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Roland Orzabal: Tomcats Screaming Outside

 A l b u m   D e t a i l s


Label: Eagles Records
Released: 2000.04.03
Time:
54:35
Category: Pop/Rock
Producer(s): Roland Orzabal, Alan Griffiths
Rating: ******.... (6/10)
Media type: CD
Web address: www.tears-for-fears.com
Appears with: Tears for Fears
Purchase date: 2001.07.25
Price in €: 16,99



 S o n g s ,   T r a c k s


[1] Ticket to the World (Griffiths/Orzabal) - 5:48
[2] Low Life (Orzabal) - 4:36
[3] Hypnoculture (Orzabal) - 3:13
[4] Bullets for Brains (Griffiths/Orzabal) - 4:08
[5] For the Love of Cain (Orzabal) - 4:06
[6] Under Ether (Griffiths/Orzabal) - 5:51
[7] Day by Day by Day by Day (Griffiths/Orzabal) - 4:35
[8] Dandelion (Griffiths/Orzabal) - 3:03
[9] Hey Andy! (Orzabal) - 4:25
[10] Kill Love (Griffiths/Orzabal) - 5:40
[11] Snowdrop (Griffiths/Orzabal) - 4:23
[12] Maybe Our Days Are Numbered (Griffiths/Orzabal) - 4:47

 A r t i s t s ,   P e r s o n n e l


ROLAND ORZABAL - Computer Programming, Guitar, Keyboards, Vocals

NICK D'VIRGILIO - Drums
DAVID SUTTON - Bass Guitar
ALAN GRIFFITHS - Computer Programming, Guitars, Keyboards, Ambient Mayhem

MARK O'DONOHOUGHUE - Engineer, Mixing
GUY DAVIE - Mastering
JOHN ARNISON - Management
DARAGH MCDONAGH - Photography
CÜRT EVANS - Design

 C o m m e n t s ,   N o t e s


2001 CD Import 1590

Best known as a 'Tears For Fears' front man, this is his debut solo album crafted at his home studio. Said to be 'a successful departure from the electronic pop sound of TFF and altogether more organic in composition'.



Wenn auch Tomcats Screaming Outside als sein Debüt-Album angesehen wird, war Roland Orzabal bereits während des letzten Jahrzehnts ein Solokünstler. Roland Orzabal ist die dominierende Hälfte von Tears For Fears und machte aus dem Pop-Duo der achtziger Jahre nach dem Ausscheiden von Curt Smith Anfang der neunziger Jahre eine One-Man-Band, veröffentlichte zwei Alben, Elemental und Raoul And The Kings Of Spain. Wenn auch Stücke wie "Ticket To The World", "Bullet For Brains" und "For The Love Of Cain" die allesamt Pop/Rock Hymnen mit groß angelegten Refrains sind, problemlos in jedes der beiden Alben der Phase nach Curt Smith passen würden, stellt Tomcats Screaming Outside doch sehr stark wieder eine Rückkehr zu den experimentellen Phasen der Glanzzeit von Tears For Fears dar.

Die düstere Produktion und die Tracks mit dem bedrohlichen Rhythmus wie bei "Under Either" und "Hypnoculture", der lang nachhallende Schwung von "Day By Day", das von Grunge geprägte "Dandelion" und die Drum & Bass Stücke "Kill Love" und "Hey Andy" -- sie leben allesamt von zündenden Melodien und von Orzabals anpassungsfähiger Stimme. Es bleibt eigentlich kein Zweifel, dass die fantasiereiche Begabung, die Tears For Fears von ihren Konkurrenten unterschied und ihren Songs zu solch dauerhaftem Erfolg verhalf, immer noch unglaublich lebendig geblieben ist. Solo-Album oder nicht, Tomcats Screaming Outside ist das beste Album von Tears For Fears in einem ganzen Jahrzehnt.

Dan Gennoe - Amazon.de



One of the best albums from 1983 was The Hurting. It contained the wonderful tracks Mad World, Change and Pale Shelter. That was followed up with the equally fine and million selling Songs From The Big Chair - spawning the singles Shout, and the massive Everybody Wants To Rule The World. It was a style of music making that displayed great pop songs, but with an erstwhile harder edge. They were Tears For Fears, and half of that duo was Roland Orzabal.

