Tears for Fears Albums Ranked From Worst to Best (Including The Tipping Point)
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- čas přidán 28. 02. 2022
- Tears for Fears returned with their first studio album in 18 years this week. We're celebrating by giving them the full TLM treatment. Today we're ranking all 7 of their studio albums!
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Tears for Fears are an English pop rock band formed in Bath, England, in 1981 by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith. Founded after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, Tears for Fears were associated with the new wave synthesizer bands of the early 1980s, and attained international chart success. Tears for Fears were part of the MTV-driven Second British Invasion of the US.
The band's debut album, The Hurting (1983), reached number one on the UK Albums Chart. Their second album, Songs from the Big Chair (1985), reached number one on the US Billboard 200, achieving multi-platinum status in both the UK and the US. Songs from the Big Chair contained two Billboard Hot 100 number one hits: "Shout" and "Everybody Wants to Rule the World". The latter song won the Brit Award for Best British Single in 1986.
After the release of their platinum-selling third album, The Seeds of Love (1989), Smith and Orzabal had an acrimonious split in 1991. Orzabal retained the Tears for Fears name as a solo project, releasing the albums Elemental (1993) and Raoul and the Kings of Spain (1995). Orzabal and Smith reconciled in 2000 and released an album of new material, Everybody Loves a Happy Ending, in 2004. The duo have toured on a semi-regular basis since then. After almost a decade in development, the band's seventh album, The Tipping Point, was released in February 2022.
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Thanks for watching! Let us know what you think of our lists and how you rank their records down in the comments.
Next week: Thin Lizzy
After that: New York Dolls, PJ Harvey, The Stooges
#TearsforFears #AlbumsRanked #WorsttoBest #TheTippingPoint
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The Seeds of Love is one of my favorite albums of all time, it's amazing and one of the most ambitious pop records ever made. I love their first four.
Seeds of love is one of the best recordings ever. A milestone in music.
Yes a very ambitious album and it works.
In my opinion Bad Man’s Song is the best track they ever did
@@CentralPALocos of course one of the best TFF songs ever.👍
Seeds of Love is an underrated masterpiece!
Not underrated it was number one in loads of countries
@@mrlearning2fun994 yeah not underrated but it seems like a love or dislike type of album. Many place it at number 1 but others think it’s a step down from the first two. Personally I love the album and think it’s just an incredible piece of work with some amazing production.
1. Songs From The Big Chair - 5.0
2. The Hurting - 4.25
3. The Seeds Of Love - 4.0
4. Elemental - 4.0
5. The Tipping Point - 4.0
6. Everybody Loves A Happy Ending - 3.0
7. Raoul And The Kings Of Spain - 2.75
Tipping Point is a fabulous album! No way it's a three star album! Easily 4 1.2 stars! Long, Long, Long time is incredible but then again the entire album is!
The Tipping Point is a masterpiece! I agree! they have no idea what they are talking about here.
The Hurting was a magnificent debut album with the lyrics being some of the best since Ian Curtis. Was really happy that the cover of Mad World led many to discover this in the 🇺🇸.
Raoul and the Kings of Spain is a very underrated album. Different from their 80s work, but major points for being more guitar-centric. An overlooked gem.
agree
Hear, hear. Elemental, also. Work of art that never stales, for me.
❤
Tears for Fears has been one of my favorite groups since I first heard them in 1983. I saw them three times - 1990, 1993 and 2004. I bought each album as they came out and loved the first 6 - there is not a weak one in my opinion. I have only heard Tipping Point twice although even after a few more listens, I am sure that it will be number 7 on the list. I do like it, but not as much as the others. "Break the Man" may end up in my top 10 songs list though.
Big Chair has always been my number 1, but in listening to the albums again, Seeds of Love almost bumped Big Chair to number 2. (but not quite). Here is my list as to how I enjoy them.
1. Big Chair
2. Seeds of Love
3. Elemental
4. Happy Ending
5. The Hurting
6. Raoul
7. Tipping Point
1. The Seeds of Love
2. Songs from the Big Chair
3. The Hurting
4. Elemental
5. Raoul and the Kings of Spain
6. The Tipping Point
7. Everybody Loves a Happy Ending
The Tipping Point would have been more enjoyable if the pitch correction wasn't really obvious on every song.
People always have a habit of criticising The Seeds of Love for what it isn't, rather than for what it is. It's a fantastic record on its own terms.
@@theasphaltworld849 THAT is well said.
I’ve noticed Curt especially using a lot of pitch correction in live videos as well, so I think age might just be getting the better of his intonation at this point. That said, the songwriting was my biggest complaint about Tipping Point. Aside from the singles and Stay, the rest feels pretty lackluster to me.
For those of us who do like Mad World, Curt’s acoustic version with his daughter during lockdown is a wonderful YT vid. The Hurting wins for me - just a bit more subtlety.
Sketches of Pain on Raoul is an absolutely gorgeous song
Great review boys.
Tears for Fears and Seeds of Love is AMAZING. This album won awards. My favorite is The Hurting and Songs from the Big Chair. TFF has a MASSIVE fan following to this day. Very loved band. They still perform great concerts, just saw them last summer. Incredible band.
Couldn’t disagree more about Seeds of Love. The expansiveness of the tracks is what makes it so great. To me it’s pop music taken to its limit before it becomes prog. And Standing on the Corner of the Third World is amazing. Maybe my favorite Pino bass line.
1. Seeds of Love
2. Big Chair
3. Elemental
4. The Hurting
5. Raoul
6. Happy Ending
7. Tipping Point
quite agree regarding Seeds of Love!
The whole album is pure ear candy on headphones
And it may be the best example of that. Some may call it art pop or prog pop or whatever but every song here is a 10/10, they spent years in the studio perfecting TSoL and it shows. A total reinvention of their sound and image, it was a deliberate and well executed move. Their rankings of it shocked me.
@@mck7646 I may have to reappraise my opinion on the guys’ judgement. It’s going to take some time getting past this. The Tom Waits listing was also disturbing in places. I know there are a lot more important things happening right now in the world but still - this is unsettling. At least Joe saved it somewhat - also with his appropriate ranking of “The Heart of Saturday Night” even if he didn’t see the obvious genius of “Small Change”.
