Disco de Duran Duran: “Astronaut”

I have been a DD fan almost my entire life. Rio was one of the first albums I ever remember truly loving, and their change in direction to a more Brit-pop/rock sound starting with "the Wedding Album" didn't bother me at all. However, now that all original members are back together and creating the same type of ultra-catchy funky new wave that made me fall in love with them in the first place, I couldn't be happier. Astronaut is an absolutely amazing masterpiece that could rival Rio as their best album ever. Ten of the twelve tracks could be singles in their own right. Only two tracks ("Chains" and "One of Those Days") leave something to be desired, but they are decent enough that they don't interrupt the flow of this otherwise fantastic disc. Simon's voice is in top form and fits absolutely perfectly with the gorgeous melodies. It would be impossible to pick one favorite, but to name a few of them: "Want You More!," "Astronaut," "Bedroom Toys," "Nice," "Taste the Summer," "Finest Hour," "Point of No Return," and "Still Breathing,"...dang, they're all good! Many of the tracks sound like they could have been unreleased cuts from their '80s albums that have been rerecorded with modern top-notch production. You won't find another "Ordinary World," "Come Undone," or "Someone Else Not Me" on this album, but if you've been longing for another "Rio" or "Girls On Film," the search is over. Welcome back, boys!

I think that because Duran Duran came of age during a very synthesizer focused music era, most critics underestimated their talent and wanted to lump them with other 1980's groups that owed their much of their success to Casio and MTV. The band's style (make-up and all), The band's amazing travelogue videos, hit-laden releases, and the fact that the group was loved/worshipped by teenaged girls (a highly maligned group as a whole), certainly did nothing to increase their critical appeal.

While the band continued to tour and record in different incarnations, this is the first release that the original 5 have put out since they went their different ways over 20 years ago. While my expectations for this release were not high at all as many reunions are solely based on cashing in on nostalgia, "Astronaut" is not only a first-rate release that makes most of what passes as popular music today sound like the work of amateurs, but it has actually made my list of the 10 best releases of 2004. Let's just say that no one is more surprised to write this than I, as some of their recent stuff (with the exception of the majestic "Ordinary World") has been good, but not ANYWHERE near the pop masterpiece that these guys have put together.

In a nutshell, almost every song on this CD could be released as a single, yet they even work better together. There is not a single dud in the whole release. The "boys" seem to have gotten even better through the years as Simon Le Bon's voice has become a much more pliable instrument while the guitar work and drums sound amazing. Fans will be glad to know that the end-product is immediately recognizable, but as good as anything put out during their apex. Some acts make the mistake of adding too many bells and whistles, guest rappers, producers of the moment, to try and be all things to all people. Duran Duran are now elder statesmen of the very best that the 1980's produced and although once considered nothing more than a "boy-band," they are as viable, if not more so, than ever.

My favorites include the infectious lead-off single"(Reach Up for) The Sunrise," the retro-sounding yet scorchingly current "Want You More!," and the anthemic "What Happens Tomorrow" (this song will stay with you for days). Other stand outs include the acoustic guitar-driven meets electronica "Astronaut" and disco-flavored "Bedroom Toys." Although I am currently in below zero cold, listening to "Taste the Summer" (which I am doing right now) almost makes me feel like I could be driking exotic drinks in sunny Fiji. OK, I do have a strong imagination, but this music is pure ear candy. If you've never liked these guys nothing here will change your mind, but for fans and those young enough not to have pre-conceptions of the baggage associated with Duran Duran's heyday, feel free to buy what I think may also become one of your favorite releases. I originally would have given this release 4 stars, but listening to it for the last couple of months, it without a doubt earns 5 solid stars.

