…bear with me…I’m conducting an experiment.
After last week’s goings on, I’ve been thinking about ’80’s Music’ in some more general terms and when thinking it through, I’m of the mind that when “80’s Music” is referred to (note the quotes) one is normally referencing anything that came during or prior to 1984 and that from 1985 onward…much was well, sort of …waning and not “80’s music” any longer as typically mentioned.
Think about it, all of the seminal and archetypical acts of the 1980’s had already reached their highs (or glorious lows) and by ’85, the rest was all downhill, a tepid rehash of what came prior, uninspired, or worse…bad MTV metal.
But to challenge my own assertion, I’m going to pull a few titles out of the stacks over the next few days that may or may not back up the above caffeinated rant. And while I thank Noah for yesterday’s post, and despite reacquainting myself with and humming along to “E=MC2”, the 1985 and 1986 LP’s by Big Audio Dynamite…just never did it for me. Not even close. And worse–may have spurred this whole topic.
Which brings us to Tears For Fears’ 1985 follow-up to 1983’s “The Hurting”. I’m actually on the fence about this one. “Mother’s Talk” and “Shout” were both released as singles in the UK in ’84, but the LP’s proper release came in ’85. Yet as a follow-up to “The Hurting”, “Songs…” lacks the inspiration and pure self-awareness that made its predecessor such a gem. And despite the commercial success of this LP, this release could literally be the ‘jump the shark’ moment for ’80’s music as a whole. What was once a bit self-absorbed and off-kilter and marginally underground was now being introduced by Casey Kasem on America’s Top 40. Egad.
Did I mention I’m on the fence about this one though? Reluctantly, I think a few of these tunes hold up…
Tears For Fears – The Working Hour (Mp3)
Tears For Fears – Everybody Wants To Rule The World (Mp3)
Tears For Fears – I Believe (Mp3)
Tears For Fears – Broken (Mp3)
Tears For Fears – Head Over Heels, Broken (Live) (Mp3)