I find the first 4 songs on "Seeds" the best 4-song run in TFF's catalog. Definitely at least a top 3 album, I considered making it No.1
Hadn't ever listened to Raoul and The Kings of Spain, but i'm kinda digging the guitar focus on it more than i thought i would
The Hurting and SFTBC are both 80’s benchmarks. Both just brilliant.
Good points about Seeds Joe. It is jazzy...and convoluted...which held me back for decades from loving it...
I will say it rewards patience. I'm well into it now.
I wasn't hearing much that stood out on Happy Ending. Maybe what Jason said about the production is the reason. The rightful top two won. Looking forward to songs now!
1. Songs from the Big Chair - 8
2. The Hurting - 7.5
3. The Seeds of Love - 7
4. Raoul and the Kings of Spain - 6.5
5. The Tipping Point - 6.5
6. Elemental - 6
7. Everybody Loves a Happy Ending - 5
1. Songs From The Big Chair (1985) 4.5/5
2. The Hurting (1983) 4/5
3. The Seeds Of Love (1989) 3.5/5
4. Everybody Loves A Happy Ending (2004) 3/5
5. The Tipping Point (2022) 2.5/5
6. Elemental (1993) 2/5
7. Raoul & The Kings Of Pain (1995) 2/5
CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER:
4.0 The Hurting (1983)
4.5 Songs From The Big Chair (1985)
3.5 The Seeds Of Love (1989)
2.0 Elemental (1993)
2.0 Raoul & The Kings Of Pain (1995)
3.0 Everybody Loves A Happy Ending (2004)
2.5 The Tipping Point (2022)
I think these guys came bursting out of the gate. The Hurting is a heckuva debut for such youngins and the peaks on Songs From the Big Chair are landmarks of the 1980s. The first half of 1989's The Seeds of Love is great- the second half, not so much. It's too bad they couldn't have kept their partnership together because after that 3rd album things went decidedly downhill. Although, their first reunion album (2004's Everybody Loves a Happy Ending) has about 4 tracks worth hearing again.
MY RATING SYSTEM:
5.0 = major classic (consistently great *and* stratospheric highs)
4.5 = minor classic (consistently great *or* stratospheric highs, but not both)
4.0 = great (more than 50% is worth revisiting and it's an essential record for this artist/style - passes my "it'll make a fan out of someone who's new to this artist" test)
3.5 = seriously good (more than 50% is worth revisiting)
3.0 = nominally good (less than 50% is worth revisiting)
2.5 = decent (competent but uninspired - not worth revisiting)
2.0 = poor (difficult listen)
1.5 = awful (can't finish it)
1.0 = historically awful (musical apocalypse)
*Note: "Consistently" does not mean "flawlessly." I allow for a few clunkers if the rest of the songs are good enough. Also, I don't go below 1 star because once I'm in the realm of the truly terrible I don't care to differentiate anymore.
Well done K and Joe for actually awarding one 5 star each for The Hurting and Songs. I still think in this 'mad world' Jason's awarding of so few 5 stars is one of the maddest. I do think Tears For Fears have clearly made two all timer masterpieces though....not just one.....
Songs From the Big Chair is in my Top 20 favorite albums. It is flawless. Love all the b-sides too. "The Working Hour" is as great as the big singles. "Listen" brilliant. "Everybody Wants To Rule the World" is the greatest single of the 80s. After that, the debut is an excellent 80s synth pop record. From there I really like individual songs from the others. I think you guys were a bit harsh on the new one, I like it. And it's a grower, I like it more with each listen.
I had the opposite experience with the new album. It tricked me into thinking it was good after the first listen but by the 6th listen nothing was really sticking. And it's so autotuned to death that it even ruins the songs I mildly like.
have you heard their b-sides album? Crazy to hear When in Love With a Blind Man how that up and fun sax riff from Working Hour can sound so dark. The Working Hour is right in my Top 3 TTF songs. LOVE it
I think SFTBC was way ahead of it’s time in terms of themes and execution. This was a huge album. It’s essentially a pop album and to execute something like that on that scale is a massive achievement. The Working Hour is so dark and moody. Really forward looking record, maybe not in sound but in tone. You could say the same for The Hurting. Shout is basically a progressive pop tune. Head over heels still sounds like nothing else. Broken is phenomenal. It’s wild to me that this was a band’s second album. Absolutely brilliant. Easy 5 stars.
I don’t believe anyone with working ears could think Elemental, a bland soft rock album, could be better than Seeds Of Love which is one of the best produced, performed and recorded albums of all time
I like Elemental but I agree with you on Seeds of Love. That is simply one of the best sounding albums I’ve ever heard. The songs, the performances, the lyrics, it’s got it all. And a great album cover as well. I’m floored that it’s placed out of the top three. I’d put it at #1. The bland one for me is Happy Ending.
7. Everybody Loves A Happy Ending (2004)
6. Elemental (1993)
5. The Tipping Point (2022)
4. The Hurting (1983)
3. The Seeds Of Love (1989)
2. Rioul And The Kings Of Spain (1995)
1. Songs From The Big Chair (1985)
Finally a list I can agree with, except that I haven't heard Tipping Point or Happy Ending. Otherwise it's 100%, I think. I knew Raoul wasn't popular in general, but it wasn't until I started reading comments online that I realized that even fans rank it low. That's crazy, because it's an incredibly good and solid album, I was expecting comments like ”hidden gem” etc. Oh well.
Disagree with all of you guys.
7 - Raoul
6 - Everybody loves a Happy ending
5 - Elemental
4 - The Hurting
3 - The Tipping Point
2 - Songs From the Big Chair
1 - The Seeds of Love
I don’t think that’s outlandish. - Joe
So I listened to all of them and the one thing that stands out is that Jason and Kram were WAY too tough on Seeds of Love. I thought that they changed it up nicely after Big Chair with a beautiful sophistijazz--pop (made that up) sound that maybe you have to be older to appreciate. Very Swing Out Sister. Loved it MUCH more than any of you guys did..maybe #2 overall after one of the first two (but they are ALL SO close..perhaps closer than any rankings you've done to date..no clear bottom dweller
Yup, I have it at 2/3 with Happy Ending depending on my mood. The only track that is out of place for me is Badman''s Song, which I like a lot but the others flow so well. The last 4 flow perfectly to me, each being unique but yet feeling the same thread. Whats funny is Ive ben listening to this since it came out in 89 and *just this past Monday* found out about Phil Collins' part on the record from Bill Burr's Monday Morning Podcast!! Only 33 years later.....yeesh
I mean the title cut and "Year of the Knife" are sooooo good.
