After reuniting for a weekend benefit, Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith, the original Tears for Fears, are heading back to the studio to record their first album together in more than a decade.




More Tears, More Fears (http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=795&ncid=689&e=11&u=/eo/20031006/en_music_eo/12638)

I thought they were a great band.

> After reuniting for a weekend benefit, Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith, the
> original Tears for Fears, are heading back to the studio to record their
> first album together in more than a decade.

> After reuniting for a weekend benefit, Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith, the
> original Tears for Fears, are heading back to the studio to record their
> first album together in more than a decade.

I love the hits they had. The songs are insinuated into my happy childhood memories. The videos, on the other hand...
The video for "Head Over Heels" featuring gorgeous girl turned librarian, a chimp, and flying books and finally culminating in a chorus of "La La's" sung by a diverse (but not wildly diverse) collection of young and old people against a black backdrop, while not as bad as some videos that made the rounds at the time, is responsible for me (at the age of seven, mind) throwing heavy hardback books in the air and at times getting hit in the head with them. Nothing like entertainment at my house, eh?
I'm sure getting knocked in the head repeatedly at that age explains a lot of my behavior. (Well, I hope it does, anyway.)

Was it art? Was it walls? Was it your wife's toenails? Details, man! Details!

why did they break up?

> After reuniting for a weekend benefit, Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith, the
> original Tears for Fears, are heading back to the studio to record their
> first album together in more than a decade.

My day is just going from bad to worse......

> After reuniting for a weekend benefit, Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith, the
> original Tears for Fears, are heading back to the studio to record their
> first album together in more than a decade.

The years haven't been kind...




http://www.morrissey-solo.com/discuss/images/pic127403.jpg

It was walls if I recall correctly.

> Was it art? Was it walls? Was it your wife's toenails? Details, man!
> Details!

Painting our living room was such a traumatic experience that it has taken us 4 years to move to the next painting project: the hallway.

Before and after shots. Yes, we lived with stark white walls for almost 5 years



Here's the "after" shot. Scraped all of the hurty texturizing off of the walls (blech!). A pale milk color for the trim, jute for the wainscotting and entrance doors, and the walls are a very warm sandy color called sand fossil (all are a little washed out in the photo, but you get the idea). Arts & crafts switch plates and outlet covers. Replaced the awful brass fixtures with A&C-style patina'd copper. Still painting the door trim, but 30 hours of work later, it's almost done!




http://www.morrissey-solo.com/discuss/images/pic127410.jpg

Pale Shelter was good. Change. A few of their later songs were good, too. Sowing the Seeds. Break it Down Again. They are a little self-absorbed, but they offer at least a slightly interesting break from average pop stuff.

> Painting our living room was such a traumatic experience that it has taken
> us 4 years to move to the next painting project: the hallway.

> Before and after shots. Yes, we lived with stark white walls for almost 5
> years

> Here's the "after" shot. Scraped all of the hurty texturizing
> off of the walls (blech!). A pale milk color for the trim, jute for the
> wainscotting and entrance doors, and the walls are a very warm sandy color
> called sand fossil (all are a little washed out in the photo, but you get
> the idea). Arts & crafts switch plates and outlet covers. Replaced the
> awful brass fixtures with A&C-style patina'd copper. Still painting the
> door trim, but 30 hours of work later, it's almost done!
You did a great job! What's sitting on top of your breakfront?
This weekend we are painting dark 70's paneling. I am going to need the happiest, most upbeat music to do that.

> After reuniting for a weekend benefit, Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith, the
> original Tears for Fears, are heading back to the studio to record their
> first album together in more than a decade.

Well, WeiB, don't want to be unkind, and it's all well and good.. but who cares!! It's hardly momentus news is it? It's not like the Pixies or Dexy's reformation news.. like, relevant bands..

Pale Shelter was alright though. Better than the Thomson Twins with that weird looking girl, and two weireder looking geezers in.!

