Tears for Fears Album: “Raoul and the Kings of Spain”

Roland Orzabal (operating under the Tears for Fears name) has created what many TFF fans consider the best album in their catalog.

Raoul and the Kings of Spain has a maturity about it that is impressive. It has muscle and swagger. It is a very confident CD and while it explores many topics, it hits on some pretty big ones: God. Love. Family. Relationships.

It moves from song to song at its own purposeful and confident pace. The arrangement and very order of the songs is brilliant. This is easily the most "rock and roll" offering in the TFF catalog. Roland's voice is phenomenal. His screaming on Raoul and Secrets ("Time and time again!!! Summer time again!!!") will send chills down your spine.

Over the years, I have purchased (and given away as gifts) several copies of Raoul and the Kings of Spain to people who had no idea whatsoever that TFF had an edgy, R&R side. These folks have, without exception, been blown away. The layman's perception of TFF (that of two young European lads riding in a convertible whilst singing "Everybody Wants To Rule The World") is quickly disintegrated by the dark and moody lyrics, the sonically rich, multi-layered tapestry of sound, the power-chords and grungy riffs of Sorry, Raoul and the Kings of Spain (the title track), Humdrum and Don't Drink The Water.

There is not much on Raoul and the Kings of Spain that would hint at the more pop offerings of earlier TFF records - although Oleta Adams resurfaces on the track Me and my Big Ideas which would sit nicely along side her work on the Seeds of Love album.

In the vein of a concept album, there is a subtle Spanish theme woven throughout (appearing via Spanish guitar, trumpets, percussion, lyrics, the artwork, etc) which serves to create an almost mystical ambiance. As the last notes of Los Reyes Catolicos fade - there is a profound sadness and longing - yet a hope remains as the demons have been purged - as Roland sings: "Ghosts all gone to another place".

This record stands out from all the other TFF recordings in a significant way. It is the "conversion" of Roland. Conversion from pop star to rock star; from songwriter to sage; from lyricist to poet.

This record is really, really special.

Talk about taking one's breath away.

I had read many positive reviews of this album, and decided to give it a spin..I know someone who has this album but never really tried it out, but now that I did, I am glad that I got my own copy.

This CD is packed full of melody and beautiful harmony, proving that Roland was the major force in Tears For Fears. He has an amazing voice and a great sense melody. He created, literally, some of the best music I have ever heard. Bold and very creative, this album also rocks as well, look to a track like "Sorry" the guitar in the background just comes slicing on through and the whole song itself just chugs along, interspliced with Roland's melancholy lyrics and exceptional vocal delievery.

Elsewhere, "Los Reyes Catolicos" is a special interlude, hauntingly enchanting and done very well, and its a perfect foil to the harder aforementioned "Sorry". "Sketches of Pain" is another slow number with some great acoustic guitar playing and a steady but gentle beat going behind it. This song also, conveys a great sadness but with some uplifting Spanish-like music kicking in, making the album's entire Spain motif all come together well. The title track is a typical TFF number and helps to grab you in from the start, to give people who enjoyed thier 80s heyday a reason to go deeper into this stunning album expierence.

"Falling Down" uses a slight disco beat which is kind of cool, another track I enjoy very much. When I first heard this album I wasn't too crazy for the part of the song where the tempo picks up but upon repeated listenings I found a great hook and melody within and now I am completely sold on the entire track.

Back to some rock, "Don't Drink the Water" will quench your thirst, it is another rocking track that took the longest for me to get into but now I do enjoy like (most) of the rest of the songs on here. You just have to play this album a few times and let all these wonderful sounds penetrate your brain. The only track I don't really care for would have to be "I Choose You" it isn't terrible, it just doesn't hold anything that special for me. But I don't always skip it so it's not so bad.