Worst to best:
7. Everybody loves...
6. Raul...
5. The Hurting
4. Elemental
3. Tipping Point
2. Big Chair
1. Seeds of love
Have just too much to listen to lately but really gotta check out Songs from the Big Chair and The Hurting, love the singles and also love what Joe described as songs with a dark message but a catchy sound, tend to really go for that stuff. You've made a good case that these shouldn't be ignored.
Band from my angst-ridden teenage years. Vividly remember listening to The Hurting on my knock-off Walkman Christmas vacation '83, all mopey and insufferable. ... Bought first 4 albums then forgot they were still making music:
1. The Hurting
2. Songs From The Big Chair
3. The Seeds Of Love
4. Elemental
5. Everybody Loves A Happy Ending
6. The Tipping Point
7. Raoul And The Kings Of Spain
New TLM Video? I click. Thank you for all of your hard work on this channel and I can't wait to see you guys hit 10k subs. Would love to see a Blue Oyster Cult ranking in the future...IMO they're one of the most underrated bands out there. Keep it up!
10K will happen (sooner than later) . . The Boys are growing nice n' steady . . Huge Patreon support . . The best community . . As Fred Schneider says "Keep doin' what yer doin cause yer doin' it right" 😀
I think that the song Bad Mans Song is one that takes a few listens to really get into the groove of and I think that many people would find that it is actually one of their best songs if they were to give it a few chances. Its certainly not just catchy pop.
It's on my top 10 list.
I've got it at 19th at mo. Meaning excellent to me (top 20 or so all scored 9.5/10)
Would be top 20. - Joe
I love Badman's Song. Especially after hearing what brought the song into creation. It shows their musical chops, music influences and appreciation for styles other than their perceived genre. The churchy piano, infusion of jazzy rifts and R and B. Musical styles, that without, what is called Rock would not exist. The live version from the Going to California concert is better than the studio.
Love, love, love The Seeds of love, the throw everything in there but the kitchen sink approach, blissful.
Oleta Adams, what a find! if only that partnership had continued.
I think TFF actually discovered her.
She had a couple of hit albums after that duet, at least in Europe.
@@janpoelkamp4229 I believe Roland heard her play in some bar from memory. Like her stuff especially her debut, I think another TFF album featuring her would have been interesting.
@@Into1657 Yes, she was partly what inspired the direction of the seeds of love album, he was moved by her performance for how pure and graceful it was.
Into1657, listen to Me And My Big Ideas from Raoul And The Kings Of Spain. Oleta Adams sings on that with Roland. It's pretty awesome. It has an incredible swelling climax . . .
In a way this dream is over
Blown away our four leaf clover
So good.
DANG!!! Kramz, you nailed it!!!!
For years I tried to figure out what the pre-chorus of Maroon 5’s She Will Be Loved sounded like, and you nailed it with Break It Down Again!!!! 👍
Btw Kramz, I see you got Paul Simon’s Parka album on the wall.
Great, great album as I recently found out because I got myself a box set with 9 solo albums up until You’re The One.
You guys should do a listography on Paul Simon! 😎
Omg would love to hear their Paul Simon takes.
Too many artists to mention, actually.
With Gary Brooker’s recent passing in mind Procol Harum also might be a good choice.
"End of the Night" off Tipping Point has been a frequent repeat song for me since last Friday, I like the new album quite a bit, and the single The Tipping Point is great too
Perhaps the best song from these sessions is Let it All Evolve, which is an extra. Not sure why it wasn't on the "album" but is on CZcams.
@@ronski2006 I think it is one of 2 bonus tracks you get if you buy it at Target
End Of Night
1. The Hurting
2. Elemental
3. The Tipping Point
4. The Seeds Of Love
5. Raoul And The Kings Of Spain
6. Songs From The Big Chair
7. Saturnine Martial & Lunatic
8. Everybody Loves A Happy Ending
Actually this is my choice, maybe the positions will be changing tomorrow (I'd add at the top of the list Roland Orzabal's Tomcats Screaming Outside)
Guys! You had less than a week to listen to The Tipping Point before making this video! How accurate can you be?! Otherwise, good job and good points made about the band's back catalogue. Been a fan of the band since the 90s and here's my ranking.
1. The Hurting (1983)
2. Songs From The Big Chair (1985)
3. Elemental (1993)
* Tomcats Screaming Outside (2001)
4. The Tipping Point (2022)
5. The Seeds Of Love (1989)
6. Everybody Loves A Happy Ending (2004)
7. Raoul And The Kings Of Spain (1995)
It’s not a perfect science
Yeah the hurting is amazing and I really like the flow of songs from the big chair, I like all those deep cuts.
New to your channel and enjoying your music reviews. I grew up on the 80s and always liked Tears For Fears but was more familiar with their hits. I do have a few of their albums including, Sowing the seeds of love, and The Big Chair on vinyl, which I probably got when it first came out, but aside from the hits didnt remember the other songs. Really like most of the songs on the new album but now interested on listening to Happy Ending and other albums I missed. Have you rated Duran Duran's studio albums (now 15 of them, 17 if you include Arcadia and Power Station)? They were finally nominated for the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame this year and would love to see how you guys rate their albums. To me they're more than their 80s hits. Not a big fan of some of their big 80s hits like The Reflex and Wild Boys but they do have so many good songs on variety of music styles.
For me, choosing between The Hurting and Songs from the Big Chair is like being asked to choose a favourite child (not that I'm a parent!). TFF came very close to having the most entries on my Songs of the Year lists for the '80s as Sowing the Seeds of Love just missed my 1989 list.
Yes, you guys nailed TFF. Two essential albums and some other decent stuff. I was super excited listening to Happy Ending (on Kramzer’s recommend) for the first five songs, then got bored listening to the rest.
