Have fun you two! I'd like to feel jealous, but really Duran left me cold in the 80's and leave me cold now. I do hope however, that you both enjoy it enormously xx
Whythankyou. And Robin really deserves to be more enthusiastic than me, I at least saw them in 2000. But, but still. John Taylor, on stage, right there! *ahem*
Why do they leave you cold? Just curious.
Thank you, though. :) It's looking like I really ought to meet you at some point.
As Mendi's other "third" I'd like to say that the Duran Duran album was superb. However, Rio, whilst having a fond place in my vinyl collection, was the start of a rapid decline.
The attraction for me was the roughness of the original sound. The highly polished production of the later work erased too much of what I liked.
Exactly the same thing happened with a lot of their contempories such as Spandau Ballet and ABC (although they were hampered by the fact that they could neither sing nor play!)
I don't agree that Rio was the start of anything - I think it was a natural progression from Duran Duran, but not in the way that one might have wanted them to progress - i.e. more towards the 'cars and girls' end of things than the offbeat promise of things like 'Nightboat' and 'Tel Aviv'. However, I think that Seven And The Ragged Tiger was *also* a natural progression from Duran Duran, and that in a better direction. I think the departure of Andy and Roger marked the start of the decline, and Notorious is frankly embarrassing.
Moving on, I can see why you wouldn't like Big Thing if smooth production detracts from the appeal of things for you, but I really like some of the things on it. Liberty is, um, an anomaly. I've always said that I can't bear Notorious because it's a bad album made by a good band; Liberty, on the other hand, is a good album made by a terrible band, which is why I love it. :)
Then we're into the realms of The Wedding Album - 'Ordinary World' and things, which is all a bit 'like it or hate it', really. Thank You is...is like an unconvincing transvestite in really good clothes. And then, of course, there was Medazzaland, which few people have heard much of. I think it's a fantastic album, but there aren't many who agree with me. Pop Trash is frankly Silly, but it's lots and lots of fun.
So I don't see a 'decline' as such. A couple of low points, and a few moments of 'what the...?', but although there's never been anything as great as the first album, it's not been a downhill slope or anything. IMHBGO, anyway. :)
Spandau's first album may be wildly different from the next few, but I don't think that invalidates them per se - I like a lot of their more, erm, popularist songs. ABC are wonderful - I can't comment on their musicianship (it's hard being so young - all I've got to work from is them miming on TOTP, really) but Martin Fry is a good singer. Not great, but good. So say I, anyway. :)
Now this reminds me of American Psycho - not meant to be an insult I assure you, but I have never been able to sustain such an abiding interest in a pop group.
Other than facts work related, I really can't think of anything that I can remember loads of stuff about. I'm good at cramming for exams, but beyond their immediate usefulness, facts just float away from me.
I honestly believe I don't have a single geeky bone in my sorry body. I do feel this is a failing on my part - it would be nice to be able to bring facts and figures into a conversation at the drop of a hat, but I just can't do it - so don't ever offer me a place on a quizz team!
~smile~ I'm not one to be bothered by hype - I have a lot of appreciation for image as well as sound (which would be one of the reasons why I like all New Romantic stuff so much) and I do think that they were and are fantastic musicians. Even if Simon can't sing in tune and never has been able to, bless him.
As for being washed up, while it's startlingly blatantly not the case given all the fuss being made of them at the moment, I can see why it might look like that. One only knows it isn't true if one is, say, someone like me. ~s~
no subject
Date: 2004-04-16 02:01 pm (UTC)~grin~ I love you. :)
E.
x
no subject
Date: 2004-04-16 02:05 pm (UTC)I'd like to feel jealous, but really Duran left me cold in the 80's and leave me cold now. I do hope however, that you both enjoy it enormously xx
no subject
Date: 2004-04-16 02:32 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-04-16 02:42 pm (UTC)Why do they leave you cold? Just curious.
Thank you, though. :) It's looking like I really ought to meet you at some point.
E.
x
no subject
Date: 2004-04-16 03:02 pm (UTC)The attraction for me was the roughness of the original sound. The highly polished production of the later work erased too much of what I liked.
Exactly the same thing happened with a lot of their contempories such as Spandau Ballet and ABC (although they were hampered by the fact that they could neither sing nor play!)
Geeking. Sorry.
Date: 2004-04-16 03:37 pm (UTC)I think the departure of Andy and Roger marked the start of the decline, and Notorious is frankly embarrassing.
Moving on, I can see why you wouldn't like Big Thing if smooth production detracts from the appeal of things for you, but I really like some of the things on it. Liberty is, um, an anomaly. I've always said that I can't bear Notorious because it's a bad album made by a good band; Liberty, on the other hand, is a good album made by a terrible band, which is why I love it. :)
Then we're into the realms of The Wedding Album - 'Ordinary World' and things, which is all a bit 'like it or hate it', really. Thank You is...is like an unconvincing transvestite in really good clothes. And then, of course, there was Medazzaland, which few people have heard much of. I think it's a fantastic album, but there aren't many who agree with me. Pop Trash is frankly Silly, but it's lots and lots of fun.
So I don't see a 'decline' as such. A couple of low points, and a few moments of 'what the...?', but although there's never been anything as great as the first album, it's not been a downhill slope or anything. IMHBGO, anyway. :)
Spandau's first album may be wildly different from the next few, but I don't think that invalidates them per se - I like a lot of their more, erm, popularist songs. ABC are wonderful - I can't comment on their musicianship (it's hard being so young - all I've got to work from is them miming on TOTP, really) but Martin Fry is a good singer. Not great, but good. So say I, anyway. :)
And relax. ~s~
E.
x
Re: Geeking. Sorry.
Date: 2004-04-16 08:21 pm (UTC)I admire you for knowing your subject so well!
no subject
Date: 2004-04-19 04:33 pm (UTC)Oh, I'm sure you can sustain abiding interest in other things.
Pop music just happens to be my subject of choice. Everyone geeks about something; I'm sure you've noticed.
E.
x
no subject
Date: 2004-04-19 05:43 pm (UTC)I honestly believe I don't have a single geeky bone in my sorry body. I do feel this is a failing on my part - it would be nice to be able to bring facts and figures into a conversation at the drop of a hat, but I just can't do it - so don't ever offer me a place on a quizz team!
Glad you had such a good time at the concert xxx
no subject
Date: 2004-04-16 03:16 pm (UTC)Then seeing them on the Brits last month made me think what a bunch of washed up has-beens they were.
However, I am perfectly able to appreciate that my tastes are not those of others' :-)
Yes, would love to meet you sometime - have heard of you from a number of sources now xx
no subject
Date: 2004-04-16 03:44 pm (UTC)As for being washed up, while it's startlingly blatantly not the case given all the fuss being made of them at the moment, I can see why it might look like that. One only knows it isn't true if one is, say, someone like me. ~s~
have heard of you from a number of sources now
Yes, I'd imagine you have. Anything good?
E.
x
no subject
Date: 2004-04-16 02:38 pm (UTC)-wails-
I WANNA GOOOOOOOOOOO!
heee.
have a marvelous time, head. -smoochie-