Before I share with you my thoughts about Astronaut, I'm about to commit sheer heresy by stating emphatically that, Duran Duran were NEVER the quintessential Eighties band, even if their greatest success was realized midway through that decade. No, like ABC, while their sound was still very much their own, they owed a fairly sizable debt to Roxy Music (compare "Rio" with "Sign Of The Times" for proof) and the glam scene of the early Seventies, notably David Bowie; it's only on the first three albums that the Chic disco affectation is especially evident. Yes, Duran were, and are, a quintessential SEVENTIES band (such irony, considering how desperate so many people were to bury THAT decade throughout the one following it but, lo and behold, just as with those of the Sixties, Seventies-influenced styles are now more or less a persistent aspect of our culture and, I suspect, a permanent one) that had definite roots in the Sixties and Velvet Underground in particular (it's no coincidence that their cover of "Perfect Day" never sounds like anything other than a Duran original, and Notorious, the first record absent of Andy and Roger Taylor on its jacket, is graced with a surprising number of Stax-Volt touches) which may lend credence to frontman and chief songwriter Simon LeBon's comment that Astronaut sounded like a cross between the Mamas and Papas and Kraftwerk, incompatible as that marriage might seem.

As such, Duran's sound and songs have a somewhat timeless element to them (where Rio is concerned, at first I would've contended that EMI's remastering program wasn't at all necessary, but it's apparent to me now that I was thoroughly spoiled 22 years ago by extended variations of "Hold Back The Rain" and "My Own Way" on Carnival, a thumping, much harder-edged 4-song companion EP that was my first exposure to the quintet. Nick Rhodes has remarked that he can't listen to Rio at all because of certain unspecified glaring mistakes made in rushing it, and if you were to ask me, one of them certainly had to be the limp, outside-the-U.S. LP and original-CD version of "Hold Back The Rain", something the re-release goes a long way towards correcting) and that is why they, more than so many other groups that came of age in the Eighties, have been able to transcend them again and again. Of the eight albums (including Astronaut) released since the five-member lineup fragmented, only Liberty, while in some ways very much a daring departure from their trademark textures, doesn't hold up to repeated listenings for me; it's just too uncharacteristic and unfocused. All of them have had their undeniable charms, though I'd be hard-pressed to cite those from Liberty, having put it away over 10 years ago. But "Too Much Information", "Ordinary World", "Come Undone", Drowning Man" and "Shelter" from the so-called Wedding Album, "Big Bang Generation", "Electric Barbarella", "Out Of My Mind" and "Midnight Sun" from Medazzaland (indeed, in some ways the best album since Rio) and "Someone Else, Not Me". "Playing With Uranium", the title track, and "The Sun Doesn't Shine Forever" from Pop Trash would make for one damned fine greatest hits album all by themselves, even if most of them weren't 'hits' at all.

But this review is supposed to sing the praises of Astronaut, their latest offering and the first, as is common knowledge, to feature all five original members after nearly 2 decades or, to put it another way, the return of the Taylors (including John Taylor, who had left following the tour in support of Medazzaland). While it isn't quite their best album ever (something that, rest assured, Astronaut resoundingly indicates is still to come) this collection, with the possible exception of Rio, is as strong as almost everything else they've done. "(Reach Up For The) Sunrise", one of their very best songs ever, shunts Astronaut into very high gear from the outset, followed by the panting "Want You More" and another memorable entry, "What Happens Tomorrow", which may be poised to give Duran their biggest hit since "Ordinary World". The title track is both trippy and tacky, but nowhere near as salacious as the provocative "Bedroom Toys", which, along with "Taste The Summer", are probably the record's two most disposable numbers. While the album's last five tracks are more wistful and contemplative in comparison to its first half, none of them fail to send shivers down my spine; "Chains", which could be addressing both the personal politics of radical religious movements and LeBon's helplessness to be anything other than the brash frontman he is, has one of the most interesting rhythm arrangements Duran has ever attempted, a loping, late Sixties-inspired soulful Caribbean stroll. LeBon's vocal on "One Of Those Days" could be his most unforgettable, and "Still Breathing" is definitely a worthy successor to "Save A Prayer", more adult and vulnerable.

