for the D2 fans

[godisinthesilences]

Not sure if all the D.D. fans knew or not but the release date for the new (finally) cd is out. It will be released in europe nov. 12th and the usa nov. 13th. No word yet on other territories. The title of the cd is "Red Carpet Massacre".

In my own opinion I think DD have once again shot themselves in the foot. Needless to say we know there won't be violent songs on the cd. I mean it is dd for goodness sake. Even when they do try to do something more volatile it is never as hard as it could be. I totally get the pun they intended with the title, but I just think the word massacre has the most negative connotation to it. I believe by putting out such a negative energy into the universe that is the energy you'll receive back. I'm not saying they have to be happy mr. sunshine. I just believe they are the worst at getting out of their own way.

[Meyrav]

Yes, I heard a few songs from their new cd...I can't find anything interesting in their new music.
They really 'massacred' their good name and their career. I mean Timberlake?! What can be more commercial than this?
And 'Falling Down' is soooo boring...To my opinion of course...
It really looks like their 'Falling deeply down....'

[godisinthesilences]

yes i agree totally.... shame really.

[krausy]

Yeah, I am not too sold on the title. At this point I am just like 'whateva'

And if they tour, I am NOT doing the bust my ass for a great ticket and airfare to wherever. If they come somewhere near me --NC VA TN GA or perhaps Fla or Pa where I have accomodations, then I will go. No special trips though!!!

[godisinthesilences]

totally agree with you krausy. Besides i'm an andy girl so with no andy there will be no laura. LOL

[godisinthesilences]

oh good lord i just went to dd.com and they have a studio clip of them in the studio working. I am so NOT impressed with their new effort.
I think Krausy is right... they should include a barf bag with the cd packaging. Poor guys they are so off track

[Meyrav]

Yes, I saw that video. I couldn't understand what the hell Timberlake was talking about when he said: 'This one is very Duran Duran' and then they played 'Skin Divers'...That doesn't sound like DD at all!

[Lady Arcadia]

I can admit, I have left all Duran messageboards behind. Too negative.

But in saying that, I also don't believe the path they are taking is the right one. They may not have too much say in the matter either, as a friend of mine once said, the politics of major labels is worse than parliament in session. (Back in the day, this guy had been signed to EMI NZ, he said he was glad to be away from it.)

Red Carpet Massacre?? Doesn't have the same ring to it as Rio eh?? Oh well, if the gossip on some of the boards is anything to go by, the lawyers are back so heck, what happens next??

Thinking about the Duran thing in relation to Japan. As much as I would love to see all the boys from Japan back on stage together, if it means going through the ups and downs the boys from Duran have, I am glad that it will probably never happen.

In many ways, Duran sold out their name and their place in history. Japan have never done that.

[Meyrav]

Thinking about the Duran thing in relation to Japan. As much as I would love to see all the boys from Japan back on stage together, if it means going through the ups and downs the boys from Duran have, I am glad that it will probably never happen.

In many ways, Duran sold out their name and their place in history. Japan have never done that.

Exactly! I'm glad Japan had ended up like this and not like Duran. I can almost say it's humiliating for them.

[godisinthesilences]

I couldn't agree more with all of this.
I left the DD messageboards behind too for the same reason... mean negative people. Personally I like to remember them as they were at their height. For me the music they created then is the best they have made and the most genuine. Being a visual artist the imagery they created at the time was inspiring and new....

I don't think any of the music they created from what i've heard so far sounds like D2... it all sounded like Timberlake to me. And, to me that means it all sounds the same. ICK

I agree I don't want Japan to get back together if it means there will be negativity and lots of hardships surrounding the situation.

Hey what did you mean the lawyers are back involved with d2??

[lastgoldstar]

I'm undoubtedly going to buy RCM when it's released, but I'm not really all that excited about it. I've spent awhile thinking about what the title means. Other than massacring their career (which I don't think applies at all)... I don't know.

