Tears for Fears, prog at least related?

Their first album is more or less a "conceptual album" inspired by the "Primal Scream" psychotherapy. It is called "The Hurting" and it was released in 1983. It has a cover with a child apparently crying. Both Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith were followers of the "Primal Scream" theories of Arthur Janov (like John Lennon, who had this kind of treatement in 1970, and recorded his "Plastic Ono Band" album the same year inspired by this psychotherapy). Both Orzabal and Smith, who met at 13 years old, were members of disfunctional families, so this was the main inspiration for this album, with all songs composed by Orzabal. Yes, the music in the album is more Pop Rock oriented, but it is like "Intellectual Pop", with some good arrangements.

 

Their second album, the more successful called "Songs from the Big Chair" (1985) is another  more or less "conceptual album", Pop oriented too. It is also somewhat inspired by the film "Sybil", which story is about a woman who suffers from Multiple Personality Disorder. Again, it is "Intellectual Pop", but both albums have the Prog rock influence at least by the "conceptual albums" idea. The music also has the influences of several styles, one of the characteristics of Art Rock. There are also some Political criticisms. "The song called "Shout" is one of those criticisms.

 

"The Seeds of Love" is, IMO, a good example of Art Rock, with influences from The Beatles, Soul Music, Jazz-Rock, Pop Rock, etc. The song "Sowing the Seeds of Love" also has critics to Politicians (Margaret Thatcher, for example). It is a very good album. A "five stars album" for my taste.

 

After their 1990 tour, which was closed with the Knebworth Festival concert, Smith left the band. Orzabal continued recording albums using the Tears for Fears name. Good albums too ("Elemental" (1993) and "Raoul and the Kings of Spain" (1995)). The "Raoul.." album is another more or less "conceptual album" about Orzabal`s family. Orzabal`s ancestors were a mix of English, French and Spanish roots.

 

After having less success alone as Tears for Fears, Orzabal released one solo album in 2001 under his own name, called "Tomcats screaming outisde" or something like that, with even less success.

 

Curt Smith released a solo album called "Soul on Board" (1993), which wasn`t released in the U.S. because he didn`t like it because he doesn`t consider it as a good representation of his style of music. It was only an album recorded to finish his contract with  the label. This album was  released in my country and in other countries like England. It is even more Pop Rock than TFF and not so bad as Smith considers it. He years later released an album called "Mayfield" (1998), the name of his band (the name "Mayfield" is a joke really... "Curt is Mayfield"). He also released an E.P. called "Aeroplane" in 1999 or 2000 under his own name. These last releases were done by his own label called Zerodisc. All albums without success.

 

By early 2000, Orzabal and Smith were friends again, and by 2005 they released another album as TFF, called "Everybody Loves a Happy Ending".

 

If you consider this band as a Prog band or not, I suggest you to enjoy their music. It`s good anyway.

I knew that  I got carried away and typed his name without thinking, and of course Japan are listed here too - but as Rain Tree Crow.