Rio

A phenomenal new wave album. I would actually argue the most popular songs are the least interesting; there are a ton of hidden gems on this album that are immensely fun, entertaining, and rewarding to listen to. The bass lines in particular stand out as consistently excellent. Definite pleasant surprise. Top tracks: Rio, New Religion, Last Chance on the Stairway

You know what?? I don’t know if it’s because I’ve been having somewhat of a low streak on this site for the past few weeks or if it’s something entirely different, but this album really resonated with me. First of all, there’s not one skip in the entire album. As this was my weekend album, it took me 3 entire days to even pick a favorite song, and man was that a hard decision. I only have a base level knowledge on Duran Duran, but have enjoyed what I’ve heard so far. Mostly, I just associate them with the Metal Gear Solid meme, which is an all time banger, but this album unironically slaps. The background elements are the first thing that pop out at you for every single song. They’re upbeat, a bit weird, CATCHY, and make you want to dance. Then the bass kicks in. Oh man, does this album have some sexual bass playing. Top it off with the lead singer and cool guitar playing, and you’ve got a near perfect album. I don’t know man, this one just did it for me, and I won’t complain about it. My favorites from this one, all of which are going into the frequent rotation, are “Last Chance on the Stairway”, “My Own Way”, “Rio”, and my favorite song on the album, “Save a Prayer”. It was tough picking from those. Really, really tough. My favorite could change at a moments notice, but I had to pick one, and that was the one that spoke to me at the moment. I’m bummed this is the only Duran Duran album on the list, but it’s accomplished the main goal of all artists and made me want to seek out more of their discography. That’s pretty much the highest blessing I can give. Thank God I got something good to round out the week, let’s hope this kicks next week off just right as well. In retrospect, I think I would have given this a 5 regardless, it’s just right up my alley, and I love it for that. 9 songs, 42 minutes, and I added 4 of them to my frequent rotation. Wouldn’t skip any of the other songs. Yeah man, any way you slice it this is still a 5 star album in my book, would return to this one for sure. Nothing wrong with that. The streak is over, I’m giving this one a 5.

4.5/5 https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/duran-duran/rio/ Maybe loses its pacing a bit in the middle section, but starting with Rio, having Hungry Like the Wolf a few songs later, and ending with Save A Prayer and The Chauffeur; 😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨.

Daora

Great album, everything about it just sounds great, the drums, the bass, guitars, synths, vocals, distinctly 80s but doesn't sound dated. Plus the album cover looks amazing

DURAN DURAN YAY. Another artist that I had been meaning to listen to for a while and this is giving me the perfect chance. Duran Duran just sounds good, it just does.

Unbelievable piece of history

Lovely! This music takes me right back to the eighties. Five stars… 😁

A BANGER. I didn't realise how much of this album I actually knew but I loved every minute. It's so 80s and yet has aged so well.

I think this is a grower. I liked "New Religion" and the drums in "Last Chance on the Stairway". Enjoyed it even more on the second listen!

I see how this has influenced a lot of music today. It's a fun album

Classic! Wat een lekker album

Duran Duran, I was unfamiliar with your game! So many fun times. I feel like I’m in an action movie!! So cool and fun. Love Rio, Last Chance of the Stairway, Lonely in Your Nightmare are standouts. Love this one

Positively surprised. I really liked most of the songs, great melodies, different styles... A 4,5/5.

I like d it it was like a rock no that heavy and was pretty pleasant

Masterpiece

Onhan se törkeen kova levy. Hittibiisit hittaa, ja muu levy oli aivan yhtä menevää ja pomppivaa.

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

Was #1 fan as a kid

One of the easiest 5's on this list. Not just one of the greatest albums of the 80s, but one of the best of all time.

Sweet sexy 80s deliciousness

Great album, great vibes….we definitely lost the rhythm, we don’t see things like this today. Lovely work!

If I had to choose a synonym for the word "style" in music, it would definitely be Duran Duran. Forty years later, their second album has only just begun to mature, and everything about it is still stylish: the cover art, the jagged riffs, the superb rhythm section (surprisingly, all three members with the last name Taylor are not related), the recognizable (though not the strongest) vocals, the videos filmed for the nascent MTV era... And what a saxophone solo in the song of the same name! Listening to this record makes you want to put on your best suit, take a beautiful woman by the arm, stroll along the embankment at sunset with her, and end the evening in a nightclub... Which these songs would also be perfect for! It's rock, pop, disco, and new wave all at once — the album excels in every genre it explores. And that's why Duran Duran is loved by so many different people - from Princess Diana to Jonathan Davis, and of course, me.

I love it!

Splendid

Das waren noch Zeiten, als ich noch jung war. Geiler Sound mit tollem Bass. Perfekt zum Laufen. Dank Rio die volle Punktzahl.

I Live in Brasil, Pará (Amazon Rainflorest for reference) There is this musical style, dance, and cultural thing from my country called Brega. There is a version of "Save a prayer" in Brega's style and it is one of the most famous songs locally. People dance it with our local dance also called Brega. It is popular here. Good to see the infuence of Duran Duran even on a very diferent, and far away culture. In case you are curious, Just search on YouTube. Brega do Pará, and the song: "oração - Tonny Brasil"

This album was everywhere in the 80's. I was a senior in high school when this came out and it was a large part of the soundtrack of that summer. Obvious highlights are Rio, Hungry Like the Wolf and Save a Prayer, but the whole album is quite good, they're all so damn catchy, and yes, the bass is impressive. I also love the Nagel cover, and just like this album, Nagel art was everywhere in the 80's.

Iconic in artwork, sound and songs - a far from 'difficult second album'. Three huge hit singles, an updated single (My own way), two classic album tracks (new religion, the Chauffeur) and (vitally) the lesser tracks (lonely in your nightmare, hold back the rain, last chance on the stairway) balance well in between the biggies so the album seems a full and consistent listen. The sound of Roxy Music, chic, Human League and Glam - a unique fusion with remarkably pretentious New Romantic lyrics (they've aged better than their reviews!). Terrific piece of work by the 80s band that ultimately prevailed.

