Duran Duran - Duran Duran

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

When it comes to early 80's music, 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-well one of them at least. The Human League's `Dare' also comes to mind. My favourite songs and no surprise here are: `Girls on Film', `Careless Memories', `Sound of Thunder' and of course the best being `Planet Earth'. The album's music on the whole is freshly innocent, with great synthesizer sounds and drum beats with a touch of ambience to break the difference.

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.

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. November 25, 2008

My bangs are going blonde again

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. August 27, 2008

on an island

This is one of the best albums of all times! I already had the U.S. release, but I had to have this UK release with "To the Shore." Overall, either version is a classic that you can listen to from beginning to end and enjoy every second! January 22, 2008

back to Duran's very first

I had 2 different version LPs, both purchased 1984/1985
the major different is
the 1980 edition (this one) has "To The Shore" (#4), one of my very favorite
the 1983 edition: replaced "To The Shore" with "Is There Something I Should Know" (#5)
I personally perfer this one, it represents their first time, they played real band once till "Notorious" (most of ingredients is synthesizers)
this album they used alot of "click" on "Planet Earth", "Careless Memories", that catch my ears
but my favorites are: "To The Shore", "Sound Of Thunder", "TEL AVIV", they're pretty like "Save a Prayer" (on Rio)
LeBon, Taylor, Rhodes, you brought me a lot of good music memory, even this one
if you like Duran, I recommend this one (not 1983 edition) December 29, 2007

The Original

At the time in 1981, this was quite revolutionary. Take one part of the smooth, Flesh and Blood-era Roxy Music, one part electronic glam via Tin Drum-era Japan, dance beats courtesy of Chic, and add a large dose of pop sense and fashion via, maybe say, David Bowie and you have the first Duran Duran album. The sound was new and when you listen to this, you can sense that feeling of new-ness. The band knew this was an original sound born of former ideas with an eye on the Top 40.

It's all here... Dance pop ("Planet Earth"), rock-influenced pop ("Careless Memories," "Is Anyone Out There"), moody experiementalism ("Night Boat," "Tele Viv") all wrapped in suggestive pseudo-intellect (check "To The Shore").

It's pop but it's pop-art reguardless how shallow and popular they became. This album is very good. It sounds good, the writing is sharp, the playing is spot on and the melodies sublime. You can not like it, but you can't really criticize the craft and the work that went into creating it.

If you are the least bit curious, buy it and transport yourself to the days of large, spray-molded hair, puffy shirts and cherry lipstick. Great stuff! December 13, 2007

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