New Wave Outpost Forum

After initially putting out some compelling songs on "The Hurting" album ("Mad World", "Change", "Pale Shelter"), the duo's music quickly devolved into easy listening, radio friendly schlock.

The follow up album, "Songs from the Big Chair", featured "Everybody Wants to Rule the World"- a big hit on Adult Contemporary radio. It fit right in the playlist between The Pointer Sisters and Kenny Rogers. The grating video from "Head Over Heels" was played ad nauseum on MTV, to the point of exhaustion. Nothing on the album approached the promise of their previous material.

By the time "The Seeds Of Love" album came out in 89, Orzabal and Smith were reduced to what amounts to Beatles parody. Their music now a painful reminder that the excitement of the 80s was over.

I can still listen to the early stuff but if "Head Over Heels" comes on I go into anaphylactic shock.



<a href="http://www.djcraig.net/los_angeles_dj">DJ Craig</a>

[quote]Originally posted by djcraig
[br]

By the time "The Seeds Of Love" album came out in 89, Orzabal and Smith were reduced to what amounts to Beatles parody. Their music now a painful reminder that the excitement of the 80s was over.




<a href="http://www.djcraig.net/los_angeles_dj">DJ Craig</a>



[/quote]



For some odd reason, to me "Sowing the Seeds of Love" is to The 80's what Oasis' "All Around the World" was to The 90's - Epic over-inflated Beatles-style anthems that were overproduced and over-long with over-indulgent videos. Well, at least Liam Gallagher's attitude-driven voice saved "All Around the World" from being an MOR fixture, but that's just my opinion. It's odd to bring up two different bands, but when the similarities between songs are that strong, I have to mention it.

"Sowing" sounded like that it was aiming for "Sgt. Pepper" style achievement but forgot the humor and restraint that The Beatles had along the way. The over-ambition that plagued the Late 80's Tears for Fears ruined it for me.

Still, with that in mind, I have to agree that The Hurting is a good album. Angst Heavy Pop with at least some excellent singles with classic Bad 80's Haircuts and clothes. "Pale Shelter" is one of the finest singles of The Early 80's to me despite the crap video.

As for Songs..., at least there was "Mother's Talk," possibly the next-to-last really good Tears for Fears single, with "Shout" being the logical way to promote the album and a fine song. "Everybody..." was well-fitting for 1985's start up of it's Top 40 radio going slick, but after so many plays, it did get very worrying.

The Roland-only years to me were an attempt to change some things around, and I sometimes hate to admit that "Break It Down Again" was not a bad although still over-produced start, but it's obvious that what should have been solo albums were branded with the familiar name for the only reason they could be.

I don't think I've heard any of Curt's solo attempts.

I think they had a reunion album..,have to hear some of it.

DJ Craig, I absolutely and wholeheartedly sgree with you - just what I feel about them. A hugely overrated abdn with only one good album and a bunch of decent singles. How thay became so successful is beyond me.

Screen 13, your writing style is very good - please do more of it[:)] And re: TFF reunion album - please save your time, it's just like those Beatles retreads but absolutely uninspired and dull.

[quote][i]Originally posted by Screen 13[/i]
<br>[quote]Originally posted by djcraig
[br]
By the time "The Seeds Of Love" album came out in 89, Orzabal and Smith were reduced to what amounts to Beatles parody. Their music now a painful reminder that the excitement of the 80s was over.
<a href="http://www.djcraig.net/los_angeles_dj">DJ Craig</a>
[/quote]
For some odd reason, to me "Sowing the Seeds of Love" is to The 80's what Oasis' "All Around the World" was to The 90's - Epic over-inflated Beatles-style anthems that were overproduced and over-long with over-indulgent videos. Well, at least Liam Gallagher's attitude-driven voice saved "All Around the World" from being an MOR fixture, but that's just my opinion. It's odd to bring up two different bands, but when the similarities between songs are that strong, I have to mention it.
"Sowing" sounded like that it was aiming for "Sgt. Pepper" style achievement but forgot the humor and restraint that The Beatles had along the way. The over-ambition that plagued the Late 80's Tears for Fears ruined it for me.
Still, with that in mind, I have to agree that The Hurting is a good album. Angst Heavy Pop with at least some excellent singles with classic Bad 80's Haircuts and clothes. "Pale Shelter" is one of the finest singles of The Early 80's to me despite the crap video.
As for Songs..., at least there was "Mother's Talk," possibly the next-to-last really good Tears for Fears single, with "Shout" being the logical way to promote the album and a fine song. "Everybody..." was well-fitting for 1985's start up of it's Top 40 radio going slick, but after so many plays, it did get very worrying.
The Roland-only years to me were an attempt to change some things around, and I sometimes hate to admit that "Break It Down Again" was not a bad although still over-produced start, but it's obvious that what should have been solo albums were branded with the familiar name for the only reason they could be.
I don't think I've heard any of Curt's solo attempts.
I think they had a reunion album..,have to hear some of it.
[/quote]
The Hurting is a decent album, and those three songs you quote are undoubtedly the standouts.
I like some of the songs on SFTBC, including 'Head Over Heels' and 'Mothers Talk'. Yes they were overplayed, but don't hold that against them. Although I never need hear 'EWTRTW' again in my life. In retrospect the production is typical 80s bloat (thought it was hearing this album that Depeche Mode hooked up with Dave Bascombe to make MFTM, which is in my opinion the best-produced DM album).
I agree that the chorus to 'The Seeds of Love' has a cheesy, descending-bassline chorus that could be qualified as quasi-Beatlesy. But the verses I think are intriguing.
As for Oasis, they achieved MOR dreck as early as 'Wonderwall'.