Enjoyed all the songs

most 80s album ever in the best way possible. songs mostly blended together on first listen so I will have the album on shuffle to pick out each song. Standout: Rio, Hold Back the Rain, Save a Prayer never heard of the album or artist but such a strong album. everything fits perfectly and the short length prevents getting burned out. bass hits like crack throughout. was everything just cooler in the 80s?

Better than the previous album, Sex Packets by Digital Underground? Yes.

Now my name is Rio too!

Banger

Clásicoo. Los amo mucho duran duran

That guitar riff on the opening of New Angel boooooooooyyyyyyyyyyyyy!!!!!!!! When you have two classic records and one of those songs are used as a reference track for an entire decade in any movie set in the 80s, your album is five stars.

Fun album, fun vibe, fun baselines, funny music videos. Had fun with it.

Really great CD, I've owned this forever.

oh yessssss a classic right here. one i hadn't actually ever sat down to listen to, but it's almost all hits. i love 80s synth pop and this is quintessential stuff. the synths on here are just delicious, but just as important is how fucking CLEAN the bass is here. the title track (with it's great sax also), "my own way", "new religion" (the crispness of those drums oh Man), etc. all incredibly good tracks that are total ear worms. the only semi misses on here are the slower ones because i don't really think simon le bon's heavily processed vocals work as well whereas on the higher tempo cocaine-infused tracks he's able to carry that energy really well. it's not even that they're bad, but compared to the absolute Bangers on here, they don't stack up as much. then again, i have normal feelings about the music video for "the chauffeur", so maybe this album is perfect.

Fuckin heat tbh

Possibly my favorite album i’ve reviewed so far! I felt super creatively inspired listening to these songs. I had listened to Rio and Hungry like the Wolf countless times in my life, my parents are big fans. But I also loved Lonely in Your Nightmare, Hold Back the Rain, and The Chauffeur. I can definitely see myself being in the mood to relisten to this album all the way through.

Rating: 4.6/5 Short Review: Glossy, stylish pop that somehow balances sophistication with pure fun. The grooves are sleek, the synths shimmer, and everything feels effortlessly cool. Favorite Track: Rio. The bassline alone is iconic, and the whole song bursts with bright, kinetic energy that defines the album’s sound.

Love this album!!! An absolute masterpiece and fave!!!!

Peak 80's. I knew 2 classic songs. The others were also great

DISCAZO

Duran Duran Duran Duran

This album will forever make me think of my mum doing the cleaning, going on and on about her love of Simon Le Bon. But as such, this album is familiar, it makes me happy, and although I may have tried desperately to convince her that it was rubbish, maybe she was onto something after all.

Really enjoyed this album, the whole thing has a sort of joie de vivre, that makes it impossible not to be happy by the end of it. Some incredibly hooky melodies, a tight driving rhythm section, shimmering synths and an unbelievably grooves bass throughout. Maybe not an album that’s gonna change your life but thoroughly enjoyable, enough for a light 5.

I'm coming into this one biased: I really like Duran Duran, I'm a sucker for 80s new wave generally, and I've heard this album before. Nonetheless, I think this is a pretty strong album - the main singles are excellent, and most of the remaining tracks are pretty decent. New Religion I think is the only track on here I'd call weak.

good.

gods

280620 17:21 5

reallyyyy good

One of the pinnacles of pop music, and the 80s sound at its best, people used to test stereo systems with this album.

Banger

My favorite bond theme is A View To A Kill, but other than that I haven’t listened to much Duran Duran. This is a good album! Hungry Like a Wolf and Rio are hits for a reason and there are other gems in here too (I really liked Last Chance On The Stairway and My Own Way).

great!

Firmly on the list of "I absolutely should have listened to this before this challenge, but never got around doing so". Rio has got to be one of the greatest pure New Wave songs to exist. Everything about that song is played tight and is perfectly executed. Top notch vocals, simple but catchy riff, saxophone solo, satisfying conclusion. The rest of the album is a bop. New Wave at its absolute height is what Rio is.

Klassisk 80-tals syntpop, som påminner mig om Depeche Mode och Tears For Fears. Snygg produktion och catchy texter. Kanske inte ett album jag kommer komma ihåg särskilt tydligt men känns som att jag kommer komma ihåg när det sätts på. Favoritlåtar: Lonely In Your Nightmare, Hungry Like The Wolf, Last Chance On The Stairway. Minst favorit: New Religion

Had soooo much fun listening to this album. Cardio of the day!!!! Favorite songs: all tracks

Great album, love the eighties sound

It was really nice, I loved the vibe and I just got captured by the album's design it's really pleasing to look at

Perfect album all the way around, including the cover artwork which matches exactly how the music sounds and feels. Every song is essential, each it's own piece of excellence. Always like "oh yeah, this song is sooo good" every time I listen to it. Duran Duran does what they do 100% the way it should it be done, like tapped in. It's a fully-realized piece of art. Could be part me growing up with this album and always loving it. I do wonder how this would sound to someone who didn't grow up with it. I could understand not being able to fully get it, which would be a shame, but whatevs.

The is a example of why 80s music is awesome. Awesome production. Great musicians (that bass!) and good solid tunes. Definitely deserves to be in the list.

This is long overdue. I'm a firm believer that a bands best songs are not the singles. I think Hungry Like the Wolf always left me in a meh feeling but always curious of their complete albums. I'm a sucker for synth, and good bass grooves. Also a sucker for New Wave, so this band is the most ideal listen for me. This might be my first 5 star, first listen that I'm excited about and will pull repeatability from me. Rio throwing a sax in was fun, New Religion is an awesome song, and Save a Prayer is awesome as well. I think its fitting that most of these song end fading out because they could honestly just keep jamming and not lose interest, and abruptly ending these songs seems hard to do. I like the feeling of it could be played late at night on a drive, in a danceable atmosphere or even for Halloween. Plus the album artwork paints some weird rich 80s vibe. Honestly fuck Hungry Like the Wolf, there's way cooler sounds on here.

Many of these songs always bring my mother and I together.

Fav song rio

The Chauffeur is one of the greatest moody songs of all time

Atmospheric, airy. Quintessential 80s. Very enjoyable listen front to back, with some hits and some surprises.

