also aren’t the strongest tracks here, regardless. Songs From The Big Chair is one of those records that you can keep on your record player for a week without flipping it over. And while I don’t hate Side B, I wish “Head Over Heels” was just on the first half, because it would make life easier. It’s one of those records that could have been flawless, and may have felt flawless in the ‘80s, but has too maybe weak moments to get there. Still, its strengths still hold up very well, and that makes it a worthwhile listen, even after all these years.
4.5/5. Welcome to your life.
So many hits on this album! I don’t listen to a ton of 80s music, but I do like Tears for Fears and I got to see them in concert once. Head Over Heels is my favorite song on this record.
Songs From the Big Chair is Tears for Fears' second album, and the work that pushed the pair to world-wide fame. Tears for Fears made very well produced synth-pop, and their work dominated the pop charts in the 80's. This album includes two of the band's biggest hits: "Shout" and "Everybody wants to Rule the Word." The later has become one of the canonical songs: it's a tune that has had such enduring popularity that everyone in the world may recognize the chorus.
never actually listened to the combination of Broken and Head over Heels before now, I have a whole lot more appreciation for both songs as a singular entity now
Really well done - I must listen to it again at some point because I've been suffering poor connectivity issues where I'm at here. This really is a great example of what an album should be; there's such a distinct sonic texture to this album, and it feels cohesive and well done. There's a melancholic mystery and mystique to it, and yet, a palpable sense of wonder. I guess I could associate with deep, warm ocean shades of black and blue with fairy pink and white. I adore Listen. Everybody Wants to Rule The World and Shout is great too, and I love the jazzier songs like The Working Hour. Musicality: 9/10 Exceptional execution with masterful skill and artistry. Lyricism: 8/10 Strong, thoughtful, and engaging lyrics. Earnestly, Everybody Rules the World is the biggest contributor here - though the others aren't slackers. That's a 10/10. Production Quality: 9/10 Near-perfect; flawlessly mixed and produced. Artistic Expression: 9/10 Highly innovative and groundbreaking, with a powerful artistic voice. Cohesiveness and Flow: 7/10 Very cohesive, with a well-thought-out structure. Replay Value: 7/10 High; many tracks are enjoyable to revisit. Total: 8.2/10
A terrific album that covers all the bases and I'm sure still helps pay the bills.
A really impressive array of tunes that became part of everyday life
Have liked this ever since it came out. Hadn't listened to it for some time so was very glad to listen to it again. Have added their albums I don't own to favorites for future listening.
a couple classics. Those perms are hilarious. very 80's. 3 stars basically for some banging singles/haristyles.
4/5 - landmark but still not really my cup of tea
Luxurious mullets? Hilariously bad knitwear? Layer upon layer of synth? I'm not sure, but I might have landed back in the early 80s. Which, in the case of this album, is no bad thing. This was always on heavy rotation in our house thanks to my two older brothers, so one I feel I know well. The big hits are there, but "Head over Heels" was always (and remains) my favourite - glossy, luscious, over the top production with soaring vocals - a thing of beauty.
Quite fun.
Let’s begin by not discussing the two big hits. They stand alone, and are too big for me to see them in the context of an entire album. They also sound like they might be the work of a “singles” band, although past research tells me that’s not really the case. Anyway, I’m going to judge this album based on the other 6 tracks. Yes, 6!!! These songs are long, but for an album released in the CD era, I expected there to be maybe 12 tracks. Perhaps that’s a sign that there’s no filler? Let’s see… Oh geez! This is cheese! I mean that the FM synthesis is all over it. The same goes for the rhythms. They’re really enjoying themselves playing with programmed South American inspired beats, that’s for sure. I wonder what part of England these two Pommies lived in? Was it a mecca for West Indians? Then we have the smoky bar-room jazz (ish) “I Believe”. Not bad, but not my style. If they’d sold this song to a diva of the times, it might have found a lucrative home. Finally! “Broken” is fire! I love the production and there’s an actual guitar front and centre, leading to, oh… I know this song! I didn’t realise from the name that “Head Over Heels” was also a big hit. OK, I guess the album as a whole can be judged with the inclusion of the hits, as they make up over a third of the album. But… that pesky DX7 is back, along with some random samples, covering for the fact that “Listen” is an incomplete song. A decent album, but I’d rather play their “Best of”.
