Rio

Holy shit the bass on this album is incredible! An album and band my metal-loving ass completely dismissed as a kid. This is some good shit.

Loved this one. Duran Duran is quintessential '80s synth pop, and this has gotta be one of the best albums in that space. Of course, I've heard "Rio" and "Hungry Like the Wolf," but I was surprised to find that almost every track on here is a banger, even the more contemplative songs. I think I loved all but two tracks. How this only peaked at #6 on the US Billboard charts is beyond me. Favorite tracks: Rio, Hungry Like the Wolf, Last Chance on the Stairway. Album art: Iconic. This is the first we've had that isn't a photograph, and doesn't feature the artist. But for me, it's the most easily identifiable. If you took all the text off the cover and just showed me the art, I would know it in a second. But aside from that recognition, it's also a fantastic cover design. The art style is awesome, perfectly '80s. 5/5

So fucking good man, Hungry Like the Wolf and Rio are my obvious favorites but the start of New Religion is fire. No skips and a perfect length, def gonna listen to this album a lot more now. Already Saved: Hungry Like the Wolf Saved After Listening: Rio (idk why i didn't already have this one), New Religion, Save a Prayer

It’s hard to believe I used to love this band, I must have listened to this record a thousand times when it first released. I even had a nice Patrick Nagel print hanging in my bedroom. But now I find Simon Lebon’s voice annoying AF and the arrangements very cheesy, esp that 80’s sax, ugh. They only song that I still like is Save a prayer because it’s the least formulaic sounding. The other new wave pop groups of the era did better work and don’t sound nearly as dated now, eg OMD, The Cure, Tears for Fears, The The etc.

The year is 1982. Man, what a time to be alive! Especially for me, being that I was born that year. Imagine, you’re an adolescent in an era that, although there wasn’t any internet yet, there was cable television. Cable was kind of mind blowing to be honest and it was the Wild Wild West at this time. Kids didn’t have Tik Tok or YouTube, but they had MTV!! I’ll hold the tired jokes about how that’s when they actually played music. MTV helped introduce all kinds of music to people that previously only had three channels to choose from when watching television. How did the infant network manage to set themselves apart from any other old thing on the boob tube? Well because if you want to be on MTV you obviously have to have a music video. Having visuals to go along with music that you could see over and over without having to be at a live concert or being forced to sit in front of Ed Sullivan or Dick Clark was revolutionary for the young folks of the time and a humongous marketing tool! Speaking of revolutionary, Paul Revere warned that the British were coming way back in 1775. Well, that wouldn’t be the only invasion since then. The British Invasion in the 60’s changed the musical climate of the entire world. In the late 70’s and early 80’s there was a second invasion. No warfare was necessary, we welcomed it this time around! Now to get on with it, as an Englishman would say. Duran Duran utilized all of the tools listed above. This group of young guys went viral before there was viral. They understood the popularity of Punk Rock and glammed that shit all the way up! Now, that may have been a deal breaker for the widely homophobic demographic of that time, no worries though, a video for a little song titled Girls on Film came out and, what I would have to guess is an enigma of record breaking prepubescent jack off sessions would be had worldwide because of it. That video will still make some guys and girls blush to this day. Look it up if you don’t know what I’m talking about. Just be sure to find the uncensored version. Keep in mind, this was a great time to be alive because the HIV epidemic wouldn’t hit until a couple of years later. Being able to be free sexually if you so shall chose to had little consequences compared to the near future. Duran Duran became so popular that it became cool for girls to like this band as much as the boys and, let’s be real, Duran Duran probably already had the girls attention anyways. Posters and magazine covers were sure to be plastered everywhere. This new English phenomena was just beginning. Now on to my review of the actual music! Every song on this album is as salacious as the guys themselves. If you’re alive and more than 4 years old, you’ve heard Hungry Like a Wolf and Rio for sure. They’re expertly recorded to excite you, make you want to dance and most importantly give you that sexy feeling. Rio gives you a tropical feeling. Listening to it I can see the girls dancing in the sand. Horny, errr I mean Hungry Like The Wolf is self explanatory. The videos these guys put out were top notch. So much beauty, action and anticipation. The music videos that accompanied these songs were next level and inspired classic shows and movies, at least stylistically, like Miami Vice and Scarface. Tell me I’m wrong. They also have sold more than 100 million albums to date. Other great songs from Rio include New Religion, Hold Back the Rain and Lonely In Your Nightmare. Patrick Nagel created the cover art that is so iconically 80’s you get nostalgic just looking at it. In closing, Duran Duran put out pretty good music. Their success, in my opinion, should be chalked up to their vision. The styles, the fashion, the marketing, the good looks and the smarts of these party animals made every guy want to be them and every girl want to be with them.

used to hate this when i was younger cause "the 80s" but now that Im old and sad as fuck i cant get enough of cocain pop

Almost want this on my best albums just for the cover. But the music really bores me. Judging only the 9 first songs on the original album, this is a 1 The deluxe version adds so much good stuff, and actually makes the songs good, I can't comprehend why the difference is so big. "My Own Way" - Manchester Square Demo and "The Chauffeur (Blue Silver)" - Early Version are really good, but the originals are just straight trash.

