Rio

Very high 3

Cool. Sounded a bit uninspiring, like generic pop of their times or whatever. Maybe i didnt listen to the lyrics and i was cleaning the room, idk

Consistent 80s synth pop. Pretty much a proto-typical example of it. The hits are great. The rest ain’t bad.

3.5

Fa2 plaat nummers duurden wel altijd iets te lang en weinig variatie. 3⭐️

As a Gen-Z i didn't grow up with that music. So no nostalgic feeling. It didn't touch or catched me. Tho i get, why people are saying, that it's catchy. And the music is chill. I liked the lightness of it

Mid

80s classic

Solid synth pop record from the early 80's and I can imagine how many groups they were able to inspire. This album will always remind me of Shrek 2 because the Big Bad Wolf sings "Hungry like the wolf" during the bonus feature's "Far Far Away Idol". Only good memories from that time in my life. Not bad album, but definitely has a couple of skips. Stand out track: Save a Prayer

This album was fine. The first song had some cool experimental stuff in it, but then the rest of the first half sounded like generic 80's, but the album did pick up later on with some unique tones. The last song had some tone that reminded me of Wind Waker so that cool

A coupla bangers doesn't make an album, but it helps get it to a respectable 3. Duran Duran are very hit and miss, when they're good they're great fun but when they're not it's just bad 80s.

A couple of brilliant singles, supported by a load of new wave glam that is interesting at first but gets a bit samey after a while. Not a bad song on there, but other than Rio and Hungry Like The Wolf there's not really anything to go back to. 3/5.

I was not expecting much from this other than the big hit, but this is a sweet album. Seems like it's pretty quintessential 1980s new wave from a sonic standpoint. I had a good time listening to this.

Good fun, a little brainless, but good fun. Made me feel like ‘an 80’s guy’.

Listened to Rio 2001 remastered version by Duran Duran on 8/16/2023. My Top Songs: Rio, Hungry Like The Wolf, and Save A Prayer. Underrated Song: Hold Back The Rain. Overall Album Rating: 3.5/5

Album started out strong, but lost my interest about half way through.

Hungry like the wolf and save a prayer are solid tunes, it's an overall alright album not a good or bad listen. If 80s tunes are your jam then definitely give it a listen. 6/10

Another one that brings me back. Not sure the whole album is great as there is some filler. But the singles are strong enough to carry it to the finish line. Better musicians than people give them credit for especially John Taylor who could flat out slap that bass.

Why do I never hear Rio on the radio? It's always fucking hungry like the wolf. Bullshit. Album's pretty good. 3.

3 Hungry Like the Wolf is a good song, Rio is alright, and the rest of this sounded about how I expected it to - more of the same, not quite as good. Nothing really jumped out at me my first time through, but after a subsequent listen, I can confidently say Lonely In Your Nightmare is the definitive underrated track here. And that about amounts to my thoughts on the album. Overall, pretty okay, which is more or less the same opinion I had of the group going into this. Wikipedia helped me derive a little more entertainment out of this album when I learned that it initially flopped in the US and had to be remixed in order to find success. So, with that in mind, I assumed we were listening to the American version here, but it turns out this is indeed the original release. I’m not sure when exactly we as a country collectively agreed that we were wrong about our initial convictions, but if you’re curious about the remixes, they’re on the Collector’s Edition of the album. I really didn’t hear much of a difference though - in the case of Hungry Like the Wolf, the drums have a little more reverb to them, the electronic noises are a little quieter, and the sex noises at the end are much louder. In fact, I didn’t even realize there were sex noises at the end of Hungry Like the Wolf until I listened to the American mix. So, there you have it folks, if your band is struggling to break through in America, your music is clearly lacking in the sexual noise department.

Unpopular opinion - Duran Duran is fine I guess? They've got some decent tracks on this album, but I've never loved Hungry Like the Wolf like others do. It's an ok song, but I just think there's better stuff out there. The rest of the album is ok. The artwork is of course iconic.

Couple of fillers in there but an unexpected and pleasant surprise. Time has treated Duran Duran relatively well in comparison with some of their peers who to me sound wholly of their time.

Not an album I will re-listen to in all likelihood, but still good.

Familiar songs that got a bit samey towards the end

I liked it. Are they an actual proper band? I always thought they were just fluff but I thought the instrumentation was great. Great bass lines especially. Vocals a bit strained sounding.

Not really my sound, but Rio, Hungry Like A Wolf, and Lonely In Your Nightmare are good.

Soild 80a album, deserves its place on the list, but not my personal taste

Great 80s synth-pop music - Hungry Like a Wolf is a bop!

Classic Duran Duran synth sounds. Good songs and a nice concise album where all songs brought something to the table.

The title track is a certified BOP. I liked this overall, had some cool harmonies but would be better enjoyed if I preferred the very 80s sound more.

Title track and hungry like the wolf are classic 80's synth pop tracks and really stand the test of time. I do feel that the rest of the album doesn't exactly stand out and I don't remember any of the tunes at all. When its great its the best of the early 80's when its not it fades into all the other forgotten tracks from the time.

This was a good album to get because I’ve heard rip and hungry like the wolf a million times so it’s nice to understand the album those songs came from now. Unfortunately, the rest of the album isn’t super notable and hungry like the wolf remains the best track by a mile. I would’ve given it a 4 we’re it not for the last song that just left a bad taste in my mouth. I think this album is a notch above stuff like soft cell and aha albums where it has a couple great singles and nothing else going for it.

Intro pretty cool! Great bass tone, good mix! Rio / hungry catchy as hell, obviously! Very 80s, but also nice. Most songs very similar bass / drum vibe. Dance-music I guess. Save a Prayer trying to be slow but not doing it for me. The Chauffeur is kinda cool.

its started off VERY duran duran my own way was very funky and i enjoyed it more than rio the album stood still for a bit but the last four songs were pretty good i havent been in to upbeat new wave much but this showed me that the big hits arent a good representation of those bands albums

Pop-rock electrónico. Ni fu ni fa.

Absolute classic of a first song. Has some fun pop/synth sounds that just screams 80's to me. Nothing crazy about this album.

AJ: sing harder, boy o!!! Kings, really. Cat: this is good but every song is the same.

Not bad, 80's beat with some radio hits i've heard over the years.

ntb.