Really thoughtful reviews. I love The Tipping Point, but I can see where a lack of cohesiveness might turn someone off.
I really love all the albums more or less equally, so I'd say my list is more "Least Favorite to Most" than "Worst to Best":
7. Elemental
6. The Tipping Point
5. The Hurting
4. Everybody Loves a Happy Ending
3. Songs from the Big Chair
2. Raoul and the Kings of Spain
1. Seeds of Love
This was an interesting week for me. Before this I knew all the 80s hits, owned Songs from the Big Chair and remembered hearing some later stuff up to Elemental as a kid because my mom was a fan. But beyond that I didn't know anything else. My first listen through was odd, I think I felt massively let down after those first 2 great albums. It was only on my second listen that I was able to appreciate everything else more. Everything was good to varying to degrees but I agree that I enjoyed listening to some of that later stuff while I was hearing it, but I don't know how much I am going to seek it out in the future.
7. The Tipping Point (3 stars) - I enjoyed this but I can't rate it above anything else.
6. Elemental (3 stars) - I liked this but I don't find a lot of it leaves a huge impression on me, I do like the change in sound from The Seeds of Love.
5. Everybody Loves a Happy Ending (3.5 stars) - Those first songs are great! I wish it all sounded like that. I think it's too long and I just don't like the second half as much
4. Raoul and the Kings of Spain (3.5 stars) - I really liked this one a lot more on my second listen. I just really like the sound of it, liked "Sketches of Pain" a lot
3. The Seeds of Love (3.5 stars) - This one grew on me the most after the first listen. I really love Oleta Adams contributions to this album. It does drag a bit in some spots and some of the songs could have been shorter though. I would imagine it might have been a shock for some fans when it came out.
2. Songs From the Big Chair (4 stars) - The singles on this are amazing and overshadow the rest of the album a bit for me. I still really like it.
1. The Hurting (4.5 stars). I don't think I'd listened to this in full before this week and it really resonated with me immediately. I don't know if that contributed in me being a little underwhelmed by most everything else that came after it.
This discography was a bit different than I expected and after my first listen I almost didn't go back and listen to these albums again but I am glad I did.
Complete disagree about The Seeds Of Love, a masterpiece for me. My Top:
1. The Seeds of Love (10/10)
2. Songs From The Big Chair (9,5/10)
3. The Hurting (9/10)
4. Everybody Loves a Happy Ending (7,5/10)
5. The Tipping Point (6,5/10)
6. Raoul and The King of Spain (6/10)
7. Elemental (6/10)
Not a bad album for me
Greetings from Canary Islands
completely agree!
Band Aid 'Do They Know It's Christmas' used a sample of the drums from the song 'The Hurting' as it's intro
Fun Fact: I can’t remember who it was but they actually abandoned the FIRST version of this album saying: I cannot work like this. So the other one followed him broke out their acoustic guitars and started from SCRATCH. To arrive at this album we have today: THE TIPPING POINT.
7.Everybody Loves A Happy Ending 6. The Seeds Of Love 5.Raoul & The Kings Of Spain 4.The Tipping Point 3. Elemental 2.Songs From The Big Chair 1,The Hurting....just my choice but I love all .
Definitely one of the UKs best bands & their new album is absolutely stunning & figures highly in my following list...
7 - Raoul & The Kings Of Spain
6 - Everybody Loves A Happy Ending
5 - Elemental
4 - The Hurting
3 - The Tipping Point
2 - Songs From The Big Chair
1 - The Seeds Of Love...
Even my number 7 album is 4 stars.... Awesome discography 👍
I hear you. Raoul is my #7 but I still love it, just the others are even better.
Even in the early eighties TFF were never massively on my radar but still many great songs at least from the first three albums...
7. Everybody Loves A Happy Ending,
6. Elemental,
5. The Tipping Point,
4. Raoul And The Kings Of Spain,
3. The Hurting,
2. The Seeds Of Love,
1. Songs From The Big Chair
For me, Seeds Of Love is the masterpiece. One of the most sophisticated albums ever made. Genius all of the way through.
After that I'd say, Everybody Loves A Happy Ending, Big Chair, Raoul, Tipping Point, Elemental and last The Hurting which is way less jazzy, less complex and simply too 80's sounding for me.
Hi guys. I've just discovered your channel and have been watching you guys' videos for a few days now. I really enjoy your content. Your "Ranked Album" videos for Echo and the Bunnymen and The Smiths were fantastic and among my favs.
With that been having been said, I'm sorry to say your rank...especially Kramzer's...on The Seeds of Love, is one of the WORST takes I have ever heard for any album lol. Saying The Seeds of Love is their worst album is not just insanity it's downright sacrilege! That album is one of the BEST albums ever made from ANY band....ever! It's superior to even Songs From the Big Chair, and I love that album to bits.
I highly suggest you guys give Seeds another chance and approach it with an open mind, and allow it to grow on you. Yes, the fact that it's such a new direction for the band can be frustrating at first(I disliked at first too), but once it gets its hooks in you, you'll begin to appreciate it brilliance. Great great album.
Woah woah woah, kramzer is the one with it super low. Not me. - Joe
@@TastesLikeMusic Oh snap.....you're right. I apologize. I'll edit my comment. Yeah Kramzer...what's up with that bro? lol
I'm in love with The Tipping Point... and all the rest. Stand out songs on TTP are: Rivers of Mercy, The Tipping Point and Break The Man... but they are all very, very good. I'm going to see them in Dallas in May.
I still have like 8/10 songs from the Hurting stuck in my head for days
I have to say something as a Depeche Mode (super) fan, I would rather listen to The Hurting more than A Broken Frame, but Some Great Reward beats both. And Construction Time Again is right behind it. But, Mad World, Pale Shelter, and Changes are superior to some of the Depeche Mode songs on each of their ‘82 ‘83 & 84 releases! I would definitely rather listen to any of Depeche Mode’s albums 90s albums over TFF of the same decade. Great contemporaries and I think your referral to DM several times in this video spurned my comment. Loved hearing your views.
I prefer A Broken Frame over The Hurting, but I have to say that The Hurting sounds way more advanced, as Jason also stated in the video. So I take my hat off to TFF for that. Very impressive, especially for a debut.
