Reviews (page 9 of 14)
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
Some decent songs surrounded by a couple slow, boring, filler tracks
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!
Fun but reminds me a lot of my mother
Album Review 035 Rio by Duran Duran (1982) Rating 3.5/5 I’ve never really enjoyed 80’s new wave synth-pop, finding too much of it to be more style than content. Rio wears that style proudly and whilst it might be cliched to reduce this to superyachts, supermodels and superhuman amounts of cocaine, this cliche is based very much on Duran Duran themselves. As an album, Rio is pretty consistent though; as well as having two of the best pop songs of the decade in Rio and Hungry Like The Wolf, there are some strong non-singles here too. Nothing unexpected, but nothing I can’t say didn’t enjoy.
Ensimmäinen 80-luvun levy tämän haasteen aikana. Rio on oikeastaan ihan ok pop-albumi ja tasalaatuinen sellainen. En taida tämän pariin enää palata kuitenkaan. Yllätyin kuinka paljon Duran Duran kuulosti "oikealta bändiltä" verrattuna moniin syntikoita suosineisiin aikalaisiinsa.
I get why some people would love this, I found the songs very similar except for the two big hits.
This is totally mid. Doesn’t suck. Isn’t great.
Solid with some super famous songs on here.
Ultimate 80s The chauffeur showing that there was more to this band than just pop hits. Definitely Duran Duran’s best album. 3
Tbh i didn't get through it all but from what i listened to it was very 80s, gimme roller skates, entertaining.
Don’t love this era of production, all mid scooped and shimmery. Rio and hungry like the wolf are classic for a reason, the rest of the album didn’t grab me at all though.
Sehr 80s
Could listen again
Groovy, not much to say but it’s calming
gutes Album muss es wahrscheinlich noch öfters hören
5/10 The singles are alright
Whilst listening to this album I was wondering how many lines Alex Turner referenced Duran Duran in his songs ( I only got the obvious on "Teddy Picker" and "I bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor"). Although the sound itbis tooo 80's to me I kinda enjoyed it ,mostly from the storytelling point of view. I am not a fan of 80's synthpop, but it was listenable and ok 3/5
Not bad overall. Highly polished and the embodiment of 80’s glitter. They definitely cherry picked all the best songs for singles. 3
weird vibes for a work day. kinda fun but not my preference
(Przesłuchana połowa). Z początku ciekawa, rześka i energiczna ale z czasem zaczęła być repetetywna, nie potrafiła mnie zatrzymać na dłużej.
eh...
New Romantic 80s, make sense to be on the list. Starts strong with Rio, but sort of fades into blandness after that. 3 Heard before? The singles Owned: No: 37/141 (26%) Will I get? No
Duran Duran were a touch before my time, having been a child of the very late 80s/early 90s. So i only heard the massive radio hits, and even those well after the fact. As a whole it's way too slick for my liking, but there are some absolutely killer pop hooks in there, the bass playing is incredible, and the synth and drum sounds aren't as cold as some of their contemporaries. It does make me realise where INXS and Models got their sound from...
Decent album
Very nice to listen to even if quite short and having very evidently ONE main song. The one song is just that interesting
crazy, crazy short - listenable, energizing, fun. brings back fond memories of GTA Vice City (or GTA 3, who can even remember) so like...whatever. easy 3, i like women as metaphors for success or adventure because it's not misogynistic garbage like kings of leon
C'était bien.
Damn if these songs aren't catchy... thought I would skip the over-played ones like Hungry Like the Wolf and Rio, but once they started I was hooked in. LikedSave a Prayer which I had never heard, but a lot of songs get repetitive.
I’m not gonna lie; I’ve never been a huge fan of Duran Duran. Sorry Theresa!! I knew Rio and Hungry Like the Wolf. I also felt like I’d heard Save a Prayer before. I thought all the songs kind of sounded the same except for The Chauffeur which I liked. Simon Le Bon has a very distinctive voice though.
It was okay.
This was fine. The singles and songs that I knew are good but not great, the rest was a bit meh. Not a terrible album, just a bit of a bland one. I probably wouldn’t be inspired to listen to this again.
Infectious 80s pop, what you picture when you think of the 80s
I love Duran Duran's style of new wave! Two of their biggest hits happen to be on this album (the title song and "Hungry Like the Wolf"), and both are extremely polished, well-written, and catchy. As for the other songs, some were better than others. They weren't bad, but there's a reason why those songs by Duran Duran are so well known. 3.5, but I don't feel like it's enough to round up to 4. A good listen nonetheless.