Pretty enjoyable album. I also like the album art a lot.

Not bad, but not great either. I don't know what else to say about it. It probably sounded pretty unique in 1982 though. It's catchy, but I don't see myself coming back to it. 3/5

Even though I would never choose to listen to this album from here, I had a pretty good time with it overall, and I appreciate having an opportunity to check out different genre's that I wouldn't have otherwise touched. There's quite a few tracks on here that I liked. I like how upbeat My Way is. Songs like Save a Prayer and The Chauffeur are really good. Rio is just a bit much for me, I've heard it too many times at various family discos and whatnot. A solid 3/5

Some good songs on here

Very fun album that made me dig this band a bit more! Very groovy. 7 out of 10

Didn't know what to expect, especially after reading the Wikipedia entry, but I enjoyed the bouncy tunes with nice voicework.

Divertidinho, sem opiniões fortes

Helt nice!

Very slick. Strong 3

This album has a few iconic hits! I did stop listening halfway through because the songs sounded very similar.

It was fine

good to here some 80's tunes. They had some good music and i am allowed to like the now I am not a 15 boy in the 80's

Det har bedre enn fryktet!

Pleasantly surprised by this one. Was prepared to hate it

Great bass lines, good drums. The singles are excellent. Overall the music is good but I can’t get into it. I think it’s the high bpm and in particular, I don’t like the singer’s voice. 2.5. I’m almost a 2 but will round up for the bass lines.

Easily 35 years since I’ve heard this and surprised at how well it’s aged and how much I remember. Not a bad surprise at all.

Pleasantly surprised. Never judge an album by its creepy cover. Feel like this is a notch above the typical 80s stuff.

Rio and hungry like the wolf are amazing songs. The rest of the album... kinda lost me.

Rio is the best track. There's some decent stuff here, I like a good synth.

This album is like if you took a really good album and just started adding layers and layers of synth and effects. I can hear those good songs underneath, with really nice rhythm guitar parts, great bass, and good drums. But the 80s sound that infests it all really takes away from the music. I'm also not a big fan of the guy's voice. Overall I definitely enjoyed this more than I expected, but I found myself wishing I could listen to that album that might have existed if this material was written in a different decade.

Very similar to their other album, I could barely distinguish them. Some nice production values and some.breakout times but some filler too.

Best Song: Rio. Danceable in a creepy, Buffalo Bill way. Worst Song: The Chauffeur. This is the kind of flat,, hyper-polished that feels like it doesn't have a soul. Overall:

I love this early 80's album cover. I really love it. Duran Duran to me is a band that I always thought of as being a "moment" of time. Like Nirvana to early 1990s, and Britney Spears to early 2000s. Not saying that Duran Duran was as good as those acts or as important to the landscape of music as those acts, but they just fit and helped define that moment in time. Hearing "Rio" and "Hungry Like The Wolf", I'm brought to those moments that I've vicariously experienced through TV / Movies / videogames. Those two songs are great. I wish I liked the rest of the album as much but there's a distance from the standout tracks and the rest of the album. It's still overall very enjoyable though! Probably just 1-2 more real standouts from being a 4 for me.

Surprised how much I enjoyed this

That was better than expected. While it's dated and cheesy, it's LESS dated and cheesy than most New Wave albums of the time. It's got a fun edge to it that's usually missing from the genre and I appreciate that. But you just can't get away from those bleep-bloop, zip-zap synths of early electric music. And, while "Hungry Like the Wolf" is fun, it's also a massive cheese-fest of a song. Just so cheddar.

- Rio was a fun listen - My own way was catchy - Hungry like the wolf is pretty iconic - Really not a fan of new religion. In general the album was a fairly catchy 80s synth pop album however a lot of the songs toward the back half slowly start to meld together might come back to a few songs but likely wont come back to the full album.

Peak 80s. Still pretty listenable though. I’m kinda surprised that I only knew one of the tracks.

Not bad. I knew a lot of these tracks already.

special for its titular track? Breakneck speeds in the percussion, bassline and synthesizers. totally 80s but in a classic way. Favorites: "Rio", "Hungry like the Wolf", "Lonely in Your Nightime" Didn't love love "New Religion" or. "Last Chance on the Stairway" or "Save a Prayer" sort of became the same sound after a bit — certainly glad it didn't carry on too long. Frontloaded with the biggest hits of the 80s is this the only good Duran Duran album? Solid slap bass in "my own way" persistent Groove throughout that fails to quit or quiet

3.5

Look, cards on the table, I listen to Absolute Radio 80s a lot. I briefly switched to radio 2 to hear the last Ken Bruce show then went straight back. I’m an 80s girl through and through and means a certain amount of Duran Duran. But honestly? This was too much. Nobody needs 150 consecutive minutes of DD, well at least not me anyway.

3.5

I dont remember or miss at all.

The author(s) finally get a bullseye for their 80s BritPop synth love. I think they think that all brit pop was as good as D2 without recognizing how impactful D2 were and are. Outside of the hits RIO hasn't aged too well, but carries that classic Duran sound. 3.5/5.

- Never listened to a Duran Duran album in full before - Enjoyed it, but thought the popular songs I was already familiar with were the best - Fav songs: Save a Prayer, Hungry Like the Wolf, Rio

Used to hate these when I was in school. Not so bad when listening back now, but still not the best, however really like Save A Prayer which boosts the score on its own.

Cheesy catchiness

Two iconic 80s singles (Rio, Hungry Like the Wolf) plus some other songs.

Few good tracks, few duffers but ended up listening to load of 80s tracks on Spotify so good times!

I haven't listened to much of this band, other than the hits... I find them naggy and annoying.

Says 80s music and I will say Duran Duran. Not to say it's bad, but it's just so damn 80s I can't get past the production, it's not... great. Hungry Like the Wolf is the only track that I really like, the rest are meh.

Still sounds fantastic after all these years , Duran Duran are much more than a Japan tribute band. The highlights for me are the songs that were not released as singles., Such as lonely in your nightmare or The Chauffeur.

I had fun

3 Good album, but the style isn’t mine thing.

Slapping bass.

Couple of top bangers on this but not enough to push it to a 4

Some really good stuff, but not enough a full album's worth

Alright.

