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Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2008 6:11:38 GMT -5
www.tonight.co.za/index.php?fArticleId=4299979&fSectionId=432&fSetId=251 Red Carpet Massacre - Duran Duran Not The CD Of The Week By David Goodman Sony BMG ** You have to admire Duran Duran's tenacity. During the first half of the Eighties, these "new romantic" pioneers from Birmingham enjoyed a fantastic run of hit singles. All of their albums were hugely successful. They were one of the greatest pop groups on the planet. However, there have been few highlights over the past 20 years. And that's not about to change. But not for lack of trying: they enrolled Timbaland and Justin Timberlake for a few of the songs on their twelfth album (including the single Falling Down). Unsurprisingly, these are the most polished parts of the album. Simon Le Bon struggles to make the most out of the "filler", but, on the whole, it's pretty unremarkable stuff. There is one song which stands out from the rest, She's Too Much, reminiscent of the band's mid-period work (circa 1993). But there is little else to remind fans of former glories. In fact, if Le Bon's distinctive voice were not present throughout, it would be virtually impossible to identify this as a Duran Duran album. Whether this is intentional or not, it's beside the point: Red Carpet Massacre isn't particularly impressive. It's by no means a total failure - unlike the 1995 covers album, Thank You. There are some funky tracks and good melodies. But it isn't consistently cohesive. This is not unusual for ageing Eighties bands, though. They tend to lose their focus.
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AnHoTh
LIBERTY
CBR 1000F
Rhythm is the power that moves me!
Posts: 194
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Post by AnHoTh on Mar 12, 2008 6:44:56 GMT -5
Unfortunately, I can't say I completely disagree with the reviewer in that I think there is a noticeable difference between the tracks depending on the producer. They don't mesh well. Whenever I listen to RCM, I now listen to the Timberland tracks in one go and the others in another. I remember Nick saying something about them still wanting to create on full continuous album listening experience but I don't feel they have succeded this time. What I have heard of the tracks live though still promises for more great RCM concerts!
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Post by mystikwolf83 on Mar 12, 2008 7:30:09 GMT -5
Obviously the reviewer has no idea what he is talking about. ... Its people like that who have been giving them a bad name for their whole career. RCM has everything ... rock, pop, dance, hip-hop, electro/wave, etc. ... yada yada yada And ... losing their focus? not cohesive? filler? Don't post these bad reviews anymore! LoL ~ "Wolf" www.myspace.com/ddredcarpetmassacre
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Post by nightboat13 on Mar 12, 2008 8:24:03 GMT -5
The album was rushed through, they really didn't have the time needed to develop the "filler" songs. Sony bet the whole wad on the Tim songs.
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Post by Top Pop Fops on Mar 12, 2008 13:47:04 GMT -5
I think that's a fair review. Coincidentally I listened to RCM for the first time in ages today and the track that stood out was 'She's Too Much.' I think that song could have been a big hit for them if the verses weren't so whiney/strained. Still it's the nearest thing to a great track on the album.
But they need to bring back Andy Taylor, Nick has too much influence without him in the band, and there isn't enough balance and substance to their music without him. I still think the 'Fab Five' have a great album left in them.
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Post by Tin on Mar 12, 2008 14:29:14 GMT -5
I still think the 'Fab Five' have a great album left in them. Reportage . . . perhaps . . . ;D
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Post by nooks1 on Mar 12, 2008 14:36:06 GMT -5
Sounds like it Tin!
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Post by thetange on Mar 12, 2008 17:46:31 GMT -5
Wolf wrote: Obviously the reviewer has no idea what he is talking about. ... Its people like that who have been giving them a bad name for their whole career.
RCM has everything ... rock, pop, dance, hip-hop, electro/wave, etc. ... yada yada yada
And ... losing their focus? not cohesive? filler?
Don't post these bad reviews anymore! LoL
-end quote from Wolf
The thing that strikes me as ironic about RCM is that Duran have finally lived up to the bad reviews of "back in the day" biased critics.
RCM - it's not the worst thing I've ever heard, and there are a few decent tracks - but the bulk of it? Embarassingly bad.
It's time to grow up and quit blaming critics for Duran's "bad name" (your words). Duran's first two albums were excellent, ahead of their time, and highly original. Though they've had an interesting career since then, with many, many great songs - they've seemed to loose their identity by looking outward for validation. RCM was a deliberate attempt to become top 40 again. They abandoned an album, lost a guitar player, and all the rest for the purpose of making the record company happy and trying to have chart success. It backfired big time.
The drumming on the album sounds dumbed down to go along with the beats that Timbaland and Nate programmed. And it doesn't sound like a band anymore. There's a lot of keyboard work on the album that sound nothing like Nick (nor up to par with Nick). John throws a few good bass lines out there, but it doesn't gel with the rest of the music. I give Simon credit for doing what he can to hold the album together - but musically, it's a failure. The review is pretty much right on the money.
The album comes across as dumb and unoriginal. Falling Down and Box Full O'Honey are pretty good, and She's Too Much is passable, but the rest of it? Red Carpet Masscre....don't wanna hassle ya? What were they going for? In your face? Punchy? Lol. It's dumb.
Still - going to see them live in May and hope that they'll go indie and get rid of the notion that they're gonna rule the charts in America again. They don't need that. They just need to be original again and make good music. If they ever get that down, they'll have respectable sales (not top 10) and do very well touring.
Oh......and they need Andy back. Nick hinted early on when Andy's departure was announced that it was more of a management company/Andy falling out issue and that they might work again with Andy in the future.
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donnabella
NOTORIOUS
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Post by donnabella on Mar 12, 2008 17:57:39 GMT -5
This board is about the good and bad reviews wolf.
I too agree with this review.
I know the band wants to evolve with the times... but remember what sound made you famous guys. And know the majority of your fan base are 1st and 2nd generation fans (those discovering them in the 80s and 90s I mean)... we like much of that stuff. Bring it back. You're failing horribly otherwise.
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Post by thetange on Mar 12, 2008 20:44:38 GMT -5
I'm not even advocating that Duran go back to something they've done before - I just don't want to listen to music that sounds like a marketing department created it.
The first two Duran albums were great because the band was being original and being themselves. That comes through in the music. If folks like the Rio video too....then great - but it's all about the music to me.
RCM is an attempt to borrow someone else's wardrobe, so to speak, so as to be back in style.
I'd rather see them evolve in a natural way without the focus on hits, or any of that. Writing good songs should be the priority for them to have any relivance.
The public knows when a band is faking it and desperate to be relivant. It doesn't sell albums regardless of how well (or badly) it's marketed. They can always chalk it up as an experiment that didn't work - but time to move on and be original again.
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