They waited four years before the release of The Seeds Of Love; a more expansive album that pushed boundaries, but ultimately broke the band. Orzabal's band partner was Curt Smith but they parted company in the early 90's, in hardly friendly circumstances that deteriorated into an acrimonious slanging match. Orzabal continued the name of Tears For Fears in solo format and released two more albums Elemental (1993) and Raoul And The Kings Of Spain (1995). They hardly dented the charts though and so Roland turned is talents to production for other artists. He helped Oleta Adams create a number one album in Circle Of One, and then worked with hotly-tipped Icelandic talent Emiliana Torrini on her debut LP Love In The Time Of Science. Sadly that didn't do nearly as well as it should have done (even - or perhaps despite - being played on "7~9"!) and so Orzabal searched his soul for new inspiration. But rather than try another Tears For Fears album, he would make one entirely on his own - a debut solo album by name, though not in practice. Although he claims that this album is just a series of sketches an experiments, a collection of ideas from the last 4 years, without any overriding theme, it has ended up being far more than that.

Orzabal was always the driving force behind Tears For Fears; being the writer of all their original work, plus the main contributor in programming and keyboards. So this was always going to be more inventive and creative than anything his previous partner would have created, and on that score it never disappoints. There's a myriad of styles and themes within Tomcats. The harder, rockier first track, followed by the chugging, particularly catchy second track single but then African tribal rhythms in Hypnoculture and more ambient dance stuff in the final tracks. All are impeccably produced - yet not overdone - and have darker, swirling moodiness, along with a dancey feel at times, and all balanced by the trademark Orzabal voice - always one of the highlights of his past band.

There are plans afoot for Tears For Fears to reform as the two seem to have put their differences behind them, but as this could be the sound of that band in 2001, Curt Smith would have to bring along a lot more to the re-grouping if it's to sound any better than this.



Tears-For-Fears-Musiker auf Solopfaden

Gemeinsam mit Curt Smith produzierte Roland Orzabal die Hits Shout, Everybody Wants To Rule The World und Sowing The Seeds Of Love. Unter dem Namen Tears For Fears schrieb das Duo bis Anfang der 90er Jahre Popgeschichte. Orzabal werkelte seither an eigenen und fremden Veröffentlichungen herum. Tomcats Screaming Outside ist sein erstes komplettes Solowerk.
Mit Ticket To The World beginnt der Reigen, der trotz einer munteren Shopping-Tour durch den Gemischtwarenladen zeitgenössischen Musikschaffens (Ambient Techno, Drum'n'Bass, Trip Hop), den unverkennbaren Stempel der 80er trägt: Heute nahezu altmodisch wirkende Synthieklänge und schwere Melancholie atmende Melodien, hymnenhafter Pathos, gelegentliche Gitarrenbretter und die unverkennbaren Basslinien – von Disco zu New Wave mutiert – bestimmen das Geschehen.
Orzabal hat das Gespür für hitverdächtiges Material nicht verloren – nur ist wenig hitverdächtiger, als die Hits von gestern. Da er aber bereits ausgesorgt haben dürfte, war Tomcats Screaming Outside für ihn sicherlich ein guter Spass und wird für die alten Fans eine willkommene Ergänzung der Sammlung sein. Für 80er-Nostalgiker ebenfalls wärmstens zu empfehlen.

Uwe Hopf
© Stuttgarter Zeitung online und Stuttgarter Nachrichten online - Stuttgart Internet Regional GmbH, 1997-2001



Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith parted on rather bitter terms after releasing "Seeds of Love" in 1989. It generated the world-wide hit "(Sowing) the Seeds of Love" and sold millions of copies. At present day, however, the word is that the two have resolved their differences and will reform Tears for Fears in a near future. In the meantime we are treated this, the first Roland Orzabal solo effort. "Tomcats Screaming Outside" is like a giant squid, with widely spread tentacles. Grunge, ambient, pop, rock, electropop, trip hop. He tries several genres, with varying result. I hate to admit it, but nothing sticks. Everything is polished, carefully executed and the song-writing is strong. Strong, but not necessarily interesting. "For the Love of Cain" is breezy pop with impressive vocals and a handful of the other songs are also pleasant ear lube, but as a whole, "Tomcats Screaming Outside" is neither here nor there. A generous average. Pop in Tears for Fears' debut classic "The Hurting" once more instead. It'll do you good.

