Medazzaland

Duran Duran

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 14, 1997)
• Original Release Date: October 14, 1997
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Capitol
• ASIN: B000002TY9
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars See all reviews (74 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #34,542 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
Medazzaland is a catalog of hooky little electronic tricks and elaborate arrangements. It's as if Duran Duran had so much fun creating sounds with their synth-toys they couldn't bear to leave any of them out. Songs are stuffed with backwards snares, chattering loops, heavily processed vocals. Tracks fade in, fade out, pan, rush, retreat, tickle, undulate. They also play with influences, experimenting with everything from Eastern-influenced chord progressions to Kraftwerk-like electro-minimalism. But despite the bells and whistles, Duran Duran want us to remember. Blended in with all the fancy techno stunts are slips of new-wave Duran Duran, like plump tom fills, and, of course, Simon LeBon's unmistakable whine. In all, this CD is so diverse, it borders on being scattered, but it is the gravitational thread of the familiar Duran Duran that keeps the album in line. --Beth Bessmer

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

23 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Their best, most consistent, most perfectly realized work, December 9, 2004

By	Rhett Redelings "R-Three music | r3music.com" (Kentfield, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Desperately underrated., November 16, 2005

By	Steven W. Hasting "MEDIA DEMON" (TULSA, OKLA., USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A pretty good album, October 18, 1999

By	C. Howard "Romerobuff" (TN) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Being the die-hard Duran Duran fan that I am,I picked up a copy of Medazzaland, and found myself singing along and dancing to the rhythmns of these catchy tunes. I found I didn't enjoy the album as much as classic DD stuff, such as my all-time favourite, the "Rio" album, but I did enjoy some tracks off this cd immensely! These include "Big Bang Generation", "Electric Barbarella", and "Out of My Mind" to name the top three songs that really took me in. :) I liked "Out of My Mind" a lot..finding it similar to my 2nd favourite Duran song of all-time, "Come Undone" . I think DD is one of the most talented and best bands I've ever listened to , and "Medazzaland" is a nice take...but I'd love to hear another "Rio" or "Wedding Album".