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SHM-CD Review: Tears For Fears, Songs From The Big Chair

Posted by Luminator (A) on January 20, 2017 at 22:44:04

Imagine being a scrawny boy, just having graduated from middle school. Then imagine hurriedly getting on a plane, so you could be on time to start your first high school class, at Honolulu's Punahou School.

Then imagine being in a class of maybe 25, where you are the only freshman, and you do not know a soul. The teacher calls roll by last name, and you take your seat at what are 4-person lab tables. And then you meet what is arguably your very first high school classmate, Hina [short for Hinalani]. Unlike the stick figures from your middle school, Hina is a senior: clean, round, mature, developed, stylish, smooth, unhurried, rather comely. In a smooth and pleasant voice, she speaks simply, without stuttering. You cannot make eye contact; hell, you won't even look at her. You just look down at the black granite countertop, then feel your chest, armpits, and forehead heat up. Trying to introduce yourself, you half stammer, half lose your voice.

When the teacher gives instructions, he's actually letting you off the hook, as far as facing Hina is concerned. The teacher then reiterates that, in order to enroll in this Oceanography class, you have to pass two swim tests: one at the pool, one at Magic island. You pump your fist, and excitedly think to yourself, "Yes, something I can do!"

So the teacher leads the class to the locker rooms, where you get into your swim trunks. You naturally gravitate to the only two sophomores, and learn that they, too, are not from Punahou. Typical guys, the three of you talk about football.

Ah, but then you exit the locker room, into the blinding Hawaiian sun, and BAM! Waiting there are the girls, who, again, unlike your middle school stick figures, are developed. And they are all in one-piece swimwear or 2-piece bikinis! And you're this gangly, disjointed, clumsy 110-pound piece of shark bait. You get weak-kneed, wish you could just go back into the boys' locker room, and hide.

Everyone passes the pool portion of the swim tests. The teacher then takes roll again, makes sure everyone is accounted for. He herds the students into awaiting vans. You take a seat, and then, moments later, Hina lays her towel next to you, and nicely asks you to hold her (expensive and stylish) bag, while she sits down, and buckles the seat belt. Not wanting to touch Hina, you lean the other way.

The ride from Punahou to Magic Island isn't long, but sitting next to Hina makes you nervous, tense, and insecure. After the van parks, Hina stands, and then her, um, curvy body is...inches away from your face. And then you step out of the van, into the Hawaiian heat, and out to the beach. Hina has this ease and grace, about spreading a towel on the sand, and using her bag to pin it down. Then she gets out her sunblock, and... FML. Put me out of my misery. Just kill me now.

Back at class, since Hina is your lab partner, she engages in small talk, allows you to speak, and listens. And what do you have in common, which breaks the ice, and lets some ease set in? Music. Hina notices that you have Tears For Fears' Songs From The Big Chair cassette in your bookbag. And the rest is history. You still have the full four years of high school to go. But through it all, you never will get a classmate as comely and merciful as Hina. Life is cruel, that way.

Earlier on General Asylum, I reviewed the MFSL gold CD of Songs From The Big Chair, which is excellent, but expensive and difficult to find.

An alternative is the SHM-CD, UICY-25075, which was released in November 2011. Alas, this SHM-CD, which includes 7 pretty useless bonus tracks, does not sound anything like the MFSL gold CD. The SHM-CD is transparent, with see-through ability. While there is soundstage height, there isn't much depth. It doesn't have the refined imaging of the MFSL gold CD. The SHM-CD's resolution is fine, but timbres are off. Textures are too slick, airbrushed, metallic, and, well, digital.

When you listen to the Songs From The Big Chair SHM-CD, the sonics make you feel the tension, awkwardness, self-consciousness, nervousness, and lack of confidence you had with Hina. You will have to decide for yourself if that is a good or bad thing.

-Lummy The Loch Monster

Edits: 01/20/17

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