Ruffian

Actually,I did hear that both blokes were fucking assholes to people and fans,but their earlier stuff is still wonderful.

Nice. Wanna come over to my new place and make yourself useful?



> Painting our living room was such a traumatic experience that it has taken
> us 4 years to move to the next painting project: the hallway.

> Before and after shots. Yes, we lived with stark white walls for almost 5
> years

> Here's the "after" shot. Scraped all of the hurty texturizing
> off of the walls (blech!). A pale milk color for the trim, jute for the
> wainscotting and entrance doors, and the walls are a very warm sandy color
> called sand fossil (all are a little washed out in the photo, but you get
> the idea). Arts & crafts switch plates and outlet covers. Replaced the
> awful brass fixtures with A&C-style patina'd copper. Still painting the
> door trim, but 30 hours of work later, it's almost done!

Before I start, I love my north american readers and the time I've spent there.
The following bands do not register in the minds of average-age ( 30 -40?) Smiths fans in the UK.
Duran duran, , depeche mode, a flock of seagulls, tears for fears, the thomson twins. None of them escape finger-pointing ridicule.
I've left out the cure because they maybe, just maybe, don't quite fit in with this grouping.
I was away during the 80's and paid no attention , generally speaking, to what was going on. It's only since then that I've learned of this enormous difference between Smiths fans in the UK and the US.
There's a certain irony that all these bands are British as well. I, for one, don't get it. I'm simply stating a fact.
But my north american readers should be aware that we point at these bands and laugh very loudly.
As the posts from established Moz-solo regulars like PD, Johnny, and Ruff have already indicated.
It truly is a most perplexing mystery.
For some reason, something happened somewhere over the atlantic to bring about this COMPLETELY different mind-set.

Saddle block, Sybian. Won't someone just call me Weiß?

> Saddle block, Sybian. Won't someone just call me Weiß?

...your wife call you?
And not for nothing, can I ask you something? Do you think marriage is a good idea? Is it something that you'd recommend to other people? I'm just curious. I don't feel good things about the institution of marriage, personally.

Marriage is great. I've done it twice!

Some of us were fortunate enough to be present at the unique convergence of New Wave, cable tv, and MTV, which all happened to fall from the skies into our living rooms at the exact same moment that we reached puberty. If you "don't get it", you probably weren't there. That's a shame.

And some of us, even those of us who were fighting in the front lines of the punk wars, who didn't "pogo" like a bunch of poofs but who moshed and slammed, who pissed on cop cars and churches alike, who skirmished with black widow-tatooed, screwdriver-listening-to, knife wielding skin heads (and who have all the requisite scars to show for it) can appreciate the simple pleasure of a well-crafted pop song with a hint of nostaliga without having to flaunt those same scars to prove they were there. We know we were, and that's good enough for us.




http://www.morrissey-solo.com/discuss/images/pic127446.jpg

> Before I start, I love my north american readers and the time I've spent
> there.
> The following bands do not register in the minds of average-age ( 30 -40?)
> Smiths fans in the UK.
> Duran duran, , depeche mode, a flock of seagulls, tears for fears, the
> thomson twins. None of them escape finger-pointing ridicule.
> I've left out the cure because they maybe, just maybe, don't quite fit in
> with this grouping.
> I was away during the 80's and paid no attention , generally speaking, to
> what was going on. It's only since then that I've learned of this enormous
> difference between Smiths fans in the UK and the US.
> There's a certain irony that all these bands are British as well. I, for
> one, don't get it. I'm simply stating a fact.
> But my north american readers should be aware that we point at these bands
> and laugh very loudly.
> As the posts from established Moz-solo regulars like PD, Johnny, and Ruff
> have already indicated.
> It truly is a most perplexing mystery.
> For some reason, something happened somewhere over the atlantic to bring
> about this COMPLETELY different mind-set.