WOW! My swoonworthy pop idols from my youth. There's no mistaking the voice of Simon Le Bon, Andy Taylor's guitar or John Taylor's Bass. Innovative and although of its time it still sounds spot on today.

Solid album the whole way through

9/10

Should add to my rotation

Oeh ik vond dit eerlijk gezegd echt een leuke bijzondere vibe hebben! Ik heb tot aan the chauffeur geluisterd omdat de rest allemaal remixes en spul zijn! Ik geef dit echt wel een 9/10! Zeker vaker luisteren

I've never been able to get around to listening to Rio (and Duran Duran in general) but I'm glad I did. As a huge Genesis fan, this reminded me of a lot of their stuff. Some of the best 80s pop rock I've ever heard. The cover art is also so amazing and captivating. This album will definitely be in my rotation from now on.

80s perfection

Whenever I need a mood booster, I pop on “Greatest”. Duran Duran have plenty of amazing hits. Their album tracks also deliver. Rio is simply bop after bop. No misses. 5/5. Props to the bass lines and sexy saxophone.

This was so fun

A brilliant album. Loved it when it came out and still do today. Really enjoyed listening to it again. Rio, Hungry Like the Wolf, My Own Way and Save a Prayer are obvious highlights, but Hold Back the Rain and The Chauffeur are equally engaging. Incredible bass playing and huge hooks. It took Duran Duran 29 years to come close to the consistent level of brilliance on here with the album All You Need is Now. That gap included some great albums too. Absolutely recommended.

in Yakuza 0, there are some shops or clubs that have artwork in the exact same style as the album cover for Rio (both are very 80's, which tracks). These two pieces of media are thus inextricably linked in my mind.

So glad I woke up to this album. Big fan!!! Ate the synths up

Amazing album with some real bangers.

I fundamentally disrespect this style of 80s music for reasons both known and unknown, but there's not a bad song on this album.

absolutely adore this album, short and sweet <3 I have this on repeat so often

Great music. Listened pn repeat for a roadtrip

No comment for now!

One of the classics of the “New Romantic” / New Wave genre. It is a standard of the 80s pop culture - one of those that are constantly revisited and that could be referenced when there’s a nostalgic comeback/ revival. Its songs -and even the album as a concept, including the iconic cover- will be referenced decades from now. Masterpiece.

It was really good. I love 80s music and the bass lines go absolutely crazy.

already a regular in my rotation and has been for almost 20 years. John Taylor goes so unbelievably hard on this. I truly believe this album will never die. The Chauffeur is surely a Top 50??? song of all time, maybe even higher. 1982 seems ahead of its time to me but I'm sure people who were around at the time think this is exactly what 1982 sounds like

I admit, I am a bit of a rock snob when it comes to the 80s. This album surprised and delighted at every turn, from the well known classics Rio and Hungry Like the Wolf to deeper cuts like Lonely in Your Nightmare. The bassist deserves a medal for this album

Album #995 I was afraid Duran Duran was going to be excluded from this list for some reason. Glad they weren't. This is excellent. Three big hits and some pretty good non-singles too. Bass guitar is great and I know Simon LeBon gets crap for his singing, but I've always liked it -- it's unique.

10/10. Helped define the 80s like only a few other albums could.

Such a classic. Want it on vinyl. Had it on cassette tape.

Einfach ein grandioses Album

Amazing album

What a treat of an album, obviously heard Hungry 1000 times but just a great experience all around

Luca remarked on liking a track, so straight to the top…

Discazo aunque falta View to a kill

Visos dainos geros, puikai klausėsi.

Absolutely great stuff. Love it

I'm not even entirely sure what to call this but it was such an incredible vibe with so much variety between every song. Even when I didn't adore one song, I couldn't help but appreciate how different it was from the previous and following tune. Also Rio (song) was absolutely incredible

The pre- Thriller MTV era in a nutshell…and a great dance pop album!

I love it. It is certainly musically innovative .

So all I knew of Duran Duran were the songs Rio and Hungry Like The Wolf which are good but wouldn’t be ones I would regularly listen to. With this in mind I was expecting a solid 3/5 album but surprisingly I thoroughly enjoyed this. The Chauffeur in particular was bloody brilliant. Top Track - The Chauffeur

One of the best from the 80s!

I spent the summer of 1983 with my aunt Pandy and uncle Mike in Jacksonville, Florida. Mike was stationed at the naval base and would often be at sea. For some reason, I spent a lot of time babysat by Pandy's friend. In hindsight, I wonder if Pandy was having an affair. Pandy and Mike did not have MTV, but Pandy's friend did. I parked myself in front of her television and would watch as much MTV as I could. "Rio" and "Hungry Like the Wolf" were both still in heavy rotation. The Police were the biggest band in the world. I first heard of The Fixx and "Saved By Zero." Various other videos come to mind: "Slipping Away" by Dave Edmunds, Eddie Grant's "Electric Avenue," "Our House" by Madness, Stevie Nicks came out with "Stand Back" and so many more. Duran Duran were new to me and presented an image that my 9 year old brain could not yet wrap around. By the time Seven and the Ragged Tiger was released in November of 1983, I lived with my grandparents and uncle. They did not have MTV at the time so it took a couple of years before my uncle convinced my grandma to get cable. Without MTV, I gravitated to the classic rock my uncle listened to. I wrote off Duran Duran after they did the James Bond song “A View To A Kill.” But then they would keep on releasing catchy tunes, specifically “Notorious” in 1986 and “I Don’t Want Your Love” and “All She Wants Is” in 1988. So I have to give Duran Duran their due. Rio is certainly peak Duran Duran and sets a tone for the rest of the 1980s, but still remains apart from it.