Amazing 4.5/5 Standout tracks: - Shout (of course) - Everybody Wants To Rule The World (of course) - Head Over Heels / Broken - Mothers Talk <3 <3
Okay did not know Tears for Fears had so many great songs in one album. Aside from the big ones I loved The Working Hour and Head Over Heels/Broken
I forgot how much I like this album. I'm 11 again and singing Head over Heels off key in a most sincere way. However I really like Listen the more I hear it. Nostalgia!!
Liked that!
I enjoyed this! Even though I liked the Tears for Fears songs I knew already it would never have occurred to me to listen to one of their albums. On an unrelated note, I think my dad said he met one of these guys in a smoking area one time. I should ask him about that...
a great pop album from the heady days at North Staff Poly
The rise of synth pop and its changing sounds.
All time great synthpop tracks mixed in with enjoyable deep cuts makes this a well rounded album. One of the final huge hits of the 80s before adult contemporary had a death grip on the decade.
Good album. This album is a more sophisticated and restrained than the typical synth-pop, 80s hits. The production is very dialed, lending to a nice atmosphere throughout the album. There are two big classic hits here with "Shout" and "Everybody Wants To Rule The World." I like this one, and it is probably at the apex of where 80s synth-pop can reach for me. ****
Great album
This has some good songs on it. It's insane to me that they didn't really go further.
An absolute gem that encapsulates the 80s mood
What to say about this one. Listened to the full thing on a flight and then listened to each of the singles a bunch more times to round out the flight time. The singles are standouts on the album. I liked the whole back half better than the front half. A very solid 4.
The hits are hits but w
damned good!
i think everybody wants to rule the world is one of the best songs ever written, and i was happy to learn that it sits on an album worthy of it. this is THEE new wave album as far as i'm concerned, it couldn't get any better than this
Beautiful. I can sit quietly and listen to all these songs in my mind.
Ох да, наш любимый дынька дарко, в котором звучала песня из этого альбома. В дискографии группы считается самым значимым, хотя звучание на 4 вродь пойдёт (даже с натяжкой). Есть цепляющие песни, безусловно, но лично мне, в основном, было слушать чут чут скучно.
A bit of filler, otherwise good hits
Great album. Liked the hits as a child, so biased, but still enjoyed myself now.
Classic 80s, great vibes.
I wanna sit in the Big Chair
4.8 Este álbum es espectacular. Broken - Head over heels/broken es otra cosa. Temazos.
Head Over Heels rules the world
I really loved listening to this album. I knew so many of the deeper cuts, making me realize perhaps they aren’t that deep!
A very 80's album with some absolute bangers. The middle does drag a little though
3.5 rounded up. It reminds me a lot of Depeche Mode, if not quite as good. Synths, reverb, and a dark sound are usually a winning formula for me.
Some anthems on here
I forgot how good this album was. Seems like a mix of very catchy and somewhat inventive music.
Shout- I've never really been a fan of this song, however, it is nostalgic. It's not a bad song, it's just not that great. I'll just go with this is a good song. It reminds me of being an angsty teen and wanting to scream into my pillow. The Working Hour- the saxophone is scaring me. I have come to the conclusion that I do not like the saxophone. This is a dramatic bittersweet song. It seems pretty mediocre, but it's not bad. Everbody Wants To Rule The World- this is such an iconic and nostalgic song. I can't even say anything bad about it. This is a good, upbeat song. I feel empowered listening to this. Mothers Talk- this is a catchy, heavy, and nostalgic song. It sounds upbeat, yet when you listen to the lyrics, it doesn't seem so happy anymore. This is a good song. I Believe- this is a slow and haunting song. This is also a mediocre song. It starts off slow and it ends slow. The saxophone is not helping, either. This is my least favorite track off the album. Broken- by itself, it is still a good song. It is catchy. It feels weird listening to it, though, because it is the final part of Head Over Heels. Head Over Heels- this is a nostalgic song. The bass does it justice. Although I never really liked it as a kid, it is better than I remember it being. This is not the best track off of the album, however, it is still good. Listen- it starts off with a sweet melody. I feel like I'm in a movie listening to this, specifically Heathers. It doesn't have many words and instead relies on sound effects. I have mixed emotions for this song. Overall- this album is definetly worth the listen. It is easy to forget how good some of these songs are after you haven't heard them in a of couple years. It feels so nostalgic and it captures the sound of the 80s. 4/5
Love it. Great album.