It is a tad perplexing Pat but you can some it up in this way. By the age of 14 you already know that "Tears For Fears" the girls from "Duran Duran","Depeche Mode" etc are shite.

They were the sort of bands that your wee sister like but ony if she had particulary shite taste in music.

I could rattle off the bands that the American Smiths fans like and to a man they have been and always will be scoffed at by UK Smiths fans who by and large looked to the punk,indie scene for their inspiration.

Where as a UK Smiths fans would explore The Wedding Present, The Fall,2 Tone etc our friends in the States are more than happy to cherish a Genesis album that no one under the age of 48 would dare buy in the UK.

You have to remember that in the USA AOR is still their staple diet.Any day now we will see a post saying that Chicago,Foreigner or Rush have a new album out.

It's laughable but it's a fact.Bands that were looked up here for their emotion,aggression and brilliance barely sold a record in the States.

The Jam sold nothing over there which says it all really.

So we just have to accept the fact that we are both different and thank God that we never have to worry about friends popping round and seeing a "Tears For Fears" C.D nestling in be sides "The Smiths".
How could you ever live it down ?

I get the impression that it is more the American contingent that wish and wonder why The Smiths were never commercially successful. The latest poll on the homepage is asking opinion on reasons for this. People who ask this question seem to think that if a band is spankingly brilliant, they MUST have chart success. The reality is, this would have ruined a band like The Smiths.

I'd say it is more the UK fans who glad The Smiths never became another REM and had overwieght 40something executives buying their CDs to listen to in the car. One of the great things about The Smiths is they were ostracized by the media and most of the chart record buying public, who lets face is, aren't the brightest of sparks when it comes to taste.

The Smiths never were about being mainstream. Reams of Morrissey's lyrics are on themes like being an outsider. I sometimes wonder if people understand this when they hear songs like 'How Soon Is Now' and 'You've Got Everything Now'. The Smiths were, and still are too intelligent for the masses, and thank fuck for that.

> our friends in the States are more than happy to cherish a
> Genesis album that no one under the age of 48 would dare buy in the UK.

That felt like a slap! I don't think anyone should have to justify ANY music that they like to anyone else:

"As long as you derive inner help and comfort from anything, keep it." - Mahatma Gandhi

> Marriage is great. I've done it twice!

Thanks for your honest opinion. I won't be running out and getting married any time soon, but it's nice to know that there are people out there with strange names who are living and loving the joy that is the union of marriage.

Although I wasn't there at the onset of cable tv and MTV (I was in a foreign country enjoying myself outdoors), the other established UK Smiths fans on this forum were.
How do you explain their opinion on the matter??
As I stated, this thread was showing the old familiar pattern before my post was entered.
As for the punk thing, you've really got me laughing now. Pissing on cop cars? Churches? You mean, inanimate objects? Wow, that takes real guts.
By the way, having tattoos and listening to skrewdriver has never made anyone any tougher - fact. You should know these things.
'Skirmishing' with skinheads? What do you mean, in a balletic way? Sounds a bit 'handbags' to me. We didn't skirmish. Girls skirmish.
You're so young and clueless (twelve years younger than me) that you didn't even have the brains to hide your 'The Biggest Blow' record.
Real original UK punks point at that and laugh very loudly.
Now run along. Amateur.

> Some of us were fortunate enough to be present at the unique convergence
> of New Wave, cable tv, and MTV, which all happened to fall from the skies
> into our living rooms at the exact same moment that we reached puberty. If
> you "don't get it", you probably weren't there. That's a shame.

> And some of us, even those of us who were fighting in the front lines of
> the punk wars, who didn't "pogo" like a bunch of poofs but who
> moshed and slammed, who pissed on cop cars and churches alike, who
> skirmished with black widow-tatooed, screwdriver-listening-to, knife
> wielding skin heads (and who have all the requisite scars to show for it)
> can appreciate the simple pleasure of a well-crafted pop song with a hint
> of nostaliga without having to flaunt those same scars to prove they
> were there. We know we were, and that's good enough for us.

