Send "Duran Duran " Ringtones to your Cell 
| Popmatters |
 Saving Face?Did MTV make Duran Duran or did Duran Duran make MTV? In 1986, that question was moot, because the two were inextricably linked. With the help of those groundbreaking, escapist videos and some good tunes, the band had by 1982 become a global juggernaut. The rub was that the more screaming teenagers showed up at their shows, the more their critical acclaim and respect slipped. With Seven and the Ragged Tiger in 1983, Duran Duran were starting to confuse those videos with real life. In came the supermodel arm candy, the ego-stroking side projects, the drugs, the general hedonism. By the end of 1985, Duran Duran had all but imploded. Clearly, if Duran Duran was to continue, a rethink was badly needed. The band emerged from the morass having lost drummer Roger Taylor, never a “Wild Boy”, to early retirement. Guitarist Andy Taylor had to be forced into the studio through legal means, but things went so badly he was soon let go. That left the trio of vocalist Simon LeBon, keyboardist Nick Rhodes, and bassist John Taylor to embark on the second stage of Duran Duran’s career. Commercially, it was less successful than the first, but that was almost inevitable given the extent to which the band had worn out their “Fab Five” welcome. Artistically, Notorious and Big Thing have for 20-plus years been all-but-dismissed by everyone outside Duran Duran’s core fanbase, a situation these long-delayed deluxe reissues are meant to remedy. And, while certainly no lost classics, the albums hold up better than you probably remember, the sound of a band trying desperately to survive, and succeeding, albeit barely. With Andy Taylor’s rock-god hard rock leanings aside, Duran Duran were left to pursue the more arty, sophisticated direction co-founders Rhodes and John Taylor had always envisioned. They brought in one of their heroes, ex-Chic guitarist Nile Rodgers, to co-produce. And, as far as “mature” makeovers go, Notorious fit the bill. A surprisingly homogenous album, it finds the band ditching the flash in favor of a balanced, cocktail-funk approach. It’s dominated by Taylor’s still-exemplary bass playing and session man (and current Heartbreaker) Steve Ferrone’s smooth, soulful drumming, some of the best you’ll ever hear on a pop record. As he had with David Bowie’s Let’s Dance a few years earlier, Rodgers summons a speaker-filling gated drum sound that dominates all in its path. It works, providing a nice backdrop for LeBon’s distinctive voice, Rhodes’ straightforward keyboard parts, and a prominent brass section....full text |
| Duranduranboard |
| Did MTV make Duran Duran or did Duran Duran make MTV? In 1986, that question was moot, because the two were inextricably linked. With the help of those groundbreaking, escapist videos and some good tunes, the band had by 1982 become a global juggernaut. The rub was that the more screaming teenagers showed up at their shows, the more their critical acclaim and respect slipped. With Seven and the Ragged Tiger in 1983, Duran Duran were starting to confuse those videos with real life. In came the supermodel arm candy, the ego-stroking side projects, the drugs, the general hedonism. By the end of 1985, Duran Duran had all but imploded. Clearly, if Duran Duran was to continue, a rethink was badly needed. The band emerged from the morass having lost drummer Roger Taylor, never a “Wild Boy”, to early retirement. Guitarist Andy Taylor had to be forced into the studio through legal means, but things went so badly he was soon let go. That left the trio of vocalist Simon LeBon, keyboardist Nick Rhodes, and bassist John Taylor to embark on the second stage of Duran Duran’s career. Commercially, it was less successful than the first, but that was almost inevitable given the extent to which the band had worn out their “Fab Five” welcome. Artistically, Notorious and Big Thing have for 20-plus years been all-but-dismissed by everyone outside Duran Duran’s core fanbase, a situation these long-delayed deluxe reissues are meant to remedy. And, while certainly no lost classics, the albums hold up better than you probably remember, the sound of a band trying desperately to survive, and succeeding, albeit barely. With Andy Taylor’s rock-god hard rock leanings aside, Duran Duran were left to pursue the more arty, sophisticated direction co-founders Rhodes and John Taylor had always envisioned. They brought in one of their heroes, ex-Chic guitarist Nile Rodgers, to co-produce. And, as far as “mature” makeovers go, Notorious fit the bill. A surprisingly homogenous album, it finds the band ditching the flash in favor of a balanced, cocktail-funk approach. It’s dominated by Taylor’s still-exemplary bass playing and session man (and current Heartbreaker) Steve Ferrone’s smooth, soulful drumming, some of the best you’ll ever hear on a pop record. As he had with David Bowie’s Let’s Dance a few years earlier, Rodgers summons a speaker-filling gated drum sound that dominates all in its path. It works, providing a nice backdrop for LeBon’s distinctive voice, Rhodes’ straightforward keyboard parts, and a prominent brass section. The songwriting isn’t always as consistent as the production. Singles “Notorious” and “Skin Trade” are arguably among the best Duran Duran have ever released, putting familiar appeals to fame and sexuality in a new, genuinely funky context. A few other tracks work well, notably the slinky “American Science” and triumphant “Proposition”, while the chilly ballad “Winter Marches On”, with no low end at all, is a much-needed change of pace. It also showcases Duran Duran’s, and Rhodes’ in particular, underrated ability to summon a satisfyingly ethereal atmosphere. Other tracks, though, suffer from lack of distinction. Duran Duran always struggled to supplement their singles with strong album material, and Notorious does at times reveal the stress and tension of the period in unflattering ways. Still, it’s a Duran Duran album the kids could dance to, but the grown-ups didn’t have to be embarrassed about liking, either....full text |
| Gleekifi |
| Did MTV make Duran Duran or did Duran Duran make MTV? In 1986, that question was moot, because the two were inextricably linked. PHOTOS: Duran Duran in pictures With the help of those groundbreaking, escapist videos and some good tunes, the band had by 1982 become a global juggernaut. VIDEOS: Duran Duran in videos The rub was that the more screaming teenagers showed up at their shows, the more their critical acclaim and respect slipped. With Seven and the Ragged Tiger in 1983, Duran Duran were starting to confuse those videos with real life. In came the.......full text |
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