NIKLAS FORSBERG - releasemagazine.net
 

 L y r i c s


TICKET TO THE WORLD

Here she comes and there she goes
Wearing someone else's clothes
Turning water into wine
Ridicule into sublime - Oh yeah!

Been a daughter all her life
Never ever been a wife
She'll go out in the pouring rain
Just to drive her dog insane - Oh yeah!

Well I love the little girl and I love her like a sister
When the sun goes down she goes off like a twister
She will tear it all down if she doesn't feel trusted
In her under age world I hope she never gets busted

She will share in everything
She'll confess to all her sins
She's in love with all God's children
She's got a ticket to the world

She can light your darkest night
Maybe put your world to right
She's a different generation

She's got a ticket to the world


LOW LIFE

Lowlife - it's real
It's Friday night and you've got no steel
You can cry all you like
But the truth still hurts and the hurt still bites
And it all comes down to a very low high

No give - no take
You  can't rely on a state of grace
You can cry all you like
But the pressure's on when the vein gets tight
And it's all because of these cynical times

Lowlife,  Lowlife

No aim - no goal
No guiding light that can take control
You can cry all you like
But you still don't speak to a world outside
And it's all because of the sun in your eyes

Lowlife, Lowlife

You can have it all but not at all fill that hole
You can make this deal go underground
All the saints are praying hard for your soul
You can buy some wheels and run them down

No  aim - no goal
No guiding light that can take control
And it all comes down to a very low life

Lowlife, Lowlife


HYPNOCULTURE

Face those facts, you can't relax
You gotta get that train back on its tracks
Till the morning comes
The work is done
Find your place beneath the sun
Rake those leaves as thick as thieves
Then go and put your heart back on its sleeve
Till September rain
And all its pain
Dies in vain
And I know what you're thinking
The world is shrinking your bones


BULLETS FOR BRAINS

Well I saw you weeping
One hand on the bible
As I sent your soul to Kingdom Come
Ready to be born again
Well one man sees a wasteland
Another man sees a rainbow
It came to this, the atheists
Got bullets for their brains
Like a goodbye kiss
But then I

I'm putting up a peace-sign
Putting up a peace-sign
Pulling down a peace-sign

Well I believe in angels
They move like a secret army
And they help me blow the atheists sky high
I can't sit still for too long
I'm losing all my patience
I got myself a rocket ship
To make me hip
To take me to the moon
When I lose my grip
I said I

I'm putting up a peace-sign
Putting up a peace-sign
Pulling down a peace-sign

One day, one day in your life
You will see the light
You will see his face again
One day, one day at a time
Soothes the weary mind
You will feel no pain
Bullets for your brain

(I live a very modest life - I'm happy with it)

Hey now, read my lips
Bullets for the brains of the atheists.


FOR THE LOVE OF CAIN

If I said I was Abel
Would you know my name?
I've swung from the trees in the Garden of Eden
And I have shorn off my mane

I've got no horns sticking out
I've got no sting in my tail
I've got no sins to pluck out
Because I do so well
And maybe I can raise the stakes

For the love of Cane
For the love of Cane
We'll dissolve our schemes
And indulge our dreams
For the love of Cane

If you look out your window
With your Sunday smile
If you walk hand in hand through the Valley of Evil
You walk the miracle mile

I just need someone to love
Straight from the cradle to the grave
Maybe it's you I'm thinking of
Because I know your game
And maybe I can raise the stakes

For the love of Cane
For the love of Cane
We'll dissolve our schemes
And indulge our dreams
For the love of Cane


UNDER ETHER

Someone said the world was under ether
Better bet your bottom dollar
Better bet your bottom dollar
That before your eyes we turn to dust
Bodies rearranged

Someone said the world was all but dried out
Read it on the walls the walls around you
Waiting for the paint to dry
Well you might not have to wait very long
Talk about it, think about it hey!

Ether stole your thoughts while you were sleeping
Came in through an open window
Looking for an open mind
And it wiped that smile right off your face
Rock 'n' Roll Radiate
Talk about it, think about it hey!

