|
Arena - Duran Duran
Duran Duran was at the peak of its career on its tour of the United States and Canada in the fall of 1983 through the spring of 1984. Arena captures the band blasting through its hits with a ferociousness never before heard on record. The keyboards are toned down in favor of Andy Taylor's brilliant guitar work, which was vastly underused on the band's three previous albums.
Duran Duran was determined not to be known as a "video" band, and Arena proves that they could slay live. Vocalist, Simon LeBon sounds like a wounded animal, and his energy is seemingly boundless. Drummer Roger Taylor also lays to rest any myths that the band relied too heavily on electronic programming because he outshines the machines on each track.
Some of the darker corners of the band's albums lend themselves best to a live setting. "New Religion" mixes new wave panache with gospel roots, and LeBon attacks his vocal parts like it's his last day alive. "The Seventh Stranger" sounded somewhat stilted on Seven And The Ragged Tiger, but this live version captures its emotional impact brilliantly. "Careless Memories" heaves with passion and bitterness, and probably shocked all the teenage girls that came to hear "Rio."
Over the years, I've read complaints about this album, which I have never understood. Sure, LeBon sounds more vicious than he does on the singles, but that's a good thing. Why would anyone complain about the excessive energy? The musicianship is impeccable. John Taylor's bass playing is mind-blowing. Duran Duran rocks on this record, and there's no denying it.
The highlight of Arena is the heart-breaking rendition of "The Chauffeur." Featuring LeBon's finest batch of lyrics, "The Chauffeur" is a futuristic ballad, underpinned by Nick Rhodes' layered and textured keyboard arrangement. LeBon's flute solo is the most affecting moment of the album, however, erupting into a fractured and frenzied climax.
Arena includes one new song amidst all the live footage. "Wild Boys" was the band's darkest single to date, and, somehow, it shot to number two in November of 1984. It showcases LeBon's most impressive vocal display- his voice sounding both strained and powerful. The bombastic rhythm tracks are overwhelmingly catchy, and Andy Taylor gets to let loose with a rare but surging guitar solo.
Duran Duran to this day fight the image of being wimpy teenyboppers, but Arena should have stifled that argument when it was released in the fall of 1984. Arena proves once and for all that Duran Duran could hold its own live, and that its colossal success was not based solely on looks.
__________________
Sarah: That's not fair!
Jareth: You say that so often, I wonder what your basis for comparison is?
|
