Read Review of Tears Roll Down (The Hits 1982-92) by Tears For Fe...
Review Summary
About the Author
Why was it that people liked Tears for Fears?
Mar 01 '02 (Updated Mar 01 '02)
Pros Four or five decent tracks
Cons Mid-tempo, lackluster, synthesizer-laden crap in general
The Bottom Line Only for hardcore fans...otherwise an utterly crappy album.
Full Review
One of the earliest songs I recall (aside from Van Halen’s Jump and Kool and the Gang’s Celebration) is one called Shout from Tears for Fears. I suppose that early memory is in part what led me to the purchase of their 1992 greatest hits compilation entitled Tears Roll Down.
Arising out of a childhood friendship, Tears for Fears officially formed in 1981 with the duo of Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal at the helm. The two made music together through the early 1990’s when Smith left the band. Orzabal continued working under the Tears for Fears name but was never able to recapture the glory attained by the two in the mid- to late-1980’s.
The band first signed with PolyGram in 1982 and released their subsequent debut, The Hurting, in1983. The album made a splash in Britain, but failed to grace the shores of America. Sophomore effort Songs From the Big Chair, released in 1985, was the watershed album. It spawned three top five singles in America and garnered plenty of support from both radio and MTV audiences alike. The band’s third album (and final one together) was the well-received The Seeds of Love. Two songs from that album went top 10 in the U.S.
Throughout the 1980’s, Tears for Fears were known for their catchy lyrics and synth beats. Their sound was surely not going to last, especially with the impending grunge revolution a heartbeat away. But, with that said it seems that a few of their songs continue to be entertaining. But did a career consisting of just three albums really require a greatest hits compilation? It seems that Fontana (a subsidiary of PolyGram) thought so.
Tears Roll Down consists of twelve tracks. This is a fortunate thing…I think that any additional songs would have ruined this already questionable collection. Generally speaking, the first half of this album is quite definitely the superior one while the second half contains some unexpected gems intermingled with some dull offerings. In addition, only three of the twelve tracks are from the band’s debut album while (understandably) the other nine tracks are about evenly split between the subsequent two.
When I think of Tears For Fears, I think of three songs. Sowing the Seeds of Love, Everybody Wants To Rule The World, and the aforementioned Shout. I would also bet that those three tracks are the most familiar to the majority of music listeners. Shout (as I’ve already mentioned) is one of the songs I remember most clearly from childhood. Featuring a ton of synth programming and the lovely combination of Orzabal and Smith’s smooth, rich vocals, this song is infectious pop at it’s best. The music is simple, the melody is easy, and the lyrics are exceptionally catchy and easy to sing. You’ve gotta remember Shout. Shout. Let it all out. These are the things I can do without. Come on. I’m talking to you.
Sowing the Seeds of Love is melodic and gorgeous. It’s got a slightly bluesy feel if it weren’t for the very Depeche Mode feel. It’s a very mid-tempo song with understated musical elements ranging from drum machines to a saxophone to keyboards to backing operatic vocals. Simply lovely. Everybody Wants to Rule the World is again a very controlled track marked by great vocals and infectious lyrics. The one thing about the band’s songs is that each of the tracks seems to sound at least similar. Each is mid-tempo, each is understated, each features lots of programming, and each has catchy lyrics. It would be nice to have energy and excitement once in a while.
Woman in Chains was apparently a top 10 hit, but I have no recollection of it. I don’t find the song particularly attractive or even very inspired. It sounds too much like Muzak for my liking. The vocals do in this case sound very much like those of Michael Hutchence (of INXS fame), but beyond that caveat I’m unimpressed.
I recall the earliest notes of Head Over Heels from adolescence. Beyond the distinctive beginning and driving beat there is little to separate the track from the rest of these usually mediocre offerings. Sure, it’s entertaining but nothing more. The programming and keyboards are a bit heavy at times…a factor that really turns me off and makes the song sound less irrelevant today. If Tears For Fears had used more real instruments I think the song would have lasted the test of time better.
The three songs from The Hurting aren’t particularly interesting to me. Mad World sounds hollow and lackluster in comparison to some later tracks. The programming is heavy, although I do enjoy the addition of the driving electric guitars. In addition, the vocals are drowned out much of the time by the overwhelming programming. Many of the same things also apply to Pale Shelter. But, this time the song is also much too slow for my own liking. It’s perfectly suited to Muzak…nothing would have to be changed to make it appropriate. Finally, there’s Change…the only song of this group of three that I am familiar at all with. Once again, it’s full of typical synthesizers that show little creativity and even less talent. The vocals are almost engulfed by the noise. What I do enjoy is the chorus. It’s simple, requiring few words and thus ends up being rather remarkable in the otherwise unnecessarily complex melody.
The other tracks aren’t even as attractive as the ones I’ve already spoken about. I Believe is too slow and too boring for me to get into at all. Laid So Low is nothing more than typical pseudo New Wave crapola with an occasional electric guitar thrown in for good measure. I do enjoy the vocals, but the rest isn’t much to listen to. Mother’s Talk is at least upbeat (an emotion sorely missing from other tracks), but ends up annoying me as a result of zero inspiration and annoyingly loud synthesizers. The absolute worst track on this album. Hands down. The final track here is Advice for the Young of Heart. It’s a decent track that would have been better sans the synths. The beat seems forced and the vocals seem to be too restrained at times.
Overall, I see little redeeming quality in Tears Roll Down aside from four of five tracks. I enjoy the vocals, but find that the accompanying synthesizers are just too clichéd. The songs could have all benefited from more real instruments rather than programmed beats and keyboards. If you enjoy Tears For Fears, you may also enjoy this album. If you like some of the songs in passing, do yourself a favor and look elsewhere. You’re not going to enjoy this album. Thus, I cannot recommend this album and I must award it 2/5 stars.
Track Listing:
1. Sowing The Seeds Of Love [Sowing The Seeds of Love – 1989]
2. Everybody Wants To Rule The World [Songs From the Big Chair –1985]
3. Woman In Chains [Sowing The Seeds of Love – 1989]
4. Shout [Songs From the Big Chair – 1985]
5. Head Over Heels [Songs From the Big Chair – 1985]
6. Mad World [The Hurting – 1983]
7. Pale Shelter [The Hurting – 1983]
8. I Believe [Songs From the Big Chair –1985]
9. Laid So Low (Tears Roll Down) [Sowing the Seeds of Love – 1989]
10. Mother's Talk [Songs From the Big Chair – 1985]
11. Change [The Hurting – 1983]
12. Advice For The Young At Heart [Sowing the Seeds of Love – 1989]
Muze: Copyright 1995 - 2008 Muze Inc. For personal non-commercial use only. All rights reserved.
Epinions.com periodically updates pricing and product information from third-party sources, so some information may be slightly out-of-date. You should confirm all information before relying on it.
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2008 Shopping.com, Inc.