Songs for a Nervous Planet is a live album[nb 1] by the English rock/pop band Tears for Fears. Released in October 2024, the album is a live recording of the band's concert at the FirstBank Amphitheater in Franklin, Tennessee on 11 July 2023, one of the dates on their Tipping Point World Tour.

In addition to the 18 live tracks, the album also includes four new studio tracks (five on the deluxe edition).[5]

Songs for a Nervous Planet peaked at number 6 on the UK Albums Chart, becoming the band's seventh UK top 10 album.

Artwork

The album's artwork partially used AI, created by Vitalie Burcovschi, in which the band received criticism for.[6] The band explained why they used AI for the cover, explaining:

The Songs for a Nervous Planet album artwork is a mixed media digital collage, with AI being just one of the many tools used in the creative process. We wanted vibrant artwork that evoked a sense of sci-fi, futuristic themes, and an escape from what is known. The sunflowers are a joyful nod to classic Tears For Fears imagery, while the juxtaposition of the astronaut is a link to our upcoming song, Astronaut, and a sense of alienation and not belonging. We have been fans of Surrealistly's work for a long time and knew he would be the perfect artist to bring our vision to life.

— Tears for Fears, Stereogum[7]

Formats

The album was released in a variety of formats including CD, digital, black vinyl, several coloured vinyl variations, and (in collaboration with SuperDeluxeEdition), a high-fidelity Blu-ray Audio disc.[8] A deluxe edition of the album includes a bonus studio track ("Landlocked") in addition to the four new studio tracks on the regular edition of the album.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[9]
Clash8/10[6]
Classic Pop[10]

In a review of Songs for a Nervous Planet, music critic Michael Gallucci states that "It's the history of Tears for Fears, up to now, in 22 songs."[11] on Metacritic, the album has a aggregated review score of 76, which, according to Metacritic, means "Generally favorable" according to 4 critic reviews.[12] In a review of Goldmine Magazine, music critic Lee Zimmerman called it a "consolidation of sorts." and that "For those fans and followers who may have been uncertain as to their current status, Songs for a Nervous Planet ought to assuage any doubt."[13] In an AllMusic review, Timothy Monger writes that it "is essentially an EP of four new songs followed by 18 live tracks"[9]

Concert film

The album was released alongside a concert film titled Tears for Fears Live (A Tipping Point Film). The film was released in over 1100 cinemas worldwide on 24 and 26 October 2024.[14]

Track listing

Disc one
No.TitleLength
1."Say Goodbye to Mum and Dad" (studio track)3:45
2."The Girl That I Call Home" (studio track)3:44
3."Emily Said" (studio track)4:00
4."Astronaut" (studio track)4:44
5."No Small Thing" (live in Franklin, Tennessee)4:44
6."The Tipping Point" (live in Franklin, Tennessee)4:14
7."Everybody Wants to Rule the World" (live in Franklin, Tennessee)4:24
8."Secret World" (live in Franklin, Tennessee)4:48
9."Sowing the Seeds of Love" (live in Franklin, Tennessee)6:25
10."Long, Long, Long Time" (live in Franklin, Tennessee)4:17
11."Break the Man" (live in Franklin, Tennessee)3:57
Disc two
No.TitleLength
1."My Demons (live in Franklin, Tennessee)" (live in Franklin, Tennessee)3:11
2."Rivers of Mercy" (live in Franklin, Tennessee)5:51
3."Mad World" (live in Franklin, Tennessee)3:34
4."Suffer the Children" (live in Franklin, Tennessee)3:26
5."Woman in Chains" (live in Franklin, Tennessee)6:27
6."Badman's Song" (live in Franklin, Tennessee)10:10
7."Pale Shelter" (live in Franklin, Tennessee)4:37
8."Break It Down Again" (live in Franklin, Tennessee)4:36
9."Head over Heels" (live in Franklin, Tennessee)5:08
10."Change" (live in Franklin, Tennessee)4:32
11."Shout" (live in Franklin, Tennessee) 
Total length:1:46:01
Bonus retail exclusive track (available on first disc)
No.TitleLength
5."Landlocked" (studio track)4:52
Total length:1:51:06

Personnel

(on live tracks)

  • Roland Orzabal - vocals, guitar
  • Curt Smith - vocals, bass guitar
  • Doug Petty - keyboards
  • Charlton Pettus - guitar
  • Jamie Woolam - drums
  • Lauren Evans - backing vocals, co-lead vocals on "Woman in Chains" and "Badman's Song"
  • Janae Sims - backing vocals
  • Jasmine Mullen - backing vocals