Looking forward to seeing your ‘93 DM pick(s) 😊
@@michelewiese48 You will not be disappointed ;)
1. Songs from the Big Chair
2. The Seeds of Love
3. The Hurting
4. The Tipping Point
5. Elemental
6. Everybody Loves a Happy Ending
7. Raoul and the Kings of Spain
My girlfriend absolutely loves them so I’m definitely familiar with their first three albums. In fact, we are seeing them for the third time live in June! Not exactly my style of music but they got some decent songs. Have to check out some of their more recent albums although I can say I don’t love most of what I’ve heard from their latest album.
1. Songs From The Big Chair (perfect album; every song is incredible and catchy, amazing production)
2. The Seeds Of Love (near-perfect album; some incredible songs, some a bit overworked, amazing production)
3. Elemental (don't love every song, but 'Elemental', 'Break It Down Again', 'Power' and 'Goodnight Song' are all phenomenal)
4. The Tipping Point (it's taken a few listens but I'm digging it, some good quality songs on par with their classics, plus modern production quality)
5. The Hurting (perhaps a controversial position; I enjoy half the songs and not really bothered about the other half, the mixes also sound a bit thin)
6. Raoul And The Kings Of Spain (I love 'Sketches of Pain' and enjoy a couple of other songs, but otherwise it doesn't quite do it for me)
7. Everybody Loves A Happy Ending ('Secret World' gets stuck in my head all the time, otherwise the songs are "okay" but not "great")
Anyway, just my two cents!
ELEMENTAL is by far my number 1 Tears For Fears’ album, next “Seeds of Love”, “Songs From The Big Chair”. Have not heard The Hurting.
Excellent!
07) Everybody Loves a Happy Ending (3.25 stars)
06) Raoul and the Kings of Spain (3.5 stars)
05) The Tipping Point (3.75 stars)
04) The Hurting (3.75 stars)
03) Elemental (4 stars)
02) The Seeds of Love (4 stars)
01) Songs from the Big Chair (5 stars)
0 stars - irredeemably terrible/insultingly bad/the worst
.5 stars - terrible
1 star - bad
1.5 stars - between bad and fair
2 stars - fair
2.5 stars - meh
2.75 stars - "It's OK, but quit playing it."
3 stars - OK/decent
3.25 stars - pretty good
3.5 stars - good
4 stars - very good
4.5 stars - excellent
5 stars - more freedom, more pleasure
notes:
* I'm pretty sure I got SONGS FROM THE BIG CHAIR first - that was in 1985 when I was 15, soon after it was released. I got it on vinyl. It was HUGE, quite popular - and still is. I also had THE HURTING on cassette. Listened to both a lot. I never became intimately familiar with the rest of their catalogue like I was with the first two. But I pretty much am now, and it was an enjoyable experience getting to this point.
* "Mad World" is a good song, but I think the remake by Gary Jules works much better. The original keeps building and building up to a chorus that just comes off as anticlimactic. It doesn't work very well in my book (although I know it does for some people).
* "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" was Dennis Miller's theme song for his show back when he was funny. Hilariously, he would sometimes be noticeably hopped up on cocaine for his opening monologue. Too bad he turned into a right-wing chud (but hey, that's where the money is).
* I think the leap in musicianship is quite noticeable from THE HURTING to SONGS FROM THE BIG CHAIR. It's so much more flowing and organic on SFTBC. It just breathes.
* Tears for Fears get a little tiny bit religious at times, but I don't mind cuz it's from the heart. More often, they're questioning "God" or even railing against him.
* I love the Beatlesque qualities on THE SEEDS OF LOVE - some great stuff on there, although "Advice for the Young at Heart" borderlines on "easy listening" and "Standing on the Corner of the New World" just isn't catchy.
*ELEMENTAL is a very good album, neck and neck with THE SEEDS OF LOVE, actually. It does have a few tracks that aren't catchy, but the upbeat "Mr. Pessimist" is great, very modern sounding. It's a little "adult contemporary," but with a harder edge and plenty of electric guitar and great piano. "Brian Wilson Said" is a lovely Beach Boys homage with a segment that sounds just like them.
* RAOUL AND THE KINGS OF SPAIN is a good album and it's got some surprisingly rockin' tunes. "Sketches of Pain" might be the best track with its lovely flamenco interlude.
*ELEMENTAL and RAOUL were essentially Roland Orzabal solo albums, made after an acrimonious split with Curt Smith in 1991. After those two records, he went ahead and released an album under his own name - TOMCATS SCREAMING OUTSIDE. Most of the album isn't really that great (I rate it 3.25 stars) but there are a few surprising, notable exceptions: "Ticket to the World" is a great opener. It's actually a great slice of alt-rock with killer bass and guitar, while "Dandelion" is the kind of heavy riff rock Stone Temple Pilots might do. There's a few other worthwhile tracks that have an electronica/trip hop flavor.
* Curt Smith also has some solo albums, but I frankly didn't care for any of his music that I sampled.
*EVERYBODY LOVES A HAPPY ENDING finds Orzabal and Smith coming together again for another album influenced by The Beatles and 60s psychedelia. It's a touch too adult contemporary at times and feels a bit longer than it is, but it's pretty good overall. "Who Killed Tangerine" is very good but the ending is too drawn out. "Killing with Kindness" is also very good if a bit awkward at times, and I consider "The Devil" to be the best track.
* THE TIPPING POINT turns out to be another nice reunion and a good comeback. It deals a lot with death. Roland Orzabal lost his wife in 2017 which had a huge impact on the proceedings. I love the way opener "No Small Thing" starts out folky with just singing and acoustic guitar and ends with all this sound swirling around. I believe the title track is about death. In my estimation, you won't know when the "tipping point" happens because at that moment you will no longer be alive to witness it. The album goes on to indulge in electronic and some soft rock to reasonably good effect. "End of Night" has a cool metallic synth sound. Some good stuff here, but only the dreamy "Rivers of Mercy" is a 5-star song.
* Cheers mates!!!!!!
Eff dennis miller
Interesting order as usual Rich
I do think the original Mad World is brilliant but so is the Jules one....I heard the T for F lads actually say they love the reinvention of it too btw👍....I was 6 in 1985😊...