Shiny and immaculately coiffed.

I can't get anything special out of this album, sorry. It's still alright how it is

Прикольная обработка вокальной дорожки, такая малясь издалека + вокал такой резковатый с терциями (?). Получается задорно и с надрывом. С саксофоном клево сочетается. Вспомнилось Gunner’s Dream, но там более мягкий саксофон, и надрыв такой будто внезапный, как буря после затишья. Клавишная дорожка тоже прикольная. И кстати, по самому началу вообще непонятно, что будет потом, когда все вступят и начнет бодрячок 😁 В Lonely прикольная ритмическая тема с костяшками или как они называются (такое тыгдыкдыкдык 😁). А в Hungry переборчик как в восьмибитной игре. Еще «Ну погоди» напомнило почему-то. Где роботы были. Save a Prayer какая-то смесь полу-Цоя и Тайны третьей планеты. Я спать.

Возможно я действительно дед, но мне понравился диско-альбом 1982 года выпуска - грешен. Откровенно говоря, это не совсем музыка для домашнего нежного прослушивания, однако я все еще оцениваю качество альбомов по их удобству для восприятия на колонках во время учебы. Короче, Duran Duran очень органично вписались в вечерние чтения статей о патрологии. Признаюсь, меня полностью обошло любое творчество этой группы, я конечно слышал Come Undone, но Rio стал для меня довольно интересным открытием в мире музыки. Переслушивать буду вряд ли, но сменить обстановку на один вечер невероятно помогло. Твердая и хорошая 3/5.

Had to laugh upon seeing this - I wish I'd written a review when I was a kid because holyhell did I hate this band as a middle schooler - heavily into Van Halen and the guitar gods of the day - they were practically ground zero for my opinion of the worst of rock. But... come on, this is nothing more than simple fun which is fine. What stands out most to me now is the great bass playing - it's insanely great, the musical highlight for me - and I definitely never before gave credit to the band's overall musicianship on this album. As for the tracks, nearly every song is catchy; sure in that early-80s way but Duran Duran pretty much helped to define that style all their own so credit where it's due (or blame, if you like). I do end up growing a little tired of the sound by the second half (side B?) and honestly Simon LeBon's voice is annoying after so many little quivers so while I could never retro-fit this into a favourite it's nice to know my 12-year old instinctive screaming "this band sucks!" is long-gone :D 7/10 3 stars.

Buen album

PREFS : Rio, Lonely in Your Nightmare, The Chauffeur MOINS PREF : New Religion

After the promise of the first album they went full Supermarionation with this one. The overblown videos were an unedifying distraction. In the context of the album the singles work well but the whole is not fulfilling due in part to the limitations of the singer.

Duran Duran en James Bond zijn voor mij altijd aan elkaar verbonden, maar gelukkig had ik geen last van deze referentie. Goede sound en prima songs!

Goeie sound! En zelfs een heel album nog goed te hebben.

Best leuk maar wel veel van hetzelfde.

I feel like every Duran Duran song I’ve ever heard is on this album.

New wave, pop rock, rimelig sweet

Pretty good with an absolute banger Save a Prayer. I don't see myself listening to it again though because it was in the end somewhat monotonous.

I really like Hungry like the wolf & Save a prayer and will likely listen to them again. Ultimately, however, this album doesn't rise above a 3 for me.

Decent Rio is a banger

Good albums with great inspiring classics

I wasn't feeling it for most of the album but damn that last song was great

Some pretty good songs, overall an OK album.

grand

Quality Pop

I used to love Duran Duran, but I've realised that almost all their songs have the same structure and production.

Well done but not what I'd normally listen to. Stand outs -the chauffeur -hungry like the wolf -rio

The singles are great but a lot of the songs sound similar

3 great singles and some reasonable filler

Some great tracks and a lot that blur into the background whilst all being very similar.

J’aime bien cet album. Mon seul hic, c’est la bass qui deviens un peu redondante pour la quantité d’information à la fin.

its fine. its big. its gay. i liked it. they lean into their progressions. they use em again. they fun. fuck you if you dont like the joy of this album. its ubiquitous. it has boring moments. it has fun singles. damn. its good. its okay. listen doe.

On the whole this has aged pretty badly but there are some distinct positives, most notably Hungry Like the Wolf and the title track which are both just catchy as hell. New Religion and The Chauffeur were also really good, with the last one closing out the album in style, but there was just too much general production nonsense throughout the record to really ignore

Okay

It was good, just not my genre. Too much synth, but it was the 80:s, so they were probably legally obliged to use it. Although it's not my personal pick for any listening session, it was a pleasant experience. 'Lonely In Your Nightmare' was the best song

Rio and Hungry Like the Wolf were certified bops that I haven’t heard in awhile. The rest of the songs feel a little repetitive and drawn out. A good album, it reminds me of playing gta vice city. It has those 80’s Miami vibes on the more upbeat songs.

Good, decent songs, but not really my thing

I've heard Rio and Hungry Like The Wolf before but was not a fan of either songs. They're okay at the best of times but incredibly annoying for the rest. So when the first half sounded pretty much like that, I was pretty underwhelmed. But then the second half kicked in with some darker musical tones and it the album was salvaged. Save a Prayer and The Chauffeur were my highlights.

Stellar first half, but I lost interest halfway through

Pretty generic sounding 80s new wave with a strong dance groove thanks to a really strong rhythm section. Hungry Like a Wolf never really did it for me but I have to admit that there are some pretty good songs on this album, which unlike a lot of other albums of this era does not sound like it is stuck in its time and place. 3.5 stars

Likely the most 80s album of all time.

Jedan od njohovih okej albuma. Produkcija je dobra i smislen je ali mi je naporan za slusat u komadu.

Njih nikad nisam imao volju slušati, em im je glupo ime benda, em imaju loše covere albuma...Al evo sad kad već moram, idem vidit pa ću se vratiti sa komentarima. /// Ipak moram reći da je album dobar, ima par pjesama koje su mi ostale zapamćene - My Own Way, Save a Prayer....blizu četvorke je, što je zapravo super jer nisam očekivao da će mi bit dobar album koliko je.

Just fine, easy listen, although I was never previously into this band. Pure 80s.

3/5

Pop-rock electrónico. Ni fu ni fa.