Maybe you had to be there. For someone like me how doesn't really have much nostalgia for the 80s, it's just too pop and 80s electronic drums and keyboards for me.

All in all a great album with hits I barely remember from when I was young to fresh ones that just blew me away Favourite songs: Rio, The Chauffeur, Hungry like a wolf, Save a prayer, My own way

One of my favorites. 5/5

Excellent New Wave album

Came way way more impressed than I expected. It’s rock, it’s pop, it’s synthy as hell. A lot of rock bands in the 80s did the synth thing in really tasteless ways. This is well done, a great fusion of rock guitar and rhythm section with synth heavy pop. Melodies are creative and sticky, but this would be a 5 if more songs experimented like “The Chauffeur.”

Here we go again...I under why some like this album and even put it at top of their list of they were into 80’s synth pop. I don’t understand why it’s here though in this list? I doesn’t say much for music from the age of modern man when a non eventful album full of lacklustre songs like this is judged one of the best of all time. I found it drab. 1 Star!

This album is great! I. LOVE. EVERY. SONG. Do you hear the bass? Amazing! Here are some stories about Duran Duran. 1. I have relatively recently had a dream wherein I was running around an indoor flea market singing the "You make me feel alive, alive, alive!" part of the title track repeatedly at the top of my lungs. 2. When the album came out, there were families that had MTV and families that did not. Mine did not and this created a particular kind of desperation in me for music videos. At a party at the home of one of my dad's work colleagues, the kids all shuffled into the living room, where the host's kids were watching TV, the oldest daughter controlling the remote. She clicked on MTV where the video for Rio was starting but said, "oh, I've seen this" and clicked away and I died a little inside and still remember it a full 40 years later. 3. I have a friend who tells the tale of decorating a Christmas cookie in 1983 with the name Duran Duran and her mother storming out of the kitchen and proclaiming with complete sincerity, "Christmas is ruined!" I think that is very funny.

The soundtrack to junior high for me. Terrible years, I don't think anyone enjoys being 13, especially in retrospect. But even that can't taint my love for Duran Duran; I'm finding that I still know every word of every song. Even the album cover is the 80's crystalized in one image. It is impossible to listen to these songs and not see the videos in my mind's eye. MTV propelled Duran Duran into superstardom and they likewise made MTV central to teenage life. So. Many. Memories.

oh how i love this album.

Saved Prior: Hungry Like the Wolf Not Saved: 9. Lonely in Your Nightmare Cutting Edge: 8. Save a Prayer 7. New Religion Off Rip: 6. My Own Way 5. Rio 4. Last Chance on the Stairway 3. The Chauffeur (all of the songs mostly had the same vibe except for this one. didn't expect to like this one as much as I did) 2. Hold Back the Rain 1. Hungry Like the Wolf Overall Notes: Didn't think I was going to give this album a 5, but looking back I saved all but one song so how could I not. Hit that 80's alt zone dead on. The hooks are absurdly good and took it from a 4 to a 5. Every single song had a really good melodic element to it.

By far the most striking thing about Rio is the fact that it's a 1980s synth pop album that somehow still sounds fresh today. The bass is obviously the stand out, but there's various interesting things going on from all the band members. Yes, there's some big hits here, but none of them have been overplayed to the point of being stale somehow. Near the end of the 80s I started dating a girl who was a big Duran Duran fan, and she tried to convince me that they were more art-rock than synth-pop. I still don't agree, but this is good stuff, and it brings back happy memories of listening to this album back then. I also remember the slightly dodgy videos that were hard to find, some of them passed around as VHS copies from late night airings on MTV. There's not a single bad track here, and I enjoyed it so much I'm giving it the full five stars.

