Elly Roberts reviews
Tears For Fears: Everybody Loves A Happy Ending
Distributed by
Gut Records
- Released: March 2005
- Rating: 8/10
- Cat.no.: GUTCD37
It may well be a reunion after a decade’s absence, but will it be a happy ending this time? Possibly.
Bath-based Duo Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal
couldn’t put a foot wrong between 1982 and 1989 with a succession of world
conquering anthemic hits like Mad World, Shout, Everybody Wants To Rule The
World and Sowing The Seeds Of Love. Then in the early 90’s they took a
downward spiral, culminating in a high profile acrimonious split.
Orzabal soldiered on for a couple of years, then called it a day as TFF. Patching
things up last year,they’ve thrust this 14-tracker on the unsuspecting
public-and it’s going to raise some eyebrows I can tell you.
It’s a strong,bright and breezy start with the ELO/Beatles/Lightning Seeds
opener with the title track - even the CD packshot artwork has shades of
Sgt.Peppers. Then you quickly realise that this might just be a 21 Century
take on the Lennon and McCartney masterpiece.
So how does it fare? Well,Orzabal makes a cute Lennon sound-a-like throughout. Obvious
Fab-Four influences crop-up just about everywhere, e.g. Secret World.
Breaking the mould they drop in a classy soulesque Last Days On Earth.
Some critics have slammed it, principally, I believe, because of the lack of
killer ‘singles’ tracks, which I have to agree are lacking. That said, it’s a
fascinating comeback. Where it will take them is open to conjecture, but that
doesn’t matter. Its where they’re at musically that counts, and it’s a safe
place right now. Single - Closest Thing To Heaven is not representative of this
solid and stylish offering, as you’ll probably realise.
Would I buy it? Definitely.
The full list of tracks included are :
Review & concert pics copyright © Elly Roberts, 2004-2010.
