Daytripper

I received an advance copy of the new Tears for Fears album "Everybody Loves a Happy Ending" last week. Which is the first TFF album from both Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith since 1989's "The Seeds of Love". Being a huge fan of the band, it's something I've really been looking forward to. I enjoyed both TFF albums after "Seeds" with just Roland as well as his solo album in 2001. Not a huge fan of Curt's solo stuff though. Well, after listening to the new album several times, I'm sad to report that I am **extremely** disappointment. Of all of the TFF albums, my least favorite has to be "Seeds of Love". And the new album is exactly like it. Maybe lighter. I'm going to do a track by track review of each song below. Also, check out the following review I found online. Which is not good either (http://www.synthpopavenue.gr/forum/s...&threadid=5055)



1) Everybody Loves a Happy Ending:

This track actually sounds like the Beatles meets ELO's "Mister Blue Sky" meets Crosby, Stills & Nash. If you can imagine that strange combination. It's a fairly decent song, just too uneven to rise above fair

2) Closest Thing To Heaven:

This is the first single And I don't know what else to say about this except that is truly is a rehash of "Sowing The Seeds Of Love" with even more Beatles influence throughout.


3) Call Me Mellow:

Tears for Fears doing their best La's "There She Goes" impression. Who expected *this* from TFF!? It's a very nice/melodic tune. I think it probably should have been the first single.


4) Size of Sorrow:

Nice electronic intro. Albeit a slow one. Parts even reminded me of Depeche Mode's "When The Body Speaks". Curts does vocals on this song and his voice is very good. A decent enough song. But that's about it.


5) Who Killed Tangerine:

The drums and bass at the beginning are an exact blueprint of The Beatles "Come Together". Then it turns into every other Beatles song. Good vocals, nice arrangement. Just too damn Fab Four.

6) Quiet Ones:

The best song on the album IMO. Sounds like it could have come off of Roland's solo album. Great production. Strong vocals.


7) Who You Are:

Pretty good track. And the Curt does vocal again. Could be a grower. Nice vocals and melody.


8) The Devil:

Very stripped down song at the start. Piano, orchestral arrangement builds and then kicks in with both electric guitar and drums at the 2:00 minute mark. The Piano throughout the album has a Radiohead feel to it.


9) Secret World:


Another ELO sounding song (from their "Telephone" era). Then all of sudden, sounds like a Burt Bacharach production complete with his trumpets and horns signature. This tune is all over the map. And yet, the vocals are very nice.

10) Killing with Kindness:

Another mostly mellow tune. Very nice/slick production.


11) Ladybird:

This sounds like TFF meets Aimee Mann. Which is not a bad thing. One of my favorite tracks on the album.


12) Last Days On Earth:

Very cool intro. With some killer guitar and bass playing. I'm hearing some Seal influence on this song. But it certainly has a 70's retro feel to it here and there. It's probably the second best song on the album.


To sum it up, I predict this album will not do well. It's just not commercial enough whatsoever. I did not hear one song on it that sounds like it could be a single. And let's face it, they've been out of the spotlight way too long. It would take a miracle if this album is a hit. I'm sure it'll get more recognition in England what with the "Mad World" remake topping the charts as well as their Greatest Hits album making a return appearance. This new album works best playing it all the way through. Almost like Radiohead's "O.K. Computer". Although it is NOTHING like that album. I just can't understand why Roland would take several steps backwards. He evolved with each TFF album (save for "Seeds of Love"). If he had to revisit old school TFF, I wish he had taken a page or two from "The Hurting" or "Songs From the Big Chair". Hell, even "Elemental" or "Raoul and the Kings of Spain". Which are both infinitely better than this new album. That said, I'd give this album ** and out ****

Scorpio

Actually, the way you review it, it sounds like a decent album. I was expecting worse when I read your introduction. I certainly would not involve the commercial aspects of this album when picking it apart, although I undersatnd where you are going with this (popularity). Peter Gabriel's last album did not do very well commercially, but yet it was an utterly fantastic album.

Supermallet

Didn't his album make it to number 9 on the charts? That's pretty damn good for someone who hadn't released in album in over a decade.

Daytripper

Well, the reason I mentioned the commercial aspects....on almost every Tears for Fears album, I could hear several songs that sounded like they could or should be singles. I didn't on this new release. I think the label probably felt the same. The album was supposed to be released last Fall. They probably didn't know how to market it. It's not going to help that the album cover is HIDEOUS (http://www.towerrecords.com/promo.as...or%20Fears%201) Looks like a cross between Michael Jackson's "Dangerous" and Guns N' Roses. And they aren't even doing a video for the first single.

Scorpio

I'm don't know where it charted, but I'll be damned if I ever heard anything from it on the radio, save for the one eclectic rock station here in Chicago (WXRT).

wm lopez

SEEDS OF LOVE to me is in my top 10 80's cds , so I can't wait for this cd!

Numanoid

I don't understand your review. You say "it's not good" in the title, then proceed to give just about every song a favorable review.

I've listened to the whole album through twice now, and it is indeed a grower. I won't form a final opinion for a few more listens.

I, too, noticed a lack of a single (i.e. no "catchy" chorus for the kiddies)...it's a very mature, adult-oriented album of fine musicianship. It probably won't sell much, but I couldn't care less. I'll take intelligent musical craftsmanship and artistic integrity over a sellout album of pop pablum (Liz Phair, I'm talking to you) any day of the week.

Daytripper

My overall review was fair (** out of ****). When I meant "not good", I was talking about their return in general. It's not a stellar one. More of a whimper than a bang. I heard one fan refer to it as MOR fodder. I can see that. In defense of Liz (again) Yes, I'm a fan of hers too. And have defended her in other threads. If you take out the handful of Matrix produced songs on her last album, the rest sound like pure Liz. It's a career move I think she regrets now. She all but ignores the album in concert.

