New Music: Duran Duran
Duran Duran have had an incredibly journey, and their staying power is undeniable. Experiencing a resurgence a few short years ago on the strength of the reunion of the original line-up that sent many a 30 to 40-something woman straight down memory lane, the collector’s edition of their mainstay album Rio highlights the best of what remains a defining album of the 80’s. Additionally, the Live At Hammersmith ‘82!’ CD/DVD combo highlights a band on the cusp of world wide pandaemonium and at their best.
The 2-disc Rio - Collectors Edition comes gorgeously packaged. Like a hard-cover book, the iconic cover welcomes one in to explore high-quality pages that recount the story and influence of the album, band photographs and a recreation of the original booklet. What follows is a solid remaster of the UK version of the album, the remastering of the “Carnival Mixes” (i.e. the US version of the album), the equally memorable “Night Mixes” and several demo cuts to satisfy a still rabid fan base. One can certainly argue about the quality of Duran Duran before and after this album, but few can deny that for a moment in time everything was firing on all cylinders at just the right moment to justly propel them into absurd levels of fame. Some TLC was certainly put into this effort, and the due diligence pays dividends in delivering a welcome addition to the discography of Duran Duran. While some may argue whether or not the average listener can really tell the difference between the different cuts, this collection of a seminal moment in history covers exactly what it should cover.
Live At Hammersmith ‘82! chronicles this period from a slightly different perspective as it visually and sonically immerses you in the live performance of a band already enjoying massive success in their native UK and just on the brink of breaking through in America. The intimacy and energy serve as a complement to the rock side of Duran Duran that was often minimized on record but really made them so memorable live and continues to do so to this day. Containing cuts from their self-titled debut and the recently released Rio, the recording is spot on and conveys the confidence of a band that knew they were going to be big… but probably didn’t have a clue just how big it would get.
The yachts, elephants, jungles, god awful clothes and general excess is as entertaining now as it was nearly 3-decades ago. While the mainstream may of tuned out a long time ago, those that stick around and continue to support the band are always well taken care of.