Thanks for doing this. I am really looking forward to "The Tipping Point". I only have the first three albums at the moment. My favourite album of their's is "Songs From The Big Chair".
A quick request, could you one day rank Simply Red's albums?
Simply Red 😬. Might be a while. - Joe
@@TastesLikeMusic Okay guys. Keep up the good work though. Not a fan of the red haired one - I see.. 😉
A most enjoyable listen, guys. I find myself agreeing with Jason on Seeds of Love; I too thought why did they abandon their great sound when I first listened to the album back in' 89. I suppose I really wanted more Songs from the Big Chair via The Hurting. Also agree with Kramzer on his "Break It Down Again" observations. It's a damn fine pop song. The Elemental album is probably missing "Laid So Low" which was another great song which didn't really feature on any of their albums, excluding the instrumental version of the song on the B-side to Seeds of Love which was re-titled "Tears Roll Down". Again, Kramzer is right on the money with Happy Ending-it would've been a huge hit had they released it early 90s. For me, The Hurting is the best debut album from any band. Period.
Elemental is my favorite. I love every ounce and layer of it and it's never old to me. Too much airplay for Songs. I should probably try The Hurting again. When I first listened to it I thought it was mopey and boring.
Elemental is very solid, I think it’s enjoyable from beginning to end. You get some nice pop rock tracks as well as more experimental ones. Maybe Roland’s best vocal performance? I love his voice so much.
7) The Tipping Point - 3 stars
6) Everybody Loves a Happy Ending - 3 stars
5) The Hurting - 4 stars
4) The Seeds Of Love - 4.5 stars
3) Elemental - 5 stars (Very underrated)
2) Raoul and the Kings of Spain - 5 stars
1) Songs From The Big Chair - 5 stars
Raoul was my discovery of this discography....I got the remaster cd last week which has some cool extra tracks on it too. I was literally blown away. Was not expecting it after I thought they'd never get close to their 3 established great albums....😎👍....Roland's mini partnership with a new songwriter was fruitful to say the least in that moment...
The extra tracks were better than what made the album in a lot of cases. Had War of Attrition and Until I Drown been on that record, it might’ve cracked my top 3.
@@johnbriggsmusic maybe....I've put 2 of the extras in my top 50 songs I remember...but for me them being left out was more of good signal because I couldn't fault the tracks in the album on my first goes. Really enjoyed!
@@threestringsomg Yeah Raoul was much better than I ever expected. I listened to it a lot when it released.
1. Songs From the Big Chair (4)
2. The Hurting (3.5)
3. Raoul and the Kings of Spain (3.5)
4. Everybody Loves a Happy Ending (3 - almost 3.5)
5. The Tipping Point (3)
6. Elemental (3)
7. The Seeds of Love (2.5)
I'd love to hear your rationale for having Seeds last. I find the first half of that album to be more memorable than anything on the albums that came afterwards. I'll admit it does kinda fall off a cliff on side 2, though.
@@AbbeyRoadkill1 Here's a review I wrote probably over 20 years ago (before hearing anything that came afterwards). I probably agree with a lot of it now:
"After the huge success of Big Chair, Tears For Fears (well mostly Roland Orzabal, probably) couldn't be bothered to release their followup album in a decent amount of time, instead opting to take several years in laboring on it in true studio perfectionist style. You know, sometimes spending too much time making an album sound perfect and studio glossy can be a bad thing, as witnessed by the results here. If it might be a bit hard to imagine a record more overproduced than the last one, one listen to The Seeds Of Love might change that view. This thing is overproduced and layered to the extreme, with all these backing vocals and textures and important-sounding song structures and crap like that, but where's the wonderful poppy energy that was such a success earlier? Sure, this album does have ambitiousness, diversity and all that sort of thing, but... arrghh. Maybe it's just me, but this sort of overproduction mixed with softer styles like jazz, lounge, gospel, and whatever else (adult contemporary?) just does not gel together into something pleasurable, especially when the melodies are often not up to par.
Of course, given all these factors, it's no surprise that I thought this album absolutely sucked at first, but over the last couple listens, I do admit it has grown on me - a little. At this point, I can see the opener "Woman In Chains" as a simply excellent song - it may seem overlong and bland at first, but the way it gradually builds up from its' bubbly beginnings to a very majestic burst of chiming guitar is fabulous (with fairly soulful and pleasant counterpart vocals from Oleta Adams throughout), and before you know it, the melody, not all that noticeable at first, really grabs after awhile. Elsewhere, "Advice For The Young At Heart" is a pretty nice pop song with lead vocals from Curt Smith (who's he? oh - the other member of Tears For Fears... he'd leave after this one, by the way), where the smoothness doesn't bother me at all. And though the closing "Famous Last Words" is marred a little by ridiculous vocal intonations from Roland, it does have one of the more attractive melodies on the album, and the more 'epic' sounding middle section is a nice break from the slight dullness of its' overall tone.
Unfortunately, there's not a whole lot else positive I can say about this album. Like I said, their stabs at softer styles don't mesh well with pretentious overproduction, especially on the somewhat gospel style "Badman's Song". I guess the melody is decent in places, and again, Oleta Adams does a commendable job throughout, but the overall tone is incredibly dull and the pace of the song so dragging that the 8 minutes it runs seems almost excruciating. I also can't remember a damn thing about either "Standing On The Corner Of The Third World" or "Swords And Knives", except that both were extremely slow, just about pulseless, and almost completely lacking in any sort of melody or presence that could save them from the doldrums of filler and overproduction. Needless to say, I don't ever want to hear those songs again.
Even when the material does occasionally get more poppy and/or exciting, the results aren't that great. The hit "Sowing The Seeds Of Love" has a nice Beatles-esque chorus, but the song itself ends up repeating it way too many times, and the verses are just dull jazzy music with an "I Am The Walrus" ripoff melody. Elsewhere, "Year Of The Knife" has a lot more energy and conviction than the rest of the album by far, with its' pounding harmony chorus, but the arrangement and melodic strength? The song seems to go on way longer than it should, and that chorus melody is about all I can remember of the damn thing. Zzzz. I guess I can raise the rating a little from my initial idea of giving it a 4, since there are more good-quality moments than I originally gave the album credit for, but still, this is a pretty low 5, a good example of 'reach exceeding grasp' at work here, and such a huge disappointing falloff from what came before.”
