Search - Duran Duran :: Big Thing

Banging on a Big Thing

Tim Brough | Springfield, PA United States | 04/11/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Coming off the horn heavy funk of "Notorious," Duran Duran the trio stripped the sound down to some heavy beats for "Big Thing." The first single, "I Don't Want Your Love," sounded like a re-invention. Incorporating the current house and new-jack dance trends at the time, it was a major leap away from the candy-floss of "Rio." "All She Wants Is" carried the same sort of dance-floor urgency, and the title track was an arena ready thumper.



But the trademark lushness wasn't ever too far off. "Too Late Marlene" and "Land" are everything you'd expect from Duran Duran, rich arrangements, Simon's grandiose lyrics and Nick Rhodes' atmospheric keyboards. But perhaps "Big Thing's" best moment is the tribute to the band's late friend Alex Sadkin, "Do You Believe In Shame." Slowing down the swamp groove of "Suzie Q" and laying in an emotional vocal, "Shame" connects on a level that only a few songs in the DD library have ever done before.



Equally as good as "Notorious," and in my opinion, better than the "Wedding Album.""

Duran Duran's own 'White Album'

05/20/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"'Big Thing'is Duran Duran's third masterpiece('Rio' being the first and 'Notorious' being the second). This album is as versitile and arty as Duran Duran has ever gotten in the 80's. Such strange interludes as "Polimino" remind me of the kind of things the Beatles did with the 'White Album'(a la "Wild Honey Pie"). 'The Big Thing' serves as a pecursor to thier fourth masterpiece-'The Wedding Album'. And yes, I do think that "Drug(It's just a state of mind)" is one of the best songs on the record."

Range of styles and topics

TammyJo Eckhart | Bloomington, Indiana United States | 08/15/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The traditional political, sexual and social commentary are part of every song in this collection. Yet the music itself varies from straight pop to almost industrial sounding to ballads. I only wish the lyrics were included for all the songs and not merely parts of different songs because it is often the lyrics which challenge you the most."