ah... i have a distinct memory of a college professor i once had whenever i hear duran duran. for context: this professor was a crotchety old man who taught at a community college and loved nothing more than to go on animated rants. his lectures were pretty much nothing but rants. he ranted most weeks about the incompetence of the cc's admin. he ranted about how things used to be back in his day (like how much less drugs cost (?)), and, on one particular occasion, he ranted about how they were playing duran duran on the radio again. he seemed to be genuinely bewildered by the fact that, of his students that were not alive during the 80s, most of us knew who duran duran was. i remember he expressed something along the lines of "i fucking hated listening to them when i was your age, but now i kind of like them. fuck. shit. i can't keep getting old." anyway, 5 stars. highlights - rio, hungry like the wolf, save a prayer

Chocante, surpreendente, arrepiante… Essas são as palavras que vêm à minha cabeça toda vez que ouço um disco dos anos 80 que não envelheceu como leite. E Rio de Duran Duran definitivamente entra nesse fechado e secreto clube, junto de poucos e seletos outros. Temos aqui 9 canções fantásticas do que gosto de chamar de “Pop Cocaína”, não há termo melhor na verdade, e com certeza eu subconscientemente o roubei de outro escritor. É a sensação que dá ao ouvir canções como Hungry Like The Wolf ou Last Chance On The Stairway. Mas, falando sério, eu gostei bastante deste álbum. Duran Duran sempre foi uma banda de singles ao meu ver, não me lembro de ter ouvido algum disco inteiro deles, mas sempre tive expectativas altas. Seus singles são ótimos, alguns dos melhores da década de 80, especialmente os deste álbum. Mas a banda vai além. Que baixo delicioso. Save A Prayer foi a primeira música que aprendi inteira no instrumento, mas certamente não é a única faixa onde o baixo se destaca brilhantemente. A percussão é muito boa, e eu realmente gosto dos vocais, mas acredito que possam ser irritantes para algumas pessoas. Depois do álbum de ontem, do Prince, foi um alívio ouvir um disco com tanta instrumentalização orgânica e bem executada, e onde os sintetizadores, por mais salientados que sejam, tenham envelhecido tão bem. Nada aqui chega a ser brega, nem mesmo o saxofone que aparece numa faixa ou outra. Nada é exagerado para além do limite, é realmente a brisa da cocaína que não chega a te levar a um momento Whitney. Também preciso dar créditos à sequenciação do álbum. Ele é curto, não se engane com algum lixo de Collector's Edition que streaming tenta meter em você. Ouça a ordem original, 9 faixas super apertadas e bem ritmadas. Gosto que o disco se encerra com as 2 canções mais calmas, e a última até me lembra um pouco The Cure com uma ambientação um tanto quanto sombria… É como um imenso comedown depois de uma noite hedonística repleta de cheiração e fornicação. Vou tentar parar de falar de cocaína, me desculpem. Fiquei matutando na cabeça se ia dar 4.5 ou 5 estrelas pra este disco. Pensei comigo mesmo “Bem, não gostei 100% de TODAS as faixas… né?”. Na dúvida, voltei e dei uma segunda ouvida no disco e percebi que estava enganado. Na primeira ouvida eu constatei (e até cheguei a escrever aqui, antes de apagar) que o ritmo do disco é muito opressivo, e acaba causando uma certa fadiga. Pensando melhor, voltei pra minha (possivelmente roubada) metáfora narcótica, e percebi que este é parte do apelo musical do grupo. Viajei. Cinco estrelas merecidíssimas! Comprando meus 5 pinos por 50 agora, tchau e boa noite. 5/5

My brother had this tape and I heard it a lot through the walls. This album was huge back then. Radio, video, it was all over the place. 3 classics and a bunch of other strong songs. Smokin bass playing. Still sounds great today, extra stars for the nostalgia trip.

Cuando en España andábamos con el Naranjito, empezaba Mecano y Miguel Ríos arrasaba en los estadios, los Duran Duran ya hacían discazos pop muy avanzados a su tiempo. Poco puedo decir más allá de que eran de las bandas más top y que han durado tanto tiempo porque ofrecen calidad ante todo. En el punto justo del pop bailable, la introducción de la electrónica sin dejar de ser una banda de rock, el glamour y lo mainstream. Me flipan. ¿Vale decir que estaba enamorado de Simon LeBon?

Spectacular album by a spectacular band.

Favorite tracks: Rio, New Religion I did not go into this album expecting to give 5 stars! I always thought of Duran Duran as a bit mediocre, but boy was I wrong. This album is so quintessential 80's and I loved every song!

Lowkey glossy.

Fantastic synth pop and quintessential 80s album. Of course they have the three hits but the stuff in between is great. And some of the best bass I've yet to hear. 9/10

5 stars

I remember waiting for this album to drop. After listening to it, I felt my hair getting bigger and wanting to wear a neon yellow blazer.

This is a trip back and a treat for me as i love 80's and Duran Duran,in fact i own this record! In Rio what more can you ask,you can hear everything clear,the synth arp,the slappy groovy bass,the amazing guitar,sax,drums(killer hihats) and Le Bon's sexy voice! My own way has amazing drums especially i love the snare and the whole atmosphere,if it was for another band to play this it might not have sounded so good,in synths in particular but it does!Not my favourite but still brilliant! Lonely In Your Nightmare has an amazing guitar and darker swifts serving the title but the melodies somehow are strange,beautiful and hopeful,not a nightmare at all, Hungry like The Wolf has a distinctive rhythmic synth arp and nice groove, discoid vibe,fantastic, In Hold Back the Rain we got amazing synth sounds and a superb disco rhythm with great drums as well,and arpeggiated bass tjat adds a more dynamic approach to this so you can dance, New Religion intro is absolutely fantastic,as it progresses funky bass and epic pads and guitar where needed makes it perfect,the refrain is amazing,the vocals at the rest of the song though are quite confusing, Last Chance On The Stairway has beautiful synths and pads,great lyrics,great song,with some bongos and sophisticated keys at some point,one of my favourites, What can i say for the Save A Prayer with the modulated synth sound,the atmospheric arp (that so many groups sampled),the amazing lyrics and Le Bon's deliver,the guitar,a masterpiece,an all times favourite, The Chauffeur is more experimental and dark but still fun,my least favourite though. Easy 5/5. I need more of those in the list but in the end i'm here to explore more.

it really doesn't take a genius to realize this album is one of the most pivotal and arguably iconic dance pop albums of the 1980s. apparently critics were a bit torn when it first came out, but really just listening to this for five minutes already shows you how good it is. experimenting with all sorts of quirky sounds and with some basslines that are absolutely killer, rio takes you on an unimaginably glossy boat ride where the sun is blinding your eyes, the drinks are tangy and the elegance is extravagant. also props to patrick nagel for the equally amazing cover art... seriously, i cannot tell you how much this album symbolizes when it comes to musical history.

