Duran Duran were my transitional band between heavy rock and punk for a few months in 1983, I even saw them live that year in Leeds. I still think the first two albums are great pop, though I have a softer spot for the debut. It all went pear-shaped for me with the release of Seven and the Ragged Tiger, an overproduced mass that is short on ideas and quality. They left on a run of great singles though, Spandau wilt in comparison.
No one spoke up when Thatcher crushed the Union of the Snake.
"Grab some wood, bub.'" - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft
I actually thought Spandau had some good stuff early doors. They dropped off the cliff quicker than DD though, the ghastly "Through the Barricades" is one of the worst songs of all time.
There's a tiny, tiny hopeful part of me that says you guys are running a Kaufmanesque long con on the board
They both made 2 reasonably listenable albums I think, probably go with Spandau for individual songs like Musclebound, The Freeze, Chant No.1 etc. Also really love Innocence and Science from the debut album i think, really weird song and a bit out there for a New Romantic band in the early 80s but it works.
Some of the Spandau lyrics, though! I doubt anyone in the history of pop music ever wrote as much gibberish as Gary Kemp.
Cheap bed, in the red
You cry, justify
Post boom, second doom
Stealing cake to eat the moon
I'll bet I haven't heard this since it was originally on the charts, but, Jesus Frankenstein, what complete and utter garbage. Just one more rebuttal to those who valorize 80s chart music.
"Grab some wood, bub.'" - Richard Nixon, Checkers Speech, abandoned early draft
I actually thought Spandau had some good stuff early doors. They dropped off the cliff quicker than DD though, the ghastly "Through the Barricades" is one of the worst songs of all time.
I saw an interview with Gary Kemp where he said that he wrote songs specific to the size of the venue they would play so the early stuff was written for small clubs they were playing in at the time and True, Gold were written for stadiums.
I'll bet I haven't heard this since it was originally on the charts, but, Jesus Frankenstein, what complete and utter garbage. Just one more rebuttal to those who valorize 80s chart music.
Arcadia was definitely an overblown vanity project. Nick & Simon's pretension unchecked. What made DD work was the balance between the art rock leanings of Nick & Simon with the tougher edge of John & Andy.
"They don't think it be like it is, but it do." - Oscar Gamble