Just listened to this and it definitely sounded like Duran Duran. Maybe they were really provocative back in the day or something but to me they are just "what the metro detroit classic rock station plays in between songs I actually want to hear while I'm out doing errands I'd rather not be doing"

Pleasant on a first listen through. Besides "Hungry like the wolf" there isn't really any song that catches my interest. On a second listen through I'm starting to appreciate the melody of "Rio" as well as "Lonely in your nightmare".

Some noteworthy songs. But overall a 3/5. Perhaps, I am not into the whole "RIO" style. I had to actually look up what this meant. This album perfectly defines it.

Pretty nice, but nothing that immediately caught my attention. I'm a bit confused why some songs have more plays than others, because they were not necessarily better in my opinion.

I'm suprised this is on here! A perfect slice of 80s pop selling the dream of dusky sunsets in tropical islands with beautiful people. It's difficult to listen to this as music rather than what it represents. I liked it at the time but can't help but compare it with other albums that are so much better. Why have a Warhol when you can have a Van Gogh?

Dette var ganske artig. Fikk ikke hørt nøye, men merket meg noen fine gitarriff.

Schlechte drei. Dieses Album gefällt mir überraschend gut.

it's ok, 3/5

happily impressed, ill give 3 to be fair for my recent rating of the avalanche

Some pretty good songs (Hungry Like The Wolf and Rio), but overall average

The singles Rio and Hungry like the Wolf are straight banging classics. The rest is a bit too synth heavy for me.

Not bad. Some good songs on here.

Rio is a great opener an this is full of fantastic 80s synth pop but only two songs really stand out still and those are both of the hits

3.4 - fun and hook filled album of 80’s dance music that doesn’t take itself too seriously. Rio is a jam.

Reminds me of Los Sapos 2022. Up the toads

3.5/5

the hits on this album are hits for a reason, and the rest is solid

Sounds like Roxy Music getting rimjobs. "Hungry Like The Wolf" is an all-timer.

Hard not to get carried away with this one, to get out the hairspray, don your sports coat, sleeves rolled up and switch the desk fan on to full whilst belting out 'Rio!' No? Just me then....

Pop.

Some decent singles, some filler

Meh - typical 80's Duran Duran. Key song is "Hungry like the wolf" 3 stars

Prima album, niks super speciaals behalve dit hit Hungry like a Wolf

I didn't need to listen to the hits (though I did) so I spent more ear on the remainder. Maybe it was the recent watching of Stranger Things but I found myself loving Lonely in Your Nightmare and being enthralled with The Chauffeur. Oh, the classic statement piece that wanders and plays as the closer. It worked!

I’m not a huge fan of this genre, but I like Duran Duran. That has to mean something right? Couple of if their best songs are on this album.

Legalzinho. Melhor música: Save a prayer.

Ambiance bien 80s, bien walkman la

Quite repetitive, most songs sounded the same

I enjoyed this, slick, of its time, cover is the most 80s thing I can imagine, and of course tinge of nostalgia

Wolf is one of my favourite songs and one of the most iconic of the 80s, but the rest of the album, aside from its unique production, fails to produce another memorable song. The production and layering of the vocals also becomes quite irritating by the end. Not a bad album, but certainly is lacking to be considered a great.

Genre: New Romantic 3/5 Duran Duran's best album, Rio, is just fine, but at the same time features some of the biggest and best rock singles of the decade: the title track, Rio, and, probably DD's biggest song, Hungry Like the Wolf. Opening the album with the title track is a tremendous way to start it, and personally I think Rio is their best song. The quality of the chorus, the disco arrangment is catchy and upbeat, and Simon Le Bon's passionate vocal is very well done. Hungry Like the Wolf, a classic, is also fairly good in its own right. Bouncy, sexy, and fun. However, beyond that, Duran Duran doesn't give us very much. The disco feel and new wave gloss is there throughout, but it's not very interesting. The last half of the album is just fairly bland synthpop with nothing much to offer. The one bizarre moment in this album was following up Hungry Like the Wolf with Hold Back the Rain, two songs played back-to-back that sound almost exactly alike. Took me out of the album a bit. Overall, though, the album is inoffensive new wave/pop rock that definitely has a couple of very good songs.

Hungry Rio Save a prayer The chauffeur Franchement très sympa comme album

okay.

This is mainstream new wave, nothing more than well-crafted pop music with a beat and a sax solo here and there. (6/10) FT: Hungry Like The Wolf

class on grass

This was a pretty big deal when it came out so I get why it's on this list. Something I could easily do without though. A couple of pretty cool songs surrounded by by generic 80s synth-pop. Lyrics are a step above but it's still pretty middle of the road. 3.5 stars

This album was released over 15 years before I was born, but I've heard of it before. 1. Rio - Obviously have heard this one before. First encounter with this song was on Glee - happy to say the original is better. A hit. Saved. 8/10 2. My Own Way - I liked it, but it didn't have the same punch as Rio did. 6/10 3. Lonely in Your Nightmare - Big fan of the melody and instrumentation. Love that main lyric "'Cause you're lonely in your nightmare, let me in". Saved. 7/10 4. Hungry Like The Wolf - Another song I originally heard on Glee. I know Duran Duran were 80s heartthrobs but Darren Criss and Matt Bomer did a pretty good performance of this one, and looked great doing it.... That being said, it's obviously a catchy tune but not my favourite. I loved the guitar at 2:25, though. 7/10 5. Hold Back the Rain - Not my favourite, felt very similar to Hungry Like the Wolf just... less catchy? 5/10 6. New Religion - Really liked this one. Saved. 7/10 7. Last Chance on the Stairway - Liked it. Nice song 8. Save a Prayer - Honestly, this song was too long. I was ready for it to end at the halfway mark. But it's certainly not a bad song, just not one I would seek out again. Great hook, though. 6.5/10. If it was shorter, it'd be a 7. 9. The Chauffeur - I liked that this was different from the other songs of the album (which were getting a bit samey). Cool tune. 7/10 Overall - the bass slaps. No bad songs. Didn't wow me though. Initial response: 3/5 rating

Myeah.

Inte riktigt min grej alltså. Men bra krut!

