My Amazon Reviews: Duran Duran "All You Need is Now"

I Dream Things I Don't Want You To Know
 4 Out Of 5 Stars

So sings Simon LeBon on Duran Duran's 13th album. "All You Need is Now" is a Durannie's dream come true, in that the band dumped the tinny mechanized autotuned mess that marred "Red Carpet Massacre" and found their way back to New Romantic bliss. The squiggly synth that makes the hook of the title track is pure "Seven and The Ragged Tiger" seduction, and "Mediterranea" is the sort of mysterious enigmatic ballad that the band specialized in their heyday.

Back to the original foursome of LeBon, Nick Rhodes, John Taylor and Roger Taylor (with guitarist Dom Brown filling the space of departerd Andy Taylor), Duran Duran now have delivered the logical follow-up to their "Astronaut" comeback. "All You Need is Now" is filled with sugary pop ala "Rio" and the straightforward production from Mark Ronson. It was my opinion that the over-rated Timbaland squeezed all the life from RCM and turned it into just another pop album dominated by beats instead of songs. Ronson, as a more song oriented producer, let DD be themselves and the album reflects that. LeBon sounds strong as ever, and Rhodes' atmospheric synths float the album above the generic.

As one of the few 80's MTV bands to survive with most of the lineup intact and still make relevant music, Duran Duran have proven themselves as a surprisingly enduring, strong creative force. "All You Need Is Now" indicates that they have the power to make music now and for the future.