Rio

Distinctly listenable. 8.5/10. Classics like Rio and Hungry Like the Wolf were awesome. New favs include Lonely in Your Nightmare, Hold Back the Rain, and New Religion. The Chauffeur was interesting too. Peak movie scene soundtrack options.

Favorite song: Rio

Wow, starts off strong with some cop car chase vibes (very 80s of course)

Si vamos a calificar los discos que tienen más de tres buenas rolas con buenas calificaciones pues se dice y no pasa nada.

Great

Was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this album. Still holds up today and I’d say their non-singles are much better than their singles.

Very 80s. A little more on the experimental side. Not as safe as other 80s dance I’ve heard. I respect it.

Great. Love a bit of Duran Duran

Great stage/spacing and drum work, especially on the cymbals

Rio was my favourite song as a kid and heavily influenced my taste in music for the rest of my life: synths, catchy melodies, incredible choruses, harmonies, a little cheesy yet pop perfection... Never listened to the entirety of this album until now and while it does sound dated as hell, it's in a beautifully nostalgic way. The bass parts are AMAZING? And the singles were perfection. Really enjoyed this.

It is Duran Duran. It was good. 4/5

Never knew how much Duran Duran slaps, especially how the bass locks in with the kick drum. Quite enjoyable, would revisit.

Banger after banger after banger with a couple duds mixed in. Still a great record.

As our buddy said this album “kinda slaps.” I couldn’t agree more. The album is 80s AF and I loved every minute of it.

Full of his, but rather hollow outside of the singles

Lots of songs i love on that album, but it does sound repetitive

Hold back the rain was brilliant. New religion bass line is incredible. Overall enjoyed

Great album

1982. Key Songs: Rio, Hungry Like the Wolf, The Chauffeur

albums pretty gfood btw. i dunno why everyone seems to love duran duran specificalley so much tho. some of these tracks r great but not all the hooks rly catch me . the production and synth tones n guitars r charming n all but like half the shit here isnt rly catchy at all. its a fun enough time i guess but i dont see it sticking with me that much. kinda saved by the grooves though. was just expecting more. shrug

Any album with Hungry Like the Wolf on it deserves at least 4 stars. But besides that, I found this album pretty enjoyable. The length was perfect and it was full of new wave bops. I'd like to listen to it again and absorb it better.

hungry like the wolf is just a classic. I think i am falling into the trap where i like albums because of one song. that being said, album was eh. 3/5

very solid

Number: 188 Familiarity: Well-versed (4) Rating: 3 ======= I'll give it a low 3. For the most part, I'm not a fan of main stream early 80's synth pop.

I finally got round to Rio. Yes, yes. I know. There are two lazy ways of talking about Duran Duran. One is to dismiss them as MTV pin-ups. The other is to overcompensate and pretend they secretly invented modern music. Neither is true. We must, however, talk about how accomplished they are as a band. John Taylor constantly changes his approach from song to song rather than imposing a single bass style. Roger Taylor is a far subtler drummer than he’s usually given credit for, often succeeding by leaving space rather than filling it. Andy Taylor shifts effortlessly between rock muscle, Chic-style rhythm work and atmospheric colour, while Nick Rhodes quietly orchestrates the whole affair. By the end I was thinking of him less as a keyboard player than as an arranger who happened to use synthesisers. The real revelation was how they divide the labour. Every instrument has a job. The arpeggiators aren’t there because synthesisers were fashionable; they’re given distinct functions from track to track. Sometimes they’re the rhythmic engine, sometimes they’re a moving pad, sometimes they simply animate the harmony. Nobody duplicates anyone else. You can hear all sorts flowing into the record: Chic’s bass philosophy, Bowie’s Low, the spacious thinking of Closer, the elegance of Japan, even Dave Ball’s electronic restraint. Rio isn’t so much a revolution as a confluence. It doesn’t invent a new musical language. It speaks several existing ones with remarkable fluency. And then there’s Simon. We can, and probably should, talk at length about Simon Le Bon and his unmistakable Drama Student from Harrow tendencies. The phrasing, the theatricality, the sense that every line is being delivered from somewhere just slightly above the stage lights. Sometimes it works beautifully, giving the songs a kind of heightened, romantic sheen. Sometimes it teeters on the brink of parody. But it’s never dull, and crucially, it fits the band’s sense of scale. These songs aren’t meant to be mumbled; they’re meant to be performed. And yes, occasionally it feels like he’d narrate the washing up with the same intensity he’d bring to a doomed love affair on a yacht in the Caribbean. But that’s part of the charm. The domestic and the exotic collapse into the same heightened register. And that’s probably why I admire it more than I love it. Given an infinite record shop and a finite allowance of 1001 albums, I’m not convinced Rio would be an obvious pick. I’d probably reach for the records that created those vocabularies first. But that doesn’t diminish what Duran Duran achieved. They distilled a remarkable amount of musical thinking into a set of immaculate pop records. It’s a happy confluence that made a lot of bedroom dancers very happy. And yes, I still have no bloody idea what “The Reflex” is about. But nor does Simon. So that’s OK.

VERY 80s. Sounds nice, like the song called Rio. Gives Brazil and beach energy in the 80s.

Decent album that is screamingly 80's 3/5

Save a prayer is an all time fav but sadly the rest of the album doesn’t work as much for me

Platan byrjaði vel. Seinni hlutinn dapur fyrir utan Save a prayer

There is something special about Duran Duran and albums from this era. Man so many hits on this.

title track was okay! the album accidentally started on shuffle, but i fixed it. the bass in new religion is sick save a prayer is cool i think the chauffer is my fav 6.5/10

Quite enjoyed it and knew a couple of the hits.

Big songs are still bangers. Rest is just fine but still a decent listen.

Some classics, not my.vibe.

Consistant duran duran

Rio is a solid album that feels unmistakably '80s in the best way. It has a bright, polished sound and an easygoing energy that makes it enjoyable from start to finish. While no individual track really stood out to me, the album works well as a complete listening experience rather than relying on a single standout hit. The drumming is especially impressive, adding a lot of momentum and texture that elevates many of the songs. Overall, it's the kind of record I'd happily put on during a relaxed morning or a laid-back evening when I want something stylish, catchy, and effortless.