A fairly enjoyable listen with some strong single, including the title track. But some of the songs sound like fairly standard sounds from the 80s - though appreciate it helped to usher in that wave of music. So yes, influence is clear, but there are bands like Depeche Mode and Tears for Fears that would go on to top what’s here.
3.5
later
The answer to my new favourite pop trivia question… Which band has 3 members who share a surname but none of them are related? Andy Taylor (Guitar) Roger Taylor (Drums) John Taylor (Bass) They can have a star for each of the Taylors. Enjoyed it though it’s not something I’ll come back to.
Pretty decent
I suppose you can't deny the appeal of most of these tracks. Save A Prayer the pick of the singles and The Chauffeur was pretty good to be fair (never heard it before). Something has always rubbed me up the wrong way with this lot though
I’m a best of Duran Duran kind of guy. Strong singles, love the bass, nothing much more to comment on. Made me want to watch Barbarella again, which is always a good thing.
Some good moments, but it mostly sounds like multiple iterations of the same idea. (The title track ten or so times).
I only had only known the big hits in here and found many of the other tracks a bit meh but I quite liked Hold Back The Rain (spoke to me as a gardener lol) and New Religion. I enjoy a bit of synth pop/new wave but too much of this sounds the same, the over-processed vocals become irritating at points and the lyrics are pretty naff ("I smell like I sound" - I bet you do luv). That bass tho... there must have been smoke coming off John Taylor's fingers, these stars are all for you baybee ✨ Definitely captures a specific vibe of the 80s (the power dressing, hairspray and coke end) so indesputably a classic of the era but having done the whole album I'm probably still just gonna be skipping to Rio and Hungry Like the Wolf (although honorable mention for the instrumental version of My Own Way on the collectors edition)
Mostly pretty good but doesn't do much different from other new wave stuff
3.5
131 Me gustó, pero sentí que todo era demasiado igual.
Hold back the Rain, The Chauffeur, New Religion
Sounds like 1982
not bad, i do not like the song rio, but i do enjoy the album overall
A dreamy synthy pop album, that mixes in some rock. Theres obviously some bigger hits on this album, but every track is terrific!
This is what i imagine everything in the 80s sounded like. Synths and hypermasculine action films. Favorite track was hold back the rain
Et ok 80'er-album.
McDonald’s of rock. Did not listen.
As someone who was only in the 80’s for 6 months, my sense of the 80’s is basically defined by pop culture. And Duran Duran is the soundtrack
Mis à part Hungry Like The Wolf, rien de bien exceptionnel sur cet album.
Very interesting album. Production is incredible, and dynamic range is very well managed.
On the whole, the album was fine. I thought the first five tracks were pretty similar in style and musical instruments which were typical of this group. It wasn't until "New Religion" that the songs seemed to start being different from the normal for this group. I was glad that the songs started to vary somewhat. The last song, "The Chauffeur" really reminded me of a song that could be played in a music box with its staccato and repetitive sounds.
Quintessential 80s New Wave synth-pop—nothing all that unexpected or interesting but perfectly serviceable (if samey) bops! "Hungry Like the Wolf" is a playlist staple, but hot take: "Rio" is only good because of the chorus and the rest of the song is meh. Best: "The Chauffeur" Worst: "Hold Back the Rain"
My hot take: It was a mistake to start Rio with the song Rio. The songs sounds very similar to one another with singer not having much variance, and the jittery instruments using similar chords throughout the album. It is absolutely a good song, but "Rio" (the song) feels blatantly like the best version of it. So I started off with the absolute bop of Rio, and then it only went downhill from there. It's not a bad sound, but if I ever wanted to listen to 1982 Duran Duran, I would only listen to the song Rio. 3/5
I would usually dismiss this kind of music as typical 80s nonsense - but in this particular case, Duran Duran proved me very wrong. This is synthpop done right : production is top-notch, and the synth sounds are not just a stupid gimmick, but an organic part of the music. The band doesn't shy away from various sonic experimentations ; it's a pity they didn't go far enough in that direction : they were clearly onto something, but kind of decided to stay on the beaten tracks of pop music. Still, it has aged surprisingly well for a 1982 album. Despite my dislike for the new wave style of bland, emotionless singing (unless it ventures into industrial territory like Depeche Mode), I still enjoyed the album as a whole. A couple of songs, like The Chauffeur, have truly bleak and unsettling instrumentation. Not something I'd listen to every day, but it's much better than similar bands of the same time period, and I'm willing to give their other albums a try. 6/10
Every time I have tried getting into Duran Duran, it was mostly because they seemed to have influenced so many different artists. But usually, after two or three songs, I had enough. Still, being part of this project means I actually have to put things in perspective and listen to the whole album, and honestly, after Frankie Goes to Hollywood and other similar nonsense, it’s clear these guys are playing in another league. At times I can hear a bit of The Smiths (Lonely in Your Nightmare), a touch of Queen (Hungry Like the Wolf), even some of that glossy FM rock that was just around the corner. A track like Rio feels way more ambitious than anything FGTH ever did, and pretty modern for 1982, to be fair. The synth-pop side still drives me nuts, though, so I won’t start worshipping Duran Duran anytime soon. But it’s a pleasant surprise, with good bass lines, and way more rock and interesting than I expected.