This album comes to me in a gray suit with the sleeves pushed up and seduces me away to frolic on its yacht in Saint-Tropez while paparazzi snap pics of us from a helicopter. Duran Duran captured all the glamour, energy and biggness of the 80’s right from the intro to the title track, with its syncopated synth, busy, funky bass line, and sultry saxophone overlaid with growling and roaring at the climax. What a rush! I was struck by “New Religion,” how much it reminded me of RHCP–that bass! The album is consistently strong, but the other two classics here are “Hungry Like the Wolf” and “Save a Prayer.” I'll just take this moment to put it out in the universe somewhere how much I love “Save a Prayer.” I just can't get enough of this song; it thrills and mesmerizes me still, though I have heard it loads of times. This is one of those kinds of songs that, as I've learned over the years, is like catnip to me. Moody, minor keys, sort of mysterious, sensual, melodic but with a little dissonance, rhythmic and grounded with that bass. Sometimes I mention songs like these and Joel will say, “Oh yeah, Chino covered that.” So apparently Chino Moreno shares this specific taste. He should cover “Save a Prayer!”

In 1977 and 1978, respectively, TALKING HEADS: '77 and Q: ARE WE NOT MEN? A: WE ARE DEVO! were released. They, to me, are the definitive sounds of early New Wave: this quirky or artsy punk music... Particularly DEVO's album. Songs like "Uncontrollable Urge", "Jocko Homo", "Mongoloid" — that kinda stuff, right there. Unlike post-punk, this wasn't music that was entirely adverse to being pop hits (Talking Heads had "Psycho Killer", and Blondie's PARALLEL LINES from '78 had quite a few), but I feel like a lot of it still made an attempt to have higher artistic intentions or follow punk's ethos more than any other pop songs at the time. Early New Wave, to my mind, was the domain of punks, nerds and arty folk. It's four years after ARE WE NOT MEN?. DEVO had been bringing synths more to the forefront of their work. MTV had launched just last year. And Duran Duran has released RIO. What does New Wave sound like now? Like, OK, lemme break from my essaying for a second to make it clear that I'm no musicologist/music historian. I can't tell you the exact evolution of New Wave and where RIO fits in — or if it's even actually that important at all. Besides, New Wave's a pretty arbitrary label, anyway, let's be real. But I'll tell you this: I really thought RIO had come out later on in the '80's than just '82, 'coz looking at this album, I'm thinking it's **the** sound of New Wave everyone recognizes. I mean, obviously, I don't think that early New Wave went away overnight. DEVO, Talking Heads and Blondie were still around and having their successes. Early MTV was filled with punks, geeks and art weirdos, and a number of them, even later in the decade, would get hits on the Hot 100 — as much as that's worth. Although, I think by that point, that's when the 80's truly became the "greatest decade for one hit wonders." Heck, this list might have an album or two from them; I haven't checked lately. Then we have RIO: slickly produced, very synth heavy and way more radio friendly. These are songs with hooks destined, maybe **designed**, to be pop hits. Just listen to "Hungry Like The Wolf" — you've **probably heard** "Hungry Like The Wolf". That song alone says it all. Like, I read on this album's Wikipedia page that it's supposed to be more experimental than Duran Duran's debut, but for the life of me I can't hear it. I suppose there's, like, the bridge of "Hungry Like The Wolf", though I'd hardly even consider that "experimental" if I wasn't actively looking for examples. And I don't keep bringing up MTV for nothing, by the way. Out of the nine songs on this album, six got music videos. This was the first album to really be marketed heavily on MTV, and from what I can tell I think it helped paved the way for how image-focused the channel would become later on in the 80's. I mean, the members of Duran Duran sure didn't **look** like geeks, lemme tell you that much. Now, pop isn't a bad word to me. I don't bring any of this, necessarily, to slam the band. Heck, I like "Hungry Like The Wolf" as much as everyone else does, and the title track "bops," as the kids say (I'm 26). I even really like this "synth-pop" style of New Wave — more than a lot of the earlier, artsier New Wave I've heard, actually, even. This album so specifically scratches any itch I'd have for it, and, honestly, I kind of love it for that. I just find the difference between late-70's New Wave and early-80's New Wave interesting, with how hard it got glammed up in the mainstream not even half a decade after DEVO's debut. Blame the record execs, I guess, I'unno. This album's a big 5 in my book. It's definitive 80's British synth cheese. I'm not terribly surprised it's what really kicked the second British Invasion into gear. Obviously, if you're not a fan of this sort of sound, or you just don't have the stomach for cheese, you should avoid this album at all costs. The synth flutes on the closer will probably do you in if the sax on the opener doesn't. Me, though, I love this kind of sound a lot.

