Pros: Great songs, great reinterpretations, fun music
Cons: Could have been longer
The Bottom Line: Duran Duran has created a very special album here. Fusing their own musical vision with the songs of classic artists creates a great new sound.
Duran Duran did something very different in 1995. They, for the first time, released an entire album of covers (save one). This 12-track album ranged from the beautiful Lou Reed "Perfect Day" to "Crystal Ship" originally popularized by the late Jim Morrison and the doors. Fortunately, Duran Duran proved that they were worthy of creating such a disc. "Thank You" was apparently supposed to be filler between two albums of original music. Instead, it somehow has managed to be one of their best. What is very fortunate about this album is that it's well done. If Duran Duran had slipped up, critics would have jumped on them immediately. Here's a quick review of the songs included on the album:
1. WHITE LINES
Yes, this is the early rap hit as popularized by Melle Mel. Although it's important to note that the British Duran Duran does it very different. "White Lines" as interpreted by Duran Duran is a fast-talking dance song. It's fun, it's loud, and if you didn't know better "White Lines" could seem like a Dx2 original. It's a great song that is both irreverent and respectful toward the hip hop pioneer.
2. I WANNA TAKE YOU HIGHER
A cover of the song originally by Sly and the Family Stone, this is another pretty good song on a good Dx2 album. This is a song sung in the vein of U2. In fact, it sounds very much like the Irish band to say the least. It's respectful toward Sly and his Family. Although, the song is much more a rock song than a dance or brit pop song. It's great, and again Duran Duran shows great respect for the individuals that they obviously idolize.
3. PERFECT DAY
This Lou Reed song is the masterpiece of the album. I read somewhere that Lou Reed wishes that he would have been able to sing the song the way Duran Duran performed it. It's sad, yearning and soft. In fact, it's in the vein of the Duran Duran songs I liked from their previous album, "The Wedding Album." It's a haunting, wonderfully simple song from Reed and again from Duran Duran. Simon LeBon's voice is silky smooth and perfectly compliments the song. Although, I have to say the Reed was right. This is the better version. It's the version I remember.
4. WATCHING THE DETECTIVES
Written and performed originally by Elvis Costello, this is an original version to say the least from Duran Duran. There are some odd sound effects, and a definite Caribbean influence. The song employs steel drums and some odd horns also. A good song, but not the best on the album...to be honest, nothing compares really to "Perfect Day." Nothing.
5. LAY LADY LAY
It takes talent for a British pop band to appropriately cover a Bob Dylan tune. Well, Duran Duran does a commendable job. They don't make it into a pop or dance song. Rather, they leave it slow and mellow. It's definitely a decent enough cover of "Lay Lady Lay" to warrant a listen or two. Yeah, I know, I haven't come up with any real complaints about any of these songs yet...
6. 911 IS A JOKE
Who would have thunk it? Duran Duran is covering early gangsta rappers Public Enemy in this song that manages to be decent even lacking any rap influences. It's a sort of funky early-90's sounding dance tune. There's a definite groove to it. It's amazing how inventive Duran Duran has been in putting together these songs. I wouldn't have ever thought something like this could have been accomplished without appearing to be a parody. Again, only respect is evident.
7. SUCCESS
As a cover of Michigander Iggy Pop's song, this had better be good. It is. It's a drum driven song that sounds like something that could have been produced by Queen. Instead, it's the reinterpretation of a song that was popularized by Mr. Pop. There are some interesting influences in this version, but Duran Duran pulls it off with seamless ease. Almost perfect.
8. CRYSTAL SHIP
Any cover of the Door usually worries me. I wonder whether or not the band or artist will be able to appropriately reinterpret Jim Morrison. Well, Duran Duran really did a fine job. Again, rather than sounding exactly like the Doors, they add their own influences. Although, this song sounds much more like the original than do most of the other songs. LeBon's voice somehow morphs into Morrison's at times. A great song, and one of the best on the album hands down.
9. BALL OF CONFUSION
What's this?! A Temptations song? Well, yes, but it's now a dance beat laden track with only the base tune and lyrics remaining. It's a very inventive reinterpretation on the part of Duran Duran. In fact, the band has managed to turn it into their own vision in honor of the Temptations. It sounds as though Duran Duran could have been the original artists. A new listener to music may not know any better at all.
10. THANK YOU
This song could have backfired in the faces of Duran Duran. It seems almost ridiculous that an 80's pretty-boy British band could and would cover something by the legendary Led Zeppelin. Why try to pay tribute to a song that is already darned near perfect. Well, Duran Duran came up with a reason. They just wanted to say "Thank You" to a band that possibly (?) influenced them. The song is left almost totally unchanged with a few differences in instrumentation (of course) and with LeBon's smooth vocals. I must say that this is a great song. One that the surviving members of Led Zeppelin should be very proud of. This is one of the best songs on the album.
11. DRIVE BY
This is the only original song on all of this album. It may seem presumptuous to include their own track. But the thing is that Duran Duran shows that they have incorportated many of their influences. It's a spoken word track mostly with the storytelling and psychadelic influences of The Doors. A good track, although quite definitely not as easy to listen to as some of the other masterpieces included.
12. I WANNA TAKE YOU HIGHER AGAIN
A revisiting of this Sly and the Family Stone again shows the influences and the ideas I spoke about earlier. It's fast and cheery. A good track altogether.
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So,in conclusion this is an exceptional work by a band that has been accused of selling out to MTV and has been accused of being too pretty at times. If you like any of these artists, Brit Pop, dance music, or Duran Duran even moderately, I would suggest you pick this one up. It's a rare gem, and one in which every song is worthy of your attention. And, like I said earlier, it's a good album much to the shigrin of music critics everywhere.
Besides this Duran Duran album, I also own their early greatest hits album entitled "Decade" and also "The Wedding Album." Both are great, but so far as the entire album goes, this one is the best.
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