engaging 80s synthpop sound, some interesting effects, and at least one all time classic that'll be played until the death of radio. doesn't overstay its welcome; the middle tracks ran together for me. favorite song: i can't say anything other than Hungry Like a Wolf
Perfect first album for me! I’m currently re-watching Stranger Things to prepare for the final season and I’m loving the 80’s throwbacks. This fun dance album is the exact vibe I’m wanting.
Good. A real classic from my youth.
3.5/5 cool bass, cool synths, but im too dumb for the lyrics. songs feel a little long/they drag on for a bit. overall i like the funky beats but the vocals feel too (old (??)) liked the sax in rio beat in The Chauffeur is amazing
Some real bangers for the 80s.
Ever time I hear Rio I love it more
Nice pop.
Only Duran Duran album in the book. Might have given it 4 stars if I liked the non hits that I haven't heard before. I guess Duran Duran is not a great album artist, but rather someone whose greatest hits would be the best way to listen.
Interesting. Not well versed in Duran Duran, and I liked this. Wouldn't say its a new favorite, but I could listen to this.
The worst of the 80s’ sound?
I've never thought that the songs on Rio were as good as on their first album.
This is a fine album. Not an 80s pop fan really so hard for me to judge it well. I didn't hate it I didn't love it. 3 stars.
This is a decent album. Duran Duran was huge in my youth. The music video for "Reflex" and "A View to a Kill" made a big impression back then.
Another 80s synth pop band that was the antithesis of what I was into growing up but these days, I quite enjoy. I can give Courtney Love some credit here as I'd heard and enjoyed Hole's Unplugged version of _Hungry Like the Wolf_ a number of times before I knew where it came from. The album as a whole isn't as consistent as their singles output, they really need the big hooks to make this formula work but they deliver that more often than not.
Weirdest album cover yet? Two bangers and 80s upon 80s of other stuff
Rio and Hungry like the wolf are classics, rest is nice background work music.
A nice safe middle of the road ease back in to album listening. 2.5
Bass lines go crazy on this album, big fan.
inoffensive
QuinteSynthtially 80s. Fast synth. Slow synth. Lovable vocals with just the right amount of British accent. What’s not to like? I didn’t get this album when it was originally released, but I’m pretty sure I had a couple of singles. I’m not sure what the logic was back then but that’s just how it went.
A true classic, from cover to music to videos. "Hungry Like the Wolf" and "Rio" are some of my first memories of having MTV. I never owned any Duran Duran albums as a kid because you really didn't NEED to own them - they were already everywhere on the radio and MTV anyway. The two biggest hits would get five stars from me, but the rest of the album doesn't do a lot for me (including "Save a Prayer," never really liked that one.)
3/5
One of the best pop albums of the era....but it's so damned glossy. Duran Duran were definitely one of the best New Romantic bands of the time, and Rio captured the spirit of the time. Glossy, highly produced, catchy and pleasing on the eye. Perfect pop material. But, very vapid and lacking substance. Enjoyable, but...
I don’t like Duran Duran as much as I thought I did. They are very much of their time.
Favourite track: Hungry like the Wolf
I went in knowing the name Duran Duran but couldn't have named a song of theirs. It sounds exactly as I expected. Surprisingly enough I stuck around until the last song, which I actually liked. The rest I was very neutral on. Very sterile and dramatic, not for me.
