The Tipping Point (Tears for Fears album) explained

The Tipping Point
Type:studio
Artist:Tears for Fears
Cover:Tears for Fears - The Tipping Point Album Cover.jpg
Released:25 February 2022
Recorded:2013–2021
Genre:
Length:42:25
Label:Concord
Producer:
Prev Year:2017

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.[3] 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.[4] [5] 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.[5] 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.

Background

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, , 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.[6] It was only later revealed that the lyrics were about his wife's struggles with depression, alcoholism and ensuing medical problems.[7]

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.[8] Some lyrics were inspired by the death of Orzabal's wife in 2017.[9] 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.

Promotion

"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.[10] The second single was "No Small Thing", released 3 December 2021,[11] and accompanied by a collage music video directed by Vern Moen.[12] 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.[13] The third single, "Break the Man", was released on 13 January 2022. The song is about patriarchy[14] 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".[15] An animated video (directed by WeAreMonkeys, with animation by Mihai Wilson) was premiered on 10 February 2022.[16] A music video for "My Demons" was released on 1 June 2022, directed by Heather Gildroy and featuring the dancer Ed Monroe.[17] [18] Earlier, Orzabal had joked that the song sounded as if it was written for Depeche Mode.[19] 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.[20] 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."[21]

Critical reception

The Tipping Point received an average score of 83 out of 100 based on 15 reviews according to Metacritic, indicating "universal acclaim".

Track listing

Note: The only release containing all three bonus tracks on one disc is the Super Deluxe Edition (SDE) CD edition, which was limited to 2000 units.[22] "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.

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,[23] but later re-pressed due to demand,[24] the second pressing surpassing the first with 2500 manufactured units.[25]

Note

Personnel

Tears for Fears

Additional musicians

Technical

Artwork

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (2022)! scope="col"
Peak
position
Japanese Hot Albums (Billboard Japan)[26] 80
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[27] 1

Year-end charts

Chart (2022)! scope="col"
Position
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[28] 195