Hermosísimo, muy actual.
B+ Shout 4 The Working Hour 4 Everybody Wants To Rule The World 4 Mothers Talk 4 I Believe 4 Broken 3 Head Over Heels / Broken 5 Listen 3 WOW this was a shocker. I'm an 80s slut at heart.
This was literally a PERFECT ALBUM for the times when it was released. Different, ultra creative, bone rattling music that you could understand the lyrics of and feel heart-moved. Still, to me it's pop and even though it's overplayed I'll give it 4 stars.
unexpactably enjoyed a lot couple of simular tracks, but mostly unusual 4 bri'ish rock sound
good
There’s three songs on this record that are among my absolute favorites. The rest range from good to forgettable. But I still vibe with the record overall. 4/5
Solid older people tunes
Atmospheric. Take me to the 80s.
Zou dit uit de 80's komen
I love Tears for Fears. There are a couple week spots on this album, but not many. Head over Heels and Everybody Wants to Rule the World, are all timers.
Not bad. Electropop fun. I would listen again.
I love this album and every song on it...but it's too short. That's my only complaint. However, for that reason, I prefer "The Hurting" over this album. However, this is an album I will go back to over and over, regularly, throughout my entire life.
Cool and atmospheric. Definitely 80s. Kind of musical and experimental too. Liked it.
Intelligent progressive pop. It doesn’t always excite but it’s a quality production.
Hits a tricky sweet spot between almost ambient synth atmospherics, and singalong anthems.
Highlights: The Working Hour, Everybody Wants To Rule The World, Head Over Heels, Listen. In a nutshell: a synth-pop new-wave staple. Lyrically and sonically mature compared to previous album The Hurting. Tacking a live track (Broken) after Head Over Heels didn't feel right. Mel Collins (the saxophonist from the Rolling Stones track Miss You) makes an appearance. Overall: 8/10
Shout is a classic, album opens with a wave of sound and nostalgia for 80s nostalgia that I used to listen to in the early 2000s. Subwoofer in the back seat times.
A ton of huge hits on one album. You can taste the 80's pop.
This reminds me of the New Gold Dream Simple Minds album due to the 80's vibes and standout hits that I'd heard of before. Everybody Wants to Rule the World is definitely the best song for me by a mile, but upon subsequent listens the rest of the album is a little boring but still pretty good.
I’m not sure if I’m biased because yesterday was so bad, but this was quite good. 8/10
8/10 - Tears For Fears has a very interesting style of making music that I quite enjoy. Obviously Everybody wants to rule the world is well known for being a great song but the other songs on the album were pretty good and enjoyed Listen quite a bit as well.
One of those albums that just sounds super 80s, but it also works very well here. Bunch of really good songs, good album, and I really cannot decide whether to give this a 4 or a 5.
perfect for feeling shit days
"Shout", "Everybody Wants to Rule the World", and "Head Over Heels" are the stand out tracks. The rest is certainly worth a listen, especially "Mothers Talk" which like much of the album is surprisingly experimental and yet also sounding like the most typical mid-80s pop ever. 3.7 stars rounded up.
Enjoyed this.
Fun album, very mellow, with classics like Shout and Head Over Heels.
Classic 80s. Dance on!
Above average 80s pop album with all of the recognizable radio hits.