Loved it, I can see why it was such a hit

"Вы хотите к ним с драм-машинкой выйти? Да они меня еле терпят, вас вообще сожрут! ... Делайте, что хотите: играйте хоть Duran Duran, мне всё равно." - Майк Науменко Виктору Цою в фильме Лето (2018, Серебренников). Хм, может и ко всем остальным рецензиям подбирать эпиграфы?🤔 Кстати просмотр фильма "Лето" вообще открыл для меня тогда много разной хорошей музыки, которая там играла или упоминалась. В том числе и Duran Duran. А потом когда я привёз с дачи (и забрал с собой в Люкс) пластинку "Notorious", я взял её, не слушая, на доверии к знакомому имени. Конечно же я её послушал чуть позже: да, прикольный саунд, но на Кино не похоже, вообще. Так что Майк в фильме чутка преувеличил ;) Альбом "Rio" был выпущен за 4 года до вышеупомянутой записи. В них есть похожие черты, например, обилие синтетического звука. Ну и в целом это одного поля ягоды. По рассказам отца, это была музыка их дискотек, и я прекрасно себе представляю как это проходило в актовом зале ленинградской ФМШ. Вообще я может быть и сам под такое потусовался, даже сейчас (ууу, старпёр). Так что Duran Duran - это тоже своего рода маркер эпохи нью-вейва, как Pearl Jam для гранжа. Длина треков кстати тоже намекает на то, что это танцевальная музыка прежде всего: помимо большой продолжительности особое внимание уделяется припевам и хукам, для лучшего рАсКоЛбАсА. А вообще здесь есть какая-то тонкая грань между песней для концерта на стадиона и для дискача в ДК: композиции вроде и туда, и туда подходят. Тёма мне устроил сегодня небольшой спойлер, и такой: "прикинь, Lonely in Your Nightmare - это блин Гранитный камушек в груди!". И вот теперь это может быть сбило меня с толку, но я тоже слышать это сходство! Но надо отдать должное Duran Duran, у них поинтереснее мелодические ходы и аккордовая последовательность. Но между этими песнями точно что-то есть! Говоря также о похожестях, упомяну группу из советского синти-попа - Кофе, и особенно трек Zero. Чем-то напомнило Rio. Возможно, главными упрёком, который можно предъявить этому альбому, будет являться его недостаточная, как говорит Тёма П., "выебонистость". Ну, он довольно обычный, если рассматривать его в контексте всей существующей музыки, и в этом направлении "Notorious" мне нравится чуть больше, там огромную работу выполняют разнообразные духовые инструменты, усложняя треки. Хотя работа над различными ритмическими рисунками здесь проделана хорошая, нельзя сказать, что все песни прям калька друг с друга (как это обычно бывает с попсой). Короче вероятно, это будет первая честная пятёрка (не считаем Pearl Jam). В прошлый раз я поставил 4+ "Ladies And Gentelmen...", потому что там не было трека, от которого пошла бы приятная дрожь по телу; все они были равнозначно хороши или плохи. А вот здесь мне, во-первых, понравилась плотность звучания (=сочетание композиций друг с другом), а во-вторых, два трека (Last Chance on the Stairway и Save a Prayer) вызвали те самые "мурашки".

This is probably THE quintessential 80's new wave album, only to be rivaled by "Songs From the Big Chair". The synths are fresh, the bass is bombastic, the guitar riffs are energetic, everything comes together to create perfectly crafted songs. Admittedly I never listen to the lyrics of these songs because the music itself commands so much attention. These songs inspire so much joy, they're effortless to listen to, and there's not much more to say other than that I love every song on this album. Favorite track: I honestly can't choose Least favorite track: none

Killer 80s music.

If I was alive when this was released, it might have been too much, but I really appreciate the cocaine fueled production for what it is now. Loved the whole album

Rio This makes me think of an early episode of Only Fools and Horses when Rodney tries to impress a girl by turning up with this album under his arm. It also feels like the band my older sister would have been into, had I actually had sister 8 or 9 years older than me. Rio is an undeniably fantastic bit of pop music, and Duran Duran in a nutshell: great chorus, great melody, brilliantly self-assured, with an irresistible 80s pop-funk-disco-rock-synth sheen and terrible, naff lyrics. Hungry Like the Wolf is similar, brilliantly catchy, a great chorus and ‘I smell like I sound’. I’ve always really liked Save a Prayer too, with its swaying rhythm and wistful melody. The rest of it is uniformly above average synth pop in that same vein, full of memorable hooks, riffs, synths and choruses, without, New Religion’s 80s cop thriller soundtrack atmosphere aside, quite reaching the heights of those singles. Lonely in Your Nightmare has a great little earworm of a chorus, Hold Back the Rain has a pleasingly thumpy rhythm, Last Chance on the Stairway has that excellently melodic bass, and The Chaffeur has a great woozy off kilter The Normal style experimental synth vibe. The rhythm section really is excellent, probably the thing that separates them from some of their contemporaries, there’s some great melodic bass and synth bass and that great 80s drum sound too. You can hear Bowie (again), Chic Roxy Music - if you are going for this type of synth-pop-funk sound and style you probably couldn’t choose better influences. Full of hooks and memorable melodies, where the choruses and style outweigh the substance, but it doesn’t matter, it’s such a fun listen that it’s an easy 4. 🐺🐺🐺🐺 Playlist submission: Rio

