Review Summary: Though not in a period of self reflection or after an album of poor album sales, Duran Duran do what is not expected at this point, the dreaded cover album.
Oh no, not this part of the music career. Not the part that releases songs compiled with covers as a way of saying "well we had a good run, here's our version of a bunch of other songs by our influences, now give us money because we spent time performing them". Indeed it is, and this stage is usually reserved for when a bands career is dwindling and they do not know when to let go (re:
Def Leppard). The question brought up is why now? They had just released their surprisingly successful
Wedding Album which even into the early 90's produced some of the bands signature hits ("Ordinary World", "Come Undone"). At the time it seemed premature, a bad idea, like it was going to fail; but in the face of these things the band marched on and made the effort, to a mostly unanimous critical acclaim (of failure)
Of course you can't lay all of the blame on the signature lineup that is Duran Duran. At this time it was a different band, it was then withered and only featuring one of the three Taylors (John) and Warren Cuccurulloon on guitar. Most of the Taylors missing and all, founding members Le Bon and Rhodes are still the heart of the band, and their decision to make this record was received and delivered. No songwriting credits can be given to the band, obviously, but choice of songs can be disputed, and judged heavily on.
Let's start with the obvious, a band of British meterosexual pop stars covering a
Public Enemy classic, "911 is a Joke" , this should not go well together. First off, "911" isn't even the number they're used to, and I'm guessing nor is police and national oppression something they're used to either. Though the personal and actual differences exist entering the recreation of this tune exist, from within it seems that...the differences in the song quality and how its made also exist. Instead of Flava Flav shouting "hit me!" and the beats pounding tight leading into a slow going Flav verse, we are treated to a creepy sounding synth care of Rhodes, and slide guitar with something sounding like a harmonica. At last here it is, Le Bon
rapping over the drum of..well...a stand in. Alright so this isn't as bad as it could have been, but hearing "a funky situation" does not sound natural at all. Guitar is pretty much the lead instrument here, it does slide, it plays over the chorus, it beats the hell out of this being an a capella rap cover. Without the knowledge of this being a cover, it would seem that the band were on the verge of another side being revealed, the bad boy side, full of fighting the police system of America and rapping. Good thing we know better.
Alright, they dodged the bullet going for the heart, that would be if the cover version was a complete mockery of the original, or if Simon started wearing a clock on his chest. While most critics threw the band under the bus for that, it stands to be a pretty decent track to listen to, and isn't that the whole point? Duran Duran aren't out to damage any ones original songs or kill any tunes. In fact, with a little magic from the talented vocalist that is Simon Le Bon, maybe they can reveal a whole other side to a song.
This is accomplished on the cover of
Lou Reed's
Perfect Day. What was once a quiet nice little tune about a day at the zoo, is reinvented in the Duran Duran basement, brought to life by the clarity of the voice and the sound, the sharp sounding piano, and of course the improved recording abilities of the 90's sure did help too. While it seems like a picture perfect recreation of the original, and one that the band has made their own, that is where this version falls. Back when he was recording, Reed himself couldn't imagine a version of this song sounding so....sugary. While some people might not mind a little sugar dashed over the grouchy singer's original song, it might seem like a bad homage (though Reed himself said it was one of the better versions anyone has done with his songs).
We got a problem, the band hit the wrong button, turning bitter into sweet didn't sit well. Let's see if this will work, maybe a version of American icon
Bob Dylan's
Lay Lady Lay will work out better. This version will have Simon claiming the title of better singer by a mile (among with others who cover Dylan) and it really does sound like the band put some work into this one, the singing is emotional and the backing guitar matches up with that of Dylan. This is one of the highlights of the album, and what a surprise it is, seeing as not even you would give this pop band a chance at one of Dylan's pieces, and yet it works out.
At this point we've seen the group go over songs that are the complete opposite of their usual catalog, and they've covered songs from old American songwriters redone for better or worse. Maybe now the setting is right for something that would seem natural for the group, maybe a song about the subject they are used to singing about and a sound that is not that far from replicable. I'm referring of course to the old number by
The Doors,
The Crystal Ship. Like many of the songs on here, the beginning is expanded, thanks to atmosphere by Rhodes before Simon comes in with the beginning "Before you slip into unconsciousness/I'd like to have another kiss". Writing many songs about desire and women, this line comes from his mouth naturally, and the flow of this song is perfect, it goes by as smoothly as when the Doors originally did it. By picking the right song, the band has success on this album, though the success is short lived by the rest of the album existing it still beats this being a complete throwaway.
Recently,
Thank You was coined as the #1 album of all time on British magazine Q's Worst Albums of all time. Ouch. Perhaps an undeserving burn, and a fire that melted the band's recently repaired wheels, causing the Duran Duran jeep to stall out for many years, a time period which made it seem there was no mechanic to give it a jump start. Despite it getting the bad #1 of all time, there are some redeeming tracks on here, you just have to find them amid the lackluster sounding rest of the bunch.
Note:
Drive By is not a cover song. It is the narrated introduction to
The Chauffeur, which is an old Duran Duran song.
