Los Angeles / give me Norfolk, Virginia / dial one oh four ten oh nine / tell the folks back home th...
Los Angeles / give me Norfolk, Virginia / dial one oh four ten oh nine / tell the folks back home this is the promised land calling / and the poor boy is on / the line
Member since:17.02.2004
Reviews:159
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Track listing : Reach Up For The Sunrise / Want You More / Whats Happening Tomorrow / Astronaut / Bedroom Toys / Nice / Taste The Summer / Finest Hour / Chains / One Of Those Days / Point Of No Return / Still Breathing
The classic line-up return, and one fine day someone is going to write a book about how it came about. This is not a comeback though, because like all the classic rock groups Duran never really went away.
The single (Reach Up For The) Sunrise kicks things off, as the title describes it's an uplifting slice of power pop. Surely you have all heard it by now, so onto the rest:
Want You More: very radio friendly rock-lite, all held-back guitars and good vocals,
Whats Happening Tomorrow: One of the future Duran anthems I'm sure, "you've got to believe, it'll be alright in the end, you've got to believe, it'll be alright again", surely a "Save A Prayer" for the 21st Century.
Astronaut: John Taylor is here, with a good driving bass line, with some nice synth work that holds down a somewhat lightweight if pleasant tune.
Bedroom Toys: the old Duran are back with a vengeance on this track, that echoes "Skin Trade" off of their Notorious album. "oh my god what's this?" no doubt what this is about but it's done with their uncanny knack of humour.
Nice: another uplifting tune, good chorus, good synth work on the bridge too.
Taste The Summer: opens up with a "doo-doo-doo-doo-doo" line that comes in at regular intervals. Another pleasant enough song that threatens to explode into noise but doesn't.
Finest Hour: Slower track than the ones before. Reflective lyrics, but sorry this is rather dull.
Chains: a bass-driven "floaty" sort of tune that reminds me of Ambient House somehow. Guitars come in on the bridge just in time to save it floating into oblivion.
One Of Those Days: now that the band have got their breath back, this is the nearest they get to a full-blown rock and roll number here, that starts off promising before settling down to a rather limp finish.
Point Of No Return: "maybe things can change, but only if you want", sings Simon in another anthemic song.
Still Breathing: At 6.07 the longest tune on here, "i'm never going back there again", repeated on a restrained vocal before the big (ish) instrumental finish. A slow burner this one. Rather good.
So there we have it. A good enough album without being (planet) earth shattering. Old fans will love it, and I'm sure "da kidz" wondering what all the fuss was about can like it too. Not bad at all. The US market is going to lap this one up for sure.
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I wasn't around for Duran's earlier stuff, though I really like this album - more hit than miss generally. Want You More, Astronaunt, Finest Hour and Still Breathing are definitely the highlights for me :) tom
JJane 08.11.2004 20:22
Well, I've got this CD and I do really like it, but maybe it's because I'm a bit of a diehard Duranie. Actually, although you could say I am, I'm certainly able to be critical regardless. I wasn't old enough (!) first time round to see them play live, but went earlier this year and was very pleasantly surprised at how well they still can play, sing, etc. This album transcends their popularity of yesteryear and, I think, stands up well by itself for anyone who is a newcomer to the DD phenomenon. Nice review. Jill x
Advantages: A smattering of good songs... nice cover Disadvantages: Doesn't play to the band's strengths, woefully mediocre, extremely middle-of-the-road
Ryan74 13.05.2005 (16.05.2005)
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Review of Astronaut - Duran Duran
Advantages: A smattering of good songs... nice cover Disadvantages: Doesn't play to the band's strengths, woefully mediocre, extremely middle-of-the-road
Ryan74 13.05.2005 (16.05.2005)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Astronaut - Duran Duran
Nov 6th, 2004
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