They arrived on the pop scene in the early 80’s, disappeared, resurfaced, disappeared, resurfaced… you get the picture. And here in 2007 we have a double CD of their greatest hits. Yes, double CD. Because Roland Orzabal, on songwriting, vocals, guitar and keyboards, and Curt Smith on vocals, keyboards and bass, managed to write and produce some of the biggest and best (as well as some of the most criminally ignored and best) pop songs over the last 20-odd years.

Formed in 1981, the 2 band members decided on the name Tears for Fears based on a Primal therapy treatment developed by Arthur Janov, which was made famous after John Lennon became Janov's patient. While undergoing primal therapy, a patient is encouraged to "re-experience" his early, dramatic emotional states (even perinatal ones), including screaming like an infant, hence the expression "tears for fears". Listening to “Gold” has the same sort of effect on the listener as one ends up connecting all the memory dots in your head… where were you when everyone decided to Shout, shout, let it all out? And did you agree with the sentiments in “Mad World?” What do you have to say about the Mad World we’re living in in 2007? And in 1989, were you happy, surprised or both when Tears for Fears dropped the electronic elements that categorised their music in favour of a sonically and conceptually adventurous extravaganza? Because “Sowing the Seeds of Love” marked a big departure for the band and the video made watching the Toyota Top 20 presented by a then unknown Patricia Lewis all the more watchable.

One of the songs on Gold that is just getting better with time is “Woman in Chains.” I firmly believe a copy of the song should be locked away in a time capsule to resurface again one day just in case future generations forget about it or choose to ignore it. Musically speaking, it’s definitely got classic written all over it. Disc 2 on Gold is obviously dedicated to the latter part of the band’s career. The biggest part of the 90’s Tears for Fears consisted of one member only, Orzabal. But somewhere after 2001, Orzabal and Smith rekindled their friendship and started working together again resulting in 2004’s release “Everybody Loves a Happy Ending.” Radio ignored it. But herein lies the beauty of “Gold.” It’s almost like you’re getting a CD filled with the hits you love and a “brand-new” CD of stuff to discover. Especially since a lot of their most recent work sounds like a natural follow-up to the 1989 album “The Seeds of Love.”

Here’s hoping the band has cried their tears and abandoned their fears. Because the mad world we live in needs the sanity and sound of a good band like Tears for Fears.