Fantastic album. These guys will always be great to listen to
Belline alcune canzoni
This was a roller-coaster! Before even listening to a single track I was so looking forward to the nostalgic anthems "Shout" "Head over heels" and of course "Everybody wants to rule the World". Those tracks did disappoint, but as I listened to the other tracks, my interest started to wane. and I began to think I had misplaced my faith in this being a BANGER of an album. I listened to it another few times, and with each listen, the unfamiliar tracks grew on me! The production of this album is awesome. It sounds so fresh for an album that was put together in 1985! I am sure my score is still influenced by nostalgia and memories of listening to this with my first girlfriend, but this album has been such good fun to listen to that I have to give it a 4. One for each of the anthems above and the other star for the mullet sported by Roland Orzaba.
Great 80s memories. Never listened to the album before. Not too long with some great songs.
Sounds very fresh by also sounding very 80’s
Loved it but…
This is a tough one. There are some incredible, 5-star bangers on this album, like Shout, Everybody Wants To Rule The World, and Head Over Heels. Those songs stand the test of time, and are Exhibit A as to why New Wave hit so big in 80s pop culture. Then there are songs like I Believe and Listen that sound a bit dated I think this is a very good CD. Even songs like The Working Hour (which starts slow but grows into itself) and Mother's Talk are pretty decent. I've never identified myself as a person who likes 80s music - in fact, quite the opposite - but I like this album. So here, again, is the limitation of the 5 star system with no half stars. This album is miles better than some of the recent albums that I've given 3 stars, like Jerry Lee Lewis Live, Genesis The Lamb Lies Down On Broadway, or They Were Wrong, So We Drowned, by Liars. On the flip side, I'm not sure I can say it's close to as good as any of the albums I've gives 4 stars, Like Public Enemy Fear of A Black Planet, DJ Shadow Endtroducing, or The Sugarcubes Life's Too Good. Where does that leave me, when I want to rank it 3.5 stars? Ultimately, I've decided to give it 4 stars. Not because it's an album that I'm going to put in my normal rotation, but because it was a phenomenal album in its time, it's an excellent time capsule of the best the New Wave movement had to offer, and, overall, the songs hold up pretty well 40 years later.
- "Shout" and "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" are classics. 10/10. As for the others: - "The Working Hour": pretty catchy, though not totally gripping me personally at the moment. I'll give it time, but as for the first impression: 8/10. - "Mothers Talk": Damn, this is funky. Pretty solid, though definitely doesn't reach the heights that "Shout" and "Everybody..." do. 7/10 - "I Believe": Pretty boring, but the performance was pretty great, so I'm giving it a 7/10, though it is for sure the weakest track so far. - "Broken": Holy shit this song just kicks into high gear. 8/10. - "Head Over Heels": I've heard this before, but I forgot how it sounded, so I put it here, but now that I remember it, I can give it a score: 9/10. - "Listen": Pretty interesting, I liked the ambient-adjacent portions where it was just these atmospheric chords and sound effects filling space. The rest of it sounds pretty good so far. Okay, now I'm at the end and the song was kind of boring. Kind of just felt like the same motif for four minutes before evaporating and just ending the album pretty weakly. 7/10. Overall, the album was good, just had some lame moments. From the way people hype up this album, I guess I was just expecting more "Shout" and "Everybody..."-level prog-synth-pop perfection. It was fine though. Final score: 8/10
Tears For Fears just makes beautiful music.
Brought back memories of fun times - I’d forgotten about them! Great album.
Very easy to listen to.
Favorite Tracks: Head Over Heels / Broken Shout Everybody Wants To Rule The World
This was pretty awesome
Really enjoyed this, real GTA vice city chainsaw some people music. Last track a lovely psychedelic dream
relisten. ironic, legendary showstopping.
Enjoyable, strong songs mixed with some mildly undeveloped gems.
I got this album when it came out and it got *a lot* of play on my high school turntable. It was fun to blast it and sing along on my way to work this morning.
Everyyyybodyyyy wants to rule the worrrrld