Everybody Loves A Happy Ending - Tears for Fears Album Review

Image:link

Album Review

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 21century 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.

Elly Roberts