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1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 Back to writing top level pop songs! Aug 01, 2008
When I first picked up this disc I was so glad they ditched the Medazzalnd/Pop Trash style and got back to doing what Duran Duran does better than anybody.....writing top notch melodic pop songs. All 12 songs on this disc are solid....Astronaut is my least favorite. Favorite songs are Want you more,Nice,Still breathing, & Point of no return. This one is on the level of Rio & The Wedding Album!
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
 Welcome back!!! Jul 28, 2008
Not as strong and forceful as many other Duran Duran recordings, this could be easily remembered for being one of the decade's most expected comebacks -keeping in mind that it sets the reunition of the original Duran Duran lineup, after more than 20 years of sepparate careers-, rather than for the actual musical content...
But, however, that would be a very simple and unfair approach to this album as it contains some geuine gems worth to be appreciated, not only by true fans but by everybody as well. It's not and probably it won't become a classic album, but it's still much more than Medazzaland and Pop Trash though.
Sound is definitely not evocating the new-wave bizzare-hairdos synth/pop music style that made them famous during the 80's, but it still keeps most of the DD's signature, with some spice on the guitars and a mature voice production.
Maybe listener can feel there's a little too much work here on trying to make a hit single out from some tunes, which brings down my rating from 5 to 4 stars.
However, the album as a whole deserves a positive remark as it adds up some missing talent and strong background in not-really-good times for pop music.
1 of 1 found the following review helpful:
The best so far, hands down Feb 15, 2008
The album that made me a fan. The moment I saw the video for "Sunrise," I was instantly hooked. Once I got the album, I almost didn't want to stop listening to it! It was perfect from start to finish.
I loved it all, the lyrics, the catchy melodies, the music, everything! The style, the sound, and the energy that they are known for is here. This album demanded to be noticed! I'm happy to see the boys back togther (Though I am sad that Andy left last year, it's too soon!!). Out of all twelve tracks, there's not one I dislike. It's all the Duran Duran we came to know and love with a modern twist to it. If you enjoyed all their albums, this is one not to pass up! And out of all the albums I have in my collection, this my favorite! "Sunrise" "What happens tomorrow" "Finest Hour" "Nice" "Point of no Return" and "Want you More!" are my personal favorites from this album.
If you haven't listened to "Virus" (on the Japanese Edition), I highly recommend it! It's another great song that should've been a single and on the original. It's a strong rock song with some effects added in to make it quite nice. If you like this album, you'll enjoy this song, too. It truly is a masterpiece! Just don't go to Itunes to get it, that's where I found it first and it wasn't available as a download.
I also recommend the single "What happens tomorrow, Pt.2." There's a short, two minute excerpt from "What happens tomorrow" that was taken out called "Silent Icy River," truly worth listening to. It deserves to be a song all on its own. Need motivational words? "Holding on to what you believe..."
I prefer this album over "Red Carpet Massacre" because I am more into the rock and live playing and not the dance craze they decided to do. RCM also lacks much of the energy that Astronaut has. May be if we're lucky, we'll get our hands on that "Reportage" album soon. After RCM's not-so-well performance on the charts, I do hope the "suits" will give that album a second chance. I'm interested to listen to it! How about you? :)
Bottom line- Astronaut is the album that no one should pass up! Don't listen to the negative reviews! Buy this album, you won't regret it!
**Looking for Beautiful Colours, TV vs. Radio, Salt in the Rainbow, Lonely Business & Pretty Ones? Look for "Beautiful Colours" a demo CD released exclusively for the DD fan club! Rare gem, worth the search! Virus is also included**
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
The comeback... but they never left?! Dec 14, 2007
Actually, I am probably in the minority of Duran Duran fans when I say the idea of the original Fab Five getting back together in 2003 really did not excite me too much. I have always thought that Warren Cucurrullo was a much better foil for Simon, Nick and John (and Roger) than Andy ever was. Don't get me wrong, Andy Taylor is a very good guitarist but he's a rocker, a one-trick pony as it were. Warren could rock, create some out-of-this world experimental sounds and knock down a beautiful ballad with soul to boot. Do you really think "Ordinary World" would have been as good with Andy?
Regardless, here is the reunion... and to my surprise it is quite excellent! The Durans didn't revert themselves to 1985, they took everything they had learned and brought their old friends with them for the ride. There is a sense of fun here that has long been missing from Duran releases to this point. You can just feel the fun they are all having playing together again. It doesn't hurt that they happened to craft some excellent tunes as well.
"Reach Up (For The Sunrise)" is a great lead-off track and "Want You More" makes the most of Andy's chunky funked up chords. Great one-two punch to start. "Astronaut" and "Nice" are excellent pop fare and "What Happens Tomorrow" is a knock-down, dead-on classic.
The only thing stopping this release from being as good as "Rio" or "Notorious" is that things drag a bit towards the end with a couple of wrote ballads like "Chains." However, the closing ballad, "Still Breathing" is a beautiful closer.
It's too bad that this didn't get much if any radio play. Duran Duran is at its heart a pop band. They want hits! There are plenty on here that deserved that status but because they are older and not as well respected critically as other bands, this came and went with more people interested in seeing them trod out their old songs in concert rather than listen to their new music. That's too bad because they make some great music here.
4 of 4 found the following review helpful:
Far Superior to "Red Carpet Massacre" Dec 10, 2007
After reviewing both "Astronaut" and "Red Carpet Massacre", I figured out the one missing ingredient that is the main difference between these two albums is the absence of Andy Taylor on RCM. These 5 guys came together in the early 80s, broke up in mid 80s and got back together again for the 2004 Astronaut release. The missing Andy Taylor is painfully obvious on RCM and DD also seems to have lost its identity in the process, due to bending down to the overrated Timbaland and untalented Justin Timberlake.
But, that's another review for another day. So, regarding "Astronaut", this album is the band's strongest release since "Rio". The opening track, "Reach Up For The Sunrise" is a mind-blowing, positive, morale booster that gets even the lamest dancers to their feet. "Want You More!" is a hard rocking track that brings back reminiscinces of the pulse-pounding "Hungry Like The Wolf". "What Happens Tomorrow" is by far the strongest track on the album because it has a mellow, groove-down synthesis with probably some of Simon's best note-hitting capabilities. The title track is my least favorite track on the album because by then, the guys sound like they are tired and start sounding like automatons. Love "Bedroom Toys" with its funky, groovy beat, however, the lyrics make you wonder exactly what these guys have been experienced in.
"Nice" would have been another great release and this strutting tough track demonstrates that the original DD still has it. "Taste The Summer" is my second least favorite track because the track rollicks along in a steady beat, but the payoff seems to lose something in the translation. "Chains" is another strong entry with the eerie, "Night Boat" kind of feel to it and the haunting chorus bridge is quite memorable. "The Point Of No Return" would have been another great single choice that clearly demonstrated Andy Taylor's prowess with the guitar - the guitar solo just rocked! Finally, "Still Breathing" was another eerie build reminiscient of "Friends Of Mine" that is a well-suited jab at critics and naysayers that there is still life in this band.
If you want to listen to an enjoyable album that demonstrates the musical talents of all five of the original DD, you will not be disappointed in the lift of "Astronaut".
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