The highs are high, the lows are not that low. It is pretty solid but not spectacular. 3.5/5
I've never seen this movie.
Overall a solid album. Nothing really ground breaking from what I could hear. Still, the album doesn't have much filler.
I don't love '80s music, and feeling pretty okay about one of the greatest albums from that era pretty much confirms that. This one definitely had some bangers, but the rest of it just felt pretty homogeneous. It's a good album and I totally get why it's on this list but it's not really for me.
2,9/5
7.4
I always liked Duran Duran. Fun album all around. Great music!
You can’t really argue with songs like Rio and hungry like the wolf as prime eighties cuts. Unfortunately the rest except for Save a Prayer and the Chauffeur, just feel plodding middle of the road eighties music and may as well be rejected demos of the singles. Even Save A Prayer feels overlong. I was surprised by the Chauffeur though as i’m not aware of knowing that before and musically it at least offers something different in its slightly jaunty staggered approach.
Classic 80s. The singles are all great, though I do have a particular fondness for Hungry Like The Wolf due to the Reel Big Fish ska cover version on a Duran Duran tribute album (which starts with a spoken word intro that includes the phrase "little bit of hot nookie, yeah?" and ends with "was that too much? I never know..."). Of the non-singles, I particularly enjoyed Last Chance on the Stairway and The Chauffeur. This is getting a very solid 3/5 and I'm now going to listen to the Goldfinger cover of Rio (which is also an excellent Duran Duran ska-punk cover). 3/5
Hmmm I thought I'd be more into this but it's really just okay! A pretty decent sound, had a fun time, but not really something that'll stick in my mind.
So undeniably 80s. Everything was pretty good. I knew Hungry Like the Wolf and that’s about it, but some other gems as well. The bass also FUCKS
Pretty cool that they sound so 80s but in their own unique style. I was excited to hear more stuff on the level of Hungry Like The Wolf, but I guess nothing really blew me away like that. The Chauffeur was pretty damn fun though! Standouts: Hungry Like The Wolf • New Religion • The Chauffeur
Beaucoup d'énergie pour pas grand chose.
I've never listened to this album (34). Pretty slick, really well made. A bit redundant.
HUNGRY LIKE A FUCKING WOLF. Pretty Groovy album.
Really deserves a 3.5 stars
Sounds crisp and well made. I recognize the big hits. Can't say the rest is really doing much for me but I can imagine being alive at the time thinking hell yeah this is sick. Something about those 80s snare drums or high toms are just hard for me to take seriously. And the overdrive guitar slams like whoa you guys are so rock n roll
It's ok. Nö banger that will stick in my head
No. 317/1001 Rio 3/5 My Own Way 3/5 Lonely in Your Nightmare 3/5 Hungry Like The Wolf 3/5 Hold Back the Rain 3/5 New Religion 2/5 Last Chance on the Stairway 3/5 Save a Prayer 3/5 The Chauffeur 3/5 Average: 2,89 Just not my genre.
7/10 Favs: The Chauffeur; Save a Prayer; Rio
Solid 80s new wave pop rock sound that brings back memories of my early listening days.
Can't go wrong with some Duran Duran if you want some classic, upbeat, 80s tunes.
As the 70's changed to the 80's, New Wave seemed to change overnight. Was it Gary Numan's fault? I dunno, maybe. Regardless, I kind of think Rio sums up the state of New Wave in the '80s quite nicely, even if I'm not really into a lot of records with the "80's" sound. Although, honestly, this has managed to age pretty well, and I think it's because the production here serves to reinforce the very specific tone and sound that Duran Duran is very intentionally creating. And dialing "this tone" in through the medium of pop songs may be what this album is best at. This is basically a list of potent, immediate pop songs. They may not all be my thing, but I can't argue against them being successful. Like, this album very much achieves its goal. The best here are largely your singles like Rio, Hungry Like The Wolf, and Save A Prayer. Although, this album has one big curve ball. After 8 crisp pop tunes, Duran Duran gives us The Chauffeur, and frankly, at this point of the album, I didn't think they had something like The Chauffeur in the tank. No other song on the album can match its tone. It's this like sensual, ominous song slow burn that almost reads as a goth song. It just came out of no where and completely enraptured me. There's even an ocarina solo that (miraculously) works in the context of the song. Capping the album off with this thing solidifies the 3, Rio is not a personal favorite, but with one fantastic song, and a bunch of other catchy, effective tunes, it pulls it's weight.