Medazzaland
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 --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.
Average customer rating:
- Duran Duran meets Pink Floyd
- I am sinking deeper...and deeper...into...MEDAZZALAND!
- Duran's Revolver era
- Best Duran album for nearly 20 years
- Medazzaland is AMAZING!
|
Medazzaland
Duran Duran
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
 General
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
New Wave
| New Wave & Post-Punk
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
Pop Rock
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
General
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Dance Pop
| Compilations
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
General
| Dance Pop
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
Similar Items:
- Pop Trash
- Liberty
- Notorious
- Thank You
- Big Thing
ASIN: B000002TY9
Release Date: 1997-10-14 |
Tracks:
- Medazzaland
- Big Bang Generation
- Electric Barberella
- Out Of My Mind
- Who Do You Think You Are?
- Gilva Halo
- Be My Icon
- Buried In The Sand
- Michael You've Got A Lot To Answer For
- Midnight Sun
- So Long Suicide
- Undergoing Treatment
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:
Duran Duran meets Pink Floyd.......2006-12-14
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.
I am sinking deeper...and deeper...into...MEDAZZALAND!.......2006-07-27
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...
Duran's Revolver era.......2006-04-29
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.
Best Duran album for nearly 20 years.......2006-02-10
UPDATE: THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE OBJECTIVE MUSIC FAN. DURAN FANATICS HAVE ZERO TOLERANCE FOR CRITICISM OF THEIR FAVORITE BAND, ERGO THE 'NOT USEFUL' VOTES FOR THIS REVIEW.
Duran Duran is nothing if not inconsistent.
Their debut album was ground-breaking. "Rio" is - simply put - one of the best rock or pop albums of all time. 2004's "Astronaut" is an amazingly solid comeback album.
Oh, but the years between were lean: albums with so much filler that it was like the band released singles with about 5 b-sides. Example: "Liberty" featured the excellent pop single "Serious," and the elegant title track, but the rest of the album was quickly forgotten.
The 18-year dry period ran from 1986's very good "Notorious" until 2004's Astronaut. The highlight is the underrated "Medazzaland," on which you get not 1, not 2, but 3 excellent tracks, conveniently all at the beginning of the CD.
The title track is a quirky, worldbeat excursion that demonstrates Nick Rhodes quirky, deadpan humor. "Big Bang Generation" is a groovy, outer space excursion. The best track, of course, is the bass-driven, upbeat dance single "Electric Barbarella." For a brief, fleeting moment, Duran Duran remembered how to fill dancefloors like they did in 1982.
The rest of the album, of course, goes quickly downhill: meandering ballads, pointless sonic experiments, etc.
But hey, for the low price of this CD used, you'll get an EP's worth of 3 excellent songs that are on par with Duran's first two albums. Recommended.
Medazzaland is AMAZING!.......2005-12-24
Duran Duran got weirder as time went on, and Medazzaland is a perfect sign of weirdness gone wild! The best track is "Electric Barbarella." The song is inspired by the 1960s Sci-Fi flick Barbarella. It is about buying a robot and having "fun" with it because you wont need any commitment like you would witha real person. Brilliant!
Average customer rating:
- A Shafted Masterpiece
- A Shafted Masterpiece
- Best Duran Duran album since Notorious.
|
Medazzaland
Duran Duran
Manufacturer: Import [Generic]
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
General
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
New Wave
| New Wave & Post-Punk
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
Pop Rock
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
General
| Rock
| Styles
| Music
Dance Pop
| Compilations
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
General
| Dance Pop
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
General
| Alternative Rock
| Indie Music
| Stores
| Music
New Wave
| Alternative Rock
| Indie Music
| Stores
| Music
Dance Pop
| Dance & DJ
| Indie Music
| Stores
| Music
Alternative Rock
| Imports
| Stores
| Music
Dance & DJ
| Imports
| Stores
| Music
Rock
| Imports
| Stores
| Music
Pop
| Imports
| Stores
| Music
ASIN: B000006ZXT
Release Date: 1998-10-27 |
Tracks:
- Medazzaland
- Big Bang Generation
- Electric Barbarella
- Out of My Mind
- Who Do You Think You Are?