One of those bands where I had previously dismissed them as just a pop act. So I was pleasantly surprised and instantly hooked by this album. The sound is clearly early 80s and possibly dated, but it also a classic example of how an album should be. There is a mixture of hits and strong album tracks that explore their sound. In fact I don’t think there is a weak track there.

Great album here! The bass stands out throughout the whole album. So many hits, Rio, Hungry Like the Wolf, Save a Prayer. Much nostalgia. Duran Duran just hits different than other groups from this time. They have the music you can cut a rug to, and the softer ballads. I really enjoy some of the deep cuts, like Hold Back the Rain and Last Chance on the Stairway. Not quite a 5 for me, but a solid 4.5

This smells like it sounds.

Бас охуетительный, конечно, просто пу шеч ка, дорога на работу задалась бодренькой. Но добавил только "My Own Way", "The Chauffeur", все таки альбом будет стоять на полочке "круто иногда вспомнить" Интересный факт: "Lonely In Your Nightmare" отослал мое подсознание к "не ходи к нему навстречу, не ходи. у него гранитный камушек в груди". Оставлю вас с таким инсайтом, хорошего дня :)

Slick, haughty and perhaps even a touch forbidding - Duran Duran in their pomp sound like a band that simply didn't produce music for the lumpenproletariat. But before you dismiss this as the soundtrack to boardroom cocaine binges, think again; the boys knew how to write a brilliant pop song, even when mucking around with the rule book. All the big songs on here - 'Rio', 'Hungry...' shimmer and shine; perhaps even better are 'Save a Prayer' with its wonky synth riff, and 'The Chauffeur', a startling slice of pop modernism. 'Rio' still sounds a bit like the future.

A cup of kickass riffs. 500 grams of irresistible grooves. 10 slices of hooks that are either terrible or doesn't age well. A can of dull, whiny vocals. And finally, a desired amount of layers of deliciously interesting production instrumentals. Mix everything careful until it's thick enough for future molds to sneak in. And behold! A typical new-wave album! An odd yet perfectly sane mixture of delicious and repulsive.

Ahaha, this is an album I know so well. I was an eleven-year-old girl when this came out, so there you go. Listening now, I think this album is as good as it ever was. It's a New Romantic classic, and a still a really fun listen. Rio is probably the strongest, most perfectly crafted album Duran Duran ever made, the album that made them stars. Credit where it's due: John Taylor is a legitimately great bassist, delivering a surprising, funky groove that a lot of English bands did not have. You pull Taylor out of Duran Duran and you have a considerably less interesting band. The best songs on this album are the ones that lean into that groove, like the title song and "New Religion." Taylor's funky bass plays well against Andy Taylor's equally strong, energetic riffs and Roger Taylor’s crisp, punchy drumming style. Nick Rhodes' keyboard arrangements are elegant and exotic sounding, with a vibe straight out of Bowie. Simon Le Bon had a lot of charisma as a front man and his voice works well with these songs, even if he wasn't as strong a vocalist as some of his contemporaries. The album is book ended with two excellent songs in "Rio" and "The Chauffeur." The rest of the songs vary in quality, but the overall flow from beginning to end is really good. The danceable stuff is where the band excels, but the ballads are also still lovely to listen to, with some of the prettiest, most stylish keyboard arrangements out at that time. Fave Songs: Rio, New Religion, The Chauffeur, Save a Prayer, Hungry Like the Wolf

I independently listened to this album last week, in the pre-1001 days where free will guided our album choices, so I'm locked and loaded. This album is the top of the mountain. The peak new wave achievement: sparkly synthesizers everywhere, giant spritely pop songs, nonstop infectious hooks, that metallic flanger vocal effect, a devastatingly handsome collection of Englishmen (who actualy wrote and performed the whole album). Plus the real hero: BIG BOOTY FRETLESS BASS. And the Chauffeur is a cool spooky song. I imagine this one will be divisive among the Mayo crew, but you gotta respect the top of the genre even if you don't love the genre. I don't fuck with disco, but Donna Summer rules. A

80s to the core. Still, weirdly doesn't sound super dated like some late 80s stuff does. Pretty fun, the songs can be a bit long though. Favorite tracks: "Hold Back the Rain", "Rio", "Save a Prayer"

The hits are the hits. No doubt, great songs. I saw Duran Duran in 2004 and they were terrific. All that aside, the rest of the album is forgettable, too much same same in the other tracks.

its nights like that one that remind that the paths we walk are nothing but miracles. in the grand scheme of things we are all miracles, in a metaphorical sense. to be is divine, godless or not.

