The big
Duran Duran catalogue review
Surely you've all been desperately waiting for this !
Not a complete list but these are the albums I've got hold of so far, plus the couple I have already discussed. In general, Duran Duran are an impressive but frustrating outfit - when they're on form they are great, but when the inspiration drops then it can get pretty awful. Also there is a schizophrenic split between a dance/pop singles act and an arty, energetic Rock outfit who struggle for recognition. The resulting albums can veer between awesome production and ho-hum sounding.
Arena (1984)
Live album recorded on the World Tour for 'Seven and the Ragged Tiger'. DD were still a glamourous pop group and the opening 2 tracks have intrusive mass-girly-screaming in the background. Overall excellently-recorded and committed performances (although you wonder how much was tidied up in the mixing). A few atmospheric numbers have them sounding very like Japan ('The Chauffeur' especially). Also there is a studio-recorded single shoved into the middle; 'Wild Boys'.
Odd one this but generally enjoyable.
Big Thing (1988)
The follow-up to 'Notorious' has the trio of Le Bon, Rhodes and John Taylor moving more into club-dance territory and is a patchy record of a band in search of a new identity. The Funk elements are there and the band prove they can do cool jazzy numbers as well ('Too Late Marlene'). The album overall is too fractured by the exploration of different styles - although mostly well-executed.
The Wedding Album (1993)
And then they decided they were going to be a Rock band again and this albums opens with an Oasis-like Britpop snarl. The Wedding Album is is a coherent effort, although still displaying a wide variety of styles but now being held together by the addition of full-time guitarist Warren Cuccurullo, who brings an aggressively adventurous edge in the songs. This is a mature album by a talented band that you can sit down and listen to.
Pop Trash (2000)
Weird but wonderful - this is a truly strange effort. Signing to Hollywood Records (a division of the Disney organisation) for a one-off album, Duran Duran pulled out the stops here and went for broke. With master-producer Ken Scott (The Beatles and 'Crime of the Century' in his CV) in the control room. 'Pop Trash' is a kaleidoscope of sounds and dirty - almost Sonic Youth - guitars. A record that forces you 1) just to let it pummel you into submission and 2) totally forget who the hell made it!
VERY impressive.
Astronaut (2004)
After a 20-year break the original 'famous five' lineup reunited for the first time since the Bond-theme 'A View to a Kill'. The magic is back and Duran Duran are recognisably themselves again. A solid album of well-crafted power-pop songs and the band are revitalized here.
All You Need Is Now (2011)
Losing guitarist Andy Taylor to a solo career, DD moved on with a more synthetic, keyboard-based sound that is a return to their early synthpop days but now handled by a mature, experienced touch. A fine album featuring excellent production.
Future Past (2021)
The most recent album of new material (the latest 'Danse Macabre' is mainly cover versions) and they still come out fighting! Guitar duties are filled by Graham Coxon (Blur) and Duran Duran again prove that they are still a force to be reckoned with.
Solid.
Due to their former pop-idol image, I never really took Duran Duran seriously and it is a genuine surprise that their music comes across as so accomplished and varied. Every album has its moments and as a whole I'm enjoying the ride.
What you do hear is group who are shadowed by their past, constantly forced to prove themselves anew against prejudice and expectation. An unending struggle to justify their continuing existence.
Also the production on most of these record can be quite spectacular, just proving that this is a band who know what they are about, simply wanting to make great music.
Just for fun, here is the video for the erotically moody 'The Chauffeur'. Enjoy!