Bangers all around. This one's a good time!

Absolute banger of an album. Duran Duran encapsulate everything great about 80s pop bands. Catchy, tight, with punchy production. Perfect balance of guitars and synths, and vocals are on point. It’s simply cool to listen to. Highlights: Rio, Hungry Like the Wolf, Hold Back the Rain, Save a Prayer, The Chauffeur.

My mum had this album on vinyl and I now own it. She was collecting some absolute heat because this is GREAT

Man... I just really, really love Duran Duran.

80's wasn't all disco, thank the goddess. Synth and drums on point for the time. Would watch the videos again, if MTV played music.. And Duran was reportedly Princess Diana's favorite band, so there is that vote. And I found my CD, so will put it back in rotation when I load up the old CD changer. Listened before: Y Saved to library: Y Favorite tracks: Rio, Hungry Like the Wolf, Save a Prayer

Much '80s! So wow! I was previously familiar with Rio and Hungry Like the Wolf, but I have not heard the whole album. I'm loving the bass! And the drums and synth! Fantastic. Listened before? N Saved to library? Y Favorite track(s): Rio, My Own Way, Last Chance on the Stairway, The Chauffeur ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐: Loved it! Saved most or all of the tracks.

Classic! So many bangers

Elite 80s pop rock. Obviously has hits like Rio and Hungry Like the Wolf. But others Lonley in Your Nightmare and Last Chance on the Stair Way give the album more depth. Not just your Mom's favorite band.

Ég var bara furðusáttur með þessa. 4,9 og það kom mér á óvart.

Poptimism, like all -isms, has its good and bad points, but Exhibit A in the case for its necessity is the deserved critical rehabilitation of Duran Duran as one of the greatest bands of their era, full stop. Their prowess is in full display here, with John Taylor putting on an absolute clinic on bass every time out ("Rio," "Lonely in Your Nightmare"), Simon Le Bon turning in some of his best vocal performances ("The Chauffeur," "New Religion"), and the entire band, especially Nick Rhodes, coming together to compose some absolute pop classics ("Hungry Like the Wolf," "Save a Prayer"). Judging these guys by their haircuts, as a generation of critics did, is no less an error than judging the Beatles by their mop-tops had been, twenty years previous.

Classic 80's. Sick bass lines. Still holds up. Perfect album? 5

Six stars!!! Six stars!!!!

bukv kida i love duran duran

Banger after banger! Turned out I knew all the words without knowing it. I sang along like a sleeper agent being activated. Sing...blue silver!

I am a big Duran Duran fan, especially this album. It is pure pop perfection. Hungry Like the Wolf and Rio are iconic, but my favourite song on this album is Save A Prayer. Slightly different vibe, more chill and atmospheric.

Great

Bitching album, quintessential 80s New Wave pop with just the right about of drama. 10/10

Banger

An absolute favorite of mine.

First album I ever bought with my own money.

bass lines are crazy bro john taylor i love you

now THIS is new wave. love this album!!

Rio by Duran Duran is one of those desert island albums full of irresistible melodies and vibrant energy that perfectly captures the sound of early ’80s new wave.

Very good

I'm extremely late to the Duran Duran party, but boy oh boy what an album! I don't know what the original sounds like because Tidal only has the 2009 remaster, but it sounds fantastic, especially the bass. (though Hungry Like a Wolf always makes me think of the Bruce Campbell Old Spice commercial)

This album slaps

Love this album so much. Really reminds me of my childhood.

From the Nagel art to the bass heavy jams, this is a quintessential 80’s time capsule.

I never cared too much for Duran Duran when growing up in the 80s, but really have gotten into new wave in this effort. After talking heads this is the second band that impresses. I need to buy this album. It just keeps going. Five stars.

Excellent work by Duran Duran

Brill classic

Favourites: Rio, Lonely in Your Nightmares, Hold Back the Rain, Last Chance on the Stairway, The Chauffeur

Wow i have some new favorite songs

As far as synthpop goes in my book, this is a nice album. Sounds better than most 80s-inspired contemporaries, to be honest. There's enough versatility and talent to provide a fun listening experience, though it's still music made more for dancing than for chilling alone at home in your headphones. I prefer lesser-known songs on Rio, like My Own Way, New Religion, and The Chauffeur, perhaps because they don't insist on drilling the chorus into your brain as much.

This album rocks. Rio is a hell of an opener track, and the ever-awesome Hungry Like the Wolf is obviously a classic. The other songs on this album, while not as notable, still have great energy and sound. Save a Prayer and Hold Back the Rain are damn good.

Rock nitanmal

One from my youth

Holy eighties Batman! This is what I call luxury music! I once had a friend named Ken who would, with a fake, but passable, Scottish accent, introduce himself to new people as Darren. If they happened to ask him for his last name, he would tell them Darren. They would inevitably then say to this random Scottish dude in America, ‘so your name is Darren Darren?’ After which he would say ‘yes,’ and leave it at that.

Maybe the quintessential new wave album. Full of synth and great bass, with iconic vocals that manage to never be cheesy.

Great album! Duran Duran was written off by many as a teeny bopper band at the time but they really could play. Tight rhythm section with John Taylor who is one of the best bassists in his lifetime. The lyrics don't always make sense but by and large these are great, well-crafted songs.

Still an awesome album even after a gazillion years!!!

So much better than many of the albums I’ve had to listen to on this list. If I had to listen to another experimental, one-star album, I was going to quit. Thank you, Rio, for saving me. Loved the album in the 80s, and I appreciated it even more now.

A classic! John Taylor is underrated as a bass player.