Lots of classic 80’s synth pop. Some of the songs didn’t carry through time.

Fun simple and has hungry like a wolf

I liked this album. Felt like I was rollerskating in a rink with a disco ball like back in the day when I was alive definitely. I've already heard hungry like the wolves, but it's really good. The synths and punchy drums were good kickstart to the day. My favorite song was definitely last chance on the stairway.

I definitely enjoyed this album. It sounded very similar to a lot of the other music from this era that I’ve heard, though certainly not in a bad way. I always mix up this band with Depeche Mode.

i really like the instrumentals. they all sound so fun and interesting, but i do not like the singer. i am not a fan of their voice and dont see myself listening to him much, but i adore everything else

23.06.2026 S: 3/5 | V: 3/5 | T: 4/5 [Total: 10/15]⁠

It's good for synth-pop, but I don't care for the genre. Still a 3/5

Feels like you needed to have Duran Duran on the list and this was the only album to pick. Competent but outside the hits meh

just good old fashioned fun

A very fun listen filled with a great 80's sound. My mum has always enjoyed Duran Duran and this makes me think of her. Fav Songs Hungry Like The Wolf Rio My Own Way Is it Top 1001 Worthy (is it essential)? Yes very good venture into 80's new wavey-pop sounds with lots of fun hits to boot

Deserves a 3.5, great listen

I like a bit of Duran Duran, and I liked this. Indeed, I liked it. Rio is the highlight for me, and the other singles are good too, but I can't escape the vibe that all of these songs are the same. There are better electronic vibes from the 80s

Music of my youth! Middle school and MTV! These guys brought an energy to pop that I didn't appreciate then as much as now—except for Hungry Like the Wolf. A fan of NC State basketball in 1983, I remember this as the soundtrack to video essays on local TV. Simon LeBon's voice and swagger are distinctive.

Wouldn't have touched this with a barge pole back on the 80s, but now that I actually listened to it it was actually okay. Hasn't aged too badly either.

the chauffeur is a terrific closer

Another album I know of but I had never listened it it the whole way through. I enjoyed it but my favorite songs on the album were the hits Rio and hungry like the wolf. Classics for a reason

Classic 80s album, couple of good hits. Mostly a good album.

boring asf

good oldie music rio-good my own way- good, wouldn't come back to lonely in your nightmare- I enjoyed hungry like the wolf- I'm not completely sure why but i found it funny that there would be a song I've heard many times before but never knew the name or origin of it hold back the rain- I think it's fine but wouldn't come back to, a bit to repetitive new religion- I enjoyed it for a while, it seems a bit funkier than the rest of the album, and then I just felt as though the song had been going on for too long last chance on the staircase-a fine song, nothing to write home about save a prayer- good song the chauffeur- I think this might be top three on this album, I just enjoyed the long peaceful instrumental outro a lot

I know these music videos like the back of my hand (I was too young to read anything further into that although it is likely an early indicator that I was to be heterosexual). The music is still fun but I can't really connect with anything outside the songs I already knew. Likely a 2.5 that I will round up to 3.

alright

Not exactly ground-breaking stuff, but certainly a veritably listenable album that encapsulates the early 80s optimistic futurism, before we realised it had all gone wrong. While I wasn't there at the time, I've often felt New Wave was a culturally strange genre, ill-fitting with the misery of Britain in the 80s. The aggressive counter-culture roots of punk had sublimated into the mainstream by the likes of Malcolm McLaren (boo hiss), and New Wave now seems to have been the final echo of an alternative future being subsumed into commercially accessible, hollow slop. As someone who identifies as a disappointed Gen Z punk, I associate New Wave with the emptiness and liminal eeriness of Mark Fisher's concept of Hauntology - "The slow cancellation of the future has been accompanied by a deflation of expectations." Fisher's analysis goes a long way in answering why there is no true descendent of the punks (and why I like the tunes on Rio but still find myself resenting it). My shortcomings for this album are not purely cultural though, I find the spacious reverb applied to most tracks on Rio even make it sound like the lonely individualist uncomfortability of Thatcher's Britain. Undeniably though, Rio has some heat when enjoyed mindlessly, and some especially good basslines that I can't resist jamming to.

This one speaks to the mysterious alchemy that is music. I've listened to this album thousands of times and still own the vinyl I bought used in about 1983. But I'm not sure I'd include it on this list. Overall, the album sounds thin and reedy - a harbinger of the cursed transistor sound that would dominate the rest of the 80s. John and Roger Taylor are an amazing backline. But none of the other three are particularly impressive. Most of the tracks are layers of mediocre ideas performed by (lead) players of questionable performative talent, and produce nothing special. But twice (Rio and Hungry) - and here's the alchemy - the exact same elements and styles fall into a combination that unlocks a magical alternative universe. Those two songs still blow my mind. Why they works SO WELL on an album that otherwise falls flat is beyond me. Ultimately, I don't understand this to be 1001 albums that feature songs everyone should hear before they die. And that's all that this album is to my ears. Still, Rio and Hungry are SO good, I can't give it less than 3 stars.

It sounds like a really synth heavy version of The Stone Roses. I really like the diversity of instrumentation such as the saxophone used.

These were everywhere when I was a kid. Hyper kinetic shiny pop. They arrived in our living room fully formed it seemed. All high cheekbones, driving bass and awkward dancing. With the expanse of time spreading behind us there’s a little more subtlety to this. There’s fragments of Bowie in the measured vocals but the production is the pop sheen I remember and that does keep you at arms length. The icy eroticism of the chauffeur is an example of what it could have been without this sheen

Steady pop

Fun album. Very lively. Rio and Save a Prayer were my standouts. 6.4/10.

Amazing bass grooves, and the guitars sound like they're played through a rack system that costs more than my house. This is the quintessential new wave pop record from the 1980s.

