Red Carpet Massacre
Epic - Epic
Duran Duran
Release date: 2007-11-13
Audio CD
Dance-Rock, England, Pop, Pop/Rock, Pop/Rock Music, Rock, Rock/Pop
1. The Valley
2. Red Carpet Massacre
3. Nite-Runner
4. Falling Down
5. Box Full O' Honey
6. Skin Divers
7. Tempted
8. Tricked Out
9. Zoom In
10. She's Too Much
11. Dirty Great Monster
12. Last Man Standing
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Red Carpet Massacre
Date undefinedI've been a fan since about 1982 (and, as a synth player, a big fan of Nick's work) and have enjoyed just about every Duran album that came out after Seven. Sure, some albums required 5 or 10 listens until I'd settle down and enjoy the creative flow of what I was listening to, but they all eventually grew on me and bring up memories from the time they came out. Big Thing, Medazzaland, Pop Trash........they were somewhat radical departures from the early work, but still had heart, soul, and that creative edge that Duran has always pushed for.
Astronaut was "okay." But that's just my two cents. The album didn't quite stick in my subconscious like previous creations.
Red Carpet just left me flat disappointed. Okay, I'm not 18 anymore and probably just can't relate to what's "hip" nowadays. A younger crowd may appreciate the album a little more (or not so much, considering the lack of sales). This album is a radical departure from what the band's large base could be expected to enjoy as it departs from DD's trend towards experimental, yet thoughtful tracks and goes straight to the hormonal jugular of today's hip-hop oriented youth.
The songs themselves, despite their driving beats, seem distant, disconnected, and hurried. The usual musical and lyrical nuances (even in the synths) normally found in a Duran project are simply lacking......and those have always been the heart and soul of their sound and style.
Older fans, like myself, seem to be having trouble bonding with this attempt at contemporary dance/pop relevance.........and the crowd that this album is attempting to lure - they don't seem too impressed either.
Duran Duran - return to your roots. "The Wedding Album" was basically conceived/created in someone's living room studio (if I recall correctly). Compare fan reaction to what was created there to what was created with the "help" of Timbaland/Timberlake.
Duran Duran has always had a distinctive feel, style, and sound. This is what fans appreciate and would react to in an album that remains true to Duran's soul. DD's reunion tour was a monster success - so the fans ARE out still out there! By abandoning its base DD has lost its revenue base (if you bring it down to dollars and cents) and really needs to get to work on rebuilding a connection with its REAL fans - the ones, like me, who paid to see them in concert for their Astronaut tour.
'Nuff said.
-Mike in NC, USA
Red Carpet Massacre
Date undefinedI won't belabor all the similar opinions, but I have to put my two cents in. Some OK songs here, but those mechanical drum tracks...what were they thinking? They suck the soul right out of some potentially decent songs. An especially big dissapointment after the surprisingly fab Astronaut.
I mean really, Nite-Runner, Skin Divers, and Tempted sound like a couple of amateurs with a drum machine and a computer. I'd be embarrassed to play this for anyone over 13.
Astronaut sounded fresh; moving forward with a new sound. RCM sounds like going back to the bad stuff of the 80s.
Bring back real drums and guitars.
Red Carpet Massacre
Date undefinedThis album really missed the boat. Its like listening to Justin Timberlake's album with vocals provided by Simon. I mean except for Simon and Nick, JT and Roger just took the ride with them and sat in the corner while Timberlake/Timbaland took Simon to the office and ask him to now sing on these beats. The worst thing is that JT is promoting this album like he produced it. The only thing you hear is drum machines and keyboard noises and then rapper comes in. Man I cannot believe that Sony really pushed DD to do hip/hop dance stuff and in the process could not provide a producer or visa for Andy T for the reportage album. Which makes up for Red Carpet Massacre, a disaster.
