Customer Reviews

Medazzaland

5 star:		(43)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

If `Rio' was the best album from the original lineup of Duran Duran, then Medazzaland is the most accomplished, mature and effective album from the Warren Cuccurullo era (I'm counting `Wedding Album' to `Pop Trash' since he wasn't allowed to write on Notorious, Big Thing or Liberty even though he was the guitar player).

Meddazzaland has all the pop hooks you would expect from Duran Duran, but there's a lyrical and musical maturity, musical vocabulary and attention to detail hinted at in previous Duran albums but only really matched on Arcadia's 'So Red the Rose'. In fact, Meddazzaland is like the grittier, edgier sequel to 'So Red the Rose', musically speaking.

If you're the kind of Duran Duran fan that only buys the singles collections or think they became irrelevant after 'The Wild Boys', then don't bother. This is an incredible, uncompromisingly artistic achievement of an album, even if didn't sell as well as some of their more straight ahead pop work. If, however, you were the kind of Duran Duran fan who thought bought and listened to their albums all the way through, then you'll hear the same band on this album. But they've bravely taken leave of their shiny pop image and put out something challenging and deeply rewarding.

Not a Duran Duran fan at all? Still think they're an irrelevant `80's pop band? Well that's never actually been true and `Medazzaland' is the album that will change your mind forever. Duran Duran have always been more than a pretty pop act, they've always had a depth, breadth and staying power most bands don't and they prove at once that they can still make melodic, groove conscious, pop infused music while producing groundbreaking (yes, I said groundbreaking) work, as credible as any great rock album you've ever heard.

Give it a few listens and I think you'll find that 'Out of my mind', 'Buried in the sand', 'Midnight Sun', 'Michael, you've got a lot to answer for'(written for INXS singer Michael Hutchence before his death) and 'So long suicide' are among the best, most infectious songs Duran Duran ever produced. In fact, if more critics heard this album, I think Duran Duran would be recognized as the great musicians they are rather than the pretty boys they once were. This album gets written off as being "too experimental" and too self indulgent, but I disagree. These songs have a lot going on in them, no doubt, but nearly 8 years later, they still hold up. This album still sounds fresh, genuine and relevant.

Duran Duran have had, and continue to have, many good moments but 'Medazzaland' is their best, most consistent, most perfectly realized work. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

Medazzaland did not get anywhere near the attention it deserves. This is clearly one of the best Duran Duran album and there are many excellent ones. Every track on this CD shines. For me the standouts were: "Out Of My Mind", "Buried in The Sand", "Midnight Sun", and "So Long Suicide". I would recommend any Duran Duran album, but this is one of my favorites. Buy a copy and give it a listen and you'll see why.

The content of Medazzaland is impressive. Duran has always been know for dabbling in different genres and expreimenting with new styles. This album was one of the first electronica albums by a "big band". Songs like "Big Bang Generation" and "So Long Suicide" are really powerful and should have been big hits in the US. Simon Le Bon's vioce is truly amazing.

I wanted to like this album more than I did. I had avoided buying it for some reason when it came out (I did Pop Trash too). I bought "Astronaut" and fell in love with Duran Duran again, and thus was inspired to purchase "Medazzaland" and "Pop Trash". This album has many great reviews here at Amazon so I had high hopes. Not a total let down, "Big Bang Generation", "Electric Barbarella", "Out of My Mind" and "Midnight Sun" are excellent tracks and worth the 10 or 15 dollars, but it just wasn't the dark expirimental masterpeice that I had heard it was. Buy it for those tracks though for sure. ANd don't forget to buy "Astronaut"!!!!

This album is a must have for every Duran Duran fan. Medazzaland is a very experimental album. It has a lot of styles. Rock Ballad (Michael), Hard Rock (Be My Icon), Pop (Big Band Generation), Techno (Electric Barbarella) and some strange secuences (Silva Halo). I love this album, is probably their best ever and my favorite. The guys took a huge risk releasing this album, it's a very complex one. In fact, I asure that you won't like it in the first listening.You'll probably like it by the second or third time. A great risk I must say! I think this album is the most coherent one along with Pop Trash (2000) and Astronaut (2004), and of course their 2 first albums. It's ironic to think that the last three albums from this band didn't sell very well, but actually are the best ones in their entire carreer.

That's the best description I can give this. Brilliant. The great follow-up, Pop Trash, continues in this dark style, though may be slightly more accessible. Medazzaland took some getting used to but now I love it.

