Tears for Fears - Everybody Loves a Happy Ending
Well, it finally came out. Delayed for several months when Arista Records imploded, TFF ended up with one of those covert major-labels-masquerading-as-indies, New Door (owned by Universal). I've read the reviews and heard the word of mouth, so I wasn't expecting much.
On the one hand, everyone is absolutely right. Several tracks on the CD come across like The Seeds of Love Pt. 2, though it lacks a lot of the sheer complexity that characterized that earlier album (15 years on, I still hear stuff I've never heard each time I listen), to dismiss it as a faceless sequel is to give it short shrift.
To be sure, some of the album's songs, notably the title track and 'Closest Thing to Heaven' lift not just sound but also studio tricks and sound effects directly off Seeds of Love, uncomfortably straddling the line between self-tribute and self-parody. But the band brings in other references (David Essex's 'Rock On' in 'Who Killed Tangerine' and Simon & Garfunkel's 'America' in 'Ladybird') somewhat cleverly, but in a way that makes it clear they're having fun paying tribute.
The standout songs on first listen were the first single, 'Call Me Mellow,' which bears more than a passing resemblance to the La's hit 'There She Goes,' nearly as memorable melodically and much more densely constructed, 'Quiet Ones,' which sounds more like Elemental's guitar-driven, synth-drenched rock than The Seeds of Love and 'Killing With Kindness,' which strays back into that Beatles-esque territory but ends up sounding more like XTC.
It's an uneven disc, rarely rising to the sublime, but enjoyable all the way through. It seems like Roland and Curt have exorcised a lot of their demons and reconciled with one another, and that they had a lot of fun throwing this one together. That in itself is a rarity for Tears For Fears, though I suppose the idea of a happy TFF is in itself a little unsettling.
On the one hand, everyone is absolutely right. Several tracks on the CD come across like The Seeds of Love Pt. 2, though it lacks a lot of the sheer complexity that characterized that earlier album (15 years on, I still hear stuff I've never heard each time I listen), to dismiss it as a faceless sequel is to give it short shrift.
To be sure, some of the album's songs, notably the title track and 'Closest Thing to Heaven' lift not just sound but also studio tricks and sound effects directly off Seeds of Love, uncomfortably straddling the line between self-tribute and self-parody. But the band brings in other references (David Essex's 'Rock On' in 'Who Killed Tangerine' and Simon & Garfunkel's 'America' in 'Ladybird') somewhat cleverly, but in a way that makes it clear they're having fun paying tribute.
The standout songs on first listen were the first single, 'Call Me Mellow,' which bears more than a passing resemblance to the La's hit 'There She Goes,' nearly as memorable melodically and much more densely constructed, 'Quiet Ones,' which sounds more like Elemental's guitar-driven, synth-drenched rock than The Seeds of Love and 'Killing With Kindness,' which strays back into that Beatles-esque territory but ends up sounding more like XTC.
It's an uneven disc, rarely rising to the sublime, but enjoyable all the way through. It seems like Roland and Curt have exorcised a lot of their demons and reconciled with one another, and that they had a lot of fun throwing this one together. That in itself is a rarity for Tears For Fears, though I suppose the idea of a happy TFF is in itself a little unsettling.
posted by Chris | 10:52 AM
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