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Post by theprocess on Jul 28, 2025 7:40:48 GMT -5
Its fifteen years since they released All You Need is Now. It was their third album since getting back together and since then have released another 2 albums (or 3 if you count DM), so it feels appropriate to look at it in context of their history.
For the hardcore fans it seems to be the favorite album by DD in the 21st century although Future Past has had similar claims. Saying that there are some facts that stick out:
This is the only album since they reformed where the band have never once performed a track from it live since the accompanying tour was completed.
When did the band last even discuss the album? RCM gets spoken about more than AYNIN. Strange considering it had Mark Ronson producing it.
This is hard to substantiate but I think its also their lowest selling album. We can all argue that the initial digital release absorbed most of the sales, and that physical media was dying around then, but it probably sold even less than Pop Trash as physical sales were still so much higher back then.
I'm curious how you all feel about this. After the recent post about re-evaluating Paper Gods, I had another listen and the album is good but not as great as I remember. Unlike most other modern era DD albums, it doesn't have an absolute howler like Bedroom Toys but it also doesn't have any flat out classics either, maybe with the exception of The Man Who Stole A Leopard. I think a lot of the fans pleasure came from the fact it was more in line with the classic DD sound, after the whole RCM disaster.
Personally I think the band don't like the album. They have always been about moving forward and they feel this album deliberately tried too hard to look backwards. It's the only logical explanation.
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Post by missing on Jul 28, 2025 7:45:01 GMT -5
While I like the album as a whole, looking back...well, I don't love it. There are some nice tracks on it, but nothing really stands out as and makes me say "wow!"
And, I never really felt AYNIN was looking backwards towards their roots. That's what Future Past does - and it does that spectacularly. AYNIN, to is simply where there were at that space in time.
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Post by theprocess on Jul 28, 2025 7:53:14 GMT -5
While I like the album as a whole, looking back...well, I don't love it. There are some nice tracks on it, but nothing really stands out as and makes me say "wow!" And, I never really felt AYNIN was looking backwards towards their roots. That's what Future Past does - and it does that spectacularly. AYNIN, to is simply where there were at that space in time. Very good point and as you said, nothing actually stand out. Future Past is my favourite of their reformed albums now. |
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Post by duranfan09 on Jul 28, 2025 11:15:43 GMT -5
Still absolutely adore it. Runway Runaway is arguably one of the best tracks of the reunion era, Mediterranea a close second and then Leopard, Too Bad You're So Beautiful and Before The Rain are in the mix as strong memorable efforts too. To say that, for me, Leave A Light On is the weakest track on the record is a testament to how good it is I think.
As for the band panning the album following its release? I'm really not sure, maybe they felt it was a bit too self-referential. Who knows. It'd be good to get their honest assessment on the matter.
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Post by iainbann on Jul 28, 2025 11:31:31 GMT -5
An underwhelming successor to RCM. I never really got into an always on groove with this record. Leopard is a fun track but Skin Divers is electrifying.
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oakey
PAPER GOD
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Post by oakey on Jul 28, 2025 11:56:20 GMT -5
Interesting to see how divided the fan community is.
IMO AYNIN (the album) is one of their best albums. Forget the "looking back' crap, AYNIN is DD doing what they do best, writing and performing slick pop tunes without trying to be modern (RCM), forgetting that they have a guitar player (PG, FP), trying to be like a boomer version of Oasis or other shoegazers (PT, Medazza) or doing cover versions (DM, TY).
Too Bad You're So Beautiful is my favorite track, one of their best post-80s songs in my book. Also love Being Followed, Blame the Machines, Girl Panic!, Safe, and Runaway Runaway are excellent too. Even Mediterranea and Before the Rain are lovely, despite their slow tempo (never a fan of slower songs). AYNIN the song is underwhelming, but still okay, especially hate Nick's annoying synth sound in the beginning. Never got the love for Leopard though, a pretentious skip track for me.