DURAN DURAN were a popular pop band which sang upbeat songs in the early 1980s. However, around 1988, shortly after guitarist Andy Taylor and drummer Roger Taylor left the band (to be replaced by guitar genius Warren Cuccurullo formerly of Frank Zappa's band) the band began a descent into dark synth pop/ electronica. After bass player John Taylor left, the trio of LeBon, Rhodes, and Cuccurullo took the darkest route possible.
"MEDAZZALAND" is nothing like the happy earlier Duranie albums. The songs seem more like something off a Depeche Mode album. They are somewhat dark, and rely heavily on electric sounds and bizarre rythms. The title track, "Medazzaland," is sung by keybordist Nick Rhodes, it is brilliant. "Big Bang Generation" is amazing, as are "Electric Barbarella" and "Out Of My Mind." This album is one of the darkest synth-pop albums out there, but I have to say, Duran Duran does the whole glam-goth thing well, and they might even surpass Depeche Mode, the kings of goth-synth with this album. Hey, I like Depeche Mode, but "MEDAZZALAND" is better than anything they have ever put out, and frankly...it needs to be in your collection...

Many regarded Duran Duran as a guilty pleasure. The singles sound great but you are not "allowed" to like them since they are supposed to be superficial. Let me help you out of this dream. Duran Duran is perhaps not as much rock & roll as Iggy Pop or The Ramones but these guys come much closer than you think. They sure know how to play their instruments and put on an excellent show. It is no surprise to me at all that their newest album Astronaut is a tremendous success and a darling of most critcs. Duran Duran finally gets the credit they deserve. Medazzaland? An excellent piece of work with great hooks. "electric barbarella" sounds as good as any Duran Duran number 1 song from the 80's but then with the updated sound. A signature uptempo Duran Duran cut. This should have been a top 10 hit. It actually reminds me of "Sunrise". Same for "Big Bang generation". This is a masterpiece. The Saint's soundtrack song "Out of my mind" sounds fresh and really grows on you. The styles sometimes differ on this album. "Who do you think you are" is more of a guitar driven ballad and "Michael, you got..." is touching. All in all, I rate this album 4 stars since most songs are catchy, well written and produced. The album also has the tendency to grow on you. You may not like it the first time you hear it but after a few spins, you quickly realize it rocks!

It's amazing to say this, but the last two album the fab five released, Medazzaland and Pop Trash, are the groups most creative and timeless masterpieces. Madazzaland being the greater of the two, this cd continues to inspire more and more fans as time moves on. Although it wasn't an initial success, it has developed a huge respect and almost cult following among Duranies. Duran Duran continue to be a truely under-rated rock band. Hopefully with more albums of this caliber the public will see them for the talent they are.

Duran Duran does what their critics don't expect them to do but anyone who listens to them knows they are anything but predictable, playing different styles of music, being anything but the new wave idols tabloids state them to be.

On Notorious they turned their hand to making some funk inspired music and Big Thing was part house/part slow synth landscapes. On Medazzaland they turn to experimenting with electronic music, but with a more traditional rock base producing some of their most interesting music ever. And there's no quickly thrown together drum n bass like some bands resorted to at the time.

Midnight Sun is one the most beautiful songs they've done topping even Ordinary world and Come undone. Michael is a slow ballad also. Both songs comes with layers of Nick's sweeping electronica which might take some getting used to. Out of my mind is a haunting tune, it does what Come Undone does on The Wedding album and somethings about it reminds me of that song too.(Interestingly it also has that short break after the chorus like Come Undone). It could have easily been a big hit if they had been promoted at all by EMI.

So long suicide is one of the best Duran songs to rock out to, when Simon uses his raucous rock voice (like on Wild boys) not even many rock singers can beat him. Buried in the Sand is a cool song with Nick's lyrics about John Taylor's departure, it sounds a bit Smashing Pumpkins while also featuring Indian sounding solo and percussion. I like how Simon's voice sounds dark and ominous here. Silva Halo is quite short and doesn't really sound too good here but live it really turns into something awesome.

Big bang generation, Who do you think you are and Be my icon are not favourites of mine but I can't really find anything wrong with them, they all have strong hooks and melodies going. I suppose it's just not my kind of music. Undergoing treatment and Medazzaland are cool for its weirdness factor I can't say much more. So that's one star less from me.

Overall the album is essential and it blows away other bands attempts at electronic music around that same time (e.g U2, David Bowie). It's a shame that innovative music gets overlooked because of a band's image.