Duran Duran Album: “Astronaut [Slipcase]”

Better than you'd think. If you are a fan ( and if you've gotten this far , you are ) this album is quite good. DD rock harder , keep a hard groove tighter and stick in your brain more than they have in more years than I care to count. Gorgeous vocal melodies, hook-filled bass lines, synth effects and subtle but effective guitar power chords ( welcome back Andy Taylor !! ) all add up to the comeback of the year. Most all the songs on this disc I want to hear more than once ( a rarity in this age of throwaway pop music.) I couldn't find this Special Edition at my local chain store so I ordered this from Amazon and got it the day after it was released. The bonus DVD is great and only leaves me wanting more. The notes in the cd case - which is gorgeous - state that it is from the "upcoming live dvd" that is surely better than Arena,which was crap. The live band is stripped to the original five piece and has never sounded better. Quite the comeback.

Wow! What a treat! As excited as I was about the original fab five reuniting, I have to admit I was skeptical about the new CD. I saw them live in Chicago last year, and it was amazing, but I wasn't crazy about the new songs. Now here comes 'Astronaut'. Could they recapture the magic? Would their music be relevant? The answer is yes and yes! Die-hard Duranies know that the boys have always been under-appreciated as musicians. People think of Duran Duran and they think of "Hungry Like the Wolf", but I think of dark, sonic soundscapes of early songs like "Waiting for the Nightboat" or the frenetic post punk of "Careless Memories" and "My Own Way". But I digress... I feel vindicated as a fan. 'Astronaut" is thoroughly modern, and yet vintage Duran Duran at the same time. This is not only a great Duran Duran CD, it's a flat out great CD! "Sunrise" is a simple, yet catchy anthem that just grows on you with every listen. "Bedroom Toys" is a slinky little song that showcases John Taylor's funky baselines and Simon LeBon's naughty side. I thought I was listening to a Sade groove for a minute there! "Nice" and "Taste the Summer" are typical Duran dicso/new wave dance numbers guaranteed to get you on your feet. Every song is strong. There's no filler. Let's be honest, Duran Duran wasn't the same after the three (unrelated) Taylors left the band. Fortunately, Nick Rhodes' keyboard wizardry, John Taylor's funky base, Andy Taylor's scratchy guitar licks, Roger Taylor's driving drum beats, and Simon's sex appeal are all here in tip top form. I suppose it's understandable why many critics have dismissed Duran Duran with lyrics like "I stole the Renoir and the TV set..." and now "I been around the world and seen a lot of things that'd make your chicken curl". I can't decide if these lyrics are ridiculous or brilliant, but it's fun either way. It was cool to like Duran Duran, then it wasn't cool to like them, and now it's cool again- whatever that means. The band is undoubtedly influential. Franz Ferdinand's catchy "Take Me Out" sounds just like something Duran Duran would have recorded 22 years ago. In the grand scheme of pop music, is Duran Duran as relevant as the Rolling Stones or Bruce Springsteen or Radiohead? Probably not, but that's not the point. History will be kind to Duran Duran. They have left an indelible mark. Maybe it's just nice to listen to music that reminds us of a less complicated time. Duran Duran's music has always been about one thing: pleasure- and 'Astronaut' is pure pleasure. When they tour again, I'll actually be looking forward to them playing new songs! To the boys from Birmingham, welcome back!

As an avid fan of the band since its inception in '79, (yes, I'm that old), its fantastic to see them all back together again. I recall they day they split, the trials and tribulations of the solo projects and the valiant efforts put forth by the remaining DD members. This new album signals the beginning of a new era for the group, one in which I hope lasts another 20 years.

The Band Breakdown:

* Simon's voice is as perky as it ever has been, and his lyrics are showing maturity...all of which is a good thing.

* JT's bass sounds as flowing and rhythmical as ever.

* Andy's ability to play his six-strings really comes through on this album like it's never before. Kudos to Andy...an underrated guitar slinger if there ever was one.

* Nick is the ever-present ambient sound that the band has always relied on. His ability to blend electronica and sampled audio is amazing and won't leave a fan disappointed.

* Lastly, Roger, the beat-boy of the band. He hasn't lost his touch from all those years on the farm. He can still bang a drum with fever pitch while giving off an aire of reticence about being cool.

I'm not a music critic, so I can't breakdown each track and tell you what is and isn't working for the guys, but I can say that for a 38 year old guy like me to still get excited about a new album from DD, it must mean they have something worth listening too. Many other 80's groups have tried with mixed success to 'reunionize' themselves. DD has done it. I can hear the distinctive sounds of the Fab Five in this CD, but it leads me to the future of what they can produce for themsleves, and takes their fans on a new journey towards what may be.

Buy this CD. Listen intently. You will not be disappointed.

Wow! This CD is fabulous! I was a Duranie back in the early 80's and lost a lot of interest when they branched off. I got this CD two days ago and can't stop listening to it. The sound is very danceable and the lyrics really make you listen. Simon's unique voice is better than ever. My favs so far are Bedroom Toys, Nice (possibly the best one), Point of No Return, Finest Hour, and Still Breathing. I don't care much for Taste of Summer and One of Those Days, but they're still decent songs.

I'm SO GLAD that Nick, Simon, John, Roger, and Andy are together again because they've stood the test of time and their talents have grown bigger and better than ever. I truly hope there's another great album in the future to follow this one.

Buy this CD!!!!!!

Right off, Astronaut starts off strong. Sunrise, an obvious first single, is a lush audio landscape of melodies and reminds all that these guys know how to write, play, and deliver better-than-pop tunes. And at the first song's conclusion, old fans are tempted to guess that this will be the one-hit wonder off a dying band's last stand. That's when it gets really interesting: the following song after song redelivers the promise of Sunrise.

With maybe only a weak spot or two out of 12 songs (and a fascinating live/behind-the-scenes DVD), this is a surprisingly fresh reinvention of a band that has seen several reinventions, some better than others.

Astronaut, as many know, represents a reunion of the original members. No one sounds out of practice. The Taylors, each one, plays as if it were only yesterday since they were last in the studio together. Simon still sings with the power and emotion of a bright-eyed freshman popstar. And Nick still delivers the vibrant and energetic audiotronics that glue the whole thing together. They all are truly at the top of their game.

Most welcome is the sense one has, when listening to Astronaut, of meeting an old friend and making a new one at the same time. It sounds like Duran Duran, it feels like Duran Duran, yet it doesn't really sound or feel like anything they've ever done before. It has the spirit and energy of DD circa 1984 but releases a sonic boom that is definitely DD 2004.

This is not a last stand but a new beginning. Astronaut is Duran Duran's return to space and beyond...