REVIEWS:
Post your comments about Duran Duran
(reviewed by Nick Karn)
Although it was probably their videos and overall image that shot them into the public eye, Duran Duran's actual musical existence wasn't half bad either, and their second effort, one of the most notorious hit albums of the 80's, more than validates this. Featuring a really creative fusion of funk and new wave elements with great pop hooks, this is probably the defining statement as an album for a band mostly perceived as a singles act. Not that the singles on here don't rule a whole lot, but the other album tracks on here are sometimes just as good or in a couple cases even better. In other words, these hits aren't the only reasons to listen to the album, which is good, since if you're a frequent MTV watcher, you've probably seen the clips for these a million times anyway.
As for these smashes, "Hungry Like The Wolf" runs through the jungle on a really cool synth groove and such with one of the absolute catchiest choruses you'll ever hear. Just a fun song and energetic song to listen to overall, regardless of how overplayed it's gotten. The opening title track is a nearly as great fast-paced funk number that boasts really excellent bass playing throughout (not unlike the whole album) and more hooks galore, including a really effective shift in the bridge and overall entertaining lyrics. The lesser known ballad "Save A Prayer" isn't quite as good, mostly because that keyboard part gets a bit repetitive and in the context of the rest of the album, it seems like it's sent everything into lazyness near the end, but it's still solidly written in its' haunting and intimate vibe, with a usual top-notch melody.
There are a couple other tunes that can definitely compete with these big ones in terms of producing an 80's pop-like bliss upon the listener. It doesn't even matter that a couple of them closely match up with another album track in style and overall pace ala Electric Warrior. For instance, the more straightforward groove of "My Own Way" is improved on in a more epic sounding and thrilling way for "New Religion", which just seems to have more a more striking hook going for it. "Last Chance On The Stairway" sort of takes on the same vibe as "Rio" did, including its' fast tempo, but it's middle section and distinguishing chorus makes it an excellent song in its' own right.
The chiming guitar rock of "Lonely In Your Nightmare" and the unsettling synth-led closer "The Chauffer" are two other minor gems, with an effectively atmospheric refrain in the former and the almost 'stalker' vibe of the latter that really does a good job of ending the album far from where it began. The side closer "Hold Back The Rain" is an alright pop song, too, I suppose, even though there's nothing really noteworthy about it. While not really an absolute classic of the 80's, simply because very few of the songs send me to any kind of paradise apart from the hits and a couple others, there isn't a single clunker amongst any of the songs, which makes it quite pleasurable listening, as much of it might stick in your brain whether you really want it to or not.
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