It's hard for me to think of the music of the 1980's in nostalgic terms. I often hear the term "classic 80's" thrown around as a legitimate genre. Part of my inability to embrace that concept lies in the fact that I am still so enthralled with so much of the true cutting edge music that was released during that notorious decade. It's hard to look back on an era of music when that era is still such a prevalent part of my daily playlist. I'm still as enchanted with the ground-breaking work of bands like Echo and the Bunnymen and Devo as I ever was and I still listen to them with the same enthusiasm I felt the first time I heard them. I can also remember the enthusiasm and elation I felt when I first heard Tears For Fears. Beneath the layers of snazzy synthesizers lay some deep, heady lyrics that forced me to stop and really listen. The bands unusual choices for subject matter to sing about set them apart from most of their contemporaries. As unlikely a pairing as it seems, the band was able to create danceable singles about primal therapy and isolation. No easy task. And their message still seems to resonate with many who grew up listening to their music. Just ask any of the 1,955 boisterous fans who attended the bands performance at Ruth Eckerd Hall on Wednesday night.
This article appears in Sep 2-8, 2010.