Bättre än jag trodde

"This album is...hard white turds." - Craig Moorhead. Harsh, yo! Anywho, yeah I had a good time with this. Certainly the first and only time I've ever listened to the whole thing as, for some reason, I don't believe my brother ever owned this record or else we would've listened to it backwards and forwards in the car on family beach trips. (Like we did with "Purple Rain." My parents are cray.) So all I had to go on is the MTv barrage that was "Rio" and "Hungry Like the Wolf." Those two hold up, but as mentioned there are some other non-turds here that were never on my radar and really add to the experience. I liked "New Religion" even though I don't really like religions, so that was cool. And, tune aside, "The Chauffeur" is a great title for any medium. I'd happily listen again. Taking off a star for all that slappy bass.

Surprisingly I didn't like the album nearly as much as I thought I would have. All in all I still liked it, but I thought I would've rated this much higher. I thought that his voice began to get grating after the first couple songs, and that songs tended to lack punch. Other than that though, I really liked the composition and the sound they were going for, even if it did little for me. Favorite track: Rio

3/27/2022 Today's Album: "Rio" by Duran Duran - This 80s synth record pops off with a very instrumentally exciting and blood-pumping ballad named Rio. It's your typical Toto's Rosanna, meaning it's one of those movie soundtrack songs that popped off in the 80s named after a girl that the lead singer is horny about. Great track, but it's something I've noticed in 80's music that I think is pretty overplayed. However, there is an excellent bass and saxophone solo that really gives this track some shine. The vocalist is also really similar to that Tears for Fears / Billy Idol / Depeche Mode sound that is very popular in this time period as well. The next track My Own Way is a pretty groovy dance track that really shines in it's pre-chorus and has a ton of layered staccato parts that sound really cool all together. This song feels much less repetitive than the last and the band kind of pops off at the end so the repetitiveness of the chorus matters less to me. Hungry Like the Wolf is a huge hit and I can see why. It's a really flashy pop anthem and, despite it's creepy subject matter, I have never really gotten too sick of it. It's hard to point out to many other highlights in this record because it has a very consistent (and somewhat generic) 80s sound, but the highlights I have listed are songs that I felt like broke through the formulaic nature of this LP. Overall, I thought this record was decent and had a lot of energy, but there wasn't a lot new to chew on and I felt like I had heard all of these sounds done before and/or better. Score: 7/10 Alright Highlights: My Own Way, Hungry Like The Wolf, New Religion, The Chauffeur

Fun album with some good songs

Not bad. Some of the better Duran Duran songs are from this album.

Fist pump "Cherry ice cream smile" "Mouth is alive, juices like wine" Dense Cosmically funky bass "Droning engine throbs in time with your beating heart" Yeah yeah y yeah AH One-note but fun R I O

This is quintessential new wave music. I don't hate it but I also don't love it. It's missing something that would push it to greater heights. So it just sounds a bit middle of the road to me.

fun

5/10 Falls into the category of music from my parents’ era that my parents don’t particularly enjoy, so I went in with low expectations. Has some catchy songs, hungry like the wolf is good, but every track goes on for way too long and the vocal performance is pretty obnoxious at times

Pretty good 80'd new wave.

Enjoyable. Love Hungry Like The Wolf and Rio, the rest was fine.

Tongue, Lips, Fangs. I always feel like I need a shower after a session with Duran Duran. Perhaps some therapy, too. And not concerning things exclusively sexual either, although this LP might as well come with a package of condoms tucked in each sleeve. The 'Rio' LP isn’t particularly about women. It’s mostly about the lyricist- which in this case is credited to the entire band- about his/their emotional digression, identically chronicled on both sides. A musically exciting opener- ‘Rio’ and ‘New Religion’- sides one and two, respectively, and we’re dancing across the Rio Grande; and, whatever the fuck is going on in ‘New Religion,’ I never figured it out myself. Great bass and synth, though, and complete with a crazy sax ending on ‘Rio.’ So far, so fun. Then, on the 2nd and 7th tracks we’re introduced to some kind of issue in the lyricists’ relationship, and on the 3rd track of side one his/their desire for the relationship to work. But things take a horrible turn for the worse on tracks 4 and 8, when he/they get as horny as a hungry wolf (‘I’m on the hunt, I’m after you’) and despite the lovely atmospheric music he/they plead, ‘Don’t say a prayer for me NOW. Save it ‘til the morning after.’ Finally, the sad denouement is revealed on ‘Hold Back The Rain.’ This dysfunction will probably continue unabated because the burning fire has somehow become too familiar and, perversely, more comfortable than putting it out. Like the opener of side two, I’m also not entirely sure what’s going on as the LP closes. Some drama being played out, imaginary or actual, between chauffeur and client, possibly a high priced prostitute? And exactly what does the lyric, ‘Sing Blue Silver’ refer to? Stranger still, check out the video for this last song. It only adds to the overall madness of the already awkward sounding music. Don’t be fooled by Duran Duran’s pretty boy looks and casual manner. Appearances can be deceiving. In a 1964 issue of 'Melody Maker,' a question was posed about that primordial pack of British wolves led by Brian Jones: Would You Let Your Daughter Go With A Rolling Stone? Well, if it’s a choice between them or Duran Duran on 'Rio,' I’m going to have to choose a Stone. The Stones merely sang about mayhem. Duran Duran seems to be actually executing it every night. Surely law enforcement and mental health professionals can join forces and arrange some kind of involuntarily committal to psychiatric care both for the band’s own sake and for the welfare of the rest of society. Shame, that bassist sure can play.

Звучит хорошо, но однообразно. Скучновато.

I’ve been hit or miss on their singles over the years. Can’t say I’ve ever front to backed an album of theirs before. It wasn’t packed with bangers but it was okay.

I haven't really listened to Duran Duran past "Rio" and "Hungry Like A Wolf". I'm not a huge fan of this style of New Wave, but this album pretty good. Other than the 2 hits, I liked "Save A Prayer" the most. 2.5

I'm not sure where I place Duran Duran in the whole New Wave genre. They are not the same caliber as The Cars, Blondie, The Police (to name a few). But then maybe I'm just more partial to the rock side vs. synth side of New Wave. I loved Hungry Like the Wolf from the first time I heard it as a kid. Rio is alright (not as good as its popularity) but I like Hold Back the Rain more. The rest of the album kind of blends together or is forgettable. Even their other big hit, Save a Prayer - meh. It's fine and a nice trip down memory lane but I'm not going back for more.