Charts

Weekly chart performance for Songs for a Nervous Planet
Chart (2024) Peak
position
Austrian Albums (Ö3 Austria)[15] 23
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[16] 145
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Wallonia)[17] 14
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[18] 20
Dutch Albums (Album Top 100)[19] 58
French Albums (SNEP)[20] 37
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[21] 8
Italian Albums (FIMI)[22] 72
Scottish Albums (OCC)[23] 6
Spanish Albums (PROMUSICAE)[24] 66
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[25] 12
UK Albums (OCC)[26] 6
UK Album Downloads (OCC)[27] 8
UK Albums Sales (OCC)[28] 4
UK Physical Albums (OCC)[29] 4
UK Record Store (OCC)[30] 6
UK Vinyl Albums (OCC)[31] 7
US Billboard 200[32] 104
US Top Album Sales (Billboard)[33] 12
US Top Rock Albums (Billboard)[34] 14
US Top Rock & Alternative Albums (Billboard)[35] 20
US Top Alternative Albums (Billboard)[36] 12
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[37] 17
US Vinyl Albums (Billboard)[38] 13
US Top Tastemaker Albums (Billboard)[39] 6

Notes

  1. ^ Although Songs for a Nervous Planet is classified as a live album, it includes four (five on some special versions) new studio tracks, those being "Astronaut", "Emily Said", "Say Goodbye to Mum and Dad", "The Girl That I Call Home", and sometimes a fifth track. (See earlier text in parentheses.)

References

  1. ^ Davis, Melanie (24 September 2024). "Tears For Fears Fielding Backlash Following Controversial Album Cover Release". American Songwriter. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  2. ^ Jones, Abby (24 September 2025). "Tears For Fears Announce First Live Album, Share New Song "The Girl That I Call Home"". Stereogum. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  3. ^ "Tears For Fears Share New Song "Astronaut": Listen". Stereogum. 4 October 2024. Retrieved 5 October 2024.
  4. ^ "Singles to Radio". AUM Report. 29 November 2024. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
  5. ^ Roberts, Chris (1 December 2024). ""All the poise and balance they exude in the studio flies out the window once they get their dander up": Tears For Fears' Songs For A Nervous Planet blends stunning live tracks with four powerful new songs". louder. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  6. ^ a b "Tears For Fears – Songs For A Nervous Planet | Reviews". 24 October 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  7. ^ "Tears For Fears Address Use Of AI For New Album Cover". Stereogum. 22 September 2024. Retrieved 1 March 2025.
  8. ^ "Tears For Fears / Songs For A Nervous Planet – SuperDeluxeEdition". SuperDeluxeEdition. 12 September 2024. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  9. ^ a b Monger, Timothy. "Songs for a Nervous Planet Review by Timothy Monger". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  10. ^ Earls, John. "Review: Tears For Fears – Songs For A Nervous Planet". Classic Pop. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  11. ^ Gallucci, Michael (22 October 2024). "Tears for Fears, Songs for a Nervous Planet: Album Review". Ultimate Classic Rock. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  12. ^ "Songs for a Nervous Planet: Metacritic review score". Metacritic. Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  13. ^ Zimmerman, Lee (13 November 2024). "Tears For Fears' Songs for a Nervous Planet will assuage any doubt about the power of their pop". Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  14. ^ Ragusa, Paolo (12 September 2024). "Tears for Fears Announce First Live Album Songs for a Nervous Planet". Retrieved 25 February 2025.
  15. ^ "Austriancharts.at – Tears for Fears – Songs for a Nervous Planet" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  16. ^ "Ultratop.be – Tears for Fears – Songs for a Nervous Planet" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  17. ^ "Ultratop.be – Tears for Fears – Songs for a Nervous Planet" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  18. ^ "Tears for Fears Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  19. ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Tears for Fears – Songs for a Nervous Planet" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved 18 March 2025.
  20. ^ "Lescharts.com – Tears for Fears – Songs for a Nervous Planet". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  21. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Tears for Fears – Songs for a Nervous Planet" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  22. ^ "Italiancharts.com – Tears for Fears – Songs for a Nervous Planet". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  23. ^ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  24. ^ "Spanishcharts.com – Tears for Fears – Songs for a Nervous Planet". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  25. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Tears for Fears – Songs for a Nervous Planet". Hung Medien. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  26. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  27. ^ "Official Album Downloads Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  28. ^ "Official Albums Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  29. ^ "Official Physical Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  30. ^ "Official Record Store Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  31. ^ "Official Vinyl Albums Chart". Official Charts Company. 31 October 2024. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  32. ^ "Tears for Fears Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  33. ^ "Tears for Fears Chart History (Top Album Sales)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  34. ^ "Tears for Fears Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  35. ^ "Tears for Fears Chart History (Top Rock & Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
  36. ^ "Tears for Fears Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  37. ^ "Tears for Fears Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  38. ^ "Tears for Fears Chart History (Vinyl Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  39. ^ "Tears for Fears Chart History (Top Tastemaker Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved 13 March 2025.
Allikas: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Songs_for_a_Nervous_Planet
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