The overabundance of synth pop on this list has made it difficult for me to have a real objective opinion on some of these 80’s synth records. There really isn’t a lot of variation in the sound between a lot of the bands and when you’ve heard so much of it, it just kind of becomes a coalesced mash of synthetics, where it’s hard to tell what makes one band stand out from another. Rio is fine, it’s more upbeat than some of the others, but aside from the songs we all already know, most of it doesn’t really stand above any of the other 80’s synth pop records on the list.

A very enjoyable record!! Definitely worthy of the list, but it just didn't have what it took to push beyond 3 stars for me!

Pop der 80er… schwierig…

Annoyingly catchy 80's pop. No thanks.

Pop rock with some cool experimentation. Let me at it!! Loved it! I'll need to listen a few more times and get through both disks. Great new find. Would not have found it through my own listening recommendations

4.5/5.0; I really like this album. I don’t feel like I’ve ever personally heard anything quite like it. It almost reminds me of Hall and Oates mixed with Oasis if I had to compare it to music I’m familiar with. Will look into more Duran Duran in the future.

Really good synthpop music. Standout tracks: Rio, Hungry Like the Wolf, Save a Prayer

man. the 80s were so fun and Duran Duran helped it so.

Buen álbum!

I don't know what a duran is, but it sure does make good music

Great album fire

80er Jahre Sound mit perfekten Stereo Spielchen am Ohr, die Spaß machen und anspruchsvoll produziert wurden. Duran Duran zeigt ihr perfektes Songwriting im new Wave gewand und schaffen Popperlen und Hits.

John Taylor is such an underrated bass player. I’ve watched live videos of Duran Duran and I’m always captivated by John’s high energy and catchy bass playing. Really every musician on this album is top notch, the bass just really stands out for me. Simon Le Bon’s writing really encapsulates the trappings and excitement of a band on the rise and his voice sounds incredible. He really is the perfect front person for a band. Every song on this album is worth your time, there’s no skips. The singles are undeniable for sure but every time I listen to this album I’m amazed at how good the album cuts are. Easy 5 for me.

What a great album. Not too much else to say. I've been into Duran Duran since I was really young. John Taylor put on a clinic for a lot of the album.

Back in the day!

YAY!!! So happy to see this dear old friend. 5/5

- Favs while listening: Rio, My Own way, New Religion - I think the awesome basslines need to be appreciated, absolutely amazing harmonic song writing - vocal harmonies are so beautiful - never listened to anything by Duran Duran but I love this album OVERALL: 5/5

Fuck, I knew these guys were good, but I didn't know they were THIS killer with their non-single tracks. 5.5 stars if I could give one.

That’s a pretty easy 5. I’ve always meant to dig a little deeper into Duran Duran – Hungry Like the Wolf is one of those all-timer 80s hits, instantly recognizable by the laugh in the intro and the immediate guitar riff, but I figured there was more beyond that. A View to a Kill, for example, is a deeply, deeply underrated Bond theme. I’m very glad I was proven right – this is a deep album. Even past the singles on here, this is full of bangers across the board, and it’s incredibly layered and well produced for 1982. I get it, same year as Thriller, but at the same time, like… same year as Thriller, you know? Two totally tonally different albums in substance and style, both existing within the same space and genre (well, if you consider synthpop as pop, anyway). I mean, even from the opening of Rio, this thing never really stops going – it’s a constantly captivating soundscape, whether it’s the synth work, the punchy drums, Simon Le Bon’s vocals, or the basslines (which are KILLER throughout this album), and even with each track being at least 4 minutes on average, the whole thing flies by without ever really hitting a lull point or a repetitive spot. It’s just damn good synthpop, and I do wonder how much of a catalyst this was for bands like Tears for Fears or Eurythmics or Depeche Mode, or even solo artists like Cyndi Lauper to really go balls to the wall with this style and unlock everything further. I enjoyed it a lot – not a single skip here, and just a really fun listen. Very easy 5.

