Songs From the Big Chair

Well folks, I'm not going to sugarcoat this one. It's two legendary hits and a bunch of stuff I'd really rather not get involved with.

1985!!! yo era un niño cuando sonaba esto en la radio pero aún lo recuerdo. Está bien, las dos canciones que recuerdo son un bombazo: "Shout" y "Everybody Wants to Rule the World". Solo por eso merece la pena, el sonido años 80 real también es un extra.

Better than Coldplay.

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

Anyone who doesn’t gives this 5 stars is incorrect

What's the big deal with this album? Yeah, it's decent, it has some hits that are good, but songs like Shout are awful, and the deep cuts are bores. So many better albums came from this era of synthpop, and before, so why does this album get all the new wave glory? The Fleetwood Mac of synthpop, in that aspect. It's good, but not the best.

This has an atmospheric quality compared to other pop records from the same times. I never really listened to this album until now, I only knew Everybody Wants To Rule The World, but the whole record is amazing! Very interesting musical choices as well.

the album that fooled a younger version of myself into thinking i liked new wave

This is #day169 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... it's crazy to think about, but in just one month, this album is turning 40. Songs From The Big Chair isn’t just a quintessential example of mid-'80s progressive pop and new wave; it's also a case in point of a band evolving. Think about some of the greatest sophomore albums out there. This is where Tears For Fears spread their wings and went big with their sound. It's more than just big, though; there's something monumental, almost stadium-like about it. Then, the actuality... songs like "Shout", "The Working Hour", and especially "Everybody Wants to Rule The World" feel just as relevant today, if not more so. Finally, the melodies, the moods... it's the epitome of the era. At the same time, this album is out of time. How about another 5 out of 5 in a row? You bet. Looking forward to #day170.

Good album. Not a huge TFF fan, but when they sound more Depeche Mode, it's great.

The definition of 80's cheese. The highs are high, but the lows are awful and drag the rest of the record down.

Favourite songs: Shout, Everybody Wants to Rule the World

Least favourite songs: I Believe, The Working Man, Listen

3/5

Love this album! Long time fan. It was fun to put it on and listen closely again as part of the 1001. The songs are so varied yet all share great composition and production quality. Shout is an anthemic opening. Play it on 11. The Working Hour is a nice track - I hear Peter Gabriel influence, but maybe that's just me. Love the sax solo and TIL it's Mel Collins from King Crimson! Nice. Jerry Marotta was also involved in the track, so maybe that's part of the Gabriel perception I'm getting (Jerry was Gabriel's drummer on his first set of solo albums). Everybody Wants to Rule the World - classic track. Simple, yet brilliantly composed and arranged. Mothers Talk - great rocking track. I Believe - Mellow track apparently influenced by Robert Wyatt, but without Wyatt's weirdness (they also covered Wyatt's Sea Song around this time). Broken - fun track, but for me it's just a segue into my favorite track on the album: Head Over Heels. Man, that opening piano line. So good. The song is like riding a wave. Love the flanged drums on the transition to the "four-leaf clover" section. Love the la la section - so easy to get swept away singing along. For a good laugh, look up the "Head Over Heels Literal Video" on YouTube. I admit that the Literal Video lyrics live rent free in my head when I hear this song, but I still love it. Such a great song. Listen brings us to a nice mellow close. Brilliant, perfect album.

Almost perfect. The ultimate 80s album. One that has grown on me over the years rather than one I was drawn to immediately (The Smiths were everything in ‘85, but the more I hear this album the more I love it. Almost brings me to tears of joy and nostalgia every time.

I was excited to see this album show up today as it has some memorable songs that I am glad to listen to again. The other songs are also pretty good, though "Listen" may be a little long for my liking.

Standout tracks: Shout, Everybody Wants To Rule The World, Head Over Heels

I suspect if I had listened to this a bunch of times it would have got on my nerves and my score would have gone down, but as a I've off it was a fun blast of nostalgia.

The Good: anthemic album off an age gone by
The Bad: that too many people confuse this with Synth-Pop
The Ugly: or just plain’ ol’ po’ p’

Back in the day, like any teenager, I too enjoyed Everybody Wants To Rule The World, while Shout was a little beyond my taste at the time…
Today, I wish I could go back in time and actually purchase the album and listen to it countless times, like I did to the more poppy contemporary artist such as Prince, Phil Collins, Duran Duran. Madonna, What and later George Michael.

Tears For Fears are one of few acts that survived the ‘80s and when you listen to their “old” recordings now, you realize that how great the stuff is. It has held up wonderfully, even if it sounds like the ‘80s, it isn’t like listening to Spandau Ballet, or ABC, or Bronski Beat, or any true synth-pop from that era.

5* even if, technically speaking, it should get a 4 1/4

Quite simply one of the finest pop albums ever made

5

Because it brought back memories of a time when we couldn't get enough of hearing this...
Oops, I guess we still can't get enough ;-)
It's so, so good <3

80’s pop rock. Not my thing.

Megahitin ulkopuolella laimeaksi jäävä kasaripoppislevy. 2/5