Not long ago, I wrote a review of the rather rare CD, "Thunder," by Andy Taylor, formerly guitarist and songwriter during Duran Duran's 80s heyday. Andy gave this legendary pop outfit whatever little bit of a rock edge they had, which I feel made them such a crossover success in the 80s. However, by 1985 Andy was growing tired of the band's shift to more and more synth-pop and left to make real rock records. It could be coincidence, but this is about the same time Duran Duran started losing their grip on fame.So I was understandably curious when Andy Taylor finally reunited with the initial Duran Duran line up in 2001. "Astronaut, released in 2004, is the result of this reunion. A huge PR machine kicked into gear and the record got a lot of press, and Duran Duran was performing on TV once again. The record did OK, but I think the boys missed a golden opportunity to have a massive comeback here. In my opinion, the problem is they still stuck to the synth-laden pop and did not let Andy's talents shine through to great enough degree. Maybe that is what led to him leaving again in 2006.
While "Astronaut" captures some of the old Duran Duran trademark sound, it is generally disappointing for me because the songs are lackluster. The writing feels forced, lazy, and uninspired for most of the record. The two singles, however, are pretty good: "(Reach Up for The) Sunrise" and "What Happens Tomorrow." "Nice" is also a catchy, driving tune with a solid hook in the chorus.
The boys are working on their follow-up record without Andy entitled, "Red Carpet Massacre" (due Nov 13, 2007 in the US). You can hear some of the new tunes on the MySpace page. They do little for me.
Duran Duran at MySpace. Official site.
iPOD-worthy: 1, 3, 6, 10
Video for "(Reach Up for The) Sunrise":
