Duran Duran - Liberty
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Free Music Notes for Liberty
Free Music Review: Duran deliver poisonous blend of rock and funk on "Liberty"
Hit: 4 Stars
By C.S.The overwhelming consensus regarding England's Duran Duran upon the 1990 release of "Liberty" was that the album was one of their weaker efforts.
"Liberty" is a progression versus the sugar coated pop rock funk Duran was bridging together on "Rio" and "Seven And The Ragged Tiger" . It a blend of ambient synth funk showcasing Nick Rhodes at his best in his utilization of samples and sounds, and the full blown emergence of Waren Cuccurullo' s hard core guitar work. The record is a continuation of "Notorious" to create R&B tinged funk and craft more arrangemnts around Cucurullo on the six string.
The somewhat predictable (though effective) brass arrangements that were the focal identity of "Notorious" are gone.
"Liberty" also bridges the live element with the electronic and utilizes the power packed drumming of Sterling Campbell.
The Duran's dabble in R&B with the title track with it's punchy synth riff and Sting- like ambience and futuristic funk on "Hothead",where Capmbell's driving tempo changes combine fluidly with John Taylor's rolling bass lines.Rhodes spooky keyboard
arrangement, coupled with a touch of the catchy pop chorus of early Duran records and Taylor's bass plucks give the track a hybrid of the old and new.
They venture into more sophisticated territory with the emotive and dreamy "Serious", where Campbell's heavy and quick changes of pace fuel Cuccurullo's biting U2 like guitar riff that blends well with Rhodes glossy textures.
.Cuccurullo continues to lead the charge with help from Campbell's stomping beat on the heavy rock inflected "First Impression", adds some wicked licks behind the Taylor led bass funk of "Read My Lips",and a penetrating lead at the intro in symbiotic harmony with Rhodes piano /synth work on "Can You Deal With It".
The Arcadia / "Big Thing" atmopsphere takes on increase in tempo and bulkier sound on the rhythm guitar driven "Venice Drowning" with it's eerie keyboards, the well timed drum fills and rolls, combined with Cuccurullo's subtle and well timed leads.
"All Along The Water" and the sleepy "Downtown" are ill- fated filler songs that prevent "Liberty" from ranking as a perfect record, yet in totaling up the score the album is a well plotted hard core meets funk record entailing an effective aproach of bridging glossy production and solid live musicianship.
Though it failed to be a commercial success, "Liberty" is a underrated and solid piece three- star disc.
C.S.
7-9-03
Free Music Review: ...probably just a victim of bad timing.
Hit: 4 Stars
Duran Duran's last album as a true rock band, "Liberty" was probably just a victim of bad timing. With their early 1980's "Beatlesque" success behind them, the stale pre-grunge early '90's music scene, various line-up changes and the ill-advised "Big Thing" had finally begun to take their toll on the 'fab five'. Which is a real shame, because the disc is probably one of their most consistent.
The 'should-have-been follow-up' to 1986's "Notorious", "Liberty" opens with the uncharacteristic 'Fleetwood Mac-sounding' 'Violence Of Summer', an infectious tune that would have been right at home on late '80's radio somewhere between INXS' 'New Sensation' and George Michael's 'Monkey'(no pun intended). The title track treads the same water as the superb 'American Science' from Notorious' while 'Hothead' takes that disc's dance-funk one step further. Lyrically, 'Serious' is pretty lame but darn catchy, nevertheless. 'My Antarctica' is the next best thing to 1985's 'Save A Prayer' and 'First Impression' rocks in a way the boys rarely have before or since. Throw in a handful of filler tracks and the result is a satisfyingly consistent outing for the blokes. 'Liberty' was the last of the five real Duran albums (Duran Duran, Rio, Seven & The Ragged Tiger & Notorious with The <a href="wedding%20album" onmouseover="window.status='Wedding Album'; return true;" onmouseout="window.status=''; return true;">Wedding Album</a> a possible sixth). Highly recommended for any Duranie who might have missed it somehow. Here's hoping the reunion will continue the string.
Free Music Review: A very undrrated album from the Fab Five
Hit: 4 Stars
"Liberty", Duran Duran's follow-up to the successful comeback CD "Big Thing", was the lowest-selling Duran Duran album of all time (until 2000's Pop Trash). It was basically ignored when it appeared, and there were no significant hits off of it.
The album however, is fantastic, containing four very strong tracks (among the group's best ever) and another song, Serious, that I can't quite make up my mind about.
"Violence of Summer" kicks off the disc, a great piece of light, synth-heavy pop. "Liberty" is funky and has a great horn section. "All Along The Water" and "My Antarctica" are the highlights of the album. The former is a fantastic, hyperkinetic groove with a few lyrics repeated to great effect. "My Antarctica" is a plaintive allegory for a loveless relationship (I think - nothing is ever 100% certain with Simon Le Bon's cryptic lyrics).
With Duran Duran making yet another successful comeback in 2004 with "Astronaut", it's as good a time as any to revisit this classic of the early 90s. Liberty got a bad rap when it made its debut back then, but time (and new, unbiased listening by critics) has been very kind.
Well worth the (low) cost!
Free Music Review: Excuse Me?
Hit: 4 Stars
I wasn't going to write a review for Liberty, but after reading a review that calls Liberty AND Songs of Faith and Devotion a moment of uncertainty?!? I have been a fan of Duran Duran since 1983 when I was 10 years old and, personally, I feel Liberty is one of an underrated band's most underrated efforts. Serious is a beautiful song, without which there would have been no Ordinary World! Downtown is an amazing song I could listen to over and over, Venice Drowning is atmospheric and as darkly sensual as the city it's written about, Violence of Summer is as pure a Duran Duran song as Hungry Like the Wolf! As for Songs of Faith and Devotion; please don't even go there! Depeche Mode have a lasting fan base beyond any moment of doubt! My 13 year old daughter LOVES Depeche Mode, and Songs of Faith and Devotion is a beautiful testament not only to the talent of Martin Gore, but the ability of Dave Gahn to rise above his addictions at the time to deliver some of the most haunting vocals ever recorded! Music is more than a profitability chart, it is artistic expression, and even if you don't get it,it is by no means uncertain.Free Music Review: after 18 year liberty will set you free
Hit: 4 Stars
VOS
a good story funky number great groove Si y the boys having good laugh.
Simon sings with lot of soul and the boy get down and funky.
liberty
This one is marvin gay. Just pure beautiful let yourself go and groove infectious piano melody simon croons above the graceful groove change your mind and get out the dance floor.
Hothead
Is this D2??? check...a guerrilla rap groove and experiment in the rock rap world of chili peps.
Serious
a Seriously beautiful number one of the best D2 tracks ever
All along the water
great sexy dance number
1st impression
great rock n roll track warren c lets it rip
read my lips
think prince funk with a bit of r n r
can u deal w it
straight up rock n fun great departure from early D2
venice drowing
the most experimental and cool d2 track
Downtown
is this d2? a rocking groove, taking downtown..