Sunday, May 11, 2008
A+E, Music, Reviews

Duran Duran

“Red Carpet Massacre”  (Epic)

 Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

DURAN DURAN
w/Your Vegas
Sat., May 17
8 PM
Chastain Park Amphitheatre
$38-88                                                                                                                 
404-681-9018
www.livenation.com

What’s been lost over the years, and especially on this album, is the sense that a group is involved. Rather, this sounds like a producer-driven solo project of singer Simon LeBon. The rhythm section of bassist John Taylor and drummer Roger Taylor could just have easily been, and certainly sounds, pre-programmed. Keyboardist Nick Rhodes is similarly underutilized.

Between the sado-sexy cover and co-producer Timberland’s input (Justin Timberlake even appears on one track), the only distinctive quality left from Duran’s “Rio” heyday is LeBon’s vocals. But that’s not to imply that these songs aren’t quality club fare. The hard beats of “Tempted,” with its sledgehammer synth and multilayered parts, are as effective as anything on hit radio. The thumping drums and galactic synthesizers of “Tricked Out,” the disc’s only instrumental, break down into an experimental sci-fi movie vibe that’s way cool, and the brittle funk of “Zoom In” has a melodic hook that belies its dance intentions.

The closing ballads return somewhat to an older sensibility, but generally there’s no indication that this album is the product of a band most had left for dead in the ’90s. As second acts go, Duran Duran’s sonic facelift succeeds, leaving their onetime contemporaries (Spandau Ballet anyone?) as faded memories to be revived for smirking comedians on VH1’s classic ’80s shows. 2.5 STARS—Hal Horowitz