Tears For Fears - " the Tipping Point"

After 18 years the silence has been broken. The duo that comprises this band went through their individual stressors that almost brough them to an end before they finished with the album, they began working on back in 2013. The record label pressure the band to work with younger artists, however they had the integrity to say " no, fuck that this doesn't sound like Tears for Fears.   but the folky "No Small Thing" has not what I was expecting going into this album, despite being a huge fan of this band and fully aware of the ground they have covered over the course of their career. There is the type of dynamic shift you might expect from this band that evens things out. The title track that follows is what sets the controls for sizzle as it reflects the new wave 80s vibe while working in modern electronics. 

"Long, Long, Long Time" is more of pop song that blends in with more recent music but on their own terms. Carina Round from Puscifer contributes backing vocals to this song and other tracks on the album. The Curt Smith penned "Breaking the Man" flows really well.  "My Demons" glides over an electronic groove. Going into this album my main concern as with most veteran rockers is how well is their voice holding up over the years. Their singing is still dynamic and very capable though they might not reach up into their head register like the once did. "Rivers of Mercy" is a ballad. It works for what it is, not my favorite song, but I am sure it will grow on me, they do balladry better on "Please Be happy". "Master Plan" finds them back in their sweet spot, sure it recalls the 80s but that is what I want from these guys even when they are skipping along with a piano driven riff like this one. I mean this could have been on "Songs from the Big Chair". There is also something very Pink Floyd about the big dramatic way it moves. 

The bounce to "End of Night" is very consistent with who they are as a band and stands alongside the rest of their work which is really all I am asking from these guys. The problem with most bands of their status is they have already raised the bar for themselves already, so it is also asking a lot, but they are delivering better than I hoped. The light smooth texture of the vocals on the last song is pretty impressive even if the song itself is a very atmospheric ballad. Midway into the song the dynamics slowly grow. I will round this up to a ten as it is still growing on me but is impressive and earned many a listen thus far and holds up against their other albums.