This is #day69 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... s-i-i-i-n-n-n-g bl-u-u-e silv-e-e-e-r! It's a straight 5 out of 5, and, honestly, the seminal artwork alone deserves it. Fun fact: back in June, the band finally revealed the identity of the woman on the cover—a story worth looking up. As an 80s music fan at heart, I can’t stress enough how Rio is an absolute must-listen before you die. A bona fide new-wave classic. From the very first track (that sax from Andy Hamilton, though!), the synergy of guitars, bass (!), drums, synths, and vocals creates something truly majestic, seamlessly flowing from one song to another. The album is innovative, experimental, and daring—precisely what I love about young bands with the world as their oyster. It also has The Chauffeur, not only one of the most avant-garde songs of the 80s but also one of the greatest 80s album closers. Have you heard Deftones' or Sneaker Pimps' covers of that song? Rio is one of Duran’s three pivotal albums over the decades. Think about it: the next decade gave us The Wedding Album and then... Astronaut in the following one. But for tonight, it’s all Rio... Did I mention it’s a 5? Looking forward to #day70.

Duran Duran's prime came before my time—I wasn’t born or was barely in nappies when they released their iconic albums. Still, thanks to heavy rotation of "Rio" and "Hungry Like the Wolf" on MTV and VH1, I thought I was familiar with the band and their brand. Somehow I had them pegged as a pop act like Wham!, all about boyish looks, chiselled cheekbones and catchy hooks. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Despite the synth-heavy sound, Rio rocks. The pacing is tight, with barely a dull moment, and the songwriting is consistently strong. The band sounds incredibly cohesive from start to finish. John Taylor’s bass work is the album’s true star. His blend of melody and rhythm, infused with funk and disco influences, gives Rio its infectious groove. The bass lines drive the album as much as the vocals or synths, adding depth and punch to every track. Simon Le Bon’s vocals are dramatic and expressive, perfectly complementing the band’s glamorous image. He’s not overly technical, but his charisma brings both elegance and emotional weight to the music. Andy Taylor’s guitar work keeps the album grounded, preventing it from becoming too electronic. Whether pulling back on "The Chauffeur" or laying down a funky groove on "My Own Way," he adds a rock edge that balances the synths. Drummer Roger Taylor’s tight, precise playing is crucial to the album’s danceable, energetic feel. He doesn’t show off, but his disciplined drumming provides the perfect rhythm foundation. Of all the ‘80s New Wave albums, I didn’t expect Rio to win me over so easily. But with a back half that’s arguably stronger than the start, it’s an album that rewards listening all the way through. Did/Do I own this release? My mother may have owned it on cassette. Does this release belong on the list? Absolutely. Would this release make my personal list? If you’d asked me before today, I’d have said no, but I’ve had it on loop and I’m not getting bored. Will I be listening again? Definitely.

Had the low expectations, but really opened my mind on pop music that’s not just the singles.

There isn’t much more praise that can be heaped on this album that hasn’t already been inked by music critics for the last 40+ years. Everything about it - from the seductively iconic artwork, to the singles which are emblazoned in the public repertoire of 80s standards - has become emblematic of its era. So revisiting this record, you might expect it to have dated somewhat since its release back in 1982. But it’s one of these albums which perfected its formula so well that it taps it captures its cultural zeitgeist while utterly transcending it. The washes of 80s synths and drums cloaked in gated reverb are products of their time, but it is never intrusive. The songwriting is just so strong from track to track, it could easily be a Greatest Hits collection on its own - “Lonely in Your Nightmare” in particular sees Jon Taylor’s rhythmic thumps transposed onto the feetless bass to immaculate effect. This is the album format in its purest form - a deliberate artistic statement with no padding or weak cuts. Of course, it is also synonymous with the Thatcherite gluttony which was on full display in the video to the title track. Considering Heaven 17’s Penthouse and Pavement is so derided on this site, the latter record completely deconstructed the stereotypes that Duran Duran regurgitate unproblematically on this album. Leaving that to one side, it’s a phenomenal album that I love dearly.

Day266 - there isn’t a bad song on this album good job duran duran

I live in a yuppie high rise apartment overlooking Manhattan and have a Nagel on the wall. Obviously this is my shit right here.

Press play!

Some good stuff here where I might have missed it in the past.

pre listening: 5 during: 5 after: 5

I’ve already heard this one in full too!!! LOVE Duran Duran. Great album, can get a little repetitive in terms of sound but a superb listen nonetheless. Straight bangers 9.5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: this is a fantastic intro to New Wave so yeah! PS everyone should also hear their other fav album of mine Seven and the Ragged Tiger 💪 Fav tracks: every song slams. Least fav tracks: none!

Отличный продукт своего времени и жанра.