Prima joh

For some reason, I assumed this was one of those bands where you could still hear traces of post-punk under the pop gloss, but mostly the only thing that stood out was how much the basslines sounded like Yes? I've always theoretically been a fan of New Pop and the way it sort of like carries punk ideology into the popular imagination and all, but most of the bands operating in that milieu don't do much for me.

The only Duran Duran songs I'd ever heard before listening to this were 'Rio' and 'Hungry Like the Wolf', but the rest of this album was more or less exactly what I expected from what I knew about those two songs. Solid hooks, really fun, synths that were just on the right side of being too cheesy to hold up very well. You could tell me that any of these songs were radio singles, and I would believe you.

Good songs, but whole album along like feels about the same

Оч не хочется обижать Duran Duran но такое ощущение как будто альбом... звучит как-то.. устарело? Нью-вейвово, синти-поповое звучание во все поля, хорошо звучащие песни но во многих как будто присутствует некая шаблонность того времени. Квинтэссенция 80-х во всём, что в музыке, что в обложке (супер-клёвая обложка, кстати) и тут уже для каждый поймёт сам, сыграло это для него или нет. Мне вот не оч. Хоть я и не фанат коллектива, а лишь знаю некоторые песни, но как будто бы более поздний Duran Duran выигрывает у второго альбома.

- top, 80 updrive energie

Give off an optimistic vibe

6/10 Había empezado mejor de lo que termino, la voz no me encantó pero tampoco es mala, buenas canciones con buena instrumental

A fun and funky 80s album with the smash hits Rio and Hungry Like The Wolf. I tend to compare Duran Duran a lot to Depeche Mode, which I prefer, but they are still great 80s fun.

Duran Duran are a band anyone in the UK cannot avoid, so I wasn’t that overjoyed to get it today. It’s fine, but nothing that changed my view that they are overplayed. Rio and Hungry Like the Wolf are good songs, but I’ve heard them enough for one lifetime. The rest has an 80s pop with some new wave influence, which is a fine enough sound but didn’t really grab me. A lot of the songs went on for longer than I remembered to- perhaps a radio edit spared me previously! It’s fine, but not one I’ll return to.

Better than I thought it would be. Always found DD to be a little bit earnest, but this wasn’t bad. Rio and Save a Prayer still the better singles.

6.0/10 Not really what I would generally listen to but it was nice. Very much 80s! Don't think I will personally listen to this again as an album, but it not bad perse. Favourite song: Save a Prayer

Classic album. Killer tracks.

While I really didn’t need to listen to most of the album I was rewarded with the last song “Chauffeur” possibly my favorite song of theirs. I know it is a pivotal album but not really my style and the last song really saved it for me

Good album. Favourite tracks: "Save a Prayer", "The Chauffer", "New Religion", and "Rio" (and yes, as many must have already mentioned, the bass playing is very good, for instance in "New Religion" or "Rio"). It's 3,5 stars for me.

Came in fully expecting a hate-listen (Thatcher, Patrick Bateman, plastic cheese, etc) but found myself surprisingly diverted; maybe the bass is too high in the mix, but it’s pretty undeniable when it works, and I’m a sucker for some of those synth arps. All told, while pretty much every song has a middle eight that introduces some naff 80s choice that better records avoided at the time (wailing sax, wanky guitar, flute solo, some kind of chimes), I’ll revisit some of the album tracks, which is exactly the kind of surprise this project should be throwing up.

It was fine! Nice example of pop rock from that era. Notably while listening to it in the car my 2 year old started covering her ears and said "too loud! Turn it off" so there's that.

Very 80s album. 𝘙𝘪𝘰 is full of catchy synth-pop songs and a ton of style, but after a while it starts to feel a bit too glossy for me. The big singles are good, the production is strong, and the whole thing sounds expensive in that very specific early-80s way. Still, I don’t connect with it that much beyond the hits. It’s enjoyable while it’s on, just not an album I’d come back to often.

Nice, less my smile

a different flavor of duran duran, however still interesting

Never really listened to Duran Duran until now. There might be something to this...

the last two songs are extremely cool and the first song is fucking Rio by Duran Duran and the rest is cool but doesn't make me leap

They love a bongo and so do I

Some good 80s tunes

paar goeie nummers om de dansvloer te vullen... vooral uit wat misplaatste nostalgie een 3*

Weird music but the bass player goes crazy

Lonely in your Nightmare lit Hungry like a wolf classic

it's cool, songs get stuck in my head

Ahhhhh stinky 80s cheese. You can't deny their catalogue is so crucial in contributing to the nostalgia of that era. love them or hate them, they will stand the test of time. This album specifically has some outrageous bops, but some serious duds as well. 6.5 / 10 Best track/s: Hungry Like The Wolf, Rio, The Chauffeur

Fuck the 80s ripped, imagine slamming cocaine and buying a house for 20 bucks in your sick Torana smoking a cigarette blasting hungry like the wolf cruising for poon. The Chauffeur slaps

Il faudra que le réécoute je pense, il y a moyen que des morceaux me plaisent un peu plus à la deuxième écoute.

3/5

Save a Prayer is a good tune. They were big in their time but the music hasn't stood the test of time.

For an era where the music was pretty bad this is actually a cut above the usually 80's crap.

Tbf, it was more listenable than most 80s crap

Pretty good, I’m not sure I’d come back to it though

Noice, if I listened to it more I'd probably like it. The Chauffeur sounds kinda cool.

When I think of what I dislike of the '80s, everything about this album is what comes to mind. The bass is really cool though. Personal enjoyment: 3/5 Relevance to this list:4/5

"Duran duran? You mean the mgs guy!"

sooo 80's i really like it, especially rio i would say thats my favourite song on the album. I would rate it a 4 but i have to take into consideration other albums that may be miles better, so thsi is definitely a high 3. Just pure 80's vibes mane

Everything comes together nicely. Love these hits, and I could see myself coming back to it again and giving it a higher rating in the future

Kivaa musaa. Tanssittavaa. Sama tyyli koko albumin.

