Duran Duran: All You Need Is Now

Duran Duran
All You Need Is Now
Rating: Grrrr

Growing up during the 70s and 80s, I was one of the witnesses to the transition from radio to music video, and how Duran Duran were one of the first bands to understand and exploit the new medium. Of course they were pretty, wore fabulous clothes, and appeared in exotic locations for their videos, but none of this would have mattered much unless they had the music to back it up. Rio is one of my all time favorite albums, and it is literally jam packed with hit singles and hooks that you can hang buffalo carcasses on. The follow up, Seven and the Ragged Tiger, was a bit more scattershot, seems the band had a case of the, we want to be taken seriouslys, but still had some killer tracks. Since that one/two album punch, the band has imploded, spilt into factions, rejoined, but have never been able to capture that spark they once had.

Around the time of Rio/Seven, Duran Duran appeared infallible and ahead of the curve, laying the path ahead instead of following it. Since then, they seem to be trying to stay apart of the latest trends. They have still made some wonderful music in the last two decades, however, their pop smarts seemed to have taken a back seat.

After a rather misguided collaboration with Timbaland and Justin Timberlake on Red Carpet Massacre, Duran Duran has teamed up with producer Mark Ronson, who seems to have been a stern taskmaster with the band, forcing them to play to their strengths, the result being their best album since Rio. I was worried at first based on the advanced buzz of the album that the band was going to try and ape their previous sound, but instead of making a carbon copy, they have referenced Rio, but have created something fresh and new, and some of the best pop music of the year.

Lead track and first single "All I Need Is Now," begins in a rush of industrial percussion and keyboards, leading into a fantastic chorus:



The albums nine tracks rush by at such breakneck speed, it takes awhile to get a full appreciation for the craft and skill that has gone into the songs. Whether it is the motorik crunch of "Blame The Machines," the almost "Plant Earth" new romantic thrill of "Being Followed," or the glamtastic "Girl Panic," Duran Duran actually sound like they are enjoying making music again, and their joy shows through each track.

And I love all the subtle, and not so subtle references to Rio, from the lovely "Save A Prayer" like ballad "Leave A Light On" with its aching acoustic guitars and whooshing synths,



to taking the tinny drum machine programming from "The Chauffeur" on the atmospheric "Before the Rain," and also echoed in one of the best tracks on the album "The Man Who Stole A Leopard":





and referencing the slinky, updated 80s disco vibe of Rio tracks like "My Own Way," on the tracks "Runway Runaway" and "Safe" (featuring Ana Matronic of Scissor Sisters):





All You Need Is Now is not going to change the world with its songs, but it is something necessary at the moment: a well-produced, and just plain fun record to start out 2011. It's such a pleasure to see a band still be able to put out great music over thirty years into their career.  Be sure to check it out.  It is sure to stay on constant repeat on your player.

Rating Guide

Chilfos: masterpiece; coolest thing I've heard in ages.

Woof Daddy: excellent; just a hair away from being a masterpiece.

Grrrr: very good; will definitely be considered for my top albums of the year.

Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It: good; definitely invites further listens and peaks one's interest for more material.

Meh: not horrible, but certainly not great; could have either been trimmed or polished.

Jeez Lady: what the hell happened? Just plain bad. They should hang their heads in shame and be forced to listen to Lady Gaga ad nauseam as penance.

Tragicistani: so bad, armed villagers with pitchforks and torches should run the artist out of the country for inflicting this abomination on the human race.