Vibeworthy in the first half. *Bender humming Hungry Like the Wolf riff* 5/10

The hits hit hard. But other than that it kid of feels like 2/3s of the album are forgettable filler.

Yes I like this. Very 80s.

I'm typically a Duran Duran fan, and this album is in the "OK" list. The singles are the best tracks, for sure, but the rest of the album is enjoyable enough. 3 stars.

80's pop, hits stand out but still meh. 3.5

Nothing special

A couple of stand-out songs - an enjoyable listen, but didn't grip me from start to finish

First time going through a Duran Duran album in full. Strangely enough. I think they've got great songs, but I also believe I've enjoyed other bands' covers of them more than I seem to enjoy the real deal. Even so, there's good stuff on here. Doesn't drag on either.

Honestly there are some hidden bangers in this record that a like a lot

Not all the songs are good, but those that are, are very good

Duran Duran epitomizes 80s music. Two very well known songs. The other songs are alright.

Ochentero. Fácil de escuchar, con buenas melodías. Muy pop inglés

Meh. Ok, and mercifully short, but not great. Hungry like the wolf and save a prayer the best songs, but still no better than average.

I knew Hungry Like the Wolf, but that’s just boring compared to some of the other tracks. The bass lines are especially notable.

Completely Duran ! Not a huge fan but it was listenable. 3*

Bit of a classic and holds up better than expected.

Decent 80s pop, but not much more than that. It has been a minute since I last listened to Duran Duran, but I did recognise some of the singles. The other songs seem rather forgettable.

I didn’t realize how groovy the bass was on this album. The Chauffeur was a new track for me and a favorite. I dig DD, but I don’t see myself listening to this end-to-end very often.

Good, glossy 80s pop. Don't think I'll be putting it back on any time soon though. The singles are definitely the stand out tracks.

3.5

Xxxx

Fun but didn't love, lyrics weak and lyrics of hungry like the wolf j cringe

I enjoyed it but it seemed very much a cocaine fueled product of its time.

Me ha gustado bastante Rio y The Chauffeur, el resto está bien pero no me ha emocionado. Así que se queda en 3 estrellas justas.

Hungry like the wolf saves the album

Fun album but a little too 80s for my taste

Vielleicht war das Klangbild zu seiner Zeit visionär / heute durch x-te Verballhornung und Persiflage schwer ernst zu nehmen; kann man dazu anders als American Psycho (ironisch) tanzen? Schlicht-eleganter Ring auf dessen gegen Ende 3 funkelnde Brillanten eingelassen thronen („Last Chance on the Stairway“, „Save a Prayer“ & „The Chauffeur“) Patrick Bateman gibt mehr als 2.8

The songs are catchy, but they're sort of like candy - they taste good but there's no substance. The lyrics are inane if you really listen to them, the melodies simplistic. I don't think this belongs on an albums you must hear before you die list. Not a bad album, but certainly not one of the all-time greats either. 3 stars.

Very 80s, not a bad thing just definitely embodies the sound of that decade.

Fairly middle of the road (even for new wave). Simon Le Bon does not do it for me, and a fair bit of this album melds into itself. Started to get interesting around The Chauffeur - unfortunately the last track. Choice cuts: Lonely In Your Nightmare, New Religion, The Chauffeur

I know hungry like the wolf but never heard the rest. It's pretty catchy and well written. It could definitely be called new wave but it's much better than that. I feel like so often something is listed as new wave here to boost its chances, whereas in this case that label is gonna hold it back. The entire album got a bit samey but I'd happily listen to it again. 3/5.

Not my scene. But dig a few songs

Decent, felt a bit formulaic at times but still a great synthpop-rock record.

Catchy. Even the weaker songs had something. I really enjoyed it but it's cheesy pop at the end of the day so it can't be more than a 3 from me

So very 80s. A fun album.

signature sounds of the 80s in my opinion. All of them are fine songs, but I don't think it's something that I would choose to listen to pretty often.

The 80s were wild man, with a unique sound. This album is squarely 80s, but in a good way. The prominent bass driven rhythms throughout, like New Religion, are refreshing, and I enjoy them quite a bit. Rio comes alive at the chorus, which is catchy and much better than the rest of the song. I don’t completely understand why, but I have to point out that parts of the bass line in Lonely in Your Nightmare sound like an underwater recording of whales communicating. Hungry Like a Wolf is solid while Save a Prayer is ambling and soulless. I can see how this album put them on the map.

Rio, Hungry Like the Wolf and the cover art are definitely the standouts here. Mostly enjoyable though.

Classic 80s stuff

An 80s staple with lots of singles. Can’t help but sing along.

''save a prayer'' has a nice melody, really like that song seems like the album becomes better as it goes on ''the chauffeur'' is very enjoyable

Dat Rio bassline doe

Duran Duran delivers an energetic and nostalgic sound with this pop rock album. You can easily dance to this music or simply play it in the background while working on something else.

A few of the songs sounded the same

So very 80s

Bit of a weird one cos on paper I should love it but there's something about Duran Duran that I just can't get on board with. Some undoubted classics on this album and it should be a 5star, but I can't tell if it's Le Bon or the seriousness with which they take themselves but I'll have to give it 3 in light of not being able to give it 3.5

Ok

A fan of this group

Listening to the first track of Rio, my heart sank. The musicianship is such that I can't simply dismiss it with a few insults. I'm going to have to listen to the whole damned thing. The rhythm section of John and Roger Taylor is precise and specific. Whether it's the busy and intricate baselines on the title cut or the slap bass on My Own Way, bassist John Taylor is undeniably competent and has a full, punchy sound. Roger Taylor's grooves are original and so solid they could be carved out of marble. Nick Rhoded' synth washes and arpeggiations aren't slapdash--they're calculated as hell. Guitarist Andy Taylor mostly played a supporting role here: he either plays soaring harmonic lines or plays rhythm. These tunes are arranged within an inch of their lives. As much of a piece as the album is, each individual song is its own distinct entity. Guest artist Andy Hamilton's sax lines may be improvised, but they sound sculpted. I can't even dismiss the songwriting, which is replete with hooks, even on non-hits like the title cut, not to mention the instant earworm of Hungry Like The Wolf, which was inescapable back in the early 80s. And yet, oh how I hate this record! Singer Simon Lebon has the protypical 80s pasty croon down pat. The synths are horrid, and yet they fit this chintzy material like a glove. The sax breaks are nauseatingly wimpy. The whole package strikes me as unbearably insipid. Maybe part of what makes me hates Rio so much is what this kind of music represents to me: mindless consumerism, materialism, fashion over substance, etc. And yet, on its own disgusting terms, Duran Duran's Rio is a roaring success. Excuse me while I vomit.