Every song is about a minute too long, the back half of the album is mostly bad and the front half is mostly great. Big mixed feelings here. I would only listen to half of this album again.

Only OK. Couldn’t get into it.

75

Peak 80s mood. When I say mood, I mean it contributes to whatever you're doing more actively than listening to this. Because it serves best as a backdrop to other things, I wouldn't qualify it as "must-hear" so much as a soft "must-play". 3/5.

I always enjoyed the 90s Duran Duran material more than what I heard of their 80s hits. But I've never listened a complete album. TILL NOW. Outside of the singles everyone already knows, this wasn't much to write home about. It was good, but each non-single felt like a weaker version of one of the singles. Still, solid melodies and bass playing amidst it all.

Decent album, with a couple really good songs.

Catchy, familiar tunes, of course (although the lyrics are less interesting than I remembered). But some of these songs (I'm talking about you, "The Chauffeur") are really tough to get through. Third star maintained based on album art.

Classic 3-star album, handful of good songs, but the overall album gets dragged down due to the heavy synths

3.5

Held up better than I expected

Catchy and fun vibes, but some of the songs didn't stick with me, and that seems like it's the point. So then, what's the point? Solid 80s vibes, cool to check out.

Album 35/1001. Listened 5/4/2026. Some classics I could listen to on repeat, but also some songs I don't ever want to listen to again. Aged OK, but not perfectly.

Super well produced. Still fell into some of the 80's cliches I am not a huge fan of but they pull them off so well it's kind of hard to find fault. This album is full of ear worms I will probably be humming for a while. I still wouldn't say it's particularly my style but I wouldn't blame anyone for liking this.

Growing up I despised music from the 80s and I feel like Duran Duran being a quintessential 80s synth pop band made them a target for my derision, but I’ve come to find that I was mostly wrong; a lot of the 80s music I disliked is actually pretty decent and this is no exception. That said, I don’t love it and I’m not going to proclaim to be a Duran Duran fan now, but it’s not that bad either.

It was alright.

I think if I were a popular kid in high school in the 80's I would've loved this. For me in present time however, it doesn't hit the spot. The songs are fun, but I probably won't listen to anything on this album again Favorite: Last Chance of the Stairway Least Favorite: The Chauffeur

The chauffeur cover is a decent one. SAVE A PRAYER TILL THE MORNING AFTEEERRRR

It's a fun, danceable 80's electronic brit-pop album, with hints of funk, punk and disco. The rhythm section really lays down some great grooves thru the whole album. The first half is more upbeat and ends with two synth pop ballads. Sports a great album cover as well.

Sinceramente, o começo é bem difícil. Músicas muito parecidas umas com as outras, com pouca variação entre elas, o que me fez demorar um pouco pra engatar no álbum. Longe de ser ruim, mas as 5 primeiras músicas são dificeis de se ouvir, pelo fato de parecerem 20 minutos da mesma música. Chegando na 6ª track, temos enfim uma variação, em que acredito ser a melhor música até aqui. A partir de New Religion, temos uma sequência muito boa até o fim do álbum, com 4 músicas que melhoram totalmente a experiência. Por fim, temos The Chauffeur, que encerra muito bem o álbum. Uma track que diversifica bastante das outras e que trás uma musicalidade única. Realmente muito boa. Ao todo, Rio é um bom álbum. Por mais que seja um gênero que eu não costumo ouvir, além da redundância do começo, conseguiu me prender até o fim. ⭐️ Favorite Track: New Religion 📈 Best Track: The Chauffeur 📉 Worst Track: --

I'm torn. I've always liked Duran Duran, I remember these songs on the radio when I was young. They were at the vanguard of British New Wave in the 80s. Sharp production, eclectic musicians including a marimba in one track, and these are all classic party pop bops. I'm just a little disappointed in the songwriting. It comes off as if they have nothing to say. Which is fine with pop music in general, but I know they can do better. I'm going to chalk it up to youth and 80s excess, because they showed their writing chops later (see the Wedding Album, 1993). Fun album cover, though. "Rio": Fun, classic 80s pop. "Hungry Like the Wolf": Ditto "Hold Back the Rain": Best-written track. Good use of metaphor for telling you buddy that he needs to dial back the partying. "Save a Prayer": Smooth groove. What a one-night-stand needs to be.

This isn't earth shattering, but Duran Duran had a real style and sound that their pop contemporaries never could reach. Of all the suit wearing synth-rock soul dudes, these guys actually had an edge that makes them more listenable than others of the time. Pretty good time all around.

Yeah they're a classic but not my cup of tea at all.

Was fun when it was current. Don't really need to revisit this one.

HER NAME IS RIO AND SHE DANCES ON THE SAND

An enjoyable listen, with the singles (Hungry, Rio, Save a Prayer) well supported by the album tracks, with The Chauffeur adding a surprising twist at the end. 80s synth pop done well

I’ve always liked this band since I first got into listening to music in the ‘80s and they really have stood the test of time. Not many albums back then though were great from beginning to end and this would be one as well. However the real great songs stand out and showcase the great songwriting capabilities of these guys. I also appreciate that they can make hit pop songs with a darker tone than what most bands were doing at that time. I’m mostly familiar with their next two albums so it was great to give this one a spin and I’m looking forward to listening to some more earlier material as well as later stuff.

It's good pop music with a couple of bangers. However as an album, not overly special. Brilliant cover art.

일단 듣는다!

2,5

Een 3/5, maar echt maar net

Listened previously. Expectations: High - Verdict: Very Good - An all time classic of pop music to begin. What a brilliant chorus. The next couple of tracks can't quite match that rush but I do like Lonely In Your Nightmare. Obviously Hungry Like The Wolf is another slice of pop perfection. New Religion and Last Chance On The Stairway are also good. Overall a really fun listen.

