i have this weird thing where lots of songs vaguely remind me of "Advice" and i tend to feel instant affection for them just because of that (examples: Wye Oak's "We Were Wealth," India Arie's "Just Do You").
― scott c-word (some dude), Wednesday, 12 February 2014 02:32 (ten years ago) link
"Advice..." is their sophisti-pop song (those bongos remind me of "Shattered Dreams") so Curt Smith singing it makes sense.
― Bryan Fairy (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 12 February 2014 02:36 (ten years ago) link
do we have a dedicated sophistipop thread or anything?
― some dude, Wednesday, 12 February 2014 02:39 (ten years ago) link
as a kid i loved the "Head Over Heels" video because there was a monkey in it. as an adult, i love it because of the guy making ridiculous faces and saying "YEAH!" after playing a synthesizer solo in the library.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O9-Vb-Sj7uU
― some dude, Wednesday, 12 February 2014 02:41 (ten years ago) link
This one is old: S&D: Sophistipop
These have candidates: Swing Out Sister - "Breakout" C/D
Johnny Hates Jazz "Shattered Dreams" C/D
^^ that one ends with a request like yours, ship
― Bryan Fairy (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Wednesday, 12 February 2014 02:41 (ten years ago) link
these two seem to share a common ancestor:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=InFbBlpDTfQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qH16ax3t1T4
both great videos.
― 3×5, Thursday, 13 February 2014 03:06 (ten years ago) link
Sorry, I thought the second video was the actual music vid. Here is the song, to compare with DJ Shadow:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEMtSPZNch8
― 3×5, Thursday, 13 February 2014 03:12 (ten years ago) link
Shadow's was an actual sample of the Pekka Pohjola track. The descending four chord sequence isn't particularly complicated and it's possible that Orzabel came up with them on his own. Have there been any lawsuits?
― doug watson, Thursday, 13 February 2014 14:56 (ten years ago) link
No way is that a coincidence. Tears for Fears added eight beats, so it's not exactly the same, but the first eight are exactly the same chords, in the same key played in the exact same rhythm, on the same instrument (which I assume is a Wurlitzer electric piano). I think Tears for Fears borrowed it from an obscure record, then DJ Shadow sampled the same record.
― 3×5, Thursday, 13 February 2014 15:04 (ten years ago) link
From Steven Wilson's site.
My remix of Tears for Fears’ iconic 80’s album “Songs From the Big Chair” is included on a 30th anniversary reissue, to be released by Universal Music Group on 4th November.
Songs from the Big Chair was one of the biggest albums of the 80’s, and particularly successful in the USA where it reached number one in the Billboard chart on its way to selling several million copies. It features two US number one singles, Shout and Everybody Wants to Rule the World, as well as 2 more hit singles Head Over Heels and Mother’s Talk.
It’s a brilliant record by a truly innovative 80’s band – both accessible and ambitious. The reissue will be available in several different formats including a stand-alone Blu-Ray and a comprehensive 6 disc deluxe edition with live tracks, singles, B-sides, TV/radio appearances, remixes, videos, and the original mix.
There will also be a vinyl edition of my new stereo mix. The new stereo and 5.1 mixes were overseen and approved by Roland Orzabal (and are included as flat transfers with no mastering). More details and track listing are available on SuperDeluxeEdition.
― MaresNest, Sunday, 26 October 2014 08:50 (nine years ago) link
Didn't know Wilson did this. I love his Crimson remixes.
― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 26 October 2014 16:49 (nine years ago) link
Down the rabbit hole with this 5 disc deluxe edition, it's super annoying that the Stephen Wilson remix is only on DVD and not CD, making it more of a pain to rip (and making it unavailable on Spotify)
― MaresNest, Monday, 12 January 2015 20:00 (nine years ago) link
I haven't played that Wilson remix, is it all that different?
― Gerald McBoing-Boing, Monday, 12 January 2015 22:46 (nine years ago) link
The Seeds of Love = Songs From The Big Chair > The Hurting > Raoul and The Kings of Spain > Everybody Loves A Happy Ending > Elemental
― You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Monday, 20 April 2015 23:44 (nine years ago) link
I was just today thinking about starting/finding a thread about songs that you didn't realize were sublime until you were able to escape their once-numbing ubiquity, specifically with respect to "Head Over Heels". I don't know how there was ever a time when that thing sounded to me like just another meh radio pop song.
― I Stepped On Your Samwich (Old Lunch), Tuesday, 21 April 2015 00:44 (nine years ago) link
Love this band so much. I'd also like to nominate "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" as containing some of the best lyrics to ever crack the Top 40.
― Jimmywine Dyspeptic, Tuesday, 21 April 2015 02:58 (nine years ago) link
Very poor sentence there but that's what happens when I try to type while people are talking at me. You get my drift
― I Stepped On Your Samwich (Old Lunch), Tuesday, April 21, 2015 1:44 AM (9 hours ago) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink
This is exactly where I'm at with Everybody Wants To Rule The World.
― ewar woowar (or something), Tuesday, 21 April 2015 09:46 (nine years ago) link
sowing the seeds of love is one weird album, man.
― scott seward, Thursday, 16 July 2015 20:16 (eight years ago) link
when that simply red dude heard the gospel piano-jazz tune on this album he must have said "argh, back to the drawing board!".
― scott seward, Thursday, 16 July 2015 20:19 (eight years ago) link
heck, even the level 42 dudes must have been green with envy.
― scott seward, Thursday, 16 July 2015 20:20 (eight years ago) link
and the dream academy were in the middle of making their album when they heard the title track to this album and they went "argh! maybe if we add dolphin noises and poly styrene to our john lennon cover everything will be okay..."