To me, it's not that they were creating Rio Part 2, but DD doing what they do best.
It was not a commercial success as it was pre the vinyl hype, which is why their albums now make "the" top 10. Also legacy acts from the 80s sell out arenas again, not because their new music is at par with their successes from the heydays, but because of nostalgia and giving the audience what they want (that is, the hits!). Simple Minds played clubs in the 1990s and now play arenas again, yet hardly anybody in the audience is able to name one post 1996-song. Similar with DD: I was at a FP show in Barcelona, talking to a fan from Switzerland who was also a megafan in the 80s, she had all the singles and 12"-es, albums, made scrapbooks etc. Yet she was unable to name one song or album post reunion.
In absolute terms AYNIN got a lot of attention. Too bad the AYNIN tour got cancelled halfway because of Simon's vocal problems.
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Post by astronaut42 on Jul 28, 2025 11:57:04 GMT -5
Its fifteen years since they released All You Need is Now. It was their third album since getting back together and since then have released another 2 albums (or 3 if you count DM), so it feels appropriate to look at it in context of their history. For the hardcore fans it seems to be the favorite album by DD in the 21st century although Future Past has had similar claims. Saying that there are some facts that stick out: This is the only album since they reformed where the band have never once performed a track from it live since the accompanying tour was completed. When did the band last even discuss the album? RCM gets spoken about more than AYNIN. Strange considering it had Mark Ronson producing it. This is hard to substantiate but I think its also their lowest selling album. We can all argue that the initial digital release absorbed most of the sales, and that physical media was dying around then, but it probably sold even less than Pop Trash as physical sales were still so much higher back then. I'm curious how you all feel about this. After the recent post about re-evaluating Paper Gods, I had another listen and the album is good but not as great as I remember. Unlike most other modern era DD albums, it doesn't have an absolute howler like Bedroom Toys but it also doesn't have any flat out classics either, maybe with the exception of The Man Who Stole A Leopard. I think a lot of the fans pleasure came from the fact it was more in line with the classic DD sound, after the whole RCM disaster. Personally I think the band don't like the album. They have always been about moving forward and they feel this album deliberately tried too hard to look backwards. It's the only logical explanation. They tend to bad mouth old stuff and over inflate their love of any current project ... The success is that the core fans loved it and it lovingly paid tribute to Rio. Ronson injected some enthusiasm and energy that was missing from RCM. I remember reading that he helped Simon reach a better place with lyrics. Personally I loved it and thought they were firing on all cylinders. |
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Post by maddog on Jul 28, 2025 12:01:06 GMT -5
An underwhelming successor to RCM. I never really got into an always on groove with this record. Leopard is a fun track but Skin Divers is electrifying. Wow. To each their own but I didn't I'd ever see a Duranie dump on AYNIN while praising anything off of RCM. I'm in the camp that believes AYNIN is brilliant and should have been more commercially successful. Yeah that were looking back but considering that it is literally the first time that they ever did that in their entire career, I think it can be forgiven. And with just how good the album is, no forgiveness is needed. I just wish they had done more official videos for the album. Hell, I even love the cover art. |
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dangerousthunder
NOTORIOUS
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Post by dangerousthunder on Jul 28, 2025 12:14:23 GMT -5
I really enjoy AYNIN. Standouts tracks for me are the title track, Safe, Leopard, Girl Panic!, Runway Runaway, Too Bad You're So Beautiful, and Blame The Machines. I think Ronson was very good gor them. You have a producer who's also a fan and I feel he got them back on track after RCM.
For some reason I missed them on this tour. They did play Chicago but I still cannot recall why I didn't go.
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Post by Dr Of The Revolution on Jul 28, 2025 12:28:25 GMT -5
AYNIN the song is underwhelming, but still okay, especially hate Nick's annoying synth sound in the beginning. They made a remix of the song for people like you, without the offending synth part. You're not alone : |
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