10 Pop Albums That Are Perfect From Front To Back
6. Songs From the Big Chair - Tears for Fears
Every single genre in the '80s always felt very big. Whether it was the hard sounds of thrash metal coming from the underground or the slick sounds of the R&B scene, each record had a certain size to it that felt much more important than just a bunch of musicians playing. The pop scene at the time seemed very grand, and nowhere was that grandeur more apparent than on Songs From the Big Chair.
Up until this point, Tears for Fears were already one of the biggest names in music, with their debut The Hurting setting up their sound beautifully. However, things got a lot more adventurous on their sophomore effort, where they doubled down on the colossal '80s production. Across songs like "Shout" and "Head Over Heels," every instrument feels like a behemoth of sound, as these two pour every emotion they can into this album.
Though the album is perfect... it can also be a touch overdramatic at times. Make no mistake, there are some elongated moments on these odes to teen angst, but never done in a way in which it detracts from the listening experience. Sure, things seem a bit overblown for the subject matter of these tunes, but no other band was able to take angsty lyrics and turn it into a strength quite like Tears for Fears could.