The Tipping Point | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | 25 February 2022 | |||
Recorded | 2013–2021 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 42:25 | |||
Label | Concord | |||
Producer |
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Tears for Fears chronology | ||||
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Singles from The Tipping Point | ||||
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The Tipping Point is the seventh studio album by the English pop rock band Tears for Fears, released on 25 February 2022 through Concord Records. [5] It is the band's first studio album since Everybody Loves a Happy Ending , released almost 18 years prior. Work on the album commenced in 2013, but the project endured numerous delays and setbacks between touring; disagreements that bandleaders Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith had with their record label and management; and the death of Orzabal's wife, which influenced many of the songs on the album. The bulk of the album was completed in 2020 and 2021.
The album was a critical and commercial success, giving the band their sixth UK Top-5 album and highest chart peak in 30 years when it debuted at number 2 on the UK Album Chart. It also reached the Top 10 in numerous other countries including the US, Australia, France, Germany, Ireland, Switzerland, Belgium and The Netherlands. [6] [7] It became the band's third US top-ten album on the chart and their first release to achieve this since their 1989 album The Seeds of Love . [7] The tracks "The Tipping Point", "No Small Thing", "Break the Man", "My Demons", "Long, Long, Long Time", and "Rivers of Mercy" were released as singles to promote the album.
Work on the album began in 2013, but the process proved difficult for band members Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith. The band were asked by their (then) management company to collaborate with various younger artists in an attempt to create a more contemporary- and commercial-sounding album. However, these sessions (which the band themselves likened to "speed dating") were not entirely successful, resulting in an album which, as Orzabal later put it, sounded "less like a Tears For Fears album". The band originally signed to the Warner Music label to release the album, but once it was completed in 2016, Universal Music (who own the bulk of the band's back catalogue from the 1980s and 90s) then showed interest in the project. Universal opted to first release a new compilation album, Rule the World: The Greatest Hits , in 2017 in order to pave the way for the new album. This included two of the new tracks, including "I Love You but I'm Lost" which was co-written by the band along with members of Bastille. Earlier that year (on April 7), Orzabal uploaded a demo version of "Please Be Happy", sung by him (as opposed to Smith on the final release, which is also sped up so it is now a half-step higher), on SoundCloud. [8] It was only later revealed that the lyrics were about his wife's struggles with depression, alcoholism and ensuing medical problems. [9]
However, Universal then delayed releasing The Tipping Point as planned, at which point Orzabal and Smith began to have second thoughts about the finished product. The duo lost focus on the project for a while as Orzabal struggled with health problems following the death of his wife, and Smith even contemplated walking away from the band altogether. However, after a successful tour in 2019, they reconvened in early 2020 and "plotted a path forward of how we could finish an album that we were both happy with". The duo signed with a new management company, decided to rework the album (keeping some tracks and replacing others with new material), and then signed a new contract with Concord Records. [10] Some lyrics were inspired by the death of Orzabal's wife in 2017. [11] Of the various songs recorded with other artists and producers, many of the band's collaborations with Sacha Skarbek remained on the album. The track "Stay", which was the other new track to appear on the Rule the World compilation album in 2017, was also included in a slightly remixed form.
"The Tipping Point" was released as the album's lead single on 7 October 2021. The music video for the track was directed by Matt Mahurin. [12] The second single was "No Small Thing", released 3 December 2021, [13] and accompanied by a collage music video directed by Vern Moen. [14] The song was described as a restarting point after the band had been unhappy with the first version of the album, which was dominated by tracks that had been created with younger producers. [15] The third single, "Break the Man", was released on 13 January 2022. The song is about patriarchy [16] and marks the first time Tears for Fears have released an original song as a single not written or co-written by Roland Orzabal. Smith had tweeted a snippet of the song in 2018, though the chorus lyric had originally been "kill the man" instead of "break the man". [17] An animated video (directed by WeAreMonkeys, with animation by Mihai Wilson) was premiered on 10 February 2022. [18] A music video for "My Demons" was released on 1 June 2022, directed by Heather Gildroy and featuring the dancer Ed Monroe. [19] [20] Earlier, Orzabal had joked that the song sounded as if it was written for Depeche Mode. [21] On 18 August 2022 the band released a fifth single and video - this time for the song "Long, Long, Long Time". In an interview with RetroPop Magazine Curt Smith explained that the song is basically about how he and Roland learned to solve disagreements through honest and open dialogue. [22] Once again Heather Gildroy directed the video, though this time with Justin Daashuur Hopkins. A sixth single from the album, "Rivers of Mercy", was announced in June 2023. Inspired by the ordeal of the 2020 lockdowns, Orzabal declared the track as "probably my favourite song on the whole album." [23]