RAOUL AND THE KINGS OF SPAIN closes out with a hidden gem in of itself. "Me and My Big Ideas" is an absolute classic, and is put firmly towards at the end of this album to leave in your mind just how great the album you just heard was. It has a beautiful and capitivating sound and is the ultimate power ballad that should have been a big hit. This track, as well as "God's Mistake" should have been huge singles with proper promotion. That was definately someone's mistake.

Simply Amazing. You will not be disappoint if you already like TFF of the 80s or great and interesting music with many flavours and faces at all. Worth any penny you find it for. A MUST! 11/12

Now I do not pretend to know everything there is to know about Tears for Fears...but....I LOVE THIS CD! From START TO FINISH! IT is truely a conceptual masterpiece! I was fortunate enough to see this performed LIVE in Detroit at St. Andrews Music Hall....incredible band incredible musicians...but ROLAND wrote it all!

He is truely a master...and minus CURT too he is still as good as ever! ITS A DARN SHAME that this did not get airplay and the concert only showed up as a small tiny ad in the corner of the local jam rag...but THE SHOW WAS INCREDIBLE the ALBUM has given to many a spin in my car CD player...it was in rotation there for about an entire year and often times repeated! References to LENNON and MCCARTNEY are made and i think they are RIGHT ON CUE!

Roland is a true pop genius! WHO CAN REALLY ROCK OUT TOO! Who ever said POP SONGS had to be boring eh? Just see this band perform one time if you are lucky enough! Somewhere i see he appologized to Radiohead for playing the song CREEP but i saw him perform it with complete perfection! The stage was extended with speakers galore and sound equipment to fill a HUGE VENUE in a small tiny club! The lights and music and show were incredible and this cd is a GREAT one to own! CONCEPTUAL and PERFECTION in a POP RECORD! GIVE THIS BAND MORE CREDIT! THE poor website for this album set desolate for more than several years no activity!

Shame ITS A LOW DOWN DIRTY CRYING SHAME .....music has no support for the fine artists such as Tears For Fears...however ROLAND and CURT you have my FOREVER SUPPORT You are BOTH TRUE GENIUS's!

Do not buy this CD. It will irreparably diminish your interest in any other CD you own.

When I bought this album, I listened to it in its entirety right away on my walkman. I was so stricken that I immediately listened to it again and then again. I wore out the batteries of my walkman in 2 days. What struck me about this album initially were Roland's powerful vocals. I believe that this album demonstrates his vocal talents better than any of the previous albums. In the title track, "Raoul and the Kings of Spain", his voice is full and reminds me of a vast desert. Even his falsetto sounds rich and unstrained. This album at times is really a showcase of excellent guitar playing, song construction, and pop song writing. A few of the songs, while catchy, are rather lacking in meaningful content. This makes them come off as over the top and a bit cheesy ("Don't Drink the Water", "God's Mistake", "Sorry"). On the other hand, most of the other songs feel so meaningful ("Sketches of Pain", "Secrets", "I Choose You", "Los Reyes Catolicos") that I was shocked when I listened to the lyrics and discovered nothing very monumental. My theory on why this happened is as follows. Tears For Fears' first two albums revealed that Roland was deeply depressed. The songs were full of pain, struggle, and a will to fight for happiness. As we move to the next few albums, there is a feeling that a lot of healing has occurred. The songs became more upbeat and gave me a feel that Roland is finding his place in the music and in the world. Often art is created to help the artist heal from crisis and struggle, or to answer a question. Once the healing has been finished or the question answered, the art tends to loose its passion. this is because it has lost its primary reason for being created. I feel that this is what has happened on this album. Songs like "Sketches of Pain" and "Los Reyes Catolicos" remind you that once there was a great deal of hurt, but I feel that Roland has run out of inspirational material. You might argue that this album is supposed to address Roland's family history and his Spanish heritage, but other than, "Los Reyes Catolicos", the title track, and the Spanish guitar playing featured of some of the album, I don't see how it addresses that. Despite the album's seeming lack of meaningful content, it is surprisingly underrated as it contains some of Tears For Fears' best material to date.