But, I'm going to be the outcast here. I really, really, REALLY like "Falling Down." I've listened to it so many times in the past week that it's jumped to number one in my iTunes. "Nite Runner" is another story... but while I hate (maybe even loathe) the whole Timberlake collaboration, I don't see this as some horrible, career-killing move. For one thing, the quality of the new album is (or will be) subjective- same with all the others. Take The Wedding Album, for instance. It was the "comeback album" and all that jazz, but personally, I don't think it's that great. It's not bad, but it's not one of my favorites. It just takes different people to appreciate the different albums. I don't doubt at all that some die-hards will hate this album, but it's also going to turn some people (people who've previously never even heard of the band or gave them a second thought) into fans. Do I think the band is selling out? No. Do I like the direction they're taking? Not particularly. But the point is that some are going to like it and some are going to leave it- the same can be said for any band or artist, really.

[krausy]

I know what you mean about the Wedding album. It is a good album and does contain different elements for different tastes, which is going to attract more people, and judging by what happened, it did just that.

My favorite albums are the first one, Rio, Notorious, Medazzaland, and Astronaut---all for different reasons.

I guess we will all sit back and see what happens.

[heartofdavid]

I've spent awhile thinking about what the title means. Other than massacring their career (which I don't think applies at all)... I don't know.

It's an anagram for Creates Crap Dreams.

Joking aside, I am looking forward to the album, haven't heard any of the new tunes yet, content to wait for the CD.

I don't really have any thoughts one way or the other about how the album will do or what effect it will have regarding their 'status' - don't actually care to be honest. I'm sort of immune to that kind of talk - as a follower of Japan and the Japan boys solo careers from the start, I've become used to hearing the worst about an artist and having their music (for the most part) be considered commercial (and often artistic) flops. It's sort of funny now to go back and read old reviews, I think David's solo work has had some of the most extreme opposite opinions among reviewers that I've ever read.

Maybe I've been lucky in becoming a DD fan so late, not until late 2002, so Astronaut was the first 'new' DD album I heard. I got into their back catalog before knowing much about their history - so I heard each album as being fresh and as something that stood on its own (and out of chronological order, lol).

I think there's merit in viewing a band's release in the context of their history and in making comparisons to prior work, but when it comes to simple listening pleasure (for me), none of that matters - it's all about the tunes at that moment when I'm listening to them, what I'm feeling, doing or thinking at the time. It doesn't matter who the producer is, or who co-wrote it, or what's the style or is it trendy or a potential it...it's just about if I like the song and does it make me feel good to hear it.

[Lady Arcadia]

Heart of David, I think you are right, coming to Duran late means that most of the crap they went through comes in legend. I remember reading most of it was it unfolded. Duran come with a long history, some parts cringe-able, others very good.

Will probably buy RCM. I am a guaranteed customer I suppose.

Hey what did you mean the lawyers are back involved with d2??

If the stuff on the boards are to be believed, (the last time I was on a DD board - a couple of weeks ago), Andy has engaged legal representation ie:lawyers, a couple of magazines have had to print retractions (ie: he didn't quit, the shelved album had nothing to do with his departure...). As one said on the boards - sounds remarkably like 1987. Which it does.

It had also been noted that he hadn't posted any new blogs on his myspace page for a while, - it was argued that either life got in the way, or his lawyers have advised him to cease communication for a while.

Oh well, doesn't really matter in my world. I have found myself re-discovering the first two records again - Nightboat is great to sing along too (badly by the way!) and I still regularly listen to the magic that was Arcadia!!

[heartofdavid]

Heart of David, I think you are right, coming to Duran late means that most of the crap they went through comes in legend. I remember reading most of it was it unfolded. Duran come with a long history, some parts cringe-able, others very good.

Yeah, it is different with Japan. They only had one period where things got ugly, which was Rain Tree Crow. Seeing in print that Rich wanted to punch David's face in if he ever saw him again, calling him an a**hole, Steve calling him much worse than that, and David retaliating with it's time for him to cut certain people out of his life forever...wasn't pleasant.

All said, it didn't deter me from loving the album. And fortunately time gave them all a bit of perspective.