Well, this is a great album. ...which I've completely overplayed over the years. Fantastic songs, many of which are a work of art - albeit Hungry Like the Wolf is a bit of a bag of cheese. But more than made up for by Save a Prayer, Losing my Religion and Chauffeur as well as some of the lesser known songs - Last Chance on the Stairway, Hold Back the Rain.

The only Duran Duran album you need.

It's Rio... By Duran Duran... An album that almost *defines* the early 80's. The album artwork, the music videos, the music itself - all helped define the decade. Great and memorable tunes that have and will stand the tests of time.

# Playlist track - Rio # Notes - When I saw the cover on the recommendation page, I knew this would be great! - The opening track, Rio, started playing and it even blew my expectations! - I love the punchy bass, the synths, the mood. Awesome album all around, no bad tracks! - One of the best 80's albums.

Aguante Duran Druan

Doesn't get any more classic 80s than this.

I had a lot of fun with this one, and sometimes that's just what music is all about

I’ve always loved Duran but have put off listening to their stuff. Every track here was great. Iconic sound of the decade Rating: 4.9

Бас в нью вейве играет не последнюю роль, но здесь такой прям сочный фанки-бас. Да и в целом я дико кайфанул

I know, many of you are saying "Ok, it's a fun album but a great album?" Yes, it's a great album Rio is one of the hallmarks of the MTV era but also full of great 80s club hits. Driving but dancable rhythms abound in club hits like My Own Way, Hold Back The Rain, the title track Rio, and of course Hungry Like The Wolf. In between are more downbeat songs such as Lonely in Your Nightmare and Save a Prayer that keep the album from devolving into a frenetic mess, but also highlights Duran Duran's reach beyond danceable New Wave. So, yes, it's a great album.

Referencia al MGSV

really enjoied

Great album love it

expected to enjoy but wasnt expecting to be this floored...just genuinely immaculate , every song coaxes a different color palate out of both the big stimmy synths and the lyrical hedonism. makes constructing this kind of pop seem effortless...all u need is A Sound and a few good ideas for what to do with it. basically entirely the kind of experience im hoping for with this project thing: something ive been meaning to sample for a while but just needed my ass kicked. lots of raindrops on windows on this album imo

Awesome.

Dancing in the sand.

gud

Just about everything that was good about the 80s — catchy choruses, exciting arrangements, eclectic writing and beautiful musicians with great chops.

another college throwback, classic 80s New Romantic synth/guitar album, great singles

From the album cover to the beats, a perfect time machine to a platonic ideal of the eighties

Cracking album, enjoyable back to front with some iconic songs among them.

Love it. Great for doing chores or hyping yourself for running errands in your local cyberpunk dystopia. Each song holds up independently, but a few stand out to me, like Rio, New Religion, and The Chauffeur.

Wow. I thought they we a one or two hit wonder totally irrelevant now. I was surprised. This needs to be added to my collection.

I want to hate this album. I hated Duran Duran from 1983 until whatever year it was that they covered "Ball of Confusion," and then only begrudgingly gave them cred because "Ball of Confusion" would be a banger even if Judy Collins and Gordon Lightfoot had turned it into a slow duet. What I'm saying is that the cool kids at my high school didn't like Duran Duran, only the posers and jocks and cheerleaders liked them. But now that I'm older and wiser and know it's all about the funk, punk, I have to give credit. This is an excellent pop album. John Taylor obviously worships at the altar of Bernard Edwards (Chic), and if you don't believe me, go look up the isolated bass track from "Rio" on YouTube. So tease up whatever hair you have left and dance around the room singing into your hairbrush and have fun with this album.

Easy 5 stars. Every song is unique, fresh and most are catchy. No artsy bull crap. Straight for the point, enjoyable.

Amazing. 80s perfection.

On the back of the recent Human League album I do find this much more enjoyable. Rio is great and Hungy Life The Wolf is awesome.

Banger album! 5/5

I am not ashamed by my love of 80s music, and because of that, I am ashamed I've never listened to Rio until now. I only knew Hungry Like the Wolf, but now I can't wait to listen to this album again and skip that song as I've heard it a million times (still a great one though). I'll join in the chorus of praise for the bass. What a good album.

Honestly, I could have listened to “Rio” over and over and been satisfied. But the album proceeds to bring banger after banger. What an icon band and album that defined the 80s. 10/10

"Rio" is an exciting synth-pop, new wave album by English pop rock band Duran Duran. Incorporating a broad assortment of musical elements, this is a legendary album with iconic cover art.

I forgot just how great they were at the time and how much fun this album is. I never owned the album and I knew the popular songs, but I didn’t know how good the rest of the album was. Should have paid closer attention at the time. I will listen to this again.

Such a good album omg first album done