3.3

nostalgic. I remember hearing Duran Duran blaring out of my sisters room for many years! Good stufff

it was ok, not my style

A few songs really stood out to me as being enjoyable and meaningful (esp. You're Own Way and Lonely in Your Nightmare), but the rest didn't stick with me.

A ton of respect for this album, the rock and blues sound was impressive and the moving bass line sounded great.

this is the kind of new wave that I am not crazy about

A lively 80s pop album with two great hits: Rio and Hungry Like the Wolf. Perfect for catching some energy.

It’s fine

La Duranmania al poder. Quizá no sea un disco pudo de los nuevos románticos pero se puede decir que representa la música pop de la época donde fue editado. Río es una gran canción, con giros en la melodía muy interesantes. Hungry like a Wolf, una canción muy representativa del grupo. Y por supuesto Save a prayer es una de las mejores baladas pop de los 80. Un disco qu sin duda hay que oír 1 y más veces en la vida.

Tras escuchar el disco esperaba mucho más, quitando Rio y Save a Prayer, las demas canciones muy flojitas, un poco sinchistes como dirían en Villaseca. Puntuación 3/5.

Fun album. It sounds like summer to me.

I didn’t listen to much of it wasn’t in that mood 😅

3 - nette 80er klänge

Hungry like the wolf was trash as expected. Other songs were a pleasant surprise. The coordination between many of the instruments was excellent. Save a prayer, new religion and my own way were particular highlights.

Seminole 80s New Romantic pop. Love the driving, funky bass throughout. Hated these guys in the 80s and for good reason - they had it all.

Fun 80s bops

No estoy seguro de cómo clasificar este estilo musical... ¿80’s electropop? Bueno, este disco me parece un buen exponente del género: agradable, positivo, fácil de escuchar. No quisiera opinar mucho más porque sólo conocía otra canción, Come Undone (en mi lista de favoritas, por cierto), pero me parece notable la diferencia en la tecnología utilizada para grabar este disco con la utilizada en aquella canción. Si bien el disco tiene canciones buenas, hay algunas que me parecieron algo monótonas, y por eso no le doy las 4 estrellas.

Fun little album. Nothing special, and pretty short, but aight.

Good, but not memorable outside the big hits. Some great new wave sounds, though

Pure 80s, some great punchy bass lines.

Funky, good to listen in the backyard, but nothing extraordinary. The Chauffer, and New Religion highlights for me.

This album is ultra gay, but slaps like a mofo

2.7

Enjoyed it more than I expected to

The back half of the album was solid - first half was uneven aside from the two well-known hits. I was surprised by how much I liked "Hold Back the Rain" and "New Religion."

Funkier than expected

poppy

Was fine, but thats all - I feel indifferent to it.

Was a bit boring..

Love the hits

A few classic songs. Quite a lot that are ok but not amazing. Listenable but not totally for me

Her name is Rio and she dances on the saaaaaand

Just not into Duran Duran

Me pasa lo mismo que con todos los de la misma corriente y época musical, tiene un sonido en la base muy seco y eléctrico que no me gusta, al igual que el tratamiento de la voz, se salva "Save a Prayer", que dentro de ese sonido me suena un poco diferente.

Just a bunch of New Wave songs. I recognise Rio and Hungry Like The Wolf, but recognition is really all that it is, I would not go out of my way to listen to these tracks, and indeed I never have. And now I have, I don't think I ever will again.

While I do appreciate how fundamental this was for 80’s music as a whole, I did find it to be a bit of a drag. There’s a lot of great stuff here, the performances are good, the instrumentation is cool too, but most of the songs start off great and just go on for way too long when it comes to repeating the choruses, seeming too preoccupied with making singles and leaving the listener with an overemphasis on a single melody, which are mostly not really that interesting compositionally. So the songwriting, for me, just drags it out, making the songs feel very long, and the lyrics are kinda corny at times. “Hungry like the wolf” and especially “The Chauffeur” (really loved that track, by far my favourite here) are great highlights though. 5/10

Hungry Like the Wolf earns a full star alone

Seems really dated. Not bad, but not good.

I really did not enjoy this, even though it wasn't that bad.

Took me a long time to get through this album. Some hits, but I didn't love it.

I enjoyed this way more than I expected to. The Chauffeur was a highlight

This could be considered a guilty pleasure if I felt guilty about it…. It’s still not great but it’s more than a 1 star for me

Rock Clásico, bien elaborado, se ve que le metieron cariño Personalmente muy pocas canciones me resaltaron pero si sentí su vibra de que se acercan a un rock progresivo, me recordó a algunos grupos de rock latino por momentos Hungry Like a Wolf Ed la canción que más destaca, pero posterior a eso nada que sobresalga en mi radar No puedo decir que las demás canciones fueran malas, pero no eran memorables, eso respalda mi calificación en esta ocasión

Never a big fan.

Eh. Typical 80s synthy new wave. Couple decent tracks that made the charts. Overall it’s lackluster and forgettable.

There are some groups and albums from your youth that sounded so lame back then that you pretty much immediately switched the station to see if you could find something--ANYTHING--else to listen to. But then when you hear that group or album decades later, you suddenly hear something that you missed way back then; and, unexpectedly, you gain a whole new insight into what they were all about and what they were trying to do. And maybe you even regret the four decades you missed out on listening to this now newly understood music. Duran Duran is NOT that type of group. What sounded lame and contrived and clearly manufactured and engineered for the glory days of MTV back in the 1980s STILL sounds lame and contrived in 2026. Can I still sing along with "Hungry Like the Wolf"? Of course I can. The song was completely inescapable in the frozen winter of of 1983. Do those lyrics still contain meaningless gems like "I smell like I sound/I'm lost and I'm found"? Oh yeah. If you liked them back in the day, you'll probably still feel that tingle of nostalgia for this lamest of British synth-pop groups from the 80s. If they didn't catch you back then, when they somehow caught fire with a perfect blend of luck and marketing, don't expect to be won over now.

i find duran duran so boring. i am probably extra harsh on them bc of how popular they are. mind-numbingly bland. gets slightly more fun towards the end but not enough to save it.

