Duran Duran's new album

Sahara · #1 12-10-2007, 09:53 AM

Has anyone heard it? I must say that when I heard that Justin Timberlake and Timbaland were involved I was very nervous... I despise both of them on their own, but together AND with one of my favourite groups? I was very apprehensive.
But I actually really like the new sound. I find it's much edgier than anything they've done previously, a little bit dark, but it works really well. I love that they're not just repeating what's made them successful over the last 25 or so years, but still pushing boundaries and trying new things. Sometimes it works (The Valley, Skin Divers, Zoom In) and sometimes it doesn't (Nite Runner, Red Carpet Massacre), but overall I think it's something fresh and different from the lads, with a distinct Duran Duran flavour still present. I also loved that there was an instrumental (Tricked Out) on there -- a nice nod to the fact that even though the image and mythology of Duran Duran is so important, the music still stands on its own.

And the icing on the cake was that I got to see them live for the first time, last Wednesday night in Dublin's Phoenix Park ...

I can't actually find the words to tell you how good it was. I went with two great friends who introduced me to the band, so to share the experience with them was something very special. The band sounded completely together, lively and full of energy. The setlist was a fine mix of old and new, and though I felt there were one or two "essentials" missing it all flowed really well. Simon was note-perfect the whole way through and running and dancing round the stage like it was 1984 all over again. Definitely worth waiting six hours in the freezing cold...

kak125 · #2 12-10-2007, 07:50 PM

I agree, I love the new Duran Duran album and I actually love Night Runner! My favorite songs are Falling Down, Skin Divers, She's Too Much and Last Man Standing. I agree that the album has a dark feel to it and I like that they decided to go in a different direction for this album.

I am jealous you go to see Duran Duran. I hope they come to the States cuz I think they are awesome in concert. I have seen them twice in the past and they put on a fantastic show!

HejiraNYC · #3 12-12-2007, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kak125

I hope they come to the States cuz I think they are awesome in concert. I have seen them twice in the past and they put on a fantastic show!

They were just here (NYC) in November- they played for like 2 or 3 weeks in a Broadway Theatre. I would have gone just for the spectacle... but tickets were pretty ridiculous. Nothing like the $13.50 I paid to see them back in 1983.

strandinthewind · #4 12-12-2007, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

. . . Nothing like the $13.50 I paid to see them back in 1983.

Did you wear your Teal Members Only jacket and have frosted hair?

HejiraNYC · #5 12-12-2007, 10:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

Did you wear your Teal Members Only jacket and have frosted hair?

Close! It was more of a baby blue color than teal. But I wasn't frosting back then... not until 1985-1986, when I peroxided my part/bangs area ala Bonnie Raitt. And of course my bangs were parted on one side, teased and almost always covered my right eye, which, ironically enough, is now the only one that works. No guyliner though. Still... I guess I wanted to be Tom Bailey and Robert Smith's butt baby!

strandinthewind · #6 12-12-2007, 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

. . . Still... I guess I wanted to be Tom Bailey and Robert Smith's butt baby!

That is WAY too scary a thought

I had the weight line in the back for a brief period and then reprised it a few times. I maintain, though, that as crazy as those hairdos were, they required thought, which is WAY more than I can say for the current gel it to a point/horn crapola that the Chelsea boys brought to the masses.

HejiraNYC · #7 12-12-2007, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

That is WAY too scary a thought

I had the weight line in the back for a brief period and then reprised it a few times. I maintain, though, that as crazy as those hairdos were, they required thought, which is WAY more than I can say for the current gel it to a point/horn crapola that the Chelsea boys brought to the masses.

But look what that did to the ozone layer?! I'm not sure what a "weight line" is... must be something y'all did in the south.

I was the only token PIB (Person in Black) in my senior class. Everyday it was the same- black boots, black shirt, black pants. For a while I even dyed my naturally black hair to blue-black. So cool!

I agree with you about the Chelsea hair... but that was so 6 or 7 years ago. Even the fauxhawk has been laughed into oblivion. Nowadays it's more grown out and retro 70's. It's such a shame. Still... some men of a certain age are still holding onto their long-gone youths by keeping that point/horn shape. I've been shaving my head for the past 10 years, so none of this applies to me.

strandinthewind · #8 12-12-2007, 03:22 PM

The weight line was essentially a bowl haircut in that it looked like a cerael bowl had been put on your head and then shaved the hair below the bottom of the bowl. In the back, where the hair area is longer, would be a lower shaved/closle cropped part for a few inches and then a saucy bloom of hair above it to swing with wild abandon to "Pretty In Pink" while dancing. Five inch bangs worked well with this get up.

My high school had uniforms. But, I wore tacky bowling shoes I bought from the local ally until the Christian Brothers banned them - BASTRADS

CelticGypsy · #9 12-13-2007, 12:45 AM

My hubby took me to see them in 1987. I'm happy to see them touring again and their new CD is very good.

HejiraNYC · #10 12-13-2007, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

The weight line was essentially a bowl haircut in that it looked like a cerael bowl had been put on your head and then shaved the hair below the bottom of the bowl. In the back, where the hair area is longer, would be a lower shaved/closle cropped part for a few inches and then a saucy bloom of hair above it to swing with wild abandon to "Pretty In Pink" while dancing. Five inch bangs worked well with this get up.

My high school had uniforms. But, I wore tacky bowling shoes I bought from the local ally until the Christian Brothers banned them - BASTRADS

Hmmm... I'm still not understanding it. It almost sounds a bit like the Louise Brooks do:

I know this is more of a bob, but it has that really short wedge in the back... surely it must have been quite punk for the 1910's.

strandinthewind · #11 12-13-2007, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HejiraNYC

Hmmm... I'm still not understanding it. It almost sounds a bit like the Louise Brooks do:

I know this is more of a bob, but it has that really short wedge in the back... surely it must have been quite punk for the 1910's.

A little bit, but there is no chin bob. The hair was parted on the side, so the page boy bangs were not there. the wedge in the back is prett much on, only the line would have been a tad higher.

Sahara · #12 12-16-2007, 01:22 PM

I think it's such a pity the album hasn't done better in the charts

I know the charts aren't everything but since Astronaut did so well in 2003, and seeing as JT and Timbaland were involved, you'd imagine that would give it a boost.