It was ok. I was slightly disappointed. I guess I just had High Hopes. I enjoyed it but was not blown away by any song

Feels a little bit of style over substance here, where it seems like the music is secondary to the posing going on around it. The bass is great in places here though and the only thing that really pushed this up to a 3. A variety of styles, from running 16th notes, to slap, and fretless, there is some real virtuosity going on in the background, just a shame about the rest of the supporting cast.

Meh. 2.5

loved the last song!?

I knew this album already. Good, not my favorite by them but liked it

I mean… drum machines, synths… Brits. It doesn’t get more 80’s. Rio, Hungry Like The Wolf, and Save A Prayer, and the Chauffeur are the classics - the rest of the tracks are filler.

Fun record and it sounds like the 80s.

La canción que más me gustó Hungry like the wolf aunque tiene más, me sorprendió lo mucho que me gustó faf

This is indeed very 80s. It's not bad but not my music of choice, however I can't rate it lower based just in my taste, because objectively it's not bad at all.

Från det bra 80-talet, före totalkommersialiseringen. en fot i synthen och en i new wave. Sköna basgångar. Men kanske inte deras bästa. Stark trea.

I have this album on vinyl bought at the time. Just why is down to my ex wife having a crush on both Simon Le Bon and John Taylor rather than it been a guilty pleasure. I should have taken note of this fascination but that is another tale. As you may appreciate I have never played this album for many years until today. I did not approach with hate and was surprisingly entertained. I did hear a lot to like particularly John Taylor’s bass playing which can only be described as excellent. Just shows your appreciation of something despite ingrained prejudice’s can change and heal over time. 3/5 5/4/26

Album #67/68: Rio - Duran Duran Genre (W): New wave, synth-pop, pop rock, dance-rock Singles: Hungry Like the Wolf, Save a Prayer, Rio I have not listened to this album before. Thoughts?: I thought the production was solid, but I found a lot of the songs repetitive. Favorite songs: Rio, Hungry Like the Wolf, Hold Back the Rain, Last Chance on the Stairway

At times bland, but some bangers sprinkled in there

im loving this right up my alley tbf this is nice to work to i love new religion - song

I must admit that the album is pretty catchy, even though Simon Le Bon is just singing whatever

Rio and Hungry Like the Wolf carry the album. Hard 80s feel with some decent depth tracks.

Ich mag Synths einfach nicht, Hungry Like the Wolf und Save a Prayer sind trotzdem gute Songs

This was pretty good. This record has a bouncy rhythm. Favourite Track(s): Rio, Hungry Like The Wolf Least Favourite Track(s): Hold Back The Rain

Son typique de la pop des années 80's. Pas vraiment ma tasse de thé. Mention pour la piste 9 : the Chauffeur.

In high school, my friend worked at a local record shop and would direct me to music that he'd listened to and enjoyed. I had to filter his recommendation with the knowledge of where our tastes diverged, but he was usually pretty good. Among his best recommendations was the Duran Duran Tribute Album, which was a bunch of covers by pop punk bands of the mid/late 90s. I LOVED it and the album remained on high rotation until I eventually lost it in one of my many cross-country moves. This is a pretty good album with great production, but I really wish I was listening to that tribute album instead.

Duran Duran es un clásico de los clásicos. Este álbum en particular tiene un sonido bastante pop/rock con mucha presencia de sintes (dancepop y synthpop lo son TODO para mi). Canciones que no conocía y me gustaron mucho: My Own Way, Hold Back the Rain y Save a Prayer. Creo que es el primer álbum que disfruto escuchar desde que me metí a esto.

Very dark and moody but fun and with catchy melodies also! Highlights: "Rio", "Lonely in Your Nightmare", "Hold Back the Rain"

o riodjanero continua lindooo FAVS (top 3): my own way, hold back the rain, save a prayer menções honrosas: lonely in your nightmare, hungry like the wolf, last chance on the stairway é um bom album nota final: 3.5/5

Like Japan but not as good. It's alright

Por un momento me sentí presionada a darle más, pero realmente no lo disfruté tanto. Me pareció excesivamente largo, tardé como 3 días en escucharlo completo porque me aburría. Igualmente le doy 3 porque tiene temas muy icónicos.

Butt Flo

"Last Chance on the Stairway", where I can hear the production choices without the overlay of my teenage relationship with their hits. Mick Karn-inspired bass--lovely; very high, almost crystalline shimmer; almost-metal guitar, smoothed into an oily Defender spaceship; more. I'm reminded of the dance music in Dario Argento's "Demons," and the fantasy of Italian dance club fashion in 1985, just 3 years later than "Rio." What a time it must have been in Birmingham clubs 1981-82, when Duran Duran was developing "Rio." There's a lot more Gary Numan in here than I picked up on in th 80s.

This is the first time I ever listened to an entire Duran Duran album. Many of my friends adored them but at the time I was still firmly entrenched in my phase of disdaining anything overly popular, so they had no chance with me. Of course some of their songs are just undeniably perfect pop tunes, and I'll happily sing along to them. Listening to this record I could see why so many people, even those more serious about music, respect the band. They do seem quite a big step above many other bands of the time. Still, I don't feel any real connection except to the hits. There were no hidden gems on here for me.

Meh…

Not my personal taste, interesting, but not really different.

6/10

I grew up with music. It was everywhere, but especially all over MTV, which was on constantly for in every teen’s house who could afford cable. While I liked this music at the time, I grew bored with it before entering high school. 80s synth-pop is not a genre I revisit these days, but I enjoyed listening to this record for its nostalgia, sure, but even putting that aside there are some fun tunes on the album. Duran Duran mastered their hooks, and their bass player (John Taylor) kicks ass. Fun doesn’t necessarily equate to great or innovative music, as is the case here. Pop generally doesn’t need to accomplish either of these things though, it just needs to have broad appeal and this album certainly did. The problem, of coarse, is that music like this becomes emblamatic of its time and often doesn't stand the test of time. I would argue that is the case here. There is simply better new wave music to listen to should the mood strike. In many ways this album helped define an era of pop music and like it or not it absolutely deserves a place on this list. Again this was a fun listen, but probably not something that will reenter my rotation.

