Rating:
Genre:
Rock
Release Date: 08/05/2003
Run Time: 40:20
Duran Duran's eponymous debut artfully coalesced the sonic and stylistic elements of the burgeoning
new romantic movement they were soon to spearhead: pumping synths, glossy production, and seemingly impossible haircuts. Ultra-smart singles like
"Girls on Film" and
"Planet Earth" became instant smash hits both in the U.K. and America, and other fine
pop gems such as
"Anyone Out There" and
"Careless Memories" rounded out the album's stellar first side. Side two was a far more experimental and revealing affair, with primary songwriter
Nick Rhodes leading the band through atmospheric mood-pieces like
"Night Boat," "Sound of Thunder," and the instrumental
"Tel Aviv," all of which are particularly reminiscent of mid-era
Roxy Music (clearly one of
Duran's biggest influences). The band's groundbreaking music videos would do the rest, securing them a unique standing as forerunners of the first
MTV generation and cementing their status as one of the decade's most successful
pop music icons. [The band's first U.K. number one, the non-album single
"Is There Something I Should Know?" was also later added to the CD version of
Duran Duran.]
~Ed Rivadavia, All Music Guide
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