Duran Duran Steps Back Into Its '80s Heyday

You can try anything known to man that can kill another man. That won't work on Duran Duran. Three decades plus and England's esteemed Second British Invasion perennials haven't come anywhere close to slowing down. It doesn't matter what configuration it's in. Duran Duran has staying power that most inventions of any stripe could never hope to equal let alone eclipse. If you're Gen X like I news of the new Duran Duran project "Paper Gods" probably had you squealing like you had Willy Wonka's golden ticket which afforded you a front row pass to one of their upcoming concerts. The Durans smartly worked themselves into the same air space as Nile Rodgers and Mark Ronson. Disco fiends know the former from his stint in Chic. He also was the chief brains behind "Notorious", the first album finding the band pared down to Simon LeBon, Nick Rhodes, and John Taylor. That album, not surprisingly was heavy on funk contours. Duran Duran kept succeeding despite former and once again drummer Roger Taylor becoming increasingly fed up with the music business and Andy Taylor anxious to explore uncharted waters. "Pressure Off" starts off the "Paper Gods" parade in high style. The elements you loved about '80s era Duran Duran remain front and center. Want to satisfy your dance jones? By all means get that sweat worked up to its maximum effectiveness. Like urbane pop in a frosted martini glass? Welcome to a footloose incendiary time my friend. Do you respect artists true to their core vision who also know full well what year they're in? Duran Duran never was moronic about their artistic footprint. These guys hold up under any fire levied at them. As an added piece of icing on the cake Janelle Monae injects her unique vitality into Duran Duran's come hither whirlpool bath jets. She made .fun's "We Are Young" the raw rush it turned into on the pop charts. Simon LeBon hasn't lost the transatlantic man of mystery appeal that gave Duran Duran the nickname "Fab Five". Whatever Duran Duran's formula is it knows what to sprinkle where and at what level. It's been suggested Duran Duran doesn't get enough credit for the quality product it has put out over the years. The guys haven't shed the globetrotting magnetism that has the public clamoring for new stuff over and over. Nick Rhodes continues to strut his keyboard skills proudly. John Taylor's bass has a tale or three to impart behind the fret. Let's be frank. America circa 2015 isn't exactly the happiest place on Earth. Racial tensions here, delayed or aborted retirements there. Someone had to put feel good pulse back into the nation's collective body. This chorus demands you take action. The vocals demand you rise out of complacency and march towards the future you've always aspired to have. Whatever tapestry comes together results in peak hour revelry. "Pressure Off" probably won't solve your problems but it can separate you from the crash helmet for a little bit while you plan your next escape route.