No es mi gusto musical, pero tiene algunos temas históricos y es escuchable de principio a fin.

Was disappointed with this after the first three albums were bona fide classics. Had only heard the hits. New religion is a great song. This album is not a must listen before you die. Not bad but not great either.

New religion

Such nostalgic 80s music. This album has Duran Duran's classics on it and is a joy to listen to. However, I never really find myself wanting to listen to them. I can't put my finger on it. 3.5/5

To me, Duran Duran is peak 80s sound, and this album includes some of their biggest hits like Rio and Hungry Like the Wolf. I enjoyed this album, but there definitely were some songs towards the end which I didn’t think were as good. Sometimes artists make some great songs but the entire album isn’t the best, and that’s ok. Still, I was glad to listen to the entire album.

3.5 maybe? Wanted to like this more, but really the only stand-outs were the songs I already knew.

Better than it ought to be, mostly due to the bass throughout. This type of music is not my wheelhouse but I was mostly indifferent to it. It's the Bass that keeps you in. 3

Good overall. Couple of hits.

Couple great songs.

I liked "Rio", "My Own Way" and really liked "The Chauffer". The rest was kind of forgettable and repetitive.

Duran Duran. Enough said

Need to revisit again. Easy listening 6/10

So eighties ...

An album very much of its time that will immediately transport you back to the 80s and the heyday of MTV. The combination of funk, pop, and new wave was a compelling and original sound, and the highlights of this record - overplayed as they are - are truly high. But on the whole it’s too dated and a bit too uneven. The singles outshine the record as a whole.

most songs are good and then they're meh

The hits were hits for a reason.

Being immersed in punk and alt-rock circles for decades, I came into this album with a deep-seeded bias against Duran Duran. While not a fantastic album by any means, it's also not as bad as I imagined.

Better than I remembered. 80s darlings. This was probably the height of their success fueled by MTV.

Familiar songs since it was 2001. They all seemed the same.

fun listen with some familiar songs! wish i could rate 3.5

A great synthpop record that despite its dated sound, still holds up well to this day. There are lots of groovy baselines that I really enjoyed. It’s a very pleasant listen, and while it has some tracks that I don’t care for much m, the highlights are very enjoyable and overall, it’s an enjoyable liste.

felt like i was constantly in a coming of age movie. would do 3.5 stars if i could

Save a prayer would be perfect for an 80s movie montage. Rio and Hungry Like the Wolf in this one

Two certified classics and a few other surprises. 3.5/5

Save a Prayer had an electronic track that would've felt right in with the DS Ace Attorney soundtrack. This is the only thing of mark I have about this album. It was okay.

Ik krijg de hele tijd het gevoel dat er elk moment ghost busters geroepen kan worden op dit album. Heel erg 80’s maar dat vind ik wel leuk. Soms een beetje poppie, waardoor het niet super spannend wordt. Sommige dingen vind ik onnodig, bijvoorbeeld nog een keer uitleggen dat Rio ook de naam van een rivier is. Wel genoten van het album, maar het krijgt niet een speciaal plekje in mijn hart

Ik hou ontzettend van de 80's, de opkomst van synthesizers en drumcomputers het klinkt zo smaakvol kitsch. Duran Duran neemt er dankbaar gebruik van en hoewel ik de sounds erg waardeer vind ik de liedjes wel minder. Het is allemaal erg doorsnee en poppie. En dat werk voor het grote publiek maar niet echt voor mij.

ça va mais sans plus

Rio nöd so schlecht gsi. Susch hämmer scho schlechteri 80er Albe gha.

So many songs I knew but never realised who was behind them. Overall positive experience some skippable filler feeling songs.

Not bad! Kinda carried by Hungry Like the Wolf

It’s fine

Really nice album. A 3,8

Certain travels me back in time.

eh

Good danceable pop music popular during its capsule of time.

Rio has a quintessential 80s feel but it's a lot tighter than other albums of the era. This makes it seem to have aged really well. The bass is great and was the highlight of my listen. Synths were on point, and the rest is kinda take it or leave it. Really liked "Rio" but the rest of the album all blended a bit together. I've heard "Hungry Like the Wolf" so many times I'm numb to the song, but obviously it's a hit that has stood the test of time. I'd give this a 3/5, nothing bad and overall on the better side of things, but nothing really getting me going.

Tem alguma coisa que me irrita no som deles. Nao sei se é por ser tudo muito eletrônico, sintético. Em alguns momentos achei que poderia ser a voz do vocalista, porque quando ele coloca menos força e dá suavidade, eu gostei bem mais do todo. Músicas legais aí no meio mas não rolou muito pra mim!

Pet shop boys, mas mais aborrecido

Its alright. Very 80s with its use of synthesizer. If you are a fan of the era definitely worth a listen

This is really good, funky 80s pop/rock. Aside from the two I knew, this is a pretty strong album. Standout tracks are Hold Back the Rain, New Religion and my favourite on the album, Last Chance On The Stairway. A solid 3.5/5.

Two bangers on this album. Reminds me of Low Cut Connie

Sympa, un peu vieillot, The Chauffeur est top

3.5

This was solid

I was working in a record store when this album came out, it was played constantly so listening again brought back old memories. That being said it's not an album the I have downloaded.

It's Duran Duran so you know what you're getting. Solid 80s rock.

meio que duran duran é tudo igual né

Pretty decent, however quite repetitive at times

Solidly in the category of well-known 80s albums that just aren't for me. The songs are pretty simple musically, and the style doesn't really hold my interest. An inoffensive 3.

Not bad, packed with Shaw's classics and overall nice to listen through. Lonely in Your Nightmare sneaky good song. Strong opener, decent closer, overall decent 6.6/10

The 80s were largely a mistake but this album clears the bar into "decent" territory

J'étais pas né, mais j'ai l'impression que c'était un groupe énorme à l'époque. En tout cas, à titre personnel, ça ne m'a rien dit de particulier. Pas mal de passages on retenu mon attention, mais j'ai pas non plus accroché sur le long terme. Mais ce n'était pas non plus désagréable.

