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Duran's Duran (aka - Welcome to Planet Earth)

Peter Karsten | Australia | 11/25/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When it comes to early 80's music, (Synth-pop, Electro-rock, Alternative and New Wave) you can't go past Duran Duran's first self-titled album...what a gem. Back in 1981 when I was a young lad, and still finding my own musical ears so-to-speak, I heard on the radio a song called `Planet Earth'. I thought it was brilliant, I couldn't hear enough of it. For me `Planet Earth' was my song for 1981, it was a great sound (and still is after all these years).



The album only has 9 songs, as opposed to nowadays where CD's can be between 17-24 songs (depending on their length). Listening to the album really takes me back to those years in the early 1980's (as opposed to now), it has that feel and flavour untouched by today's standards of music-and rightly so.



The whole album can be said to be a time capsule of the then `Romantic Movement' in music (Duran Duran were generally considered part of this new music genre, with other like-style bands such as Spandau Ballet, Japan, ABC and the Human League which come to mind). The album reached number 3 in the UK Top 20, and its music is freshly innocent, with great synthesizer sounds and drum beats with a touch of ambience (listen to Tel Aviv) to break the difference.



My favourite songs and no surprise here are: `Sound of Thunder', `Planet Earth' their first single that climbed the UK charts Top 20 at number 12, `Careless Memories', their second single which only managed to stay at number 37, (I don't know why? Depending on your mood, it is a dark song) and that notorious song `Girls on Film', their third single which was the one that caused a real sensation, (what an understatement) the song went to number 5 in the UK charts, before that infamous video of the song was even filmed. Featuring in the video were various topless women doing their thing in different situations in a boxing-type kind of arena, you need to see the video to understand what I mean (enough said).



From this album onwards Duran Duran have matured in mind and music their second album `Rio' I feel is a transitional phase for their future musical endeavours and influences-and that shows. The group have proven they are versatile with the changing tides and time, and that's why they are still around today.



Duran Duran were one of the most commercially successful of the New Wave bands of the day, if you are a fan or want to be, this first album is a must to start you off on a journey that can take you around the `Planet Earth' and back again for another spin. If there is `Anyone Out There' head `To the Shore' and catch the `Night Boat' to `Tel Aviv', grab that camera and get those `Girls on Film' for some `Careless Memories' and then head on to meet me and some `Friends of Mine' at the café Le Bon to discuss life, love, leisure, hearing in the clouds the `Sound of Thunder' in the distant sky above over a cappuccino.



Trust me you won't be disappointed, give it a listen and let your ears be the judge.



Special thanks to Wikipedia for additional information for compiling this review.

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My bangs are going blonde again

Professor Booty | Brooklyn, NY | 08/27/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When I heard this album in 1982 it changed my life. Seriously. Here were a bunch of kids who decided they were going to be rich and famous. And with this batch of tunes they succeeded fabulously. That was a revelation to me as I started my teen years. I immediately bleached my hair and put up w/a ton of "pansy" comments.

With the benefit of 20 yrs hindsight, the debut is fairly keyboard heavy, but they sound very warm and tasteful and the basslines are still fantastic. The band sounds like a complete unit start to finish on this one. The textures and arrangements are great. The version I cut my teeth on had the long version of Planet Earth to start side one and no "To the shore". That track, while definitely not essential, is a good indication of what they were trying to accomplish as a band. "Wash away the rusty disease of your brown town days in our silver seas" might well be Duran Duran's enduring mission statement."