Musically this album is a typical product of the "New Wave" movement of the early '80s: a lot of electronics, production rather simplistic. Nevertheless, the album from the perfect combination of music with the charismatic voice Roland Orzabals and the gloomy, melancholy lyrics creates a very own moody effect. Partly lacks merging catchy melodies and anguished lyrics (eg "Mad World") also is a certain irony. Other songs like "Start of the Breakdown" or "The Prisoner" also act just as bleak as they are meant content. For the time, the album definitely has an amazing repertoire of meaningful lyrics and musical diversity, which is also 25 years later still captivating.