> "As long as you derive inner help and comfort from anything, keep
> it." - Mahatma Gandhi

Ah, Mahatma Ghandi. The only Indian that John Wayne couldn't kill.

We're all here because we love The Smiths and Morrissey. I wouldn't care if the president of the J-lo fan club came to Moz-solo.com, so long as their appreciate for The Smiths & Morrissey was genuine. Some people just never matured past that point in their early-teen years where they thought other people's opinions of them meant something.

Brilliantly put Bluebles (you're full of surprises tonight).
As I am almost sick to the back teeth with saying - now listen carefully kids- if..it..is..loved..by..the..great..unthinking..mas ses..it..MUST..be..shite.

All you have to do is consider their taste in newspapers, tv, and movies. It stands to reason that their cd racks will be groaning under the weight of tons of plastic shite.

> I get the impression that it is more the American contingent that wish and
> wonder why The Smiths were never commercially successful. The latest poll
> on the homepage is asking opinion on reasons for this. People who ask this
> question seem to think that if a band is spankingly brilliant, they MUST
> have chart success. The reality is, this would have ruined a band like The
> Smiths.

> I'd say it is more the UK fans who glad The Smiths never became another
> REM and had overwieght 40something executives buying their CDs to listen
> to in the car. One of the great things about The Smiths is they were
> ostracized by the media and most of the chart record buying public, who
> lets face is, aren't the brightest of sparks when it comes to taste.

> The Smiths never were about being mainstream. Reams of Morrissey's lyrics
> are on themes like being an outsider. I sometimes wonder if people
> understand this when they hear songs like 'How Soon Is Now' and 'You've
> Got Everything Now'. The Smiths were, and still are too intelligent for
> the masses, and thank fuck for that.

Bush is too stupid to know he's a fool. What's Blair's excuse?

I have these sparks of sense every-so-often. The next bout of sanity should be about 2005.

> Brilliantly put Bluebles (you're full of surprises tonight).
> As I am almost sick to the back teeth with saying - now listen carefully
> kids-
> if..it..is..loved..by..the..great..unthinking..mas ses..it..MUST..be..shite.

> All you have to do is consider their taste in newspapers, tv, and movies.
> It stands to reason that their cd racks will be groaning under the weight
> of tons of plastic shite.

What they get up to after they are elected is an abuse of power. Blair is guilty of that.
But if he couldn't speak without stuttering, stalling (for ages!!), and constantly looking downwards at prepared notes he wouldn't be anywhere near the top of UK politics.
What's with all that stalling?
I go and put the kettle on, wait for it to boil, (and as you know a waited kettle never boils) , make a nice cup of tea, grab a couple of custard creams (for dunking purposes) , get back into the living-room , happy as fuck - and guess what?? Aye, there's George, giving us his half Clint Eastwood/half John Wayne squint, preparing himself for........the next three words!!!
Or maybe he waited because he knew I was making a nice cup of tea, and didn't want me to miss anything.
Aye, that must be it.

> I get the impression that it is more the American contingent that wish and
> wonder why The Smiths were never commercially successful. The latest poll
> on the homepage is asking opinion on reasons for this. People who ask this
> question seem to think that if a band is spankingly brilliant, they MUST
> have chart success. The reality is, this would have ruined a band like The
> Smiths.

> I'd say it is more the UK fans who glad The Smiths never became another
> REM and had overwieght 40something executives buying their CDs to listen
> to in the car. One of the great things about The Smiths is they were
> ostracized by the media and most of the chart record buying public, who
> lets face is, aren't the brightest of sparks when it comes to taste.

> The Smiths never were about being mainstream. Reams of Morrissey's lyrics
> are on themes like being an outsider. I sometimes wonder if people
> understand this when they hear songs like 'How Soon Is Now' and 'You've
> Got Everything Now'. The Smiths were, and still are too intelligent for
> the masses, and thank fuck for that.