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Wheeler . Brad . 16 February 2022 . Tears For Fears' first album in 18 years, The Tipping Point, is the record their management didn't want . 23 February 2022 . . 22 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220222060110/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/music/article-tears-for-fears-the-tipping-point-album/ . live .
  2. Hirsh . Mark . 28 February 2022 . The Tipping Point review: Tears for Fears prove their music is still vital on their first album in 17 years . 1 March 2022 . . 1 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220301005654/https://ew.com/music/music-reviews/tears-for-fears-the-tipping-point/ . live .
  3. News: Tears for Fears return for first album in 17 years. Kreps. Daniel. Rolling Stone. 7 October 2021. 10 October 2021. 10 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211010020347/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/tears-for-fears-the-tipping-point-new-album-1236239/. live.
  4. Web site: Central Cee scores first ever UK Number 1 album with 23, beating Tears For Fears' comeback. Carl Smith. Official Charts Company. March 4, 2022. March 11, 2022.
  5. 'Encanto' Enchants Billboard 200 Albums Chart With Eighth Week at No. 1. Billboard. Keith Caulfield. March 6, 2022. March 12, 2022.
  6. Web site: Please Be Happy :: Tears For Fears Brasil . 2022-08-10 . tearsforfearsbrasil.webnode.page.
  7. Web site: 2021-10-08 . 'If there is a God, this is what he put us on Earth to do': the unlikely return of Tears for Fears . 2022-08-10 . the Guardian . en.
  8. Web site: 2021-12-22. Tears For Fears: 'New album 'The Tipping Point' almost pushed us over the edge'. 2021-12-29. Retro Pop. en-GB. 29 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211229145236/https://retropopmagazine.com/tears-for-fears-the-tipping-point-exclusive/. live.
  9. News: 'If there is a God, this is what he put us on Earth to do': the unlikely return of Tears for Fears. Barton. Laura. The Guardian. 8 October 2021. 10 October 2021. 9 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211009191136/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2021/oct/08/tears-for-fears-reunion-interview. live.
  10. News: Tears for Fears announce first album in 17 years 'The Tipping Point'. Garcia. Thania. Billboard. 7 October 2021. 10 October 2021. 9 October 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211009101615/https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/9642270/tears-for-fears-the-tipping-point-album-video. live.
  11. Kreps. Daniel. 2021-12-03. Tears for Fears Go Back to Basics With New Song 'No Small Thing'. 2021-12-05. Rolling Stone. en-US. 5 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211205235142/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/tears-for-fears-new-song-no-small-thing-1266325/. live.
  12. Web site: Pearis. Bill. Tears for Fears share "No Small Thing" from first album in 17 years. 2021-12-05. BrooklynVegan. 3 December 2021 . en. 5 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211205213450/https://www.brooklynvegan.com/tears-for-fears-share-no-small-thing-from-first-album-in-17-years/. live.
  13. Web site: Tears For Fears on their new single, No Small Thing. SuperDeluxeEdition.com. 3 December 2021 . 2021-12-05. en-US. 5 December 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211205213453/https://superdeluxeedition.com/interview/tears-for-fears-on-their-new-single-no-small-thing/. live.
  14. Web site: 2022-01-13. Tears for Fears Rail Against the Patriarchy in New Single 'Break the Man'. 2022-02-13. Rolling Stone Australia. en-AU. 5 March 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220305174738/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/tears-for-fears-break-the-man-single-1283887/. live.
  15. Smith . Curt . Curt Smith . curtsmith . 993981231439138816 . 8 May 2018 . I want to play! https://t.co/Atdid7nbBv . en . 21 February 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220214011735/https://twitter.com/curtsmith/status/993981231439138816 . 14 February 2022 . live.
  16. Web site: Ewing. Jerry. 2022-02-10. Tears For Fears release new video for Break The Man. 2022-02-13. Louder Sound. en. 13 February 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220213195626/https://www.loudersound.com/news/tears-for-fears-release-new-video-for-break-the-man. live.
  17. Tears For Fears share striking video for latest single 'My Demons' . Retropop The Music Magazine: Latest News, Interviews, Reviews, Features & Exclusive Content . 1 June 2022 . 8 September 2022.
  18. Web site: Watch the video for Tears For Fears' latest song My Demons - Classic Pop Magazine . 2022-08-10 . www.classicpopmag.com.
  19. Web site: Tears for Fears: Ein Song hätte für Depeche Mode sein können . 2022-08-10 . depechemode.de . 6 March 2022 . de-DE.
  20. Web site: Tears For Fears share music video for latest single 'Long, Long, Long Time' . 2022-08-18 . www.retropopmagazine.com. 18 August 2022 .
  21. Web site: 2023-06-14 . Tears For Fears announce three special UK shows for September . 2023-08-01 . Retro Pop . en-GB.
  22. Web site: Tears For Fears announce a new studio album: 'The Tipping Point'. SuperDeluxeEdition.com. 7 October 2021 . 2022-01-21. en-US. 15 January 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20220115204914/https://superdeluxeedition.com/news/tears-for-fears-announce-a-new-studio-album-the-tipping-point/. live.
  23. Web site: The new Tears For Fears album is being issued on blu-ray audio with a Steven Wilson Dolby Atmos mix – SuperDeluxeEdition . 11 January 2022 . 2022-03-11 . en-US.
  24. Web site: SDE announces a second pressing of Tears For Fears' The Tipping Point on blu-ray audio – SuperDeluxeEdition . 20 April 2022 . 2022-04-21 . en-US.
  25. Web site: Last chance to order the Tears For Fears 'The Tipping Point' blu-ray – SuperDeluxeEdition . 3 May 2022 . 2022-08-10 . en-US.
  26. Web site: Billboard Japan Hot Albums: 2022/03/02 公開. Billboard Japan. ja. 2 March 2022.
  27. Tears for Fears' 'The Tipping Point' Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard's Top Album Sales Chart. Billboard.
  28. Web site: Rapports annuels 2022. Ultratop. fr. 1 February 2023.

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