Fun 80s pop

Granted there are some nostalgic songs on this album, notably the 3 singles Rio, Wolf and Prayer the rest basically isn’t anything to write home about unfortunately, a bit samey and bland.

we all oughta start somewhere ig

Nice sounding album, interesting instrumentals, vocals and compositions. Definitely will hear it once again, 7/10

Listening to Rio by Duran Duran ended up being a surprisingly sad experience for me, and not because of the music itself, but because of my expectations. So many people had told me this was an album I would absolutely love, that it was completely aligned with my taste, my aesthetic, my love for 80s pop rock. And they weren’t wrong to think that, on paper it makes perfect sense. This should have been my thing. I went into it expecting that instant connection, that feeling of recognition, of finding something that belonged to me. And I think that’s where things went wrong. In the album’s defense, it was unfair of me to approach it with such high, specific expectations. Albums deserve to be met with openness, not anticipation shaped by other people’s promises. So I have to admit I felt disappointed when it didn’t give me what I thought it would. Not because it’s a bad album, it absolutely isn’t, but because it wasn’t the experience I had imagined. I gave it three stars, which feels honest and fair. Out of the nine tracks, only two truly captivated me, Hungry Like the Wolf and Hold Back the Rain. Those were the moments where I felt that spark, where I understood the appeal, and they’re the two songs I saved to revisit. The rest of the album left me more distant than I expected. Not disconnected, but not fully immersed either. This experience also reminded me of something important about this whole challenge. When I talk about an album, I’m only talking about my personal relationship with it. My reaction doesn’t define the album’s value, its legacy, or its importance. There’s a reason it’s considered one of the albums you must hear before you die. My opinion doesn’t change that. If anything, I think I was a victim of my own expectations. I went in expecting one kind of emotional and sonic experience, and I found another. And maybe, if I had arrived without that weight, without that script already written in my mind, I might have connected with it differently. Or maybe not. Sometimes music just meets you where you are. And sometimes, it doesn’t.

Very mediocre 80s record. Distinct sound and great tracks but nothing too interesting

Rio Hungry Like the Wolf Save a Prayer The Chauffeur

It’s pleasurable to listen to in the moment but the whole thing has a samey tempo and just lacks friction and I found myself zoning out on first and repeat listens. It sort of gets exhausting hearing the lead singer sound like he’s yelling constantly.

I was ready to hate because I’m not a big fan of the hits but the cheesy 80’s drums and guitars won me over a bit. It knows what it is (2.5/5)

Two bangers or so, I do like this.

Bunch of hits that I would have never known were from Duran Duran (Hungry Like the Wolt, Save a Prayer, Rio). Always excited to hear a hit and know the origin. That being said, my ears find it insanely average.

Too fancy & pop. I do understand that it's a style, but not for me

Never could really get into Duran Duran, but this album has it's great moments.

I don’t care for sand. I only care for the imaginary chemical explosion that is happening in my subconscious. but it didn’t explode. i was thinking that the title track could be cooler but the melody is just ok. 3/5

sitas man pat diezgan patika. love the name

If an alien gynecologist from Jupiter asked me what 80s music sounded like, I might suggest Rio or Hungry Like the Wolf. In an era that included Michael Jackson and Madonna, these guys were the biggest thing in the world for awhile. I was looking for hidden gems, and while the other tracks were fine, I didn't find them.

A very solid 3. Rio is a great song; the rest is listenable.

Easy to see why the hits are hits and why everything else is forgotten

I don't care about Duran Duran. Will never do. Don't like this type of music. But I think I can write an honest review. Add new wave, rock, pop, a lot of synth, springly bass lines and a ton of cocaine to the blender and you get this album. It is energetic and fun. The songs are catchy and highly danceable with the correct mix of drugs. Dude... so much cocaine and Ambien.

Featuring three of their biggest hits (Rio, Hungry Like the Wolf, Save a Prayer), if you're an 80s kid, you'll warm to this. The rest offer good support to the main acts.

Good album, its good some great well known chart hits on there, unbelievable base lines, and fast rhythms. Pure 80s pop synthy music! 6.7/10 for me

Biggest highlight for me with this album, the bassist? I definitely need to look up who did bass for Duran Duran! Fun to listen to

Not really my thing but the hits are fun. I felt there wasn't much variation in style, and the other songs tended to feel a bit samey.

*1982. *Rio and Hungry Like the Wolf. *Duran is just fun. Easy to sing along. *Simon Le Bon does have an intriguing voice. RATING - 7/10

3.1

Not looking forward to this, honestly - not my genre, even for nostalgia's sake. Will try to be objective! Gave it two listens, mostly in the background while doing other things, but that's more than I'd ever do otherwise. Overall, not as cheesy as I anticipated, and the hits are definitely catchy. Found myself wondering what the use case for this music might be. Some of the deeper tracks are too weird - and not necessarily danceable - to be typical synth pop club music. I was drawn in on both listens to the final track, which was dark and foreboding and, dare I admit it, interesting. While l can't imagine myself listening to any of these tracks in the future for - at least for their their own sakes - the experience was not as tedious as I had expected. 3/5

++: Rio, My Own Way, Hold Back the Rain +: Lonely in Your Nightmare, Last Chance on the Stairway, The Chauffeur +-: Hungry Like the Way, New Religion, Save a Prayer 7,0/10

Good oldie album. Some really cool songs and some very deep ones. Good for walking to when your depressed lol

This was better than average. This was my first time really getting into Duran Duran…pretty standard 80s synth pop.

The 80s in album form. I knew the big hits, of course. I was dreading it, but also intrigued. Could it be as bad as my teenage self had imagined? No. It wasn't that bad. It didn't speak to me in any meaningful way but it was absolutely fine.

cooool! I felt the 80s vibes. Many of the songs were quite goth, making me feel very witchy and magical. overall a fun first album. I am excited to broaden my music knowledge of genres, eras, and artists!

