2008 Woodie Awards
Duran Duran - 'Red Carpet Massacre' reviewed
by Sammi Cassin
Issue date: 11/13/07 Section: Mosaic
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Duran Duran
Epic Records
Rating: 2 stars (out of 5)
In its time, Duran Duran was the epitome of the '80s. The feathered hair, glittery suit jackets and theatrical nature of the band are what audiences love and remember about favorites like "Hungry Like the Wolf" and "Rio."
With "Red Carpet Massacre," Duran Duran has modernized its old style and beefed up its tracks with guest vocals from current pop king Justin Timberlake and production from Timbaland. This mix of old and new gives a surprisingly fresh sound to one of the album's standouts "Falling Down," which is produced and co-written by Timberlake and sounds like a cross between 50 Cent's "Ayo Technology," which features Timberlake, and Duran Duran's synth-hit "Save a Prayer."
When listening to the album, there's no doubt that it's Duran Duran. Lead singer Simon Le Bon maintains his distinctive vocals that give the band its unique sound, along with an electro-pop, pounding dance beat - a nod to the band's classic '80s style. But most of the songs are soft and uninteresting, and although there are a few gems on the album, it isn't what fans have come to expect.
Maybe Duran Duran is trying to break out of the '80s pop mold it has created, but all in all, "Red Carpet Massacre" is a slower, watered-down, generic version of what Duran Duran was once known and loved for in its prime.
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