Well now if you did that then you'd be stereotyping. I am a US citizen and NEVER wished the Smiths would be on top of the charts consumed by the masses. The Smiths belonged to me and the chosen few. Had the general public turned the Smiths into mega-stars it would have ruined it for me.

Also, just because someone is a 40-something exec does not mean they've lost it completely. As if turning 40 suddenly makes you uncool. I'm early 30-something now and have plenty of exec friends in their 40's and trust me, they may be greying a bit here and there but they'll be hipsters til the end.

So basically what I'm saying is that you're wrong. Not in a bad way though, you just didn't know any better.

You used the word "WANKER."

You will not continue to have the last word on every matter and I hope you understand that.

Just because you say "and let that be the last word on the matter" does not make it so. You think that you have some super powers that are beyond your means. Sometimes, you will have the last word, othertimes you won't. Just because you said that, I am telling you to:

FUCK OFF ABOUT THIS LAST WORD SHITE!!

Cheers.

Hugh, London

Your masses in the UK are just as dumb as our masses in the USA.

I agree with you 100%. The people of the UK have always been elitist in their views, thinking that we don't understand their jokes, culture, music, literature, and references. Well, some of us do get it. And what we do not understand, we can look up, read, and educate ourselves on. For example, I know more about the Moor Murders than many people from Manchester. How did I ever do that? Oh, there are only like 20 books written on those gruesome crimes, and how many of you Subjects of The Queen, and hoplessly devoted Smiths followers, have ever bothered to read even one of them?

> Well now if you did that then you'd be stereotyping. I am a US citizen and
> NEVER wished the Smiths would be on top of the charts consumed by the
> masses. The Smiths belonged to me and the chosen few. Had the general
> public turned the Smiths into mega-stars it would have ruined it for me.

> Also, just because someone is a 40-something exec does not mean they've
> lost it completely. As if turning 40 suddenly makes you uncool. I'm early
> 30-something now and have plenty of exec friends in their 40's and trust
> me, they may be greying a bit here and there but they'll be hipsters til
> the end.

> So basically what I'm saying is that you're wrong. Not in a bad way
> though, you just didn't know any better.

It was not enough for you to colonize us. Now you must go and make jokes against our greatest leader, the man who emancipated us from British Rule. Perhaps, I should stop coming here, as you clearly find this funny, and I am deeply hurt.

Ah, Mahatma Ghandi. The only Indian that the British could not ignore!!

> I get the impression that it is more the American contingent that wish and
> wonder why The Smiths were never commercially successful. The latest poll
> on the homepage is asking opinion on reasons for this. People who ask this
> question seem to think that if a band is spankingly brilliant, they MUST
> have chart success. The reality is, this would have ruined a band like The
> Smiths.

> I'd say it is more the UK fans who glad The Smiths never became another
> REM and had overwieght 40something executives buying their CDs to listen
> to in the car. One of the great things about The Smiths is they were
> ostracized by the media and most of the chart record buying public, who
> lets face is, aren't the brightest of sparks when it comes to taste.

> The Smiths never were about being mainstream. Reams of Morrissey's lyrics
> are on themes like being an outsider. I sometimes wonder if people
> understand this when they hear songs like 'How Soon Is Now' and 'You've
> Got Everything Now'. The Smiths were, and still are too intelligent for
> the masses, and thank fuck for that.

Things must be bad....I'm agreeing with Bluenose

Guillermo, my picture posting friend, not ALL American fans wish the Smiths had commercial success. I didn’t say that. I said it seems those who wish it, seem to be American.
Same as the 40something exec thing. Not ALL 40somethings have shite taste in music, obviously. I was referring to those “suits” in HMV browsing the CD rack trying to buy music credibility. These are the people who would have been Yuppies in the 80s so therefore always had bad taste and would be in their 40s now.
Do you see the difference?
Good lad.