.. I've always kinda liked TFF. But don't let the others know.. Shhhhh! [;)]

I don't mind the song Sowing the Seeds either.... sure it was a bit of a different direction, but I think the song is quite well constructed.

Saw TFF live in 2010 - they were awesome. Sounded great.

[quote][i]Originally posted by q89747[/i]
<br>[quote][i]Originally posted by Screen 13[/i]
<br>[quote]Originally posted by djcraig
[br]
By the time "The Seeds Of Love" album came out in 89, Orzabal and Smith were reduced to what amounts to Beatles parody. Their music now a painful reminder that the excitement of the 80s was over.
<a href="http://www.djcraig.net/los_angeles_dj">DJ Craig</a>
[/quote]
For some odd reason, to me "Sowing the Seeds of Love" is to The 80's what Oasis' "All Around the World" was to The 90's - Epic over-inflated Beatles-style anthems that were overproduced and over-long with over-indulgent videos. Well, at least Liam Gallagher's attitude-driven voice saved "All Around the World" from being an MOR fixture, but that's just my opinion. It's odd to bring up two different bands, but when the similarities between songs are that strong, I have to mention it.
"Sowing" sounded like that it was aiming for "Sgt. Pepper" style achievement but forgot the humor and restraint that The Beatles had along the way. The over-ambition that plagued the Late 80's Tears for Fears ruined it for me.
Still, with that in mind, I have to agree that The Hurting is a good album. Angst Heavy Pop with at least some excellent singles with classic Bad 80's Haircuts and clothes. "Pale Shelter" is one of the finest singles of The Early 80's to me despite the crap video.
As for Songs..., at least there was "Mother's Talk," possibly the next-to-last really good Tears for Fears single, with "Shout" being the logical way to promote the album and a fine song. "Everybody..." was well-fitting for 1985's start up of it's Top 40 radio going slick, but after so many plays, it did get very worrying.
The Roland-only years to me were an attempt to change some things around, and I sometimes hate to admit that "Break It Down Again" was not a bad although still over-produced start, but it's obvious that what should have been solo albums were branded with the familiar name for the only reason they could be.
I don't think I've heard any of Curt's solo attempts.
I think they had a reunion album..,have to hear some of it.
[/quote]
The Hurting is a decent album, and those three songs you quote are undoubtedly the standouts.
I like some of the songs on SFTBC, including 'Head Over Heels' and 'Mothers Talk'. Yes they were overplayed, but don't hold that against them. Although I never need hear 'EWTRTW' again in my life. In retrospect the production is typical 80s bloat (thought it was hearing this album that Depeche Mode hooked up with Dave Bascombe to make MFTM, which is in my opinion the best-produced DM album).
I agree that the chorus to 'The Seeds of Love' has a cheesy, descending-bassline chorus that could be qualified as quasi-Beatlesy. But the verses I think are intriguing.
As for Oasis, they achieved MOR dreck as early as 'Wonderwall'.
[/quote]

I agree, but I was just only thinking about the slight similarities between the two songs. As for "Wonderwall," Oasis' mega-hit after a storming debut album and singles, there was anything to really complain about...but that's another story.

I want to smack anyone hear who compares TFF to Oasis.

The Hurting is a masterpiece that could never be followed by The Hurting 2. "Songs" is such a great album! Shit! What would you rather hear in 1985? Ebn-Ozn?

It's called evolution, folks. Oasis is De-Evolution. Get it?

Plus, TFF were in so much debt after the hurting that they had to play the game. I thought it was wonderful. But then again, I'm a Chameleons fan too.

[quote][i]Originally posted by Riverman[/i]
<br>Plus, TFF were in so much debt after the hurting that they had to play the game...
[/quote]

Really? The Hurting was a fantastically successful album, a No. 1 in the UK and even charting in US. Where did the debt come from?

[quote][i]Originally posted by Riverman[/i]
<br>I want to smack anyone hear who compares TFF to Oasis.

