Tomcats Screaming Outside

Tomcats Screaming Outside
Studio album by Roland Orzabal
Released	26 March 2001 (Germany- France) 2 April 2001 (UK) 11 September 2001 (US)
Recorded	1998-2001
Genre	Pop rock drum and bass electronica
Length	54:35
Label	Eagle Gold Circle
Producer	Roland Orzabal Alan Griffiths

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Allmusic	[1]

Tomcats Screaming Outside is the first solo album from British musician Roland Orzabal of the group Tears for Fears, and was released on 2 April 2001. Although Orzabal had effectively made two solo albums under the Tears for Fears moniker in the 1990s (following the departure of bandmate Curt Smith), this was the first recording to be released under his own name. This album was Orzabal's last to feature contributions from Alan Griffiths, who co-wrote most of the tracks on this album as well as the previous two Tears for Fears albums. The album was given a low-key release and did not chart, but earned some critical acclaim for its clever melding of pop songwriting and drum 'n bass, ambient techno and trip hop textures. Dan Gennoe claimed in Amazon.com's editorial review: "Solo album or not, Tomcats Screaming Outside is the best Tears for Fears album in a decade."

In a 2000 interview Orzabal commented on his influences for the album: "I started out with an absolute concrete vision of where I wanted to go so I started with a very different rhythm approach, with drum and bass/jungle...and I ended up with something that wasn't the original plan."

The US release of the album (on Gold Circle Records) had the unfortunate coincidence to be released on September 11, 2001 the same day the United States experienced its worst-ever terrorist attack, and drew little notice outside TFF's core fan base.

Track listing

All songs written by Roland Orzabal/Alan Griffiths, except where indicated.

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

Singles

"Low Life" was the first single from the album. Plans to release the single in the UK were scrapped at the last minute, although it did see a commercial release in mainland Europe. "Low Life" was also played in the US on adult alternative radio. "For the Love of Cain" was planned as the second single release from the album, but it was cancelled since the first single had no chart success in Germany. Only a limited amount of copies were sold through Orzabal's official website.

• "Low Life" (12 March 2001)

1. "Low Life" (Album Version) – 4:37
2. "Low Life" (Supersub Mix) – 4:58
3. "Low Life" (President Who? Mix) – 4:50
4. "Low Life" (Radio Edit) – 4:07

• "For the Love of Cain" (August 2001)

1. "For the Love of Cain (Radio Edit) – 3:33
2. "Day By Day By Day By Day By Day" (Album Version) – 4:35
3. "Low Life" (Album Version) – 4:37
4. "Low Life" (Video) – 4:35

Personnel

• Roland Orzabal - guitar, keyboards, programming, vocals
• Alan Griffiths - guitar, keyboards, programming
• David Sutton - bass, guitar (bass)
• Nick D'Virgilio - drums
• Mark O'Donoughue - engineer, mixing
• Curtis Evans - design

References

External links

• Interview with Orzabal in September 2000 published in Lexicon Magazine and Sorted Magazine