Customer Reviews

Big Thing

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Big Thing" is the second Duran Duran album since Roger and Andy Taylor left the lineup, and it's also the group's first flop. While it spawned the Top Ten "I Don't Want Your Love" and the lesser hit "All She Wants Is," this album was cooly received by the public, who didn't find it as accessible as "Rio" or "Seven and the Ragged Tiger." But you have to at least give Simon, Nick and John credit for being experimental, as they come up with some really good material on "Big Thing." "Too Late Marlene" is a sorely overlooked album cut, while the compelling tribute to Andy Warhol "Do You Believe in Shame" was virtually ignored by all but the group's diehard fans. And "Palomino" is a straight-up goregous ballad. But the crowning moment is "The Edge of America" which leads up to the disc's closer, "Lake Shore Driving." Simon was particularly disappointed with the lackluster sales of this record, but it's not too late to visit this underrated album which proves that Duran Duran were much more than a bunch of photogenic Brits who made flashy videos.

Big Thing is one of my favorite Duran Duran albums. The entire B side with "Lake Shore Driving" and the Interlude - it's 1980's syntheizer magic. No band on earth has ever come close to this incredible sound. Listen to it in the dark for a sensual treat.

Love them or hate them, Duran Duran haven't recorded two albums that sound alike. This one saw them trying to go 'mature' and get accepted by others than young girlies and hard core fans like me. The weird interludes and the sudden stop of the last song, the guitar-screeching instrumental 'Lake Shore Driving', certainly add a strange edge to the album. But the band can't hide their flair for writing catchy, danceable tunes. 'I Don't Want Your Love' with its pumping drum and bass tracks is extremely infectuous, and the moody 'Too Late Marlene' and 'Do You Believe In Shame?' are classic, melodic Duran Duran songs. The slower ones like 'The Edge of America', 'Land' and the oddly beautiful 'Palomino' reveal a more atmospheric and dreamy side of the band. On the latter Nick Rhodes creates some intriguing soundscapes on his beloved electronics. An uneven but daring effort from a band that never sticks to one formula, and deservedly it wasn't the commercial disaster that many would have predicted.

I have been a major D2 fan since I can remember and I am only 20 so it can't be too much of a memory, so you can imagine my surprise when I stumbled upon Big Thing in a record store discount bin. I have heard only a few scattered things about the album and they had pretty much escaped my memory, so I decided to buy it simply out of curiousity and loyalty to D2.
Well at first listen I wasn't really into the sound. But as time wore on I really began to see it as hidden treasure. The first side has it's moments of greatness ("Drug.." "Too Late Marlene" and "I Don't Want Your Love"). But the second side, a much more moodier melodic sound, is my fav. "Do You Belive in Shame" is a gorgeous song and "Palomino" is a hauntingly dark tune with an almost ethereal melody but my all time fav. on the cd has to be "Land". It's a beautiful song, in my opinion, with lovely lyrics and an even lovlier sound.
So if your'e a diehard Duranie then this is steal but if your'e not then it might be worth your'e while to pick it up and see.

I guess if you have the CD there's no technical side 2. I had this release on cassette originally. "Do You Believe in Shame" is - in my opinion - the best track on the album. "Palomino" is a close second. This is quite an eclectic album for D2. If you're a fan and have never heard the entirety of "Big Thing", you won't be disappointed.

I've been a huge fan since the beginning and after hearing Medazzaland I'm gonna have to relish in the past with my favorite supergroup of the eighties.This is Duran Duran's effort before they pretty much started to stink (except the Wedding Album). This their last great effort. Contains super songs like "I Don't Want Your Love" and "Too Late Marlene". Great songs throughout. It's a nice companion to another cool album, Notorious. Play both back to back and see what I mean.

I used to think that the best Duran Duran album was 'Rio'. That opinion has changed. In part due to it wearing out its welcome with repeated listening, in larger part due to 'Big Thing'.

This was probably the Duran album that I was most indifferent towards when I first heard it. But over time it has proven itself to be a masterpiece of pop craftsmanship.

'Big Thing' was released in 1988 when the popular music world was starting to tire of Duran and was largely slept on. However, of all of Duran's 80's releases, this is perhaps the only one that manages not to sound dated and holds up today. There is lush balladry ('Palomino', 'Land'), solid uptempo numbers ('I Don't Want Your Love', 'All She Wants Is'), and great pop songwriting ('Too Late Marlene', 'Do You Believe In Shame'). Nothing is overstated on this album save for the title track. All of the album's tracks work seamlessly together for an ethereal listening experience.

This is the album that demonstrates the soul of Duran.

Coming off the horn heavy funk of "Notorious," Duran Duran the trio stripped the sound down to some heavy beats for "Big Thing." The first single, "I Don't Want Your Love," sounded like a re-invention. Incorporating the current house and new-jack dance trends at the time, it was a major leap away from the candy-floss of "Rio." "All She Wants Is" carried the same sort of dance-floor urgency, and the title track was an arena ready thumper.

But the trademark lushness wasn't ever too far off. "Too Late Marlene" and "Land" are everything you'd expect from Duran Duran, rich arrangements, Simon's grandiose lyrics and Nick Rhodes' atmospheric keyboards. But perhaps "Big Thing's" best moment is the tribute to the band's late friend Alex Sadkin, "Do You Believe In Shame." Slowing down the swamp groove of "Suzie Q" and laying in an emotional vocal, "Shame" connects on a level that only a few songs in the DD library have ever done before.

Equally as good as "Notorious," and in my opinion, better than the "Wedding Album."

It is awesome~!! In fact, it was really difficult to get 'Big Thing' album in Korea so I am happy to find it from amazon.com. Now, I'm listening the songs from the album and recall my first concert with Duran Duran in Korea. Really thanks to amazon.

I have to admit that I bought this CD just because of a 10 minute clip on some girl's webpage. It only took me a few times listening to the album before I totally fell in love it. These songs are not what Duran Duran usually do, but I still love the songs. They are so unusual that they are just cool to listen to. I recommend this to anyone!