Danse Macabre
Duran Duran's new album arrived yesterday. I forgot I ordered the CD and not the vinyl. I think my reasoning was that if I didn't like the album, the CD was cheaper. Of course, I've clearly forgotten myself if I thought I wouldn't like a Halloween-themed Duran album.
My first listen yesterday I was somewhat unimpressed. But, I think that had everything to do with work being super stressful the entire day. It just poisoned my enjoyment of everything from the album to the fact it was Friday. It didn't let up either as I had a call from a whining user at 11:30 last night.
Already the song 'Black Moonlight' has really energized me. To me it has the sound of their work around the 2005/'Astronaut' album period. The title song, 'Danse Macabre' I said originally was a bit too "Party City" with the lyrics, but it has grown on me. Plus it is a new experience hearing it outside of the video. I really went out of my way not to overplay any of the songs they released before the album came out.
My only criticism so far is that they did not lean hard enough into their Halloween theme. Don't get me wrong, what I am hearing I am starting to really appreciate. I just think if anyone could have gotten away with this idea and pushed it even harder, it would be them.
They're new rendition of 'Love Voudou' is good, but again I felt like it could have been given a slightly harder, Gothic edge. Though hearing the song took me back to the 90s, as this was from their album that started it all for me. And I remembered from that period all their cassette singles I had came with alternate, acoustic versions of some of their biggest songs. It really took me back to that time, as I was only just getting into music too and to hear some bizarre new version of a song I loved already was a wild experience.
I am on a mission to see if I can find the vinyl out in the wild today. I have to run some errands as we are having people over tonight and we have no plan for food or drinks as of yet. The driving will also give me the opportunity to really appreciate the album over the stereo speakers. It's fine listening to songs on my phone playing in the shower, but hearing it in the Jeep is a more immersive experience.
I've been quite nostalgic all year, what with feeling old, reading through my old journal... this album feels perfectly timed as a transition piece between that past life and the present.
My first listen yesterday I was somewhat unimpressed. But, I think that had everything to do with work being super stressful the entire day. It just poisoned my enjoyment of everything from the album to the fact it was Friday. It didn't let up either as I had a call from a whining user at 11:30 last night.
Already the song 'Black Moonlight' has really energized me. To me it has the sound of their work around the 2005/'Astronaut' album period. The title song, 'Danse Macabre' I said originally was a bit too "Party City" with the lyrics, but it has grown on me. Plus it is a new experience hearing it outside of the video. I really went out of my way not to overplay any of the songs they released before the album came out.
My only criticism so far is that they did not lean hard enough into their Halloween theme. Don't get me wrong, what I am hearing I am starting to really appreciate. I just think if anyone could have gotten away with this idea and pushed it even harder, it would be them.
They're new rendition of 'Love Voudou' is good, but again I felt like it could have been given a slightly harder, Gothic edge. Though hearing the song took me back to the 90s, as this was from their album that started it all for me. And I remembered from that period all their cassette singles I had came with alternate, acoustic versions of some of their biggest songs. It really took me back to that time, as I was only just getting into music too and to hear some bizarre new version of a song I loved already was a wild experience.
I am on a mission to see if I can find the vinyl out in the wild today. I have to run some errands as we are having people over tonight and we have no plan for food or drinks as of yet. The driving will also give me the opportunity to really appreciate the album over the stereo speakers. It's fine listening to songs on my phone playing in the shower, but hearing it in the Jeep is a more immersive experience.
I've been quite nostalgic all year, what with feeling old, reading through my old journal... this album feels perfectly timed as a transition piece between that past life and the present.