So, we had a discussion about Curt’s latest album, as we always do. We quickly said, “Let’s just snuggle up with this one and enjoy it on a whole other level now that the meanings of the songs are posted.” The goal of course was to have video dialogue on what each song meant for us individually (pre and post posted meanings by CS) but getting everyone together via Google Hangout is just …well darn near impossible for Japan, France, USA and Brasil plus our new fan friends from Australia. In a perfect world, we’ll do this. For now, let’s just get our thoughts in writing.

Album Title: Deceptively Heavy …that “feels” like something Curt would say. A sort of “Curtism” or one of his comebacks to the many questions and notes he gets all day long on varioius social platforms. So, it was no surprise that many of us were drawn into the fan fare that proceeded the album. He had us at the title.

Beautiful Failure -yes, we remember that he wrote it for his daughter. I can’t remember if he sang this in 2011 or only in 2012. Seems like we heard it live twice. I was thrilled sometime later when Curt said it would be included. It’s a very touching song and several of us said it’s just…well, beautiful!

Listening to this feels like we’re having a conversation with Curt…as if he invited us over for tea and was just expressing his feelings toward her and concerns for her emotions. Not wanting feedback or advice, just getting concerns for his preciouos daugther off of his chest. This is a treasure in that he shared something so personal. It’s heartwarming for parents and those who are childless alike.

Suffer The Silence
This feels like advice to the busy bodies of the world, always in someone’s business with commentary or asking questions they already have the answers to but just “need” to be a part of the conversation for the sake of inclusion. It feels like a kind way to say, “Mind your own business…and grow a conscious antenna while you’re at it.” Who knows, the meaning was not listed…and that’s fine. This allows the listener to take the song as it best fits his or her own situation. Regardless, it’s catchy and you can easily find yourself singing it at random. It’s also a piece of therapy after a long day of putting up with the world’s ills.

Hold It Together
This is another enjoyable one. Curt says, “Done for an Indy movie called Meth Head. A couple dealing with one person’s meth addiction. Initially I thought I’d play the addict but Carina did it so much better than I ever could. I’m the voice of reason (there’s a first).”

This is one that we didn’t get a preview of from that film. He told us about it (as much as was legal to release at the time) and we were intrigued. The song itself is aboslutely brilliant, the opening…the whole thing. I mean don’t you get chills? We sure did. It’s a really strong piece that we seriously fear will be overlooked in the music world simply because the world isn’t looking in the right direction. I mean, there’s no reason this shouldn’t get heavy air time. Congrats to Carina Round for her brilliant contribution. This is good!

My Point Being
Curt says: One of the tracks written after my mother died. Having arguments with my brothers about stupid shit & realizing we’re family no matter how much they can piss me off.

Now, we totally got it all wrong at the start. We heard this song not long after his blessed mother passed away. There was a lot going on for many of us. Several fans (including myself) lost family/parents at that time. It was a bitter hell scrambling with those emotions and this rather came at the right time. There was speculation as to what the song was about because at that same time on the fan walls, there was chatter about this that and the other amongst loud cries from many countries wishing for the return of TFF to their areas. It was chaotic. Curt gave some meaningful responses and not long after that this song also came about so we weren’t sure if this was directed toward some of the fan comments (some of which were just superfanatically loud, commanding and outrageous) or something else entirely.

While we respect that it was for his mother we also found it perfect for bringing quiet to the hectic board. Seems like we all went in a peaceful direction right after that.

All Is Love
This is a great song, period. The fan boards all agree, it just feels good. I personally think it works for film and TV. I know I’ve played it as background music at various meetings and gatherings. I see the world as one big film anyway and Curt’s music often works as a coping method for times that just need to be reviewed “standing back” and away from the situation…if that makes any sense. Others I spoke with said again…this just “helps.” We all agree it would be nice to see this used as a part of a “feel good” campaign. I will aim to suggest this for future things in my own media dealings and hope for the best.

Porn Star
Curt says: A song about politics & our President. I was (and still am to a limited degree) a big supporter of Barack Obama, to the extent of gaining citizenship to vote for him. What I’ve realized since then is that the American political system is so broken that the only thing that gets you anywhere in Washington is money. There could be a poll stating that 80% of the country is in favor of something (you’ve seen them) but lobbyists & money will still win the day. I may be in love but he’s always going to go for the money.