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (August 2023) |
Aggregate scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AnyDecentMusic? | 7.9/10 [24] |
Metacritic | 83/100 [25] |
Review scores | |
Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [26] |
Clash | 8/10 [27] |
Classic Rock | [4] |
The Independent | [28] |
musicOMH | [29] |
The Observer | [30] |
Pitchfork | 7.5/10 [31] |
PopMatters | 8/10 [2] |
Record Collector | [32] |
Uncut | 8/10 [33] |
The Tipping Point received an average score of 83 out of 100 based on 15 reviews according to Metacritic, indicating "universal acclaim". [25]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | "No Small Thing" |
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| 4:42 |
2. | "The Tipping Point" |
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| 4:13 |
3. | "Long, Long, Long Time" |
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| 4:31 |
4. | "Break the Man" |
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| 3:55 |
5. | "My Demons" |
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| 3:08 |
6. | "Rivers of Mercy" |
|
| 6:08 |
7. | "Please Be Happy" |
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| 3:05 |
8. | "Master Plan" | Orzabal |
| 4:37 |
9. | "End of Night" | Orzabal |
| 3:23 |
10. | "Stay" |
| 4:36 | |
Total length: | 42:25 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
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11. | "Secret Location" (UK and European deluxe edition bonus track) |
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| 4:04 |
12. | "Let It All Evolve" (US Target edition bonus track) |
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| 4:26 |
13. | "Shame (Cry Heaven)" (US Target edition bonus track) |
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| 5:31 |
Total length: | 56:26 |
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
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11. | "Let It All Evolve" |
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| 4:26 |
12. | "Shame (Cry Heaven)" |
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| 5:31 |
Total length: | 52:20 |
Note: The only release containing all three bonus tracks on one disc is the Super Deluxe Edition (SDE) CD edition, [35] which was limited to 2000 units. [36] "Let It All Evolve" and "Shame (Cry Heaven)" are also available on vinyl, as a 7" that is part of the limited Target vinyl edition. [37]
Steven Wilson mixed the album (without bonus tracks) to 5.1 surround and Dolby Atmos. The Atmos version was also released on streaming services, but the 5.1 is only available on the SDE blu-ray disc, again initially limited to 2000 units, [38] but later re-pressed due to demand, [39] the second pressing surpassing the first with 2500 manufactured units. [40]
Note
Tears for Fears
Additional musicians
Technical
Artwork
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
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Tears for Fears are an English pop rock band formed in Bath in 1981 by Curt Smith and Roland Orzabal. Founded after the dissolution of their first band, the mod-influenced Graduate, Tears for Fears were associated with the synth-pop bands of the 1980s, and attained international chart success as part of the Second British Invasion.
Wish is the ninth studio album by English rock band the Cure, released on 21 April 1992 by Fiction Records in the United Kingdom and Elektra Records in the United States. Wish was the most commercially successful album in the band's career, debuting at number one in the UK and number two in the US, where it sold more than 1.2 million copies.
Everybody Loves a Happy Ending is the sixth studio album by English pop rock band Tears for Fears, released on 14 September 2004 in the United States and on 7 March 2005 in the United Kingdom and Europe.
The Seeds of Love is the third studio album by English pop rock band Tears for Fears, released on 25 September 1989 by Fontana Records. It retained the band's epic sound while incorporating influences ranging from jazz and soul to Beatlesque pop. Its lengthy production and scrapped recording sessions cost over £1 million. The album spawned the title hit single "Sowing the Seeds of Love", as well as "Woman in Chains", and "Advice for the Young at Heart", both of which reached the top 40 in several countries.
Elemental is the fourth studio album by English pop rock band Tears for Fears, released on 7 June 1993 by Mercury Records. It was the band's first album recorded following the departure of co-founder Curt Smith, with Roland Orzabal assuming sole leadership with the help of additional musicians.
Songs from the Big Chair is the second studio album by the English band Tears for Fears, released on 25 February 1985 by Mercury Records, distributed by Phonogram Inc. A follow-up to the band's successful debut album, The Hurting (1983), Songs from the Big Chair was a significant departure from that album's dark, introspective synth-pop, featuring a more mainstream, guitar-based pop rock sound, sophisticated production values and diverse stylistic influences, while Roland Orzabal and Ian Stanley's lyrics displayed socially and politically conscious themes.
The Hurting is the debut studio album by British new wave band Tears for Fears, released on 7 March 1983 by Mercury Records distributed by Phonogram Inc. The album peaked at No. 1 on the UK Albums Chart in its second week of release and was certified Gold by the BPI within three weeks of release. The album also entered the Top 40 in several other countries including Canada, Germany, and Australia. It was certified Platinum in the UK in January 1985.
