The Seeds of Love

ローランド・オーザバル(vo,g)、カート・スミス(vo,b)によるデュオ、ティアーズ・フォー・フィアーズの1989年に発表された3rdアルバム。

大ヒット・シングル「ウーマン・イン・チェインズ」、「シーズ・オブ・ラヴ」に代表される、後期ザ・ビートルズに色濃く影響された奥深く風格溢れるサウンドで、全英1位/全米8位の大ヒットを記録した秀作。

フィル・コリンズ、オリータ・アダムスがゲスト参加。

アルバムの2枚組version

Along with Songs from the Big Chair, The Seeds of Love was part of a one-two artistic punch in the late 80s that situated Tears for Fears as one of the decades more ambitious pop groups. But at the time, Tears was more a platform for Roland Orzabal than a true band -- Curt Smith is present only on the smash Sowing the Seeds of Love (his only co-writing credit), while Ian Stanley was replaced by Nicky Holland as a keyboardist and Orzabals songwriting partner. Like their other albums, The Seeds of Love continues the concept of moving from hurting to healing to beginning anew (the hit Sowing the Seeds of Love) to growing apart. The songs feature expansive melodies instead of blatant hooks, and the sound is more grounded in soul and gospel on Woman in Chains, the updated Philly-soul strain of Advice for the Young at Heart and Badmans Song. Orazabals passionate vocals are well matched by Oleta Adams fervent contributions. The group even dabbles in jazz on Standing on the Corner of the Third World, the fabulous Swords and Knives, and the slow-burning Year of the Knife. As for the title track, it manages to be intensely intricate as well as profoundly catchy. Full of arcane references, lovely turns of phrase, and perfectly matched suite-like parts, it updates the orchestral grandiosity -- though not the actual sound -- of the Beatles psychedelic period. The song is completely different from the polished, atmospheric soul that surrounds it, yet acts as the albums cornerstone. Sowing the Seeds of Love is the apotheosis of Orzabal and Smiths evolution as a team, and foreshadowed their impending split. ~ Stanton Swihart