Astronaut - Duran Duran > Reviews

Advantages: A smattering of good songs... nice cover
Disadvantages: Doesn't play to the band's strengths, woefully mediocre, extremely middle-of-the-road

Duran Duran have recently had something of a revival. They are namechecked by all the coolest new bands, such as the Killers and the Bravery (who have gone a step further and completely ripped off the Duran Duran sound - their single 'An Honest Mistake' for a virtual re-write of 'Planet Earth', surely). The voguish trend for boys in make-up, smart suits playing tunes of keyboards must have Simon Le Bon, Nick Rhodes and the three unrelated Taylor's ... Read review

Advantages: Very easy on the ear
Disadvantages: A little lightweight

.../ 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 ... Read review

Advantages: Great uplifting album
Disadvantages: bit behind times

...that was its undoing. Instead, Astronaut revitalizes Duran's early synth-pop magic. The lush, moody tones of "Point of No Return" and uplifting charm of "Finest Hour" recall the seductive sounds of Rio and remind us that Duran always had a knack for radiant melodies. On "Sunrise," the catchy first single, only Simon LeBon and Co.'s sneering harmonies could turn unabashedly ridiculous lyrics such as "Put your hands into the big sky. . . ./Feel the ... Read review

Advantages: DVD extra with limited copies, great sound after all these years.
Disadvantages: Not classic Duran

Astronaut is the latest offering from the 80s New Romantic Icons-Duran Duran.Although their new material-Reach Up For The Sunrise, Bedroom Toys, Astronaut, Want You Back, etc-is not a shade on their original 80s classics-its still a tightly wrapped blast of feel-good pop.The packaging is really funky and with a limited number of the cd you get a cute little booklet and a FANTASTIC DVD of the boys back on tour last year,2004-Wembley and Birmingham(their ... Read review

Advantages: Fantastic songs
Disadvantages: Not enough

Great 1st new album from this wonderful band! It the first for the 5 of them since 1985. They have done some really good albums between then with various line-up. I bought the 2 disc album, which is really good. The dvd has the live show with some of the new songs on. MY only hate on this whole album is taste the summer. They played this live at Birmingham this year and have to say it sucks! My personal favs are want you more, finest hour and the ... Read review