Posted in Album Reviews

Tears For Fears – The Hurting (Expanded Version) (1999)

Posted on by Michael

Formed from the ashes of first band Graduate, Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith teamed up again for Tears For Fears in 1981. Whereas other British synth bands would fit neatly into the new romantic era, Tears For Fears songs were filled with heavy emotions based partly on the work of author Arthur Janov (primal therapy) and deep seeded scars from childhood traumas. There is a black and white starkness to their first record, 1983’s The Hurting but it is also warmed up by various instrumental effects that give it a pop sheen.

This is shown impressively on first single “Mad World”. A top three hit in the UK, it’s an emotional song with Smith’s beautiful, soft vocals in the first verse that turn more forceful in the chorus as he sings “I find it kind of funny, I find it kind of sad/The dreams in which I’m dying/Are the best I’ve ever had”.  The pace really picks up in the second verse, where the song written by Orzabal in his Bath apartment would fit in well on the darker corners of the dancefloor.

The duo both sing the title track where the vocals give it a bit of a pop feel even as they sing, “learn to cry like a baby/Then the hurting won’t come back”. “Pale Shelter” was an earlier single re-recorded for the album, the standout song warmed up by an acoustic guitar. The chorus of “Suffer The Children” about the innocence of kids needing to be loved blasts out of the speakers. Third single “Change” was a world wide hit and for many, their introduction to the band. The distinctive keyboard running throughout the track made for a memorable initiation into their world, one with the pre chorus line of “It’s all too late” providing a lyrical hook.

It’s remarkable that an album of such lyrical depth and emotion became a mainstream hit. Such was the sound of the album that it was impossible to deny the hooks. “Mad World” would turn up again years later in a haunting version on the Donnie Darko soundtrack, this time sending the song to the top of the charts. The expanded version adds alternate versions of the singles + “The Way You Are (Extended Version)”.  The Hurting is an album that can fit into any era and today still sounds just as relevant as ever.

9/10

Posted in Album Reviews

Dry Cleaning – Secret Love (2025)

Posted on by Michael

Having worked with producer John Parish in the past, for their third full length album, South London’s Dry Cleaning brought in Cate le Bon to help record Secret Love. The band used demos already recorded at Jeff Tweedy’s The Loft studio + a spot in Dublin as a basis for the album. The post punk sound is enhanced by singer Florence Shaw’s mostly talk/sung vocals. This style adds a comically deadpan vibe as she sings that “designing cruise ships is my pastime” and that she “simply must have experiences” on single “Hit My Head All Day”, a track where the the sound of breathing is used as percussion.

The mostly instrumental beds are well played behind Florence with a saxophone added on the very good “Let Me Grow And You’ll See The Fruit” and the bass clarinet that meets, mournful icy synths on “I Need You”.  The 4AD Records band leaves the listener with the light and bright sounds of “Joy”. There’s a lot to like about Secret Love, an album that continues the band’s upward trajectory, a wildly intriguing band.  

8/10

Posted in Album Reviews

The Cars – Move Like This (2011)

Posted on by Michael

Band leader Ric Ocasek of The Cars said it would never happen but in 2010/2011 four-fifths of the original band regrouped to record the final album – Move Like This. Missing bassist/co-vocalist Benjamin Orr who passed away in 2000, the band produced half the tracks on their own and half with producer Jacknife Lee. The snappy, 10 track album takes in many of their hallmark sounds, starting with the plinky plonk keyboard of “Blue Tip”, Ocasek with the spry vocals and catchy chorus.

The drums of David Robinson mix well with the keyboards of Greg Hawkes on “Too Late”,Hawkes later creates a Moby-like soundscape on the dramatic “Take Another Look”. A couple of tracks dip back into the 80s with mixed results, better are the songs that mix modern guitar sounds with their classic Cars’ sound like “It’s Only”. The single “Sad Song” puts the guitars of Elliot Easton up front on a track that sounds like a brighter take on Interpol.  Their 80s swansong Door to Door left the group with a bit of a sour note but Move Like This was a sleek update on their classic guitar/keyboard sound.

7/10

Posted in Album Reviews

Davie Bowie – Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) (1980)

Posted on by Michael

After the experimental Berlin albums, David Bowie welcomed in the 1980s with Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps). Continuing to work with Tony Visconti, the album is bookended with “It’s No Game (No.1)” and “(No. 2)”.  The first is more dissonant, partly sung in Japanese by Michi Hirota, it recalls John Lennon/Yoko Ono collaborations. “Draw the blinds on yesterday/And it’s all so much scarier”.  The second is calmer, less intense, choosing bass over guitar and where there are “no more free steps to heaven”. Reportedly, Bowie spent more time on his lyrics than the previous albums.

“Up The Hill Backwards” features group vocals, including Visconti. Carlos Alomar is still lead guitarist along with Robert Fripp who joins for a few tracks including the “Heroes” sound alike, “Teenage Wildlife” that takes swipes at Gary Numan and the new wave boys trying to follow in his Bowie’s footsteps. Dennis Davis’ drums drive the title track, Bowie’s vocals get pushed into distortion on the chorus.

Two singles dominate the album. The first being the politically charged but dancefloor ready, “Fashion”. Mention of the goon squad and a plea to “listen to me – don’t listen to me”. #1 UK single “Ashes to Ashes” is the centrepiece of the album. Revisiting Major Tom from “Space Oddity”, we find out that  “Ashes to ash and funk to funky/We know Major Tom’s a junkie” as Bowie deadpan sings, “I’m happy, hope you’re happy too”. The extraordinary track cuts through post punk, funk, rock and disco. The album as a whole brings Bowie once again front and centre of the cutting edge of music, ready for the new decade.

9/10