Customer Reviews

Shout Very Best Of

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

So I decided to give in and finally pick up this collection of hits because I actually haven't heard most of the tracks on here from their first album - and I heard good things about "Mad World." Great song. I mainly bought this for a remastered version of "Head Over Heels" - the single version without "Broken (Live)" tagged on the end. The version which is glued together with "Broken (Live)" on their remastered "Songs From The Big Chair" album sounds fantastic - much better than what is supposed to be a remastered version on their "Millennium Collection" release. So I was thinking that I was finally going to get the "Head Over Heels" track remastered in the same way as "Songs From The Big Chair." I was wrong. It sounds dull and poor, an exact duplicate of the version on the "Millennium Collection." I even made comparisons of the sound wave files in an editing program and noticed a big difference visually as well.

I highly doubt these songs were even remastered. The liner notes state "96k/24-Bit Mastered by Suha Gur at Universal Mastering Studios - East." I discovered that the version of "Heels" on "Songs From The Big Chair" had actually been remastered by other people! In the liner notes to "Songs," the tracks have been "remastered by Jon Astley and Chris Huges at Close To The Edge, Twickenham." These guys have done a MUCH BETTER job with that album! It sounds crisp and bright - like it's supposed to sound! It's a shame that someone at Universal didn't notice this major flaw! Perhaps it's a manufacturing error. In any case, I'm disappointed in the sound quality of this collection and hope to contact Univeral about this! So beware!

Has a lame version of "Mothers Talk".

This is just an absolutely fantastic collection of music. Tears For Fears wrote some of the most beautuful tunes I've ever heard and this compilation puts all my favorites in one place. It is still a stunner to hear these tracks and I will never tire of songs like "Mad World", "I Believe", or "Shout".
...and the best part is, Roland and Curt are back! I found out recently that they have a new record coming (9/14/04) called "Everybody Loves A Happy Ending". Damn Right! Their 1st record back in like 15 years! It's a great to be a TFF Fan again.

Tears For Fears is the duo who crafted intelligent, tuneful pop songs back in the 1980's, riding the "new wave" sound of that era. The duo parted ways in the early 90's, and this is the first hits album to include Roland Orzabal's post breakup material recorded under the TFF name. Curt Smith has the more impressive voice, but Orzabal is also a solid vocalist, with his solo hit Break It Down Again a memorable track. This album fails to include anything from the 2nd Orzabal TFF solo album Raoul and The Kings of Spain, which had a few memorable tracks but was a commercial and chart flop. If you like Tears For Fears you might also want to get the last album and Elemental in addition to the hits collection.

A great collection of Tears For Fears songs. I haven't heard any of their songs that weren't one of their big hits, but their greatest really were the very best. It was also helpful to read about their inspirations. Now that I know they used psychological theories to write their songs, the music makes even more sense.

I normally don't review "Best of Albums" cause best of albums are supposed to be a collection of a good bands/artists top selling songs and if a band/artist were good enough there aren't much to add then to praise them. Tears for Fears however was one of my favorite bands of the 80's and a very unique one too, so i had to give my oppinion about the album( their third "Best of album") which also includes songs after that Curt Smith left the band and Roland Orzabal continued solo.

Tears for Fears started off in the early 80's as a synth pop band, their first 2 singles didn't work out( but were later re-released) "Mad World" from the album "The Hurting" become a UK hit in late 1982. It was a song that was typical for TFF during their first 2 albums and also for the music in the early 80's. Meliodic with Synths and percussion. Recently it was covered by Gary Jules and Michael Andrews and they took it to #1 in the Uk this time. Thanks to the "Mad World" hit they established themselves as a reliebale pop band and "Change" and a re-release of "Pale Shelter" become hits. "Change" is one of my favorites, it's very meliodic with synths and percussion. "Pale Shelter" growed on me, didn't like it at first but it's beautiful and well made. "Suffer Them Children" and underrated "The Way you are" are also fromm this album, the sound of the latter one is simular too "Pale Shelter" just that it's more energic and they sing in voices. Smith's smooth vocals fits perfect with Orzabal's darker voice.

The second album "Songs from the big chair" came in 1985 and then there was nothing stopping TFF, every song become a huge hit. Orzabal had taken over more of the bands influents and wrote most of the songs too. "Shout" become a classic 80's song and one of the best TFF songs too, It follows the same formula as "Mad World" but with some awesome guitar riffs in the end too. TFF have a tendency to often start with the chorus and then jump in with the bridge later on which is quite unique. "Everybody Wants To Rule the World" gas to be one of the greatest songs of all time and a true trademark of TFF. It's catchy at the same time as it's intelligent with good lyrics, TFF always get's me thinking, what did they really mean? It's not the average Pop songs if you know what i mean. The third single was "Head over Heals" another great classic. "Mothers talk" and "Believe" were small hits, they were both re-recorded on this album.

The third album "Seeds of Love" doesn't sound like the other 2 at all. It's more rock influented and soulish, well it was released in 1989. Orzabal took over even more, and Smith left the band after this album. "Sowing the Seeds of Love" it's a 6 minute long beautiful masterpiece. My favorite song here however was "Women in Chains" also that one over 6 minutes. Oleta Adams (Get here) appears on it too. It starts slow but it's beeing build up and eventually it get's a bit faster. A wonderful ballad, but also credit to the lyrics. It was clear, that Tears for Fears was politically interested and their dilemma's were more touching then before on this album. "advice For The Young At Heart" was the third single from this album, it's not as good but still a decent song.

The rest of the songs included are from TFF after that Smith left. They are allright, but it was clear that TFF without Smith was not the same. You should buy this album if you don't have the songs already that is. But many good songs that weren't released on single's are also worth having a listening too, so check any of the albums mentioned aswell.

TEARS FOR FEARS were considered by many critics to be amongst the best bands/sounds of the 1980s. TFF blended melodic pop hooks with strong rock chords and presented numerous albums that instantly became classic "must haves" ! The summit of their chart succes arrived in the mid 80s when they dominated most charts worldwide with the tracks SHOUT and EVERYBODY WANTS TO RULE THE WORLD. This collection is the perfect CD for anyone wanting to own a musical moment in time (the 80s). Tracks such as MAD WORLD (recharting in U.K. in 2004), PALE SHELTER and WOMAN IN CHAINS never loose their musical appeal. They never sound dated ! Forget purchasing a HUMAN LEAGUE, INSX, or DURAN DURAN compilation, relieve the 80s in style; listen to this collection and hear a sound that is timeless!

If you're a Tears for Fears fan, you'll love this. Just put it in the car, find a stretch of road you can cruise on, and crank it! I put the top down, hit Highway 1 here in California, and cranked Everybody Wants to Rule the World, then Shout. I felt so happy!! Definetely pick me up music.

And, I'm happy to report Roland and I share the same birthday. (which was VERY important when I was in 7th grade) ;)

My favorite band ever! This greatest hits collection surpasses them all (and I have them all, so I should know!). I especially enjoy the song, "Woman in Chains."

OMG, Roland is the r0x0r! The way he enunciates makes me go all wobbly. "Woman in Chains" is simply the greatest song ever written, it's the story of my life. And sometimes I do want to shout, shout, and let it all out! So come on! Buy this album! I'm talking to you, so come on!