here's a question: would you rather...
a) they release a "ok" album (e.g. "Astronaut") that goes pretty big, gets international exposure and has them in the limelight again, or...
b) they release an incredible album (e.g. "Rio") that for some reason gets no recognition at all.
Easiest question I have been asked in a long time, and that includes every time my wife asks me if I would like seconds at dinner time!
Incredible album hands down. Duran's first two albums in particular were amazing, and this was back when they were just learning their instruments. By some twist of fate they wrote music which just worked for them, with producers who knew how to get the best from them, at a time when music videos were just starting to take off so having 5 good-looking, well-dressed blokes in cool film clips was a pretty good weapon to have in your arsenal.
If they could write incredible albums 33 years ago, why can't we expect the same of them today now that they are superior players and more experienced songwriters? Not to mention if Nile Rodgers and Mark Ronson can't get the best out of the guys, then nobody will. Not to mention they have John Frusciante playing on a couple of tunes.
I hope to be blown away from ANY new Duran Duran album. AYNIN came pretty close to this; certainly it's the best thing they have released since the 80s. But it still suffered from Duran including crappy instrumentals which are a waste of space, plus a couple of pieces of filler (I'm looking at you Safe and Before The Rain), plus a ridiculous choice for lead single.
If Duran can write an album as strong as AYNIN, and improve on those weaknesses, then I will be as happy as a three-balled tomcat.
I don't care whether it sells 5 copies, or 5 billion copies. Duran Duran never have to release a new album ever again, and they'll still be richer than most people. Between their investments, continuing royalties, and wealthy spouses, they are worth a small fortune. Money and fame is nice to have, but when they look back over their career they'll look fondly on the great music they created, not on how much they milked the cash-cow on any particular record.
To me an "OK but commercially successful" album is NOT OK. Duran Duran are so much better than that. They don't need any more fame and fortune. If I listen to an average Duran track, and amazingly it actually cracks the Top 10 and stays there for a while, it still remains an average track. A very lucky, average track.
Union Of The Snake sold more copies than Careless Memories. Is There Something I Should Know sold more copies than Serious. Skin Trade sold more copies than What Happens Tomorrow. But in each of those cases I much prefer the latter song which didn't sell as well.
Duran Duran sales mean nothing to me. Not one thing. If the regulars on this forum are the only people to buy DD14 and the band get no publicity whatsoever, but the album is amazing, then I will love it more than an OK album that gets recognition and a few sales.
Duran have already been the biggest band in the world. They have lived a classic rock-star life, with all the trials and tribulations it can entail. Been there and done that.
I just want the band to be happy first and foremost. If they can ONLY be happy selling lots of records, and will ONLY continue to tour if the sales are good, then of course I hope the record sells so that they will continue to perform. Selfishly I want them to keep going until they can no longer stand up.
But like I mentioned they don't need the money any more. They had the recognition and screaming girls, and not being able to leave their cars/rooms etc as well. Surely they would prefer everybody, including the naysayers in the press, to come around and say "Wow, I just didn't realise how great an album Duran Duran could write and record. It is an undiscovered gem, and easily the best record of the 2010s to date". You can't put a price on the personal satisfaction they would feel reading that.
Certainly it would be a lot better than hearing and reading "Duran Duran may be briefly back thanks to the coattails of Nile Rodgers and Mark Ronson, but they still prove their best music is trapped forever in the 80s and that they will always be a case of 'style over substance'".