This was great 80's synth rock. Everyone's heard the two big hits, but I didn't realize the rest of the album might be just as good. In fact, I think "Hungry Like The Wolf" might be the worst song on here, and it's not a bad song at all. What I kept thinking throughout this was that every one of these songs would still be a great song if it was covered in another style. You could turn all of these in to traditionally instrumented rock songs, and it would lose some of it's electronic charm, but the songs are so well written on their own that they would still be great without the synths. You could do house style remixes (which have been done for a lot of Duran Duran's songs) and they'd be club bangers. You could sample so much of this and turn it in to a great beat. It goes on and on. Special note for the cover art - it's incredible. I can't look away from her.

An Iconic album cover with songs to match. The singles slap and the rest of the album does not disappoint. Unmistakably 80's in a good way. I'm going to add this to the playlist.

Rio, Hungry like the Wolf, hold back the rain, save a prayer are all great

Sincerely, one of the best albums to land and define the 80s without being schlocky.

One of the best New Wave albums ever. The synths, the bass lines (especially in Rio) and Simon's voice are just magnetic. Save a Prayer is my personal favorite.

Automatic 5. One of the best. Hard to even pick a favorite track....Hungry Like the Wolf, Hold Back the Rain, Save a Prayer, The Chauffeur. Saw them twice....1984 and 2023. They may have been even better the second time.

This is a GREAT lp that has everything 80s in it. Say what ya like, but Duran Duran made some real bangers. This LP is solid. These guys DEFINED cinematic music videos. Find their live only version of "Make Me Smile" for a real treat

Great album, love the sounds of Duran Duran

Pop perfection

Amo este grupo y este álbum es estupendo

Already listened

yacht pop

Duran Duran isch völlig underbewärtet. Ich liebs😍.

ich finds albumcover suuuper, het so en krasse wiedererchennigscharakter OMG ICH LIEB RIO???? d gitarre wo echt nöd vill macht aber iwie spass macht, paart mitem dügüdügüdügü-synthis, mite schöne bassline UND DENN de iwie mega schöni und fröhlichi refrain???? rein vode art her erinnerets mich bizli ah common people vo pulp (und ich lieb das lied) BASSLINESWITCH ich hans gad 3 mal hinderenand müsse lose hahahaha okok han mich beruhigt my own way het wieder en sexy bass und d perkussion im refrain findi megaaa AH hungry like the wolf kenntmer ja so mega fest ich han sehrsehr freud, au wenn d lieder jz nöd so die underschiedlichste sind die refrains sind eifach soo ahsteckend fröhlich, ohni dass sie ufgsetzt würket oder so WHATCHA DOIN WITH ALL THAT 🅱️ASS on a thursday afternoon??? new religion hani jz v.a. musikalisch sehr geil gfunde, super gitarre ide bridge DE BASS??????? save a prayer isch mal echlii längsämer die komisch verzerrti gitarre nachem refrain SUPER han gad welle schriebe, dass chsuffeur s erste lied isch, wo mi nöd so umhaut, aber jz mitem beat wo ihsetzt cheggis glaub besser NOMAL RIO bin no am überlege öbs es 4i oder 5i git, mier het würkli alles megaa gfalle (sogar die typische 80er synthis und drumfills hend für mich mega gstumme) aber d lieder sind chli ähnlich OUUUH NEII SO BLÖD JZ MUSSIS NOMAL LOSE aso de bass isch halt echt verbote? jz bim zweite mal lose findi last chance on the stairway echtt funn also. s ischmer fast peinlich, dass ich mier unsicher gsi bin. FUCKING 5 hett voll nöd denkt, dass mier das so gfallt

amazing pop!

Awesome! My teenage years in album format!

8.5 / 10 - A collection of great songs from a legendary band. There's enough variation and good flow to keep you on your toes. Can't really fault it

Rio is the best opening song to an album I've heard so far, am bias because it's one of my favourite songs ever. Bass tone is awesome The songs cleverly link and call back to each other That bass carries everything, fuck it's a lovely tone One of my favourite albums ever Banger after banger high energy interesting music. Just something about it tickles my brain

Great

Awesome album. 10/10

noice

An almost perfect slab of pop, rock, dance. John & Andy channel Chic through driving funky basslines and sharp guitar work.

"A record (along with Madonna's debut) that set many youngsters on the path to puberty and sexual awakening (and helped more advanced players get actually laid). Indeed, ""Hungry Like the Wolf"" ranks high in the list of all-time sexy/horny songs. The title cut/opener is a near-perfect pop song – fun, aspirational, hooky. Also, songs that reference air races are generally cool, one has found. Overall, the tracks cohere nicely, each well made, hooky and sophisticated, with sharp edges, shearing guitars, pressing disco-inflected rhythms and tempos, and solid vocals at the center. Le Bon had a great voice and used it well – accessible yet distinct, strong, unhurried and credible in delivery. Beyond the two massive (and excellent!) hits, the other cuts are substantive and well thought out and well executed (with “Save It for the Morning After” and “New Religion” perhaps also deserving to be hits. This succeeds so well on its own terms – what else could one want from a quintessential New Wave act that very nicely balanced a stylish cool with commercial ambition? Rounding up (if only slightly) because anything that causes one to remember taking certain smokeshow (as no one said in 1982) high school girlfriends to the Omni in Atlanta to see DD deserves such a break.

The 80s was such a great time to be alive and into music. Duran Duran were the perfect synthpop foursome. Roger Taylor’s drums were epic, Nick Rhodes keyboards were the glue that held it all together and made it unique, Simon Le Bon’s vocals were strong and he was the perfect frontman, Andy Taylor’s guitar and John Taylor’s bass were so complimentary to the rest of the band. So many great hits, Rio, Hungry Like the Wolf, Save a Prayer, made famous by MTV (remember when they actually played music videos), but the rest of the album is great too. I had this album on vinyl and wore it out, got it on cassette and wore it out too. Knew all of the songs by heart. Still do! Maybe it’s just nostalgia or maybe it is still great, either way It will always be a favorite for me. And who didn’t love the incredible cover art from Patrick Nagel. His sharp edges and use of color to highlight a beautiful woman was second to none!

Great album! So many hits. Enjoyed listening to it again.

