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Post by bwkk on Oct 4, 2015 22:05:19 GMT -5
coolbarn, in your preamble before the track-by-track breakdown, you hit upon it perfectly - all those sentiments exactly about how the album won't stand the test of time at all, synth bass instead of Bass Guitar best ever bassist - wtf? and the drums... I cannot ever get over the fact that this album doesn't sound like a "band" album at all. It's Simon and two producers. Having real drums makes it sound like there's a drummer there. Same with the bass. I think that's what the problem is. I too am struck by the lack of an adequate guitar presence on the album. Northern Lights I think tries to make up for it? Or is it Planet Roaring... To me Planet Roaring sounds a bit Queen like or something - I like it better than Valentine stone, which sounds too minimal for me. The stuff the band *liked* when they talked about making this album... that there's more "space" around Simon's vocals. Well, Simon sounds isolated on some of the tracks. The tracks sound thin, really. "Getting us to the dance floor" - well I guess they meant Last Night in the City and stuff - which will probably be spun once on some DJ's turntable only to never be played again when the next month arrives with the new flavor... Your review is fair and it brings up the major problems on the whole. Lack of John Taylor. Lack of Roger Taylor. The famed rhythm section duo went on hiatus for this album. They could *weave* the way Ron Wood and Keef do - in their own way. You hear it on Rio and AYNIN. It's sorely missing here. There are even moments on Astronaut more satisfying than what Paper Gods delivers in this regard... I'm already feeling the album fading from my consciousness. That has never happened so quickly for me before with a DD album. Was I crazy? All these enthusiastic, five star fan reviews like sliced bread had been reinvented. I am a fan. I *want* to like this album. I really do. But I can't. Not truly. The mastering is indeed an issue and there are a lot of musical direction choices that jar me out of the experience. There is an aspect that the album does feel forced in places. It reminds me of Thank You when they kinda tried genres and it almost comes off like a parody. Maybe "pastiche" is a better word. You get where their hearts were going - but they can't quite pull it off. Some of the decisions are plain stupid. The crowd noise in PO. The distortion ending leading into choir in Universe Alone outro. There is no way Duran democracy was at play here. Those were Nick Rhodes "I-own-the-name-so-f___-you" arty-farty moves. And anybody who's a true fan knows that. For Gods sake, Roger and John would never have signed off on that. I for one am a true fan and I know that. There is not a democracy, it truly is the Nick Rhodes show. That is why Andy could not stomach it.
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Post by americanfrog on Oct 4, 2015 22:36:18 GMT -5
Doesn't come close to how heavily I listened to AYNIN, but few albums released in recent years can touch that record. Interesting. I agree with quite a few of your song by song assessments but consider PG to be nothing more nothing less than the last four releases. I'd give Astronaut a slight edge, but the biggest difference between our opinions is that I haven't played a single track off AYNIN in the past two years, but I have played tracks off Astronaul and RCM, Cry Baby Cry, is amazing, better than everything off AYNIN. Sorry, AYNIN is overrated. No doubt about it. As I said, I don't differentiate much between the last four albums and would probably put Big Thing and Notorious in that same tier. Duran Duran, Rio, Seven, and the Wedding Album being the top tier. Leaving Liberty, Pop Trash, and Meddazzaland as the bottom tier.
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Post by teddybearjedi on Oct 4, 2015 22:57:51 GMT -5
I'm still listening to the Album on continual repeat. Although I've been starting off with The Universe Alone and going through the Bonus Tracks first, most of the time. I have been skipping Pressure Off occasionally, only because I played it to death since it dropped in July. I still Love it, there's just other tracks I want to hear more. Still Loving What are the Chance, and Face for Today has become one of my favorite tracks. Danceophobia is one I really like, but sometimes skip depending on my mood. Last Night In the City still gets me going, wanting to dance around pumping my fist in the air. The Universe Alone has really become the Standout Track for me. I absolutely love this song. I've even let it be known that I want it played at my funeral. Butterfly Girl is a great song that I sometimes replay, but skip occasionally. Change the Skyline I like, but skip occasionally also. Only in Dreams is a fun song, I love Simon's kinda nonsensical lyrics. Paper Gods is really high on my list. I Love the Lyrics. As for the 5 Bonus Tracks, as I say I've been playing them a bit more than the 12 Standard songs, mainly because they're still newer to me since I had been listening to the Entire Album about a month before it's release. There's still not a song I don't like.
