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THE REVIEW
If "Astronaut" (2004) marked the rebirth of Duran Duran, 'Red Carpet Massacre' instead appears as a disastrous step backward.
The band, in search of inspiration after the new departure of guitarist Andy Taylor and the shelving of the album "Reportage," called upon the ubiquitous producer Timbaland, even inviting the young Justin Timberlake with the intention of 'rejuvenating' themselves and creating a perfect balance between '80s sounds and hip-hop touches.
From the first track, "The Valley", it is clear, however, that the project seems decidedly forced in the attempt to restyle the band, particularly in the moments when the presence of Timbaland is most apparent, whose production is now overused, lacking any freshness, and therefore very little surprising.
"Nite Runner", as well as "Tempted" and "Skin Diver", are certainly very enjoyable tracks, but they sound like leftovers from Justin Timberlake's "Future Sex/Love Sounds" (2006) and the presence of the young American singer and his very distinctive falsetto in the tracks seems to even overshadow Duran Duran themselves, reduced to mere instrumentalists devoid of identity.
The best tracks on "Red Carpet Massacre" are paradoxically the most 'traditional' in the group's repertoire, namely the '80s melodic ballads "She's Too Much" and especially the launch single "Fallin' Down", nostalgic, catchy, perfect for the radio thanks to a pleasant chorus that easily gets stuck in your head and impeccable arrangement.
"Red Carpet Massacre" is therefore not at all a memorable album, poorly accomplished, which places a huge question mark over the future of Duran Duran, further burdened by the poor sales of the record, which didn't even manage to enter the UK top 40.
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Summary by Bot
Red Carpet Massacre is a disappointing and forced effort by Duran Duran attempting to modernize their sound with Timbaland and Justin Timberlake. While some tracks offer enjoyable 80s-style ballads, the album suffers from overused production and a loss of the band's identity. Poor sales and weak reception cast doubts on the band’s future. Overall, it falls short compared to their previous rebirth in Astronaut (2004).Tracklist Lyrics Videos
Duran Duran
English music group formed in Birmingham in the late 1970s. They rose to international popularity in the early 1980s (notably with Rio), combined striking visuals with pop, funk and synth sounds, experienced lineup changes (Andy Taylor, Roger Taylor, Warren Cuccurullo) and have released albums from the 1980s through the 2020s.41 Reviews
Other reviews
By Justpg
"Red Carpet Massacre is an album that encapsulates the evolution of Duran in lyrics and themes as well as in music."
"Falling Down wants to be the new 'Ordinary World,' but in my opinion, it is something more; it is a poignant ballad, simple yet overwhelming."