Really fun album with some good hits. The quality was consistent throughout

her name is Rio and she dances on the sand, bitch!!!!!!

Was zum Tüüfel Tüüfel isch denn das gsi?? Duran Duran kennt mer ja vo Songs Songs wie Girls on Film oder Hungry Like the Wolf aber das ich noniiiie über das Album Album gstolperet gstolpered bin isch ja en Skandal Skandal !! Vom Ahfang Ahfang bis Schluss Schluss keis müsse skippe skippe und grad 3 mal hinderenand hinder d Ohre Gschmiert! "DAS SIND D 80ER DU WIXXER!!" und da bini absolut froh froh drum! 80er for the win win und duran duran for music music presidents presidents. Ich gsehne liechti ahzeiche dasi die Band Band ide negste Wuche Wuche ufe ufe und abe abe lose lose wird. Darum darum au au ganz ganz gern gern feuf feuf wohl wohl verdienti verdienti puentos puentos für für die die banger banger-maker maker duran duran! Let's let's go go!!!

Fun, energetic, not super catch but super funky... 4 stars easy, but man the bass is a definite +1...

The best of new wave. Funky bass, catchy vocals and dripping with style.

I dismissed Duran Duran because my sister loved them and I was a punk/metal kid. But this is fantastic, the bass work on this is phenomenal. Clearly the music snob child I used to be was an idiot

Not only is there not a bad song on this entire album but most are absolute 80’s classics.

Don't have to listen to it, but of course I will and imagine the videos that were constantly on MTV when I was lucky enough to hang out after school with a friend who had cable in the early 80s.

I love this album, this sound. It is a "happy place" for me, and I often go back to similar music, because it is not only poppy, up-beat, and full of life, but it is also very well written, performed, has true depth, and does it's own challenging and experimental things in rock and pop music.

big boss

Pop savršenstvo, od početka do kraja.

Whips. So glad I got to hear "The Chauffeur" -- seems to be a bit of a cult classic. Who did the cover art? Why is it SO nail salon? How is it PEAK NAIL SALON

Oh, the early 80s. And this band has it all. How can every chorus be so, so catchy, yet the lyrics are almost word salad? And the perfect 80s cover. I love Duran Duran.

I've already heard this album before bruh

Didn’t know what to expect out of this but loved fun, catchy just a great time all round

80s synth rock in all the best ways. Cool electronic beats, great twanging bass, it’s awesome. Nothing super deep but love it anyways.

This is a great album to listen to!! All the songs that are on here make you feel good one way or another!! Two thumbs up!!

Perfect, this makes my heart fill up with hope and turns me into an idealist. 5/5

I like: Rio, Last Chance on the Stairway

Best DD album by far. Bass work is on this album is so underrated. I like every song on it and that's rare. If you want an album that defines 80s New Wave Pop, this is it. 4.5/5

6.5

I love this album and own it on vinyl. The Chauffeur is one of my favorite songs.

Good listen.

Love it.

This album is so good! Every track feels necessary, what a banger start to finish

Love this, 5 stars, makes this and Purple Rain are the only albums I've never heard in full before that I've given 5 stars to so far. I especially love the bass - the bass tone and playing on Rio really reminds to Barbarism Begins At Home by The Smiths, of all songs

I really enjoyed this, will definitely be revisiting.

曲风很新

Cool Album!

I HAVE TJIS SAVED AHHHH

I think the Nagel artwork on the front should be considered a warning for how bombastically 80's synth this album is gonna be. I previously was not a big fan of the title track but it won me over on this listen (I think it's because it partially sounds like a news bulletin that keeps trying to start). The Saxophone on Rio really popped off for me this time. I have similarly positive thoughts for the rest of the album. Given some of the new wavey similarities here and there you could maybe find some of the stronger tracks make others obsolete but I think there's more than enough standouts on here to make this album a standout regardless

I wish that this review also encompassed music videos because I'd certainly like to give this album extra points for the video for Hungry Like the Wolf This album received lukewarm reviews on release for being formulaic, but when your biggest critics are people like Rober Antichristgau and the consent manufacturing machine of the New York times who massively ragged on this album then you know you've done something right. This album is danceable, but it's also full of great arrangements and lyricism. Its influence on the New Wave genre immediately following its release and on synth pop and dance rock in the future can't be understated. Yes, Side A is a bit better than Side B being bookended with two massive hits. Side B does a good job of slowly turning down the dance-y energy and flowing into the peak of the album (imo) with Save A Prayer. The album doesn't overstay its welcome, there is no wasted time on this album. Each song does something a little different while maintaining the cohesive, slick synth sound. Honestly any album that can make you bust a move as hard as Hungry Like the Wolf and make you feel a little sentimental during Save A Prayer just gets an automatic 5. Highlights: Rio, My Own Way, Hungry Like the Wolf, New Religion, Save A Prayer, The Chauffeur

Love Duran Duran anyway, this album has classics on it. If you don't like Rio you are dead inside.

01) Rio - 10,0 02) My Own Way - 9,0 03) Lonely in Your Nightmare - 8,0 04) Hungry Like the Wolf - 10,0 05) Hold Back the Rain - 8,5 06) New Religion - 8,0 07) Last Chance on the Stairway - 8,0 08) Save a Prayer - 10,0 09) The Chauffeur - 9,5 TOTAL: 9,00 (90/100) Current ranking: 52/492

Many great songs and one I remember

My all time favorite Duran Duran album, and my favorite new wave album. This is 80s pop perfection.

Maybe my fave ever pop album.

That smile

Nostalgic because I had heard a few songs before. You know an album is good when you put it on in the background and lose track of what you were working on.

The 3 best songs were selected as singles for sure. Rest of the album was still good though. Aggressive bass playing!

Ah, the beauty of 80s synth and sax, blown out hair, and day glow clothing. And Duran Duran captured all of that in their music. But they’re not just all style and no substance by any means, the album totally holds up. And the album art and music videos are iconic for a reason. Give me my hair gel and Duran Duran and I’ll be happy jamming away.

