"It'll End in Tears" is the debut album by This Mortal Coil, released on October 8, 1984, under the 4AD label. This project was helmed by label founder Ivo Watts-Russell and featured a rotating lineup of musicians and vocalists from the 4AD roster, including Cocteau Twins, Colourbox, and Dead Can Dance. The album reached No. 38 on the UK Albums Chart and marked a significant collaboration in the alternative music scene.
The album includes covers and interpretations of songs, such as "Holocaust" and "Kangaroo" originally by Big Star, the latter being released as a single. Elizabeth Fraser of Cocteau Twins notably contributed to the album, including a rendition of Tim Buckley's "Song to the Siren," which became This Mortal Coil's debut single and charted in the UK.
Valentino Records, a sublabel of Atco Records, simultaneously released the album in the United States in late 1984, marking a unique occurrence for This Mortal Coil. The album was later reissued in various formats, including a remastered edition as part of a comprehensive box set in 2011.
"It'll End in Tears" remains a landmark in dream pop and alternative music history, with Pitchfork ranking it number eight on its list of "The 30 Best Dream Pop Albums" in 2018. This Mortal Coil went on to release two more albums under the same name: "Filigree & Shadow" (1986) and "Blood" (1991), further solidifying their influence in the genre.