- Silva Halo
- Be My Icon
- Buried in the Sand
- Michael You've Got a Lot to Answer For
- Midnight Sun
- So Long Suicide
- Ball And Chain [*]
- Undergoing Treatment
Album Details
Japanese Release Containing an Exclusive Bonus Track: 'ball and Chain'.
Customer Reviews:
A Shafted Masterpiece.......2000-06-11
Unfortunately the Boys' can't shake the "Boy Band" title from critics. Medazz. is chock full of poetry and skillful musicianship. In my opinion, best release since the early 80's. The ideal "hit" from this album would surely be "Out Of My Mind" which can also be found on The Saint soundtrack. It's sexy, sultry and quite powerful! True Duran form all the way to the "Save A Prayer" sample at the end. All around, Medazz. is an amazing effort that was sadly overlooked by the press.
A Shafted Masterpiece.......2000-06-11
Unfortunately the Boys' can't shake the "Boy Band" title from critics. Medazz. is chock full of poetry and skillful musicianship. In my opinion, best release since the early 80's. The ideal "hit" from this album would surely be "Out Of My Mind" which can also be found on The Saint soundtrack. It's sexy, sultry and quite powerful! True Duran form all the way to the "Save A Prayer" sample at the end. All around, Medazz. is an amazing effort that was sadly overlooked by the press.
Best Duran Duran album since Notorious........1999-08-26
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.
Average customer rating:
- Duran Duran meets Pink Floyd
- I am sinking deeper...and deeper...into...MEDAZZALAND!
- Duran's Revolver era
- Best Duran album for nearly 20 years
- Medazzaland is AMAZING!
|
Medazzaland
Duran Duran
Manufacturer: Pid
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
General
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
New Wave
| New Wave & Post-Punk
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Dance Pop
| Dance & DJ
| Styles
| Music
Alternative Rock
| Imports
| Stores
| Music
Dance & DJ
| Imports
| Stores
| Music
Similar Items:
- Pop Trash
- Liberty
- Notorious
- Thank You
- Big Thing
ASIN: B000005K05
Release Date: 1997-08-26 |
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:
Duran Duran meets Pink Floyd.......2006-12-14
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.
I am sinking deeper...and deeper...into...MEDAZZALAND!.......2006-07-27
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...
Duran's Revolver era.......2006-04-29
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.
Best Duran album for nearly 20 years.......2006-02-10
UPDATE: THIS REVIEW IS FOR THE OBJECTIVE MUSIC FAN. DURAN FANATICS HAVE ZERO TOLERANCE FOR CRITICISM OF THEIR FAVORITE BAND, ERGO THE 'NOT USEFUL' VOTES FOR THIS REVIEW.
Duran Duran is nothing if not inconsistent.
Their debut album was ground-breaking. "Rio" is - simply put - one of the best rock or pop albums of all time. 2004's "Astronaut" is an amazingly solid comeback album.
Oh, but the years between were lean: albums with so much filler that it was like the band released singles with about 5 b-sides. Example: "Liberty" featured the excellent pop single "Serious," and the elegant title track, but the rest of the album was quickly forgotten.
The 18-year dry period ran from 1986's very good "Notorious" until 2004's Astronaut. The highlight is the underrated "Medazzaland," on which you get not 1, not 2, but 3 excellent tracks, conveniently all at the beginning of the CD.
The title track is a quirky, worldbeat excursion that demonstrates Nick Rhodes quirky, deadpan humor. "Big Bang Generation" is a groovy, outer space excursion. The best track, of course, is the bass-driven, upbeat dance single "Electric Barbarella." For a brief, fleeting moment, Duran Duran remembered how to fill dancefloors like they did in 1982.
The rest of the album, of course, goes quickly downhill: meandering ballads, pointless sonic experiments, etc.
But hey, for the low price of this CD used, you'll get an EP's worth of 3 excellent songs that are on par with Duran's first two albums. Recommended.
Medazzaland is AMAZING!.......2005-12-24
Duran Duran got weirder as time went on, and Medazzaland is a perfect sign of weirdness gone wild! The best track is "Electric Barbarella." The song is inspired by the 1960s Sci-Fi flick Barbarella. It is about buying a robot and having "fun" with it because you wont need any commitment like you would witha real person. Brilliant!
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