RED CARPET MASSACRE - DURAN DURAN
If her name hadn’t been Rio and she’d never danced on the sand, it’d be easy enough to evaluate this solid collection on its own merits. Alas, Simon LeBon and company have a lot of baggage, and their latest effort doesn’t match the neon-lit glory days of yesteryear. In a bid to attract new fans, the band collaborated with Justin Timberlake and Timbaland, who manage to make a few tracks sound modern and fresh. First single “Falling Down” is upbeat and danceable, while “Nite-Runner” borders on funk. But when left to its own devices, Duran Duran takes the path of least resistance on songs that sound like older versions of Bloc Party and the Kaiser Chiefs. A few underage folks might find themselves drawn in, but it’s up for debate whether “Carpet” will welcome newcomers into the fold.