"Mad World" is a 1982 song by British band Tears for Fears. Written by Roland Orzabal and sung by bassist Curt Smith, it was the band's third single release and first chart hit, reaching number three on the UK Singles Chart in November 1982. Both "Mad World" and its B-side, "Ideas as Opiates", appeared on the band's debut LP The Hurting (1983). This single was also the band's first international success, reaching the Top 40 in several countries in 1982–83. In the UK it was the 12th best-selling single of 1982.
Curt Smith is an English singer, songwriter, musician and record producer, who is best known as the co-lead vocalist, bassist and co-founding member of the pop rock band Tears for Fears along with childhood friend Roland Orzabal. Smith has co-written several of the band's songs, and sings lead vocals on the hits "Mad World", "Pale Shelter", "Change", "The Way You Are", "Everybody Wants to Rule the World", and "Advice for the Young at Heart".
Roland Jaime Orzábal De La Quintana is an English musician, singer, songwriter, record producer, and author. He is the guitarist, co-lead vocalist, main songwriter, co-founder, and the only constant member of Tears for Fears. He is also a producer of artists such as Oleta Adams. In 2014, Orzabal published his first novel, a romantic comedy.
"Everybody Wants to Rule the World" is a song by English pop rock band Tears for Fears from their second studio album Songs from the Big Chair (1985). It was written by Roland Orzabal, Ian Stanley, and Chris Hughes and produced by Hughes. It was released on 22 March 1985 by Phonogram, Mercury, and Vertigo Records as the third single from the album. "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" is a new wave and synth-pop song with lyrics that detail the desire humans have for control and power and centre on themes of corruption.
Raoul and the Kings of Spain is the fifth studio album by English pop rock band Tears for Fears, released on 16 October 1995 by Epic Records. Like the band's previous album, Elemental (1993), it is essentially a solo effort by Roland Orzabal, as neither album involved Curt Smith.
"Shout" is a song by English pop rock band Tears for Fears, released as the second single from their second studio album, Songs from the Big Chair (1985), on 23 November 1984. Roland Orzabal is the lead singer on the track, and he described it as "a simple song about protest". The single became the group's fourth Top 5 hit in the UK Singles Chart, peaking at No. 4 in January 1985. In the US, it reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 on 3 August 1985 and remained there for three weeks; also topping the Cash Box chart. "Shout" became one of the most successful songs of 1985, eventually reaching No. 1 in multiple countries.
The English new wave/pop rock band Tears for Fears have released seven studio albums, along with numerous singles, compilations and videos. Formed in 1981 by Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith, the duo signed to Phonogram Records in the UK and released their first single the same year. It was not until Tears for Fears' third single, "Mad World" (1982), that they scored their first hit, and their platinum-selling debut album The Hurting (1983) was a UK number one.
Tears Roll Down is a greatest hits album by the English pop/rock band Tears for Fears. It was released on 2 March 1992 by Fontana Records. Preceded by the single "Laid So Low ", the album contains the band's UK and international top-20 singles. It has been certified double platinum in the United Kingdom, platinum in the United States, and gold in several other countries including Canada, France and Germany.
Circle of One is the third album by American vocalist, pianist, and songwriter Oleta Adams and was released in 1990. Circle of One was Adams' first album to receive wide distribution; her two earlier albums were self-financed and received only local distribution.
"Advice for the Young at Heart" is a song by the English band Tears for Fears, taken from their 1989 album The Seeds of Love. It was released as the third single from the album in February 1990.
"Break It Down Again" is a song by English pop rock band Tears for Fears, released in May 1993 by Mercury Records as the first single from their fourth studio album, Elemental (1993). It is one of the band's later songs with the typical late 1980s sound, using synthesizers. The song was the second single released after the departure of Curt Smith from the band.
Rule the World: The Greatest Hits is a greatest hits album by English pop rock band Tears for Fears, released in 2017 by Virgin EMI Records. The compilation is an updated version of 1992's Tears Roll Down , including almost every track from that album, plus additional singles from the three studio albums released after Tears Roll Down and two new songs: "Stay" and "I Love You but I'm Lost". The latter was released as a digital single on 13 October 2017.
"The Tipping Point" is a song by English pop rock band Tears for Fears, released as a single in October 2021. It was the band's first new original release in four years, and is the first single to be taken from the album of the same name which was released on 25 February 2022. A video for the song, directed by Matt Mahurin, was released online on 6 October 2021, and is the first promo video featuring the band themselves since 2005. The song was added to BBC Radio 2's playlist in November 2021.