#139: Duran Duran - Rio (1982)

Emily: New Wave is proving to be a very interesting genre. It seemed fairly straightforward at the outset: lots of synthesizer, echoing vocals, some ambient elements, and British accents. Although every New Wave album we’ve listened to includes these elements to some extent, I’m really surprised by how many variations on the genre exist. Take Duran Duran, for example. They come to the New Wave scene a little later than others, but with Rio, their first international hit album, the band showcases a unique take on the genre. This album is definitely the poppiest of the new wave we’ve listened to so far. It uses familiar pop sounds and techniques, like the chorus of do-do-dos in the hit song Hungry Like the Wolf, but mixes up the genre with the synthesizer and vocal style of new wave. The result is catchy, fun, and 100% danceable. Eighties pop music might get a bad rap sometimes, but Duran Duran defies that stereotype with their nod to New Wave.

Favorite Tracks: Hungry Like the Wolf; Rio; New Religion

Zack: Ah Duran Duran. Did you know that they’re one of Zapp Brannigan’s favorite bands? Well they are. And that’s the type of useless knowledge that I possess and routinely spout for no apparent raisin. It makes no science. I really hope at least some of you got those jokes. Anywho, I was really taken aback by Rio. It was much much much better than I expected. As has been the case with all the 80s Synth stuff, I thought it could go either way. Well it went only one way, and that was full force, deep penetration into the inner awesome region of your eardrums. Rio embraces a subtlety that is wholly uncharacteristic for the infamously gaudy era in which it was made. It was like a less mopey Cure album. I had absolutely no trouble embracing that. I have a feeling that albums like this will make it so, even 1000 years in the future, there will be only one 80s in the hearts and minds of the good Earthican people. AND I’M HUNGRY LIKE THE WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF!!!!!!
Favorite Tracks: The Chauffer; Rio; Hungry Like the Wolf