Rogue588

I haven't had the time to actually stop and listen to this. However, the quick run thru I did didn't sound too bad...

Numanoid

I'm sure she does, since it didn't pay off too well. Had it made her the teen idol she hoped to be, I'm sure she'd be playing the entire album in concert.

Daytripper

As much as I dislike the Matrix produced tracks on Liz's last album, I'll take them over the crap on the radio these days (ANY day).

wm lopez

I just listened to Tears For Fears new cd "Everybody Loves A Happy Ending" and I was very dissapointed.
I give it a D grade.

Anybody else heard the cd?

Dalvin

Well it isn't "Songs from the Big Chair" but frankly it is hard to top that album's success(I LOVE "Mother's Talk") I'd give it a C. It's better than most of the crap out there today but its not as catchy or as fun as my all-time TFF song, "Everybody Wants to Rule The World"

Rogue588

there was some discussion about it HERE..

cdollaz

It's pretty good. Lags a little in the middle, but some good pop songs.

g347g73vv3w

I really like the album. I don't think it will be a hit, but I do not think anyone involved really believe it will be either. "Call Me Mellow" is the closest thing to what I would conceive to be a hit single on the album. It did remind me of "There She Goes" the first time that I heard it as well. But only at one point and only for a couple of seconds.

I only buy roughly 3 or 4 CD's per year and never listen to the radio. I just happened to catch them on Jay Leno while flipping channels and discovered they were back together. I really dislike Jay Leno, but I am thankful that he let me know this CD was out.

wm lopez

I'll be sellin' my copy to the used cd shop.

atlantamoi

As someone who owns all their recordings.... I don't even care to hear it. There are very few bands who hit their peak 20 years ago that should even entertain the idea of going back in the recording studio.

g347g73vv3w

The cover is done by Alan Aldridge who has done a lot of work for The Beatles.

Rogue588

They're going to be on Conan in about 45 minutes...

Numanoid

That is probably the saddest remark I've ever read on this forum.

My current favorite recording artists are ALL bands who "hit their peak" (as the mainstream public would perceive it) 20 years ago or so. Gary Numan, John Foxx, Midge Ure, a-ha...all now producing the best music of their careers.

A-aron

A-Ha is still making music? Cool!

Living Colour also made a rather nice comback album.

atlantamoi

Well, I would love to be proved wrong. Honestly, I'd be completely above and beyond shocked if Midge Ure is making music close to what Ultravox did. Shocked. His solo work in the 80's was awful ('cept for a couple of singles). I've just been disappointed time after time with new discs from REM, U2, Echo and the Bunnymen, etc. I hear SO many great newer artists like Interpol, Badly Drawn Boy, Secret Machines, New Pornographers, The Tyde, etc. that sound fresh (even if they borrow a bit). I'm not saying older artists CAN'T make good music... there are some old bands still worth hearing, but more often than not it seems to disappoint.

edited to add... I'm also basing not caring too much hearing Tears based on the solo album of a couple of years ago.

BTW, I wouldn't be that surprised to hear that Gary Numan, a-ha and John Foxx are making better music today. Was never very impressed with their 80's work anyway (beyond a few decent singles). Just me. I don't mean that as a dig either... if you click on the CD list in my sig you'll probably see we have similar tastes.
And that I still buy music from old farts.

Numanoid

Yep. They never really stopped. They're still HUGE everywhere besides America.

1985 Hunting High and Low
1986 Scoundrel Days
1988 Stay on These Roads
1990 East of the Sun, West of the Moon
1992 Memorial Beach
2001 Minor Earth/Major Sky
2002 Lifelines

Numanoid

Hmmm...I'd disagree. Though his post-1986 solo work is not like Ultravox at all (which is really tied to a certain time and place), I haven't met many Midge Ure songs I didn't like. I actually used to hate Answers To Nothing, but put it in the player about a month ago and couldn't stop listening to it. His music is so mature, I think I couldn't fully appreciate it as a kid.

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I've just been disappointed time after time with new discs from REM, U2, Echo and the Bunnymen, etc. I hear SO many great newer artists like Interpol, Badly Drawn Boy, Secret Machines, New Pornographers, The Tyde, etc. that sound fresh (even if they borrow a bit). I'm not saying older artists CAN'T make good music... there are some old bands still worth hearing, but more often than not it seems to disappoint.

First off, I don't like REM or U2 so I feel your pain there. I am a big Echo fan, and though their newer stuff isn't in the same vein as the '80s stuff, I like much of it (really liked What Are You Going To Do With Your Life? but hated Flowers).

Second, of those new bands you listed, I wouldn't call a SINGLE one of them "great". Mediocre, at best. Do you really think that 20 years from now people will be name-dropping them in threads such a this one?

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edited to add... I'm also basing not caring too much hearing Tears based on the solo album of a couple of years ago.

Again, we differ. Roland Orzabal's Tomcats Screaming Outside is an amazing piece of work. Haven't heard Kurt's solo stuff.

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BTW, I wouldn't be that surprised to hear that Gary Numan, a-ha and John Foxx are making better music today. Was never very impressed with their 80's work anyway (beyond a few decent singles). Just me.

Now you're just being silly. I imagine you are referring to the "hits" of the early to mid '80s. Everyone of these artists' "hits" were some of the weakest songs in their catalogues.

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if you click on the CD list in my sig you'll probably see we have similar tastes.

I did, and we do (though you tend toward the mainstream a bit more than myself). I could probably turn you on to some '80s stuff you've never heard that would amaze you.