This is huge…BIG! Fans loved it. We all agreed it was just freakin’ phenomenal and wanted to get deeper into the lyrics…to truly know what brought this song about. Leave it to Curt to put it into perspective…he spoke volumes with every line and even his opinion of POTUS. It sparked a little bit of political debate but we didn’t spend too much time on it…there was no name blaming or finger pointing by fans of various political backgrounds, instead, just lots of questions regarding the direction of the world and the nation. I must say you also get a good glimpse at how far a passionate CS will go to help a cause. It’s impressive and powerful. Go forth Good Man, Go forth. You have a swarm of people listening and eager for your leadership and opinions. We’ve often toyed with the idea of “What if Curt Smith were President and Roland was Sec of State? Hmm…”

Well Enough
Curt says: The most personal song on the album. I wrote the lyrics on the flight home from the UK after my mother’s funeral, the song was written to the lyrics. She wasn’t the best mother because of her family background & the fact that we had an absent father, but she did “well enough alone”. Also, to me the phrase summed up her solitary life bringing up three boys – well, enough, alone. Amazing what a comma can do.

Another conversation with Curt it seems…a blessing to hear him speak (or sing) openly about something very dear to him. Listen to the instruments in the background and at what time he chose for them to enter…is that a bagpipe? There’s a march in there…you can see everything in these lyrics. It’s very touching and rather painful. We thought at first this was a song from the movie Meth Head also, somehow we thought it had something to do with that movie, but no this is, as mentioned above, about his mum. We knew it was certainly something heavy…and tough.

Very few of us in the TFF Travel Fan crew have had perfect upbringings and our adult lives have had “enough” challenges. In fact, several of us gathered based on the miseries we experienced as a child and just needed others around us who could relate or “get” where we were coming from. The band’s music pulled us through those crazy times. Not much has been said about this song verbally but you can sort of sense everyone is pensive and going back to another time and place when this song comes on or comes up in discussion.

Heavens Sake -it just works…what else can you say? While the song sort of highlights the cashing in on Christmas, it can certainly be used commerically on so many things… a lot of Curt’s work is perfect for TV and film as we’ve expressed before. Talk about a life’s soundtrack for the innocent.

Wild
Curt says: About my amazing younger daughter (both my kids are amazing btw) Wilder. I didn’t want to write a song about one child because I’d be in deep shit. This one is about the sometimes trying but mostly adorable contrarian in our family.

This is such a bright song. The instruments and overall make up of it is uplifting and full of thought. It brings about very sweet sentiments. Glad to know it was indeed about his daughter. You can certainly “feel” the love, bewilderment and joy in the relationship between father and fun daughter here. Makes you want to spend a day with them and experience it as well. Bless that family! Huge thanks to Curt Smith for again sharing his loved ones with us. It’s really special and makes us all feel closer to the fashionable Smith Family Rockers.

Mannequin
Curt says: “I love the manic in your kind of crazy” – the title is an amusing play on the lyric & became the inspiration behind the album sleeve. The song itself is about my mother-in-law who also passed away last year. She suffered from manic depression/bi-polar disorder her whole life, but when she was up she could be one of the funniest people you would ever meet. I prefer to remember her that way.

We had no idea what this was about. Was it a reference to the cover, that gorgeous statue of a doll in the Ben Sherman shirt? My first thought was how I personally felt about superfan Carri…the contagious mega-excitement in her written words and yet how calm she is in person but on paper you’d never know she was so tranquil, much like the starting lyrics. It’s rather fun settling in with both. Others said they had no idea what to think about it…all wanted to know exactly to WHOM and WHAT was this song referring? We never expected an answer …besides, we just totally loved jammin’ out to this song any chance we had. I personally can’t do that anymore. I just have too much respect for his wife and family that it makes me feel kind of odd rockin’ to her legacy, again if that makes any sense at all…I don’t know.

Secrets
Reminds me a little bit of his song “Coming Out” which is one that many of us listen to when we travel to Los Angeles…a sort of preparation for being in Curt’s presence…calms us down.

The meaning of this song is not listed so we’ll just take it as it is. For me, it’s “keep your mouth shut…not everything needs to be televised and broadcast…whatever the heck it is.”

We only spoke to about 20 people and the concensus remained consistent. The album is MUCH brighter LITE-er to a degree than “Halfway Pleased.” It’s also much more dancable than Mayfield…and perhaps one of the more enjoyable albums in our Curt Smith solo collection because you can do so much with it. Deceptively Heavy has something for everyone in a major way. It’s commercial/film/TV ready, it’s club fit and fan club perfect!

Tell us your feelings about the album and don’t forget to look out for the hard copies coming to Amazon! Can’t wait!

Thanks for reading,
Andye