Most Helpful Customer Reviews
|
|
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
the boys from birmingham deliver!!!, 17 Dec 2007
for me duran duran started with the frist album and ended with "seven and the ragged tiger" since then a few things like "arcadia" and "come undone" have shown some promise..but i thought there glory days have gone..the last album a "astronuat" didnt do anything to make me think the best was long gone!
however the new album does suprise!
"the valley" has a heavy base undertone..but its classic duran brought up to date..and simon is is fine voice 9/10
"red carpet massacre" shows some great lyrical and vocal harmony..but the chorus gets a bit too loud and frantic 7/10
"nite runner" is duran meetes timberland! good track but missing something 8/10
"falling down" the 1st single which didnt do a lot! its a good track...and has the duran sound..with a 2000 edge but not a great track to represent the album! 8/10
"box full o honey" opens with a guitar driven track and then dives into what could be a duran classic along the lines of an upbeat "save a prayer" ...a wonderful track that will keep old duranies very happy 10/10
"skin divers" is duran meets timberland and its a stunner! all the power of "wild boys" with the great 2000 sound of timberland..a must for a single 10/10
"tempted" is bang up to date dance.with the clasic duran sound of years gone by..simon sounds perfect! 10/10
"tricked out" is an instrumental track..its very war of the worlds meets vangelis..an epic and worth a listen 8/10
"zoom in" is very loud, more later duran..not a bad track just a bit too loud...am i getting old! 8/10
"shes too much" has the same feel as "falling down" its a classic duran track...brought up to date..id prefer a classic duran version 8/10
"dirty great monster" is another new sound of duran track..id prefer the original duran doing it duran way 8/10
"last man standing" starts like an ultravox track and its beautiful! another single..maybe! has the classic hooks..simon sounds great..great backing!
to sum it up..in a lot of ways its the best duran album for upteen years..for us who can remember them at their heyday its the best they
have for a long time!
the new tracks with timberlake may bring a few new fans. its nice to have the boys back!!!
nowhere near the perfection of their first few albums but the best they have done since!!!
|
|
|
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Bushell Reviews Duran, 20 Nov 2007
Without doubt, Duran Duran are one of the few remaining progressive pop bands that still write, record and perform. They may well be 40 something's, but their albums always try and innovate rather than imitate past glories. Writing and producing an album where musical progression is key, of course means that some tunes don't always work. Progression is of course; by it's very nature, experimental.
Having now listened to the new album a few times, I can safely say that the album works on two levels. 1) As a contemporary musical palette that reflects modern production values. 2) As an album of well crafted songs (both lyrically and musically) that has multiple re-listen value.
This may not be Duran's best album, and in all probability sits somewhere in the middle of their output... but all power to them for not wanting to stand still. Ultimately, Duran Duran's Red Carpet Massacre, still shows that they have what it takes...
|
|
|
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Perfect Marriage, 10 Jan 2008
Immersed in re-union fever pitch, Duran Duran saw themselves flop and banished by both critics and fans alike when they released their indie rock effort 'astronaut'. And whereas some may have seen this album as a true comeback with impressive stadium rock anthems, its no secret that fans were expecting better, much better.
The band then set apon a follow up, in much of the same vein as the last album, a project entitled 'Reportage'. However according to their record company, amidst the recorded 15 songs there was no potential lead single which would reacquaint the band with fans they may have lost with their previous effort. With that said Andy Taylor subsequently left the band for the second time under the combustion of the band and disappointment of recording something labelled as a waste of time and effort.
So with Andy out of the band, they decided on choosing an acclaimed producer who they all liked, so they called upon world renowned R&B producer Timbaland. On paper it looks like the perfect marriage, the cascading new wave/romantic sound of Duran Duran, with the modern production sheen that has helped the likes of Nelly Furtardo and Justin Timberlake find world wide success. Especially as Timbaland brought Nate 'Danja' Hills into the mix, with his infectious synth work which brought Britney Spears back into the charts. Duran Duran had previously met Justin Timberlake some years before, so they brought him into the fray as well, to complete the star studied line up. But is it a case of over hyped? Too many big names? Or is it a classic? Well in short. Its a Classic!
The first track 'The Valley' is typical Danja, with its infectious rhythmatic beat and floorfiller appeal, strengthened by Le Bon's vocal performance and Rhodes's nifty keyboard work. Its a Gas! The album plods on with the title track a number which in all of its synth laden overtones, is as punk as the band have got in a long time and reassuring everyone that they have not forgotten their musical roots after all, despite this it is probably the weakest track on the album for that very reason.
The next song is 'Nite Runner' a song in the same vein as Timberlake's 'Sexy Back', ironic therefore that both Timbaland and Timberlake appear in this funky workout destined to be stuck in the heads of who ever listens to its catchiness. Then the album really takes off with Timberlake produced 'Falling Down' a classic mid-Tempo masterpiece combining touching lyrics with slick guitar work by Domonic Brown, effectively taking up the job of lead guitarist, the solo at the end is probably the finest in years for any rock band.
The album cracks on with a nice sublime moment in the form of 'Box full O Honey'. Then Timbaland is back at the producer's desk with 'Skin Divers' a groovy R&B number, flavoured by John Taylor's bass work and Timbaland's effective vocal contribution. Then its time for a real floorfiller and as dancier tune as anything in the dance charts today 'Tempted', although lyrically weak, its boy racer techno is shore to make it Duran Duran's most remixed track ever.
Next there is an instrumental 'Tricked Out' which is on the fringes of space rock, extremely experimental piece but the perfect bridge between the two parts of the album. This track is followed by another Timbaland produced track 'Zoom in', Rhodes's keyboard work is once more showcased along with its pounding backdrop of 80's influenced synthesizers.
The album then gets the ballad treatment, with 'She's too much' a vintage Duran song. Then its 'Dirty Great Monster' a song which we can only assume is about drugs, but with lyrics aside is a beautiful jazz number with sizzling sax solo at the end by Andy Hamilton.
The last track 'Last Man Standing' rounds the album off wonderfully with its cool new wave influenced melody and scintillating chorus.
So in a nut shell, we might consider this as Duran Durans best album both lyrically, musically and conceptually, probably the best album of the 00's if i were to push the boat out a bit. What is more its a relevalation to hear an old 80's band appeal to the new generation and current club scene. And although much credit should be given to the albums quests and producers, the band have none the less reassured their position as one of pop's most successful and diverse acts, long may they regin!. Oh and by the way as suprising and blunt as it may seem Andy Taylor is not missed, well not on this record anyway!
|
|
|
Most Recent Customer Reviews
|
With an Amazon.co.uk Gift Certificate, you can get them what they want (even if you don't know what that is). 
Amazon Home