Duran Duran - Notorious

This Album is Phenomenal!

Notorious is truly one of Duran Duran's best albums of all time. It's funky, upbeat, and perfectly done. A new style gives the boys a more mature, superior sound. Powerful drums, smooth bass, hard-rocking guitars, fantastic synth, and trumpets adding the perfect touch. Simon's vocals are flawless and never disappoint. As for the production, Nile Rodgers is music genius (haven't you noticed everytime DD works with him they do well?) and makes this a masterpiece you'll never forget! Now here's my take on the album:

Notorious- The first single off the album. A clear winner, with all the right beats and lyrics! One of their best singles.
American Science- We take a little time off and slow down with some lighter tracks. A soft, upbeat pop song with catchy lyrics.
Skin Trade- The second single, good pop song with funky beats, but it's not one of my favorites. Can't seem to get into it.
A Matter of Feeling- Beautiful ballad. Almost points in the way of "Ordinary World." Don't miss this one!
Hold Me- Now we get back into the upbeat tracks! Powerful rock track with strong synth. Can easily become a favorite after the first listen.
Vertigo- This should've been a single on its own. Some of Nick's finest synth, rocking guitars, and powerful vocals. The dark lyrics match the mood of this song. Chorus is absolutely catchy and I can say this is my personal favorite from the album!
So Misled- Another track that delivers, a little more rock than "Hold Me." Another powerful track with cool lyrics.
Meet El Presidente- This track is much different from DD's earlier works. Interesting work, a latin-inspired tune. Lots of trumpet playing and female backing vocals. It's a good song, but I wasn't really feeling it.
Winter Marches On- Easily one of the best tracks from the album. A dark song with powerful lyrics.
Proposition- My second best from the album. Another rock track with lyrics that make an argument. Worth the listen!

I recommend this album and I promise you won't be disappointed!

This IS Duran Duran. Drums, guitars, synth, and Simon's vocals. Not one dominates over the other. Everything is in perfect harmony. I hope they do this style again in the future!!

The "Mad Mind" has spoken.

September 22, 2008

Duran Duran Rocks!

Great album, which takes me back to my "younger days". I especially love the opening of "Notorious". It's so catchy that you can't help but sing along! September 7, 2008

great!

This is a great album. If you disagree, then you don't really like DD.
Skin Trade, American Science, Winter Marches On. Some of their best. December 17, 2007

Masterpiece

Notorious is a phenomenal work of art. I bought and heard their first record, I had heard Rio before that and I thought it was amazing. I decided to buy their 1986 Notorious not knowing what to expect. Duran Duran's Notorious surpassed all my expectation; of the three records I've heard from this group, this album is easily the strongest. It is mature and refined yet still fresh and edgy. It is a great record throughout; here they have created realms in music previously unknown. I'm blown away - five stars. October 13, 2007

Matches Rio in it's brilliance

The song Notorious I think has earned a place in the dictionary of funk, it still sounds classic 20 years later, and ofcourse it's been used by P Diddy and sung on B.I.G.'s Nasty girl giving it some real credibility. Skin Trade, Vertigo, American Science and So Misled are other awesome funk odyssey's that make you wonder what critics were on about labelling them 80's pop icons and pin up idols. After all this is a point where they lost many of their screaming girl fans, but gained new listeners who discovered that they had wronged a great band. Half of the album is more melodic with tracks like Hold Me (I don't know why but I hear Pearl Jam in this) and A matter of feeling, two stand outs which are among their best songs ever. Then there's the dark and wintery, Winter Marches on, my favourite on the album. Just love those cold atmospheric synths and Simon's voice on it. The album flat out rules, every minute of it, so get this one immediately. April 28, 2006

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