@@ThePhysicalillusion I pretty much agree down the line as far as the songs you don't care for. I could be persuaded to drop my rating to 3 stars (from 3.5) but I wouldn't go lower than that. I still think the best stuff on it kinda dwarfs anything TFF did later.
@@AbbeyRoadkill1 It basically just comes down to the album having the least appealing sound on any TFF album for me and the most overlong songs. I don’t really feel like the highs dwarf the highs from any subsequent albums either. Give me the first half on Happy Ending any day.
The chorus on Suffer the Children was sung by Roland's wife Caroline. I always thought it was children singing too.
Totally agree, Jason and Joe- The Hurting is Tears for Fears best album hands down. Mad World, Change, Pale Shelter, Suffer the Children- all bangers!
1 the tipping point 2 the seeds of love 3 songs from a big chair ...the worst mad world and all the first albums, the seeds of love is a MASTERPIECE......mad world DO SUCKS in comparison
I agree with Jason, both albums are great but the Hurting will edge it out for me most of the time
1. Big Chair
2. Raoul
3. Seeds of Love
4. Hurting
5. Elemental
Haven't heard the other two. 1-3 on the list are all stellar (and apparently Raoul is greatly underrated even among fans - but granted that it's ToF mostly in name, but still great), Hurting is very solid and easily beats most band's every album, but for ToF is still noticeably below their best album), and Elemental is just plain disappointing I'm afraid (I do like Fish out of Water).
Not my band , but very nice show guys! Keep up the good work!
A great overview of their albums by everyone .
I will rank all of them except the new one , which I haven't heard yet .
My list in order of preference :
Songs From the Big Chair
The Hurting
The Seeds of Love
Everyone Loves a Happy Ending
Raoul & the Kings of Spain
Elemental
Cheers !
Prior to this week my familiarity with TFF was confined to the radio hits. Going in, my expectation was that I would like their hits but find their deep cuts lacking. And through the first three albums, that was mostly true. But in their later albums I found that I preferred the experimental stuff they did. Overall, I'm still not a fan. Don't hate them, but I'm pretty sure I heard enough this week to last a lifetime.
1. Songs From the Big Chair (3.75/5)
2. The Tipping Point (3.5/5)
3. The Seeds of Love (3.5/5)
4. The Hurting (3.5/5)
5. Elemental (3/5)
6. Raoul and the Kings of Spain (3/5)
7. Everybody Loves a Happy Ending (3/5)
SFTBC gets a 3.75 because I like it more than the albums I rated 3.5, but it is far from a 4 star album for me.
How can anyone not love there new album 😂
It’s hard to love things that are just good. - Joe
@@TastesLikeMusic that's why I turned your reviews off after few seconds just good 😉
I think Tears for Fears would really benefit from having their songs organized according to style and influence, and then grouped together on individual albums.
Granted, you can always create your own playlists or whatever, but I wouldn't mind seeing the band releasing separate albums that collected their synth and rock songs and ballads, etc.
They are masters at writing pop music, but as you say, their albums don't necessarily feel cohesive enough to be called artistic statements. So by compiling the songs into themed
albums, I think quite a few albums would appear that are masterpieces from end to end.
Oh, and while I'm not a huge fan of Tipping Point (less crooning, Roland) End of Night sounds like an obvious single to me. And I don't think any of you mentioned it.
Sowing the Seeds at #7?? What are you smoking K? Even after listening to your justification I still can't get my head around rating that great album at the bottom of all their albums!! It would be my #2 out of their 7.
Phenomenal album. This is one you’ve gotta sit with for a bit to fully absorb. The songs are expansive and extremely moving. I remember the first time I heard Woman in Chains and was absolutely floored. I had to stop what I was doing and I just got lost in that track, totally in awe. Same for Badman’s Song, it’s stunning. Swords and Knives has a dark beauty to it unlike anything I’ve heard.
The production is stellar, plenty of hooks, I’m not sure how anyone would get a sense of a lack of hooks on this album. They seemed more bothered that they abandoned their original sound and identity than judging what’s on display here. I can see how it would throw people off and I love the first two albums but this is such a rewarding album to take in, it’s easily one of their finest releases. An easy 5 stars for me.
Tears For Fears WERE an 80s synth band. They’re not a band that ever has the same style/song throughout the album. Some strange points in this video…
Very few bands had more of an impact on me than Tears for Fears during my teen years, particularly their first two CLASSIC albums. The Seeds of Love was mostly great, despite utterly changing their sound, but things get a bit sketchy from there. However, I'm REALLY enjoying The Tipping Point; their best album since their 80s stuff, IMO:
1. Songs From the Big Chair - 5 stars
2. The Hurting - 5 stars
3. The Tipping Point - 4 stars
4. The Seeds of Love - 4 stars
5. Elemental - 3.5 stars
6. Everybody Loves a Happy Ending - 3 stars
7. Raoul and the Kings of Spain - 2.5 stars
As a lifelong TFF fanatic, this was painful to listen to; I sincerely tried but just couldn’t finish. Don’t get me wrong, I generally don’t have any issue with critiques of the band, but I must admit I was baffled within the first 5 picks. Obviously, being a diehard fan I’d have vastly different opinions than a casual fan or someone who doesn’t even identify as a fan.
You can say it. Jason and Kramzer were completely wrong in their opinions. - Joe
Yeah, pretty sure I momentarily blacked out when someone placed “The Seeds Of Love” at the bottom of their list 🤣
I may be one of the few that has Happy Ending as my favorite TFF album. Plus I think the Tipping Point is a solid album. Took me a couple of listens, but I am a fan of it
Totally agree with Jason on number one / number two. The Hurting is a great LP as a complete experience. Loved it as a teenager. Who am I kidding. I always agree with Jason.
No offense to Curt Smith, he’s great, but Roland Orzabal IS Tears For Fears. He’s the main guy and major talent in the duo. So I don’t get behind the idea of the non-Curt Smith albums not being true TFF, I count them just as the same and in the same context. It doesn’t change things for me, I only go on if I like the songs or not. But it’s certainly good to have them both working on the same project and it does elevate the appeal when they’re both present.