> Well now if you did that then you'd be stereotyping. I am a US citizen and
> NEVER wished the Smiths would be on top of the charts consumed by the
> masses. The Smiths belonged to me and the chosen few. Had the general
> public turned the Smiths into mega-stars it would have ruined it for me.

> Also, just because someone is a 40-something exec does not mean they've
> lost it completely. As if turning 40 suddenly makes you uncool. I'm early
> 30-something now and have plenty of exec friends in their 40's and trust
> me, they may be greying a bit here and there but they'll be hipsters til
> the end.

> So basically what I'm saying is that you're wrong. Not in a bad way
> though, you just didn't know any better.

> I get the impression that it is more the American contingent that wish and
> wonder why The Smiths were never commercially successful. The latest poll
> on the homepage is asking opinion on reasons for this. People who ask this
> question seem to think that if a band is spankingly brilliant, they MUST
> have chart success. The reality is, this would have ruined a band like The
> Smiths.

My thoughts entirely.. success generally equals runi! I love the fact they never broke out of the cult appreciateion a loyal minority still foster to this day.. It's why we are here.

But if Morrissey opened his own Waco, and demanded suicide.. I wouldn't go that far. I'd still buy his next 12" though!

Ruffian

> Guillermo, my picture posting friend, not ALL American fans wish the
> Smiths had commercial success. I didn’t say that. I said it seems those
> who wish it, seem to be American.
> Same as the 40something exec thing. Not ALL 40somethings have shite taste
> in music, obviously. I was referring to those “suits” in HMV browsing the
> CD rack trying to buy music credibility. These are the people who would
> have been Yuppies in the 80s so therefore always had bad taste and would
> be in their 40s now.
> Do you see the difference?
> Good lad.

Phew, glad to hear that. You had me worried for a minute there.

> It was not enough for you to colonize us. Now you must go and make jokes
> against our greatest leader, the man who emancipated us from British Rule.
> Perhaps, I should stop coming here, as you clearly find this funny, and I
> am deeply hurt.

> Ah, Mahatma Ghandi. The only Indian that the British could not ignore!!

Ach, Im glad you joined in the spirit of that.
Anyway, while I'm here, can I have a pint of milk , a loaf, 10 b&h, a half-bottle of smirnoff, and two curly-wurlies? Cheers.
Oh, and a carrier-bag.

I know you know that those comments do not ring true for so many of us of the Indian Sub-Continent who come from highly educated families of working professionals, like my family. Having said that, your first post was a touch funny though it did insult Americans who killed native Americans, and yet I don't think given Britain's sorded history your are in a good position to throw stones or cast blame. Now then, Patel's reply was miserable in that he missed the joke entirely and took you much too seriously. Your reply was slightly malicious, in that it re-enforced stereotypes of immigrants coming from the Indian Sub-Continent, made a grand overgeneralization, and could be seen as hurtful. If that was your point, I hear you louder than gongs.

Please, if you have not already done so, see the films:

1) East is East
2) My Son The Fanatic

AND LET THAT BE THE LAST WORD ON THIS SUBJECT!!!!

Ok,Ill use the word ASS CLOWN....YOU are an ass clown!!!!!....see no "slang" there...fuckin dolt!!!! nice try.

I don't recall The Smiths being dissed much by the music press. From the get go they were beloved by the indie boys and girls. The NME adored The Smiths.

I would describe their position in the musical firmanent of the time as top of the indie heap with a reasonable foray into the concious of mainstream music fans. Most youngish people by '87 would be familiar with the band, at least by name only.

By '87 I think there is an argument for saying that the band had become mainstream. Lots of people were buying their records and attending their gigs. I'm sure the albums all charted strongly.

The gigs were always banged out. People forget that the gigs were very physical (verging on violent) happenings. A lot of laddish unintelligent stuff went on.