The Hurting is a masterpiece that could never be followed by The Hurting 2. "Songs" is such a great album! Shit! What would you rather hear in 1985? Ebn-Ozn?

It's called evolution, folks. Oasis is De-Evolution. Get it?

Plus, TFF were in so much debt after the hurting that they had to play the game. I thought it was wonderful. But then again, I'm a Chameleons fan too.
[/quote]

It was just one song in comparison to another, not an entire recorded output. To me, "Sowing" and "All Around..." had the same Beatles- influenced over-production and bloat along with over-produced videos to match. Mind, Tears for Fears were trying to expand on their sound more with what they were doing and Oasis were just trying to do some kind of "Hey Jude" for the 90's, but both songs still achieved the same effect for me as a listener. I always view Oasis as just another Rock band who have a way of using (or ripping off as some may say) their influences, nothing too spectacular despite the occasional great song and having an attitude (I'm still interested in listening to Noel's solo work), but to me there was a similarity between one epic to another that reflected both bands over-reaching their goals.

I did say that The Hurting was a good album, and if I'm pressed to make a list of successful iconic albums of the Early 80's Pop scene, then that might be in my list - a perfect album for those in the Synth Pop scene who wanted a soundtrack to their more moody days. There was some ambition, but also a restraint that kept things in check, never letting the angst take over the music's effect. Tasteful, using their influences well without never being too obvious (Hear "Sowing the Seeds..." and it was way too obvious by then), and actually creating a mood throughout.

It was logical that Songs From the Big Chair was made the way it was after an under-achieving single ("The Way You Are"), and to their credit they tried and for at least a couple of albums commercially succeeded. Still, in the end, it wound up a little too over-baked in my opinion, although points for the ambition.

Actually, The Chameleons are a damn good band in my view as well - now their music I can get into. They never did wrong in my opinion.

Sorry for the many edits, but I did want to make a few things and opinions noted.

I love TFF, too, probably as much as The Thompson Twins.

"Words like conviction can turn into a sentence"

Well, well, it must be the season to bash all the bands that "made it".
Can't say that I've heard most of the songs on "Songs From the Big Chair", but it seems to me that the lyrics of "Shout" and "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" had something to say on more than just a superficial level. You can't really say that about most 80's new wave. The music wasn't bad either. Same can be said for "Sowing the Seeds of Love".

Anyone a member of a band that didn't make it anywhere and full of raging resentment?

[quote][i]Originally posted by Riverman[/i]
<br>I want to smack anyone hear who compares TFF to Oasis.

The Hurting is a masterpiece that could never be followed by The Hurting 2. "Songs" is such a great album! Shit! What would you rather hear in 1985? Ebn-Ozn?

It's called evolution, folks. Oasis is De-Evolution. Get it?

Plus, TFF were in so much debt after the hurting that they had to play the game. I thought it was wonderful. But then again, I'm a Chameleons fan too.
[/quote]

[quote][i]Originally posted by Riverman[/i]
<br>[quote][i]Originally posted by Riverman[/i]
<br>I want to smack anyone hear who compares TFF to Oasis.

The Hurting is a masterpiece that could never be followed by The Hurting 2. "Songs" is such a great album! Shit! What would you rather hear in 1985? Ebn-Ozn?

It's called evolution, folks. Oasis is De-Evolution. Get it?

Plus, TFF were in so much debt after the hurting that they had to play the game. I thought it was wonderful. But then again, I'm a Chameleons fan too.
[/quote]
[/quote]

Damn i went overboard, haha! Actually, i think the hurting really put them back $ wise in production costs. I read that years ago. If anyone has not heard Big Chair, The Working Hour is amazing! Same with I Believe. Agreed about "sowing" and the beatles. No comparison there! Oasis were the worst band i ever saw in my life.I think the band and the 200 people at the gig were having a staring contest!
That's when i went "back to the 80's".

[quote]
Anyone a member of a band that didn't make it anywhere and full of raging resentment?
[/quote]

Anyone here a member of the Steve Hoffman forums? It's a great site for music nerds. I bring this up because I did see a guy posting on there (a while back) who had some major label interest in the early '80s, but he passed on it because he claims they wanted to "force" him to use '80s sounds/production techniques that were rampant at the time. Needless to say, he didn't seem to get anywhere, and now, carries a lot of resentment for the industry. I don't know his whole story, so I'm certainly not knocking him, but I know there are many of these types of "stories" out there. Makes me wonder what was really asked of him, if what he wanted to do was so different, would what the labels wanted have actually watered down his sound, etc.



"Words like conviction can turn into a sentence"

[quote]Originally posted by djcraig
[br]After initially putting out some compelling songs on "The Hurting" album ("Mad World", "Change", "Pale Shelter"), the duo's music quickly devolved into easy listening, radio friendly schlock.
[/quote]

Mad World wasn't "radio-friendly"?