Absolutely fabulous group!!!
Three of the greatest albums ever!!!
I only knew their big 80s hits but I just finished listening to their new album and I LOVE it. My quick reaction is 4 stars but I know nothing about production, engineering and all of that mumbo jumbo you guys (especially Jason) talk about. I just listen to the music and let my ears decide
Working Hour is my favorite Tff song, it's ridiculous.
The Hurting -5 stars (9.6)
Songs From the Big Chair - 4.5 stars (8.6)
Raoul and the King of Spain -3 stars (6)
Elemental -2.5 stars (5.5)
The Seeds of Love -2 stars (4.9)
The Tipping Point - 2 stars (4.5)
Everybody Loves a Happy Ending -1.5 stars (2.7)
The Hurting was a deeply personal favorite back when it came out. Always be my #1 due to the emotional resonance. Plus, the great Mel Collins on sax as a secret weapon.
same
1. The Seeds of Love
2. Raoul & The Kings of Spain
3. Songs From the Big Chair
4. The Hurting
5. Everybody Loves a Happy Ending
6. Elemental
7. The Tipping Point
You were talking about hearing Broken as a single song without the Head over Heels section….. well you can because it began as the b side to Pale Shelter titled We Are Broken
Great band
They don't have a bad album
Also a very good live band seen them a few times
How about a review of Japan
I can understand Joe's critique against the new albums from Jehtro Tull, Blue Öyster Cult and Deep Purple but to me it is more about taking time to appreciate it than it being fake or sounding bad. I much rather listen to those records than MANY rock records done in the last decades.
Also. Kramzér is right about the "Everybody Loves Raymond"-comment! Haha. While I don't mind watching it. I could leave at any moment. Nothing would make me think "Hey, can you wait five minutes?".
Putting The Hurting over Songs For The Big Chair is insane.
40 days for Aimee Mann! (Once again, her even being on the poll means so much)
I’ve seen your star ratings on many things. I think Hurting > SFTBC is a pretty mild one in comparison. - Joe
For sure
The Hurting at No.1 is ok with me because Songs is just as great in slightly different ways. Both completely brilliant.
#1 Aimee Mann fan alert.
I work the heck out of their 1985 cd during my first year in college.
My favorite track from them is woman in chains. Madhouse is alittle bit ahead of its time and cool- it reminds of an early version of Coldplay lol.I remeber that Oleta Adam’s came to perform at a county fair but I did not hear much about her music anymore. She had a big radio song for the 90s
Nice ranking fellas
7-Raoul And The Kings Of Spain
6-Everybody Loves A Happy Ending
5-The Tipping Point
4-Sowing The Seeds Of Love
3-The Hurting
2-Elemental
1-Song From The Big Chair
i really liked the first 2 when they came out, which i didn't unexpect cuz they were way more pop than where my pretentious teen self was at... but the songs were complex and interesting. The Hurting sounded like Duran Duran production with warmer writing. Big Chair felt more live and driving than The Hurting. Number 3, Seeds Of Love, was okay, but Elemental was a real surprise. i love the writing on that record. i don't love the early 90s adult-contemporary sound and the programmed drums that try to sound not programmed, but the writing really works for me. And Orzabal's voice.
1 the tipping point 2 the seeds of love 3 songs from a big chair ...the worst mad world and all the first albums, the seeds of love is a MASTERPIECE......mad world DO SUCKS in comparison
You’re out of your gourd. - Joe
The Hurting is undoubtedly a fantastic debut, BUT…this 83’ concert video gives all of these songs a sense of urgency that the studio versions somewhat lack: czcams.com/video/9WAuCAGoAM4/video.html
I didn't know they were so respected. I knew they had a couple of big songs, but never thought they were considered an albums band. Also was quite surprised of how Beatlesesque some of their stuff were.
7. Raoul and the Kings of Spain (1995) ★★½
6. Elemental (1993) ★★½
5. The Tipping Point (2022) ★★½
4. Everybody Loves a Happy Ending (2004) ★★★½
3. The Seeds of Love (1989) ★★★½
2. The Hurting (1983) ★★★★½
1. Songs From the Big Chair (1985) ★★★★½
★★★★★ - Masterpiece
★★★★½ - Really great
★★★★ - Great
★★★½ - Really good
★★★ - Good
★★½ - OK
★★ - Bad
★½ - Really bad
★ - Awful
½ - The worst
Favorite band of all time!! Loved hearing your takes… In terms of album rankings how I’d put them:
1. Songs From The Big Chair
2. The Hurting
3. The Seeds of Love
4. The Tipping Point
5. Elemental
6. Raoul and the Kings of Spain
7. ELAHE
+1:
8 The Tipping Point
7 Everybody Loves A Happy Ending
6 The Seeds Of Love
5 The Hurting
4 Elemental
3 Saturnine Martial & Lunatic
2 Raoul And The Kings Of Spain
1 Songs From The Big Chair
Maybe you should do multiple star ratings. Engineering, Production, Song Writing, Lyrics, and the only one that matters to me: "Listening Pleasure"
And just to annoy Kramzer every week, how many years you have listened to the album and how much that time has affected your perspective 😉😂 e.g Seeds of Love would rate year 1 7/10 year 30 9.5/10 about 30 years later....🤯😁....so 7 + 9.5 = 16.5/30= 0.55 positive growth rate per year from baseline score.....🤭👻
Elemental is my fave album, but with TFF they are a band where you need to play thr albums again abd again
Very intelligent conversation. I decided to subscribe! I've got their first two albums, which can be played back to back like one double album. I recently got Seeds of Love. And last year at RSD, I got the Massey Hall live album. Not tempted to buy Tipping Point or fill in any catalog gaps with this band. What I have is their best and good enough for me.
The Hurting = Songs From the Big Chair for me. Only other album I was somewhat familiar with was Seeds of Love so would have ranked it 3rd but I have become quite fond of The Tipping Point. Took a few listens to grow on me, but it really has. Awaiting my bluray copy of The Hurting. I'LL Have to give the others a listen determine the rest of my order. Cheers!