Under Ether


DAY BY DAY BY DAY BY DAY

Cut out the crap you know you want to relate
Day by day by day by day by day
Don't want to eat your problems like a piece of cake
Day by day by day by day by day
Out of the frying pan in to the fire
I've got a plan that can make your day
Out of the dungeons and down to the wire
You've got to learn how to make love pay

Don't need no friend to tell you how to fuck your head
Day by day by day by day by day
Taking account of nothing leaves you in the red
Day by day by day by day by day
Breaking your bones is a sign of the times
You've got a soul that has been force-fed
Climbing up walls to the end of the line
These are the tracks that are in your head

Out of the frying pan in to the fire
I've got a plan that can make your day
Out of the dungeons and down to the wire
You've got to learn how to make love pay

Day by day by day by day by day


DANDELION

Bright light - over the rainbow
Stay bright - dressed up in day-glo
Laid back - where does the day go?
If I stand tall, can you see my halo?

Princess - came with a big bang
Intense - under a wigwam
Witness - the birth of a nation
The pigs came round and they saved your bacon

Hey now watch out kid
She's playing with your mind and there's no denying
Hey now watch out kid
She's blowing you apart like a dandelion

Whiplash - killed the cockroach
White trash - give 'em enough rope
White lies - Tower of Babel
The world spins round and it turns the tables

Timespan - these are the deadlines
Spaceman - I'm in the headlines
Hot tramp - Marilyn Monroe
Does time stand still when you're stuck in a wormhole?

Hey now watch out kid
She's playing with your mind and there's no denying
Hey now watch out kid
She's blowing you apart like a dandelion

Snakebite - some kind of voodoo
Midlife - crisis upon you
Uptight - Babylon rages
Do apes cry rape when you rattle their cages?

Hey now watch out kid
She's playing with your mind and there's no denying
Hey now watch out kid
She's blowing you apart like a dandelion


HEY ANDY!

God played dice and called you home
Just to let you know you're not alone
Hey Andy!
Darkness creeps against your skin
Like the tide rolling in
Hey Andy!

Incomplete if we ever stop
We're gonna climb the walls and reach the top
More alive than we've ever been
Don't get your fingers caught in my machine
Take your time and take your chance
Don't be fooled by circumstance
Wrap things up in dreams of glory
'Cos when I die you'll be waiting for me

All your lives add up to nine
When you made your bed I made mine
Hey Andy!
Seventeen ways to cleanse your soul
We'll let time take its toll
Hey Andy!

Incomplete if we ever stop
We're gonna climb the walls and reach the top
More alive than we've ever been
Don't get your fingers caught in my machine
Take your time and take your chance
Don't be fooled by circumstance
Wrap things up in dreams of glory
'Cos when I die you'll be waiting for me


KILL LOVE

Same old song going round and around
It's not where I'm at, it's just where I have found myself
Still the sounds keep the wolves from the door
This is my song

Kill love now - don't be pure, don't be kind
Kill love now - for your own peace of mind

Kill love, kill love

These are the days of futures by design
So does your faith give you powers of immunity?
I don't care if you're right or I'm wrong
This is you're life

Kill love now - don't be pure, don't be kind
Kill love now - for your own peace of mind

Kill love, kill love
Kill love, kill love

Buffalo Standing, buffalo standing


SNOWDROP

The writing on the wall changes everyday
Moving the lights about
We live by stealth alone
By simple truths - that's our philosophy
Oh what a perfect day - stretch it out forever

With flowers for your grave
A snowdrop for your soul
Down on your knees and pray
May lightning strike your bones
The devil makes his own pornography
Oh what a cross to bear
Freaking
out completely

You locked yourself away
Now you're dead inside
You dug yourself a grave
Now you're dead inside
The promises you made
Were all dead inside

The calm before the storm
The bitter taste of mediocrity
Turning you inside out
I'm waiting in the wings
No news of joy - just more hypocrisy
Oh what a strange affair
We belong together

You locked yourself away
Now you're dead inside
You dug yourself a grave
Now you're dead inside
The promises you made
Were all dead inside

You locked yourself away
Now you're dead inside
You dug yourself a grave
Now you're dead inside
The promises you made
Were all dead inside
You made your bed
Now lie in it - dead inside


MAYBE OUR DAYS ARE NUMBERED

Maybe our days are numbered
Maybe I want you back
Maybe these words are empty
Maybe I don't mind if you see someone else

Ah, are we going against the grain again
Ah, are we growing up against the grain

You're building those walls around you
I no longer see the light that shined so bright
You build but you can't afford to
So I ask if I can stay with you tonight

Ah, are we going against the grain again
Ah, are we growing up against the grain

 M P 3   S a m p l e s


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