DURAN DURAN ASTRONAUT ALBUM EPIC, SONY RELEASE: OCTOBER 13, 2004 REVIEW: OCTOBER 19, 2004

This disc is a sight for sore eyes, I'll tell you right now. Two decades have passed since the original line-up of Duran Duran were together and it's been tough to slough through, believe me. There have been some flashes of talent ("Notorious", "Decade", "The Wedding Album" and "Medazzland") but for every one of those there have been some horrible releases. You know what they are.
Now with their first actual new release since "Arena", the boys have given us quite an album to slap into the player. Opener "(Reach up for the ) Sunrise" is so infectious that I'm still singing along and "Need You More!" is even more of an instant classic. "What Happens Tomorrow" is where you really see the abilities of this band shine very brightly. LeBon's vocal work hasn't sounded this good in years. "Astronaut" is a space-age romp through the cosmos with Nick Rhode's keyboard prowess hitting home. "Bedroom Toys" is thoroughly hip hop in nature; this band have never denied their love of this style. And it works, damnit!
It's just great to have a guitarist and a drummer back in the band instead of studio goons and has-beens filling their shoes. Andy and Roger do indeed make "Astronaut" a welcome showing for Duran Duran. Together again, these five are poised to take over the world just as they did during their reign in the 80:s. A lot of people expressed doubts about the feasibility of a re-united Duran Duran, here's mud in your eye.

PETER MARKS