Fine

Okay

Ne 7 auf einer Skala von 1 bis 10, auf der eine 1 sehr nervig und eine 10 sehr langweilig ist.

Duran Duran - Rio Notable Textzeile: Come on, it takes me nowhere, which I know Faces everywhere pulling grins and signs ‘n things Telling me, "Not there, man, it's no go" Lieder die ausgeblendet werden müssen, weil selbst die Produzenten irgendwann merken, dass das sehr generisch, repetitiv geworden ist. Die 80er Produktion hat hier eigentlich soundmäßig ein ganz gutes Maß gefunden, aber es gibt halt so wenig Ideen. Die Songs ähneln sich, der Einsatz der Stimmen mit Wiederholungen und Überschneidungen bringen nix Neues dazu, es klingt manchmal ein wenig wie melodischer Metal bei dem die Gitarren fehlen, dann wieder wie eher wie Pop, der verzweifelt auf der Suche nach eine interessanten Melodie ist aber keine findet. Textlich tut fast jedes Lied nicht viel mehr als den Liedtitel als „Refrain“ dauernd zu wiederholen. Sie hatten es mir ja mit dem Bandnamen angedeutet, also hab Ichs gemacht: I ran I ran (away from this)

Duran Duran was a guilty pleasure during the years when I thought I had graduated from Top 40 radio but at the same time couldn't keep my eyes off MTV. Not that I listen to Duran Duran much nowadays, but I can appreciate their music a lot more now. Rio is insanely catchy, a tour de force. The bass is constantly percolating throughout the length of the song, never letting up. As an album, there's always something interesting going on if you listen closely, but nothing has the same energy as Rio. The second half actually drags a bit, especially New Religion. The album closer, The Chauffer, makes better use of the less-frenetic pace, creating a moody almost menacing piece that feels like it belongs on an episode of Miami Vice. All in all, though, it's just an OK album, more interesting than it might seem but with only a few standout songs. I can't really consider it essential listening.

When reviewing music from the 80s, everyone seems to grade on a curve. “It was fun! It was a good vibe. I liked the synths.” I call bullshit. Actual, intricate, ‘good’ music didn’t stop in 1979 and pick back up a decade later with Nirvana. There WAS great pop music in the 80s: Tears for Fears, Prince, Whitney Houston, Michael Jackson. - but Duran Duran was never part of that club and this album proves it. Everything sounds the same musically, mostly built around the same chord progressions, and lyrics that are less than gripping (“I smell like I sound? Say what?). The hits are the hits, but let’s not let our fondness for the good old 80s substitute for quality that was never really there. Like most things in that decade, it was exaggerated and extremely overdone … looking at you, everyone’s hair in my high school yearbook.

It's a disappointing revelation, but I've gotta say that I'm not a big fan of Duran Duran. Feels good to get that off my chest. I really just don't vibe with the style, and even the big hitters on this album didn't do it for me. Sorry! Favourites: Hungry Like The Wolf The Chauffer

I’m no Bonnie Prince Charlie but the songs are catchy!

okay

Can’t quite say these guys were in the right place, right time, with the right looks and sound or what. My general memory of them was thanks to MTV but also teenage babysitters who fawned over the DD fellas. As such, The Reflex aside, I found them kinda silly. And still do today. Which is not unfair, but there is just enough craft going on here where you can hear them pulling from glam, Eno’s myriad guitar collaborators, funk, and tossing in their own thing via the vocal approach that while none of it is especially novel, they had good taste. Rio itself feels a bit like 3 good-to-great singles and the rest of their set padding out the album. Not a whole lot there, ultimately, which is largely how I remember their subsequent albums. Anyhow, good for them.

Probably the oldest album where I fell asleep on the first track. 2/5

Quiff wave had its moments but Rio wasn't one of them for me.'Hungry Like the Wolf' and 'Save a Prayer' are ok as pop tunes but the rest, meh.

not my style

This is the first album to start the journey!

Review - better than I expected tbh given Duran Duran's rep as terrible 80s yuppie pop but also only really liked the singles/songs I'd heard before. Score - 5/10 Need to listen? YES

Fair enough, Rio and Hungry Like the Wolf have survived the years but this is a synthy, poppy album of its day. It doesn’t merit replaying almost 45 years later. The record had a place in the early 80s but can’t claim classic status, the songs aren’t particularly brilliant and the music is unremarkable.

I am aware of Duran Duran. This came out when I was a junior in high school. Songs like "Rio" and "Hungry Like the Wolf" were VERY popular on MTV. It just didn't grab me at the time. Truth be told it was the kind of album that all the girls liked (or so it seemed) but I can't recall any guys liking this. It just seemed like they were all about the videos and the image, while the music seemed pretty forgettable to me. I wonder if this will grow on me after not listening to any of it for over 40 years. Or if I will discover good deep cuts that weren't the big hits - since I never sat down and listened to it front to back. As an example, I didn't really get into The Cure very much when they were first out - but now I like a lot of their stuff. Thoughts after listening 3 times... The slick dancy/poppy/synthy stuff is really not grabbing me - which is basically the first 7 songs. Were they all on massive amounts of cocaine when they made this? Seems like it. His voice is also annoying. I ended up liking the last 2 songs - "Save a Prayer" (which I now remember was one of the hit songs from this) and "The Chauffer". I think mostly because they are a little more atmospheric in sound - compared to the rest of the songs on the album. "The Chauffer" actually sounds the least like anything else on this record - but it's the one I like the most. Did they go in this direction with songs on subsequent albums? It's too bad - because I was hoping to rediscover an overlooked band. Just didn't happen. Liked songs on Spotify: 2/9 Rating: 2/5

5/10 - too 80s pop for me, it doesn't have some catchy beats but I think you would have to have grown up with this

Not for me