Medazzaland

by

Duran Duran

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If `Rio' was the best album from the original lineup of Duran Duran, then Medazzaland is the most accomplished, mature and effective album from the Warren Cuccurullo era (I'm counting `Wedding Album' to `Pop Trash' since he wasn't allowed to write on Notorious, Big Thing or Liberty even though he was the guitar player).

Meddazzaland has all the pop hooks you would expect from Duran Duran, but there's a lyrical and musical maturity, musical vocabulary and attention to detail hinted at in previous Duran albums but only really matched on Arcadia's 'So Red the Rose'. In fact, Meddazzaland is like the grittier, edgier sequel to 'So Red the Rose', musically speaking.

If you're the kind of Duran Duran fan that only buys the singles collections or think they became irrelevant after 'The Wild Boys', then don't bother. This is an incredible, uncompromisingly artistic achievement of an album, even if didn't sell as well as some of their more straight ahead pop work. If, however, you were the kind of Duran Duran fan who thought bought and listened to their albums all the way through, then you'll hear the same band on this album. But they've bravely taken leave of their shiny pop image and put out something challenging and deeply rewarding.

Not a Duran Duran fan at all? Still think they're an irrelevant `80's pop band? Well that's never actually been true and `Medazzaland' is the album that will change your mind forever. Duran Duran have always been more than a pretty pop act, they've always had a depth, breadth and staying power most bands don't and they prove at once that they can still make melodic, groove conscious, pop infused music while producing groundbreaking (yes, I said groundbreaking) work, as credible as any great rock album you've ever heard.

Give it a few listens and I think you'll find that 'Out of my mind', 'Buried in the sand', 'Midnight Sun', 'Michael, you've got a lot to answer for'(written for INXS singer Michael Hutchence before his death) and 'So long suicide' are among the best, most infectious songs Duran Duran ever produced. In fact, if more critics heard this album, I think Duran Duran would be recognized as the great musicians they are rather than the pretty boys they once were. This album gets written off as being "too experimental" and too self indulgent, but I disagree. These songs have a lot going on in them, no doubt, but nearly 8 years later, they still hold up. This album still sounds fresh, genuine and relevant.

Duran Duran have had, and continue to have, many good moments but 'Medazzaland' is their best, most consistent, most perfectly realized work. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

I wanted to like this album more than I did. I had avoided buying it for some reason when it came out (I did Pop Trash too). I bought "Astronaut" and fell in love with Duran Duran again, and thus was inspired to purchase "Medazzaland" and "Pop Trash". This album has many great reviews here at Amazon so I had high hopes. Not a total let down, "Big Bang Generation", "Electric Barbarella", "Out of My Mind" and "Midnight Sun" are excellent tracks and worth the 10 or 15 dollars, but it just wasn't the dark expirimental masterpeice that I had heard it was. Buy it for those tracks though for sure. ANd don't forget to buy "Astronaut"!!!!