Duran Duran - Astronaut

the word "slaughtered" is kinda fitting to the review in the media of Duran Duran's long awaited new release with every member of the original cast intact.the only way to see if its justified is to listen.
as my eyes transfixed on the new album in fopp this morning i was amazed and glad to see if was packaged as a special edition with a documentary and live preformances from wembley earlier this year.which for an extras £3 was very much worth it.ok so its a bit overdone,they may have over stepped the over production by a toe or two but then again who cares,its all about the music in the end.isn't it?

As for the music,the album starts off with the rather catchy if not weak lyrical "sunrise" then almost immeadiatly jolts into some stupendous 80's basslines and electronica on "want you more" which instantly brings a smile to my face as this is the duran duran i know and love.im brought down to earth slightly on the next track "what happens tomorrow" which is a ballad from the "wedding album" era in the same vein as their big hit "ordinary world".it will do well,for those who like that sort of thing.
the title track,which comes next,is probably one of my favourites on the album.lots of synth,nice little guitar riffs,funky bassline and a catch chorus.exactly what i would ask duran duran to do if they came and played in my front room.
"bedroom toys" in a strange track,a complete difference.it almost sounds a bit reggae to begin with which prompts the "whats doing on here" thoughts to appear in my head but before long my heads bopping along to the beats and a grin starts to appear on my face all im wondering now is whats coming next! at least u can't say every track sounds the same on this album...
"nice" is quite frankly,nice.its mediocre,nothing to get excited about its one of those tracks that gets caught in the middle of the album in no mans land.nothing wierd or controversial about it really,it will probably be a single somewhere down the line.its catchy its nice not at all a bad track,but not one of my favourites.

"taste the summer" leaves a bit or a bad taste in my mouth,quite weak lyrically either simon wasn't trying hard enough on this track,or was trying to hard either or its caught in the same middle no mans land as "nice". my faith is starting to dwindle a little but i know its gonna be all right in the end *presses skip button*
"finest hour" another ballad.one that again im not too keen on it looks like the middle of the album is going to have to grow on me a little,which i am in no doubt that it will.
"chains" sounds promising,lovely john taylor bassline but once again it doesn't set me alight.nice chrous,not enough keyboards.
"one of these days" has a hint of indie/britpop in it. once again a switch in styles,which is quite frankly welcome after the last couple of tracks some nice keyboard work in it also to give it that retro feel.starting to get my faith back again..
"point of no return" emmmmmmmm no.i will have to listen to that one a few times i recon.its the second last track,so they only have one more try to win me over.

and they don't.the last track "still breathing" is again a nice song,nicely done.but it doesn't have the energy and urgency that i know the full duran duran line up can deliver.its their first album after a long absence,and its not 1983 so their old music styles they probably thought wouldn't be acceptable in this day and age.i'll listen more and see if it grows on me,but there are definetly a couple of stand out tracks that do give me faith that the old flock of seagulls,leather trousered,make up wearing duran duran is still out there.but needs to step out of the closet.


Ritch