Albums

The Tears - Here Come The Tears

Yallon Banoun 06/06/2005

Rating: 4/5

The Tears are Brett Anderson (vocals) and Bernard Butler (guitars) formerly of Suede after ten years of not talking, and with the implosion of late Suede: Brett Anderson picked up the phone and spoke to Bernard Butler ( who was at a lose end having finished work with David McAlmont and his own stalled solo career) and thus one of the great song writing partnerships of recent times was reunited along with: Nathan Fisher on Bass, Mako on drums under the banner of the Tears. A partnership responsible for two remarkable albums in the early nineties the androgynous urban glam tragedy of debut album "Suede" and the epic era defining indie art pomp of "Dog Man Star." Here comes the Tears is the band's debut album, understand this isn't Suede but a new direction a new chapter in the story of two talented men.

Opening track Refugees is "Trash" meats "New Generation" its glam pop at it's best. A good choice by the duo for the first single. Its an instant classic.
Second track is "Autograph" A very catchy tune, very good in my opinion lyrically its a bit melancholy, which contrast well with the "joyful" tune. Third track is "Co-Star" is the first ballad of the album. Its a Good tune, but the words are less than perfect in my opinion. Imperfections : A nice rhythmic ballad with nice strings and guitars: about the "imperfections" of a girlfriend. It would be a good single to put out.. "The Ghost of You" is a great ballad, about the "ghost" of a loved one that has gone (died?).

Track six "Two Creatures" is a good tune, but the lyrics aren't as good, which diminishes it's appeal a bit. All in all, a good pop song. The next single to be released from this album "Lovers" is the only song which is a bit "weak" on this album in terms of both its tune and lyrics. If I were the tears, I wouldn't release it as a single. But I'm not.
"Fallen Idol" is a special song in one of their first performances, Brett said that this is a song about "Pete Townsend." The Lyrics are powerfully pointed and represent Townsend's life. The melody is very good too, a good ballad, the first song on the album where Brett starts to show his great vocals (going into high note on the chorus). Next up is Brave New Century and its the "angriest" song on the album, speaking of the new century and it's pitfalls. Also the "heaviest" guitar tune on the album, with a great guitar riff from Bernard.

The track "Beautiful Pain" is a great rhythmic ballad about the "cold turkey" state. It could easily become the next single: A great song, that catches you in the first listen and doesn't let go. Track nine is called "The Asylum" I think I read somewhere that Brett wrote this about his dad. Anyway, it's one of the finest moments in the album, it has very sad (yet at the same time uplifting) words, and an amazing tune.

The album's penultimate track is Apollo 13 and its the best song on the album in my opinion. It has the words "Power ballad" written all over it. It's actually a blues song, about a "doomed" love (as Brett put it in one of the performances). It has the finest vocal performance from Brett on the album, actually in a long time. Its an Amazing song, as good as any of their "Suede" era songs. Last track "A Love as Strong as Death", reminds me (a bit) of the grandiose of "Still Life" from Dog Man Star. Its the second best song on the album. Great strings and arrangement, and Brett's crooning voice is as powerful here as it is on "Apollo 13".

All in all, I think this is definitely a great comeback album. Only a few songs here recall the early Suede style, "The tears" have managed to create their own distinctive sound, which is more "Soul" inspired than Suede ever where.

The highlights of the album (Apollo 13, Beautiful Pain, The Asylum and A Love as Strong as Death) are as good as the best Suede moments, and in general I think whilst you could say that many of Brett's lyrics on the album are quite melancholic, the music created by Bernard Butler to complement it is uplifting and soulful.

I think the Tears decided to open the album on a "catchier" poppy note, so you have the "singles" at the beginning, and only on "Fallen Idol" you can hear the melancholic sweep in that reveals it self in the latter half. The albums closing six songs are definitely the better part of the album, in line with the heights that they reached with Suede.