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Post by l0st1t2b0st1k on Oct 4, 2015 23:40:21 GMT -5
coolbarn, in your preamble before the track-by-track breakdown, you hit upon it perfectly - all those sentiments exactly about how the album won't stand the test of time at all, synth bass instead of Bass Guitar best ever bassist - wtf? and the drums... I cannot ever get over the fact that this album doesn't sound like a "band" album at all. It's Simon and two producers. Having real drums makes it sound like there's a drummer there. Same with the bass. I think that's what the problem is. I too am struck by the lack of an adequate guitar presence on the album. Northern Lights I think tries to make up for it? Or is it Planet Roaring... To me Planet Roaring sounds a bit Queen like or something - I like it better than Valentine stone, which sounds too minimal for me. The stuff the band *liked* when they talked about making this album... that there's more "space" around Simon's vocals. Well, Simon sounds isolated on some of the tracks. The tracks sound thin, really. "Getting us to the dance floor" - well I guess they meant Last Night in the City and stuff - which will probably be spun once on some DJ's turntable only to never be played again when the next month arrives with the new flavor... Your review is fair and it brings up the major problems on the whole. Lack of John Taylor. Lack of Roger Taylor. The famed rhythm section duo went on hiatus for this album. They could *weave* the way Ron Wood and Keef do - in their own way. You hear it on Rio and AYNIN. It's sorely missing here. There are even moments on Astronaut more satisfying than what Paper Gods delivers in this regard... I'm already feeling the album fading from my consciousness. That has never happened so quickly for me before with a DD album. Was I crazy? All these enthusiastic, five star fan reviews like sliced bread had been reinvented. I am a fan. I *want* to like this album. I really do. But I can't. Not truly. The mastering is indeed an issue and there are a lot of musical direction choices that jar me out of the experience. There is an aspect that the album does feel forced in places. It reminds me of Thank You when they kinda tried genres and it almost comes off like a parody. Maybe "pastiche" is a better word. You get where their hearts were going - but they can't quite pull it off. Some of the decisions are plain stupid. The crowd noise in PO. The distortion ending leading into choir in Universe Alone outro. There is no way Duran democracy was at play here. Those were Nick Rhodes "I-own-the-name-so-f___-you" arty-farty moves. And anybody who's a true fan knows that. For Gods sake, Roger and John would never have signed off on that. I for one am a true fan and I know that. There is not a democracy, it truly is the Nick Rhodes show. That is why Andy could not stomach it. ...and I'm a fan who can't stomach Andy. I say, good riddance to him and his bad attitude. I NEVER liked him. Let him go live on Ibiza, wear sunglasses and blue jeans 24/7, and writhe in his delusions of "rock god" grandeur.
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Post by don64 on Oct 5, 2015 2:05:30 GMT -5
After a month I'm still enjoying this album.
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Post by bwkk on Oct 5, 2015 13:00:31 GMT -5
...and I'm a fan who can't stomach Andy. I say, good riddance to him and his bad attitude. I NEVER liked him. Let him go live on Ibiza, wear sunglasses and blue jeans 24/7, and writhe in his delusions of "rock god" grandeur. The band obviously 'want' it more that Andy. His heart was never in the reunion. Needed the money to fund his solo production projects..that's it! I disagree. All he ever wanted was to be equals with everyone. Right off the bat from the reunion, the group pay structure reflected the inequality. Nick was taking the largest cut, followed by Simon and John. Roger and Andy were basically glorified employees with the promise that teh structure would be changed should they have taken off. Andy complained that Nick shot all of his ideas down. Basically the way things were it could have never worked. When Andy left the partnership was restructed into 4 equal pieces, but Nick is still legally the Alpha Dog. They can say all they want about them being a democracy, but one guy holds the gavel. That was not the situation back in the day of the first 3 albums. If Andy felt they were all on exactly equal footing decision and compensation wise, he would have stayed for sure.
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Post by l0st1t2b0st1k on Oct 5, 2015 13:04:58 GMT -5
The band obviously 'want' it more that Andy. His heart was never in the reunion. Needed the money to fund his solo production projects..that's it! I disagree. All he ever wanted was to be equals with everyone. Right off the bat from the reunion, the group pay structure reflected the inequality. Nick was taking the largest cut, followed by Simon and John. Roger and Andy were basically glorified employees with the promise that teh structure would be changed should they have taken off. Andy complained that Nick shot all of his ideas down. Basically the way things were it could have never worked. When Andy left the partnership was restructed into 4 equal pieces, but Nick is still legally the Alpha Dog. They can say all they want about them being a democracy, but one guy holds the gavel. That was not the situation back in the day of the first 3 albums. If Andy felt they were all on exactly equal footing decision and compensation wise, he would have stayed for sure. And you know this how? Where are your sources to verify this information?
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Post by jo74 on Oct 5, 2015 15:36:59 GMT -5
I wasnt impressed by the album at the time of release and to be honest I am not listening to it anymore.I only enjoy the track Paper Gods.I'm now listening to other artists.Theres some exciting stuff out there. However from what I see on youtube they seem to enjoy the attention (Thanks Warner) and the shows look great but I just couldnt listen to -HLTW/Wild Boys/Sunrise/White lines- one more time so I think I will pass on this tour
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Post by More Play Time on Oct 5, 2015 16:38:39 GMT -5
I mostly agree with the opening post, the album has worn off a lot for me, and I have to be in the right mood for YKMWS or it sounds too depressing. Certainly no Ordinary World. Even Butterfly Girl has worn off now, but its still a catchy number. My fav at the moment is Cinderella Ride, as you say, Salt V2.
DD have always taken flack for being soft and colourful artists, while rarely releasing anything notably cheesy, or dare I say camp, but by covering all the bases this album feels patchy to me. Then again, no other artist in their senior years has an album out half as good, so its not what I'd call a Bad album either. Will I play this in years to come? Perhaps not so much.
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Post by bwkk on Oct 5, 2015 17:04:52 GMT -5
And you know this how? Where are your sources to verify this information? He doesn't have any. We already know Nick is the controller so tell us something new? Bwkk, You can't just wade in with your 'facts' if you have no evidence of this. Do you know the management? Is the source Andys book? He wouldn't have stayed because he didn't like the musical direction the band were heading..ie collaborating with Timbaland. To be honest, I can't blame him, however he left twice, once is acceptable because these things happen. But twice? No chance. It was a money spinner, pure and simple. I read it somewhere. I will find the source and let you know. And what if the source is Andy's book? This is not something that is opinion, point of view, or perception, it is a contractual fact. He couldn't blatenly lie about something like that. I'm actually suprised a big fan of teh band would have been unaware of that.
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