41/1089 - I thought I'd get filtered by 80's music (especially the reverb snares and absolutely everything having some sort of chorus effect) but I'm warming up to it/reevaluating my idea of what 80's music is. This has a lot of cool basslines, lots of syncopation and call and response between instruments. Side note: Save a Prayer has a really cool minor-third substitution (F# minor to B minor then F# minor to D minor). Rio gets a bit same-y sometimes but the ones that stand out really do stand out (got better on side two).

Although I am biased... Who among you supposed human beings can deny the affect of the pervasive New Romantic bassline? The production is supernatural and primordial. Simon Le Bon's Bonisms be damned. I'll not be lonely in my nightmare; I've got my own way; Ain't no game when playing with fire... If I may suggest, Rio has not aged.

Fabulous album with fantastic songs. I owned this on cassette in the 80’s

I FUCKING LOVE THIS ALBUM OML I JUST DID A GRAPHIC DESIGN PROJECT WITH IT I LOVE YOU JOHN TALOR I LIVE THIS BAND

Out on the tar plains The glides are moving All looking for a new place to drive You sit beside me So newly charming Sweating dew drops glisten fresh in your side And the sun drips down bedding heavy behind The front of your dress all shadowy lined And the droning engine throbs in time with your beating heart Way down the lane away Living for another day The aphids swarm up in the drifting haze Swim seagull in the sky Towards that hollow western Isle My envied lady holds you fast in her gaze And the sun drips down bedding heavy behind The front of your dress all shadowy lined And the droning engine throbs in time with your beating heart And the sun drips down bedding heavy behind The front of your dress all shadowy lined And the droning engine throbs in time with your beating heart Sing Blue Silver I never gave duran duran enough credit when I was younger. This is a fantastic album. 5/5

I'm sorry what? I love this?! I assumed I would absolutely hate it based off of the fact that I hate 80's pop but every song on here absolutely rips Best Song: Hungry Like the Wolf Rating: 9/10 5 Stars

Super fun album with great songwriting and instrumentation (especially the bass).

No private session used for Spotify. I listened to the album a few days ago on my own. I like it a lot, sure it's 80's cheese, but the bass lines are awesome, enough guitar to keep my interest and I don't mind the keyboards.

This is the 27th album I’m rating. I’ve heard the name Duran Duran but like many of the musicians so far I have never heard of them. So I’m going to this blind not knowing what to expect. Rio - Adding to my Playlist. This list is too good. All of the albums are great. My Own Way - Adding to my Playlist. Synth-pop is pretty cool. Lonely in Your Nightmare - Not Adding to my Playlist. This is ok and on a different day I might add it. Hungry Like the Wolf - Adding to my Playlist. I feel like I’ve heard this song before but I don’t know where. Is it Old School? Hold Back the Rain - Adding to my Playlist. Pretty good song. New Religion - Adding to my Playlist. These songs are getting a bit boring. Last Chance on the Stairway - Adding to my Playlist. This entire album feels so familiar. Save a Prayer - Adding to my Playlist. I’m probably insane but this feels like Heaven or Las Vegas. The Chauffeur - Adding to my Playlist. Feels like Halloween theme but rock and really really good. All in all I liked 8/9 of the songs. Lonely in Your Nightmare is ruining what would’ve been a perfect album. Still great though. This next album better be Fiona Apple.

Man I love this album, The Chauffeur never gets old. Truly a Synthpop masterpiece.

Classic

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

The poster boys for the New Wave movement. And this album is so classic even the cover is pop art. Nothing but hits here, universally recognizable and found everywhere. One of the best from the 80s.

Duran Duran is such a singular band, they’re one of the most iconic groups of the 80s. This album is amazing front to back and is unmistakably Duran Duran.

Poppy and fun 80s music, felt like I was in an 80s movie. Very nice and playful bass

Rio Duran Duran Ballsy to start the album with this banger. I mainly remember the hook so it was fun to revisit this song. It’s always on the quintessential 80s mix, whether that be an album or a playlist. It’s a big song. Now onto the album. My own way is a bit cheesy. And the song after that you can definitely see an aesthetic they follow. And Hungry Like The Wolf SLAPS. Just it’s like when everything comes together. It is my absolute favorite from this group. New Religion and Last Chance on the Stairway are also great. This is a quick paced tight record. I’d buy this on vinyl, I am a sucker for 80s music as well. It fits very well into a soundtrack or a hectic day in a downtown city. Fast paced and the drums are killer. Oh wow Save A Prayer has one of my favorite riffs in electronic music. It switches up halfway thru but the delays on that synth really make it dreamy and calm. This album rocks. It’s a very influential sound they just immediately nail. Seems that most people followed along.

Even better after not hearing it for 40 years.

A wonderful album. Admittedly, it meant EVERYTHING to me at the time, as a Duranie who was in weekly correspondence with the fan club about when it was coming out. It really didn't disappoint back then: tears, hysteria, adoration. But, happily, it's also stood the test of time. Never mind the shiny suits and videos which led to people writing this off as belonging only in the 80s. These songs are absolute pop classics. DD particularly have a gift for writing strong choruses, in my view - almost every album track demonstrates this. To think that they put together an album of this calibre at an average age of approx 20 is truly amazing. Fantastic.

This sounds as good in my hormonal Winter as it did in its Spring.

Timeless.

What’s good enough for the Queen is good enough for me. I’d like more like this.

No album better embodies New Romanticism. Rio feels like a 1980s mall fashion show, with big hair and couture dominating the catwalk. Flutes of complimentary cheap champagne and a whiff of hair spray lingering in the air. 4.5/5

Fun listen! Will happily re-play this entire album!

Tämähän on ihan loistava poppilevy! Yksi lemppareistani. Tasapainoinen ja täynnä koukkuja. 5/5

Very classic 80's!

Brilliant

Okay, this is the Duran Duran that I do actually love. Most 80s pop did not age well, but this is the exception (back in '82)!

Now THIS is the 80's!!!

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

vibes! i love 80s new wave! and that is exactly what this is through and through! disappointed in myself for never having listened to this start to finish before wtf and only specific tracks from over the years but any album that brought hungry like the wolf into existence is pure gold to me

- 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.