Review: Tears for Fears' ''Songs from the Big Chair' 2LP Anniversary Edition

Following a moody debut with a couple of angular arty moments, Tears for Fears went full smash with their sophomore album. Things like "Mad World", "Pale Shelter", and "Change" had been UK hits and well-loved underground nuggets in the US but nothing to prepare Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith for what was to come with the world-dominating triple-threat of "Head Over Heels", "Shout", and"Everybody Wants to Rule the World". The latter was consciously crafted to be heard on drive-time FM radio, a scheme that more than worked when it and "Shout" each took the Billboard top spot. 

Review: The Black Crowes' 'Amorica' Vinyl Reissue

For a teenage Stones freak growing up amidst the stink of hair metal, such as myself, The Black Crowes seemed like a breath of fresh air. So what if their sound was completely recycled from scratched up copies of Sticky Fingers and A Nod Is as Good as a Wink? So what if their best song was an Otis Redding cover? So what if they were yet another bunch of skinny white guys pushing an "I was stewed in blues" image? They didn't screech from lipsticked lips and Ibanezes. They used minimal amounts of Aquanet. And they clearly loved music.