I can see why people 10-15 years older than me consider this a seminal album. The production seems ahead of its time, tons of pop anthems but I have a hard time with 80s synth pop, looped drums with tacky funk bass, but this might be the best version of that style. Rio and Lonely in your Nightmare stand out. 7.6/10

A classic and very 80s- 7/10

Almost perfect example of that 80s new wave sound. Duran Duran were huge here too, so I was already quite familiar with their hits. Enjoyable album.

kinda mid and i like duran duran

I dont exactly hate it but it just doesnt do anything for me. Not bad by any means its just not my thing. 5.6/10

Nice

This is day 3 of this project for myself and this album is my favorite so far. I really enjoyed it immediately once I am hit with those incredible basslines which occur throughout the album. They are woven in so intricately and wonderfully and it gives a nice rhythm and pace to the entire album which is so much fun to listen to.This is the synth pop classic and yeah, I really enjoyed it

I knew of Duran Duran from playing Rockband as a kid, so Hungry Like the Wolf was a familiar song. I also liked Rio and Save a Prayer

I like the singing style, but overall the songs are not my style.

La basse, mon dieu!! Refrains très bon, les productions aussi. Bonne voix Dans l'ensemble, bon. Pas excellent, mais bon. 3-/5

I didnt give this a fair hearing, there were some classics but nothing amazing

Not my fav artist in this genre or time period. The Chauffeur is doing some heavy lifting

Rio is a banger song, but of the remainder nothing caught my attention too strongly

Really liked the title track, kind of went downhill from there a bit but still kind of a fun listen. Not sure I would listen to a full album but a couple of these songs sprinkled into my life wouldn't hurt.

Hungry LIke the Wolf makes this a 3, the rest I could do without

A repeat of the first album I listened to for this challenge. I'd say I assessed it right with a 3, but the title track alone makes it a strong 3.

I had low expectations about this one, but it sounded way more solid than I thought it would for an 80's record. Duran Duran is a band that I'm familiar with only by name. I don't think I've ever heard a song from them, but I know they were massively popular back then. Considering my opinions on the pop music from that time, I had my prejudices about it. I thought that it was going to sound very loud and generic, but it turns out the production is super clear and solid, with the songwriting be quite decent and the songs are fun with some touches of intimacy, specially on the slower cuts. I described the songwriting as just decent because, after the three first tracks, I felt the verses were very weak in comparison to the choruses, and I'll dare to say that they even feel like filler between the best parts. I specially liked the ones in 'Rio', 'Lonely In Your Nightmare' and 'Hold Back the Rain', but they are all fantastic. About the instrumentation, I think is alright. I believe the bass and the synths were the best sounding instruments. The bass was super groovy and the synths create a lot of textures and interesting atmospheres in the back. The rest I though were okay, but not as noticeable as the other two. When it comes to the vocals, they are the protagonist of the album and the main responsible of creating the incredibly catchy melodies. In the end, this is a very solid pop album, but I wish they worked in the verses as much as they did in the choruses, so everything about the songs could be memorable, and not just these specific parts.

3 and a Half, vibey but did not convince me

Really don’t get the hype. It’s okay.

This album fucks

Sounded very 80s..

TOO 80s

I’m really enjoying this whole endeavour, vis-a-vis getting to listen to long-time favourite tracks in situ on the albums they live on. I grew up in a very 80s household so I am no stranger to Duran Duran, meaning that this album was just a good time! “Hungry Like The Wolf” is just such a banger.

так и не научилась их отличать к сожалению от других творений диско (?) эры, не захватывает эта музыка меня

Some decent, some not so great.

Dulcet tones of Simon Le Bon

feel like there were a few standout tracks but wasnt crazy abt all the tracks whoops

Not much to say kind of a pop rock type of sound but really enjoyable. Favorite song my own way

Just-okay synthpop gets overshadowed by a couple of great singles, with amazing bass playing and a couple grating high frequencies

Thought I would like this more since I love 80s new wave but it was just ok for me

Some great songs on here, and I can imagine at the time it was groundbreaking. But now it feels standard

So 80’s

Some great tunes but overall not a truly great album

I enjoyed the singles reminding me of an important time in my life. I enjoyed the electronic synth experimentation. The music isn't particularly to my liking, but it's ok.

I enjoy a lot of Duran Duran songs but this album just sounded bland like every song was just like the previous one I still like it tho jus not the best

fun but ends up kind of sounding the same I STILL LIKE IT

estuvo ok pero no me cambió la vida

Typical 80s. Couple big hits. I think The Chauffeur is the best song.

Iconic songs but I'm not really big into 80s pop

Итс окэй. Лучшая песня - Save a Prayer.

Okay

Seems like all of the Duran Duran songs I know, enjoyed it but nothing special in my opinion

Its exactly what you expect it to be, super danceable, sometimes a little annoying, but well produced and super catchy 80s synthy pop.

Liked it more than I expected…despite being more commercial, it shares at least some superficial similarities with Morrissey, Bryan Ferry, Squeeze, etc. Production and songs are a little sleek but not bad…solid 3.5. Great album artwork too

This is a solid album. There are real gems here, like My Own Way, and of course the hits: Save a Prayer, Hungry Like the Wolf, and Rio. It’s not one of my favorite albums, but it features several tracks that I’ll definitely add to my personal playlist.

Mitt kanske tidigaste popminne är när min storasyster spelade Duran Duran på sitt rum. När hon inte var där snodde jag åt mig kassetten och lade den i min egen bandspelare. Jag kunde inte sluta spela den. Jag var som hypnotiserad av musiken som var både tuff och känslig på samma gång. Det var något helt annat än Herreys och Hasse Kvinnaböske, som var det som dittills spelats på min kassettbandspelare. Några år senare när Notorious släpptes fick jag den i julklapp och lekte att jag själv hade ett popband som lät precis som Duran Duran. Bäst på den här skivan är Hungry like the wolf, Save a prayer och Rio.

When I think 80's... I think this album by Duran Duran. This makes a great late-night-shift-soundtrack!