Duran Duran may never be given the degree of praise they rightly deserve for having one of the best live shows on the planet (all five reveal themselves to be first-rate musicians, and Andy Taylor almost immediately reminds of why former axeman Warren Cuccurillo, while making the most of better opportunities than Taylor in the glory days to flex his musical muscles as the band's sound became much heavier, never could quite equal the latter's seemingly counterintuitive yet perfect lead figures) no matter how many occasions they prove it again and again. And so many of their songs have ably stood the test of time, even if they evoke a very specific segment of it for many. But the quintet, particularly LeBon, have absolutely nothing to apologize for; while it may not be apparent to anyone but their most unfailingly loyal fans, Duran Duran can finally be counted among the greats in rock history, and should be included on the 2007 Hall of Fame ballot for induction without fail, but probably won't. Still, they won't fall apart because of it or anything.....

I can't stop listening to this CD. I've not been this impressed with a CD overall since Maroon 5 hit the airwaves. Duran Duran is back and better than ever! "Astronaut" is, without a doubt, Duran Duran's best release, to date. If I could, I would give it 100 stars as it is, in my opinion, worthy of a Grammy. I enjoyed the music of Duran Duran in the 80s and some of their musical art in the early 90s, but this CD turned me into a real Duran Duran fan. Every song could be a hit and every track is radio friendly. Each song flows brilliantly into the next and all are mixed to perfection with exquisite engineering and production. There is not one bad song on "Astronaut" and they all get better with each listen, even though I was hooked from my first listen. It is a great CD to listen to at home or while driving along, enjoying a beautiful day of sushine. Even on a rainy day, this effort by Duran Duran can bring a positive change in one's mood. That is what music is supposed to do - make you feel - and this CD certainly does that. This is the band's best in terms of music, lyrics and originality. Musically, it moves from motivating to moving to haunting to even being Beatlesque. Remove the music and the lyrics could stand on their own as poetry. They range from clever to fun to humorous to deep and thought provoking.To top it off, their voices and musicianship are better than ever. If you liked Duran Duran in the past, you will love "Astronaut" as it has their flavor from the 80s mixed with the sounds of today. This is the Duran Duran we loved years ago - only better! If you are only a casual Duran Duran fan, I still recommend adding this to your music library along with their CD entitled "Greatest." One track, entitled "Taste the Summer" should be a summer staple on radio. I can imagine driving the highway on a summer's day with this song making my car a stereo on wheels. Buy it, Try it, You'll like it!

After reviewing both "Astronaut" and "Red Carpet Massacre", I figured out the one missing ingredient that is the main difference between these two albums is the absence of Andy Taylor on RCM. These 5 guys came together in the early 80s, broke up in mid 80s and got back together again for the 2004 Astronaut release. The missing Andy Taylor is painfully obvious on RCM and DD also seems to have lost its identity in the process, due to bending down to the overrated Timbaland and untalented Justin Timberlake.

But, that's another review for another day. So, regarding "Astronaut", this album is the band's strongest release since "Rio". The opening track, "Reach Up For The Sunrise" is a mind-blowing, positive, morale booster that gets even the lamest dancers to their feet. "Want You More!" is a hard rocking track that brings back reminiscinces of the pulse-pounding "Hungry Like The Wolf". "What Happens Tomorrow" is by far the strongest track on the album because it has a mellow, groove-down synthesis with probably some of Simon's best note-hitting capabilities. The title track is my least favorite track on the album because by then, the guys sound like they are tired and start sounding like automatons. Love "Bedroom Toys" with its funky, groovy beat, however, the lyrics make you wonder exactly what these guys have been experienced in.

"Nice" would have been another great release and this strutting tough track demonstrates that the original DD still has it. "Taste The Summer" is my second least favorite track because the track rollicks along in a steady beat, but the payoff seems to lose something in the translation. "Chains" is another strong entry with the eerie, "Night Boat" kind of feel to it and the haunting chorus bridge is quite memorable. "The Point Of No Return" would have been another great single choice that clearly demonstrated Andy Taylor's prowess with the guitar - the guitar solo just rocked! Finally, "Still Breathing" was another eerie build reminiscient of "Friends Of Mine" that is a well-suited jab at critics and naysayers that there is still life in this band.

If you want to listen to an enjoyable album that demonstrates the musical talents of all five of the original DD, you will not be disappointed in the lift of "Astronaut".