Songs from the Big Chair (1985)

Songs from the Big Chair

• So normally I’m not a huge fan of 80’s rock/pop, but I have to say that Songs from the Big Chair is an extremely good album. I’ve never really listened to Tears for Fears before, except for their hit “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”. Therefore, my first impression of them as a whole came from this album, and I was very impressed. I really dig their sound, and though they remind me a bit of Wham!, they still have a unique and fresh sound. The album has a strong opening track called “Shout”, which almost perfectly sets you up for the rest of the album's sounds. The second track “The Working Hour” has a seriously awesome tone to it, and it uses the saxophone in a great way. It almost has a melancholy feel to it, as well as keeping it energetic. The third track is “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”, which to me, is one of the best songs ever sung. It’s easily in my top 5 of favorite songs of all time, and probably even cracks my top 3. The lyrics remind you that “nothing ever last forever”, and that we should enjoy life while we have the chance. I also ridiculously love this song because even though it has the 80’s rock/pop feel, in some ways, it actually feels comforting. It just gives me a feeling that even though there is mayhem all around, you can still enjoy yourself and be who you are. Almost right in the middle of the album is “I Believe”, which is relaxing and beautifully sung. I liked the placement of this track, because it gives you a quick break from the energetic feel the album has. “I Believe” has a great smooth jazz/blues feel to it, which is why it’s so relaxing and peaceful. The chord progression in this song is insanely good, and it uses a beautiful key. The transition from this song into “Broken” was really good, and even though it catches you off guard, it’s a smooth shift from blues to pop. “Head Over Heels” follows up after “Broken”, and it gives a really great love/heartbreak feel to it, but while still keeping the music lively. The album ends with “Listen”, which was the perfect way to end this album. It gives you a slower beat than the rest of the songs, and brings in a great melody, as well as the background harmonies. It caps off the album beautifully, and some bits of this song even reminded me of something off of Pet Sounds. It has the nice instrumental feel to it, which is why it was the perfect conclusion to the album. Overall, this album was fantastic, and it’s the most successful studio album that Tears for Fears ever had. It has a great rejuvenating feel to it, as well as a couple tracks that take it slower and remind you of the more important things of life. I would definitely recommend this album, even if you don’t like 80’s music. This album is officially Berry Approved, so go listen to it now!