A Review of Duran Duran's New Album "All You Need Is Now"

Trial and error, or trial by error, is a general method of problem solving, fixing things, or for obtaining knowledge. "Learning doesn't happen from failure itself but rather from analyzing the failure, making a change, and then trying again."

The Birmingham (now) quartet have tried and experimented after their super successful 80's albums, (collaborations with Timbaland and Timberlake were semi-successes) to melt their understanding of music with contemporary developments.

Simon Le Bon brings it to the point by saying "we all wanted to get a little bit more experimental with this record. We wanted to reconnect with fans, on the territory on which the band, and Mark Ronson who is the producer, felt we should own. And that was this kind of modern synth, dance, experimental, pop music."

In the opener and title song "All You Need Is Now" Ronson mixed Le Bon's (again) confident croon with beats and synths that could belong to Depeche Mode, and you expect Duran Duran to finally have arrived back to where they once were with "Rio". "Being Followed", "Girl Panic" and "The Man Who Stole A Leopard" are single material and make this album the best since "Rio", but there's still something missing.

Every song on "All You Need Is Now" hides a reminiscence of something the band has done more than twenty years ago, covered with thick "modern synth".

The album is a step in the right direction and it shows that Duran Duran are not ready to retire and live of old glory yet. It will probably satisfy not only diehard fans, but the next time they are ready to rely more on themselves, rather than on top producers of the moment, remains something to look forward to.

Track list:

1. All You Need Is Now (4:46)
2. Blame The Machines (4:09)
3. Being Followed (3:47)
4. Leave A Light On (4:36)
5. Safe (In The Heat Of The Moment) (featuring Ana Matronic) (3:59)
6. Girl Panic! (4:31)
7. The Man Who Stole A Leopard (featuring Kelis) (6:13)
8. Runway Runaway (3:04)
9. Before the Rain (4:12)

William Zufic writes for eveningbox.com Visit his site for more album reviews.

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