Tears for Fears

Tears for Fears' debut was big in the U.K., but this one hit No. 1 in the U.S. with the help of the singles "Shout," "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" and "Head Over Heals." While this deservedly became one of the defining CDs of the 1980s, it's sandwiched between two superior Tears for Fears albums, and suffers a bit from a constant state of self-seriousness.

Tears For Fears sounds a lot like a lot of other British bands. On the group's second album
you can hear U2's social conscience, the Bunnymen's echoing guitars and XTC's contorted
pop wit, as well as lead singer Curt Smith's version of the affected sob that's run through art
rock from Yes to Spandau Ballet. Apparently, these elements have not been borrowed
consciously but absorbed naturally – which is worse: they can't help it if you've... More >

Never one to pay much mind to the plaints of English lads with synthesizers, I got duly annoyed at the surface and let it go at that. Imagine my surprise when I discerned substance underneath--uncommon command of guitar and piano, Baker Street sax, synthesizers more jagged than is deemed mete by the arbiters of dance-pop accessibility. Even found a lyric that went "We are paid by those who live by our mistakes," not bad at all. Yet in the end the surface is still annoying--not so much pretentious as portentous, promising a depth and drama English lads have been falling short on since the dawn of progressive rock. (Grade - B)