Tears For Fears
The Hurting

THE REVIEW

In 1983, Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal formed one of the many duos popular at the time and debuted with this album. It is an example of sophisticated pop, elegantly refined, at times introspective, at times danceable. It stands out for a certain elegance and a vein of pessimism that permeates the record from start to finish. The lyrics boasted a certain depth and dealt with hot topics, such as homosexuality, especially in a country going through a difficult period under Thatcher's government.

It begins with the fluctuating rhythm of the electro-soul ballad of the title track, where the vein of fatalism is expressed by the melancholic guitar notes in the middle section.
Next comes "Mad World," a single that had good commercial success upon its release, a pop song that starts quietly then bursts with a disco-club rhythm and an irresistible chorus. As mentioned above, there are introspective moments, represented by the existential ballad "Memories Fade," a little pop gem, the kind made just right. Orzabal's voice rises in a languid song, taken by the hand of a nocturnal saxophone and a liquid ticking piano. A hidden gem.
On the same coordinates, but with a more lively rhythm section, is "Watch Me Bleed," an electronic ride made more precious by Orzabal's velvety voice, undoubtedly one of the best in the commercial scene of those years.
This little gem also has the merit of paving the way for one of the most compelling pieces of the entire 80s, the famous "Change." The unforgettable electro-xylophone intro, the rhythm that gets under your skin, the catchiness, and the alienated singing (this time performed by Curt Smith) have indelibly marked the danceable music of the '80s. The album closes with the atmospheric neurosis of "Start Of Breakdown," between Latin tribalism and twilight synthetic phrases.

Tears For Fears delivered a truly convincing, brilliant, and refined performance. A splendid debut.