― scott seward, Thursday, 16 July 2015 20:23 (eight years ago) link
the blue nile were so devastated by this record they didn't record again for 7 years.
― scott seward, Thursday, 16 July 2015 20:27 (eight years ago) link
sorry *THE SEEDS OF LOVE*. not sowing the seeds of love.
― scott seward, Thursday, 16 July 2015 20:28 (eight years ago) link
blue nile >>>>>> tears for fears imo
― Rave Van Donk (jim in glasgow), Thursday, 16 July 2015 20:29 (eight years ago) link
Dream Academy have worn me down over the years to the point where I now either enjoy or tolerate all of their songs. I know that's faint praise, but it's something.
― brotherlovesdub, Thursday, 16 July 2015 20:55 (eight years ago) link
'Street Fighting Years' was the Minds' 'Satanic Majesties Request' to TFF's 'Sgt. Pepper'
― PaulTMA, Thursday, 16 July 2015 23:18 (eight years ago) link
"Street Fighting Years" was the Minds "Cant Stop the Music" to TFF's "Flash Gordon".
― everything, Thursday, 16 July 2015 23:27 (eight years ago) link
those Talk Talk kids didn't seem to be too bothered by "seeds of love".
― rushomancy, Friday, 17 July 2015 00:39 (eight years ago) link
God, I fucking love The Seeds of Love. I listen to it far more than The Hurting and even Songs From The Big Chair these days. I'd love for them to put out a box set for The Seeds of Love, there must be so much fucking outtake material out there somewhere.
― You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Saturday, 18 July 2015 22:15 (eight years ago) link
Then Play Long reaches the difficult third album: http://nobilliards.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/tears-for-fears-seeds-of-love.html
― agincourtgirl, Sunday, 30 August 2015 18:02 (eight years ago) link
Yeah, obviously I disagree. I personally don't find this to be an "irritatingly unsatisfactory" record at all, and while the production is completely rammed with detail, I still wouldn't call the sound "oxygen starved" ... 'Advice For The Young At Heart' is a wonderful song with production to match, IMO, and side 2 is wonderful when it clicks. It's not Songs From The Big Chair part 2, but that's a good thing.
― You’re being too simplistic and you’re insulting my poor heart (Turrican), Sunday, 30 August 2015 18:14 (eight years ago) link
Love is a promiseLove is a souvenir
― The burrito of ennui (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 8 September 2015 00:18 (eight years ago) link
Time to eat all your words!
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 11 June 2017 02:53 (six years ago) link
Correct number one.
― Austin, Sunday, 11 June 2017 03:53 (six years ago) link
I'd swap out "break it down again" with "badman's song" and shuffle a few towards the end, but mostly otm
― just another (diamonddave85), Sunday, 11 June 2017 03:59 (six years ago) link
"The Working Hour" is majestic.
― some sad trombone Twilight Zone shit (cryptosicko), Sunday, 11 June 2017 05:00 (six years ago) link
tears for fears deliver on the bombastic promise of simple minds at their worst and most anthemic
― erry red flag (f. hazel), Sunday, 11 June 2017 05:29 (six years ago) link
it's hard to be a man when there's a gun in your hand
― mookieproof, Sunday, 11 June 2017 07:29 (six years ago) link
― erry red flag (f. hazel), Sunday, June 11, 2017
otm
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Sunday, 11 June 2017 11:05 (six years ago) link
I've said it before, but Tears For Fears may be the only band in the world influenced by '80 Genesis, bless 'em.
― Josh in Chicago, Sunday, 11 June 2017 13:51 (six years ago) link
no quibbles with that list. excellent
― akm, Sunday, 11 June 2017 16:13 (six years ago) link
Was hoping this would be news about the loooong promised new album. Feel like these guys have at least one more great album left in them - the last one had a few excellent moments
― Vinnie, Monday, 12 June 2017 03:23 (six years ago) link
I don't hear '80s Genesis in TFF.
― The Anti-Climax Blues Band (Turrican), Monday, 12 June 2017 06:29 (six years ago) link
The drums, guitars and synths alone on "Songs from the Big Chair" are totally '80s Genesis, especially a song like "Broken;" Manny Elias definitely had Phil Collins on the mind. The songwriting is much better than '80s Genesis, though, which (go figure) makes a big difference!
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 12 June 2017 12:23 (six years ago) link
The songwriting is much better than '80s Genesis
Interesting argument but I can't fully agree with it. Big Chair was a solid album but the albums after were fairly spotty. Although I guess one could say the same of the solid Duke and the spottier records that followed from Genesis. But Genesis seemed to understand the value of concision in their pop songs far more than TFF. The tracks on Seeds Of Love in particular run overly long and would've benefited from an editor's knife.
― doug watson, Monday, 12 June 2017 13:56 (six years ago) link
welll, it WAS the year of the knife
― the Rain Man of nationalism. (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Monday, 12 June 2017 14:10 (six years ago) link
The Hurting is generally brilliant with a few patchy parts. Songs from the Big Chair is near perfection. Can't get on with most of seeds of love at all though. Badman's Song sounds like every negative cliche of bad 80s production that usually isn't true, but here is 100% accurate.
― jamiesummerz, Monday, 12 June 2017 14:10 (six years ago) link
I need "I Believe" and none of the 90s stuff, but sounds about right.
― Chuck_Tatum, Monday, 12 June 2017 14:22 (six years ago) link
honestly when I say Tears for Fears I pretty much only mean big chair, which is one of my favorite albums.
― Josh in Chicago, Monday, 12 June 2017 15:05 (six years ago) link