The Hurting

Given its haunted, lyrically intense themes revolving across child abuse and trauma, decades after its release it remains remarkable that Tears for Fears scored a number one UK hit album with its debut album, with three of The Hurting’s singles — “Mad World,” “Pale Shelter” and “Change” — also going top five there. But the elegant catharsis of the songs, elevated by Curt Smith’s serene singing and Roland Orzabal’s bolder edge, in combination with the duo’s well sculpted and performed synth-pop-meets-art-rock, resulted in wide acclaim and popularity.