The-I-lost-my-computer-access review

Too Bloody Fashionable
Red Carpet Massacre-Duran Duran
by Meredith Evonne

Duran Duran have a love/hate relationship in the press, the critics love to give them bad album reviews that are peppered with underlying complements. Often, it seems that admitting the band has hit a modern high note would contradict the urge to complain they never left the 80s. More often than not, they will opt to mention a comment that is overused just to complete a deadline: "Duran Duran are attempting another comeback..."
With Red Carpet Massacre, more reviewers took interest in the juiciest development in recent years, working with hit-makers Justin Timberlake and Timberland(who contributed to several tracks). Pointing out the modern edge of teaming up with these known American music factories, filled up review space, but it said little about the talent of Duran Duran themselves in 2007.
So, what has Duran Duran done musically in 2007? They moved away from their usual sound yet still pumped out a noteable album. At best, its booty shaking and features excellent writing styles. Negitively, the urge to impress has created a "Dirty Grey Monster." Just like this new album song, the distraction is the entire album screaming with overproduction. Duran Duran did not quit when they were ahead, as less instrumentals would have resulted in senceable effects. Otherwise decent songs like "Tempted," are drowned out by what sounds like feeding time in the tropical rainforest. Thankfully, this song featured more depth live in concert to be well liked, but tanks on the album. Mommy, make the parrot chirping stop!
The theme of the album is creative, as it is daring, to confront society with bold statements that only Duran Duran themselves could have experienced. The video for "Falling Down," the first ballad single, basically can be the mirror for finger waging at Britney and Lyndsay, yet the sexual innunendos with neo-Girls on Film models suggest rehab isn't as damaging to the psychie as one would think. Duran Duran shown calling(and adminstering) the shots to nude model pacients, tends to lose the overall message to alert someone to save a young life. Oh well, that's showbiz...
Positively, the best songs on the album are "The Valley," "She's Too Much," and the song that should have knocked the title track in the recycle bin as its superior replacement with the same theme "Cry Baby Cry"(availible on itunes as a bonus track), its a shame that "Red Carpet Massacre" cannot get away with being released as an splashy EP, it would've be a killer.
So, is the music business and without a quick 2nd single, there is no chance this album will be remembered equally relivent as the iconic "Rio." But, we'll always love Simon, Nick, Roger, John and even absentee member Andy more than the flavor of the month. Are you listening Justin?

Red Carpet Massacre on Broadway 11/1-Canceled...

In November, Duran Duran had been playing in concert on Broadway, until this Saturday when a Union Strike began, affecting most Broadway productions. With 3 remaining concerts canceled and in discussions to be moved to a different venue, this fortunately did not distrupt my concerts on November 3rd or 9th, nor did it interrupt my foaming at the mouth when I took a couple of days waiting in the cold to take some photos. If you'd like to read the full myspace blog of some of my pathetic fan encounters, you'd best just read a few of these Nick and Simon related excerpts-

When the group showed up early one night-"Literally, only a couple minutes passed, a car drove up and Simon Le Bon gets out of it. My friend may have had the camera, I can't say I remember, but I was interested in an autograph. Quite quickly he stood at the curb, yet opposite to where I was standing. Someone else asked him to look up to take his photo, he did so and then proceeded to enter walk closer to the front of the doors. Unfortunately, I wasn't loud enough to get his attention to stop, "Simon...er...Simon" then security escorted him inside. "Oh well...better luck next time," I thought. Before I could collect my thoughts to figure out how the hell I was going to tell my friend that she missed Simon entering,"About meeting Nick-My BS conversation was directed towards show complements. I wished him well for the evenings performance as he looked down to sign my program and placed the marker flat on the playbill and moved to the next assembly line patron. At this point he is still standing near me and I am doing a juggling act to sway the opened tip of the
marker way from rolling down into the autograph and quickly compose myself. As Nick wasn't speaking with the fan, I tried to think of some small talk.

Me: "I liked the electro set..."
Nick: "Yeah..there are a lot of good....-charlie browns teacher"
with not much else to say, i come up with this nugget...
*I like Showroom Dummies and...er(*thinks warm leatherette doesn't spit it out*)

Positively, I did manage to have this wacky Simon Le Bon encounter the next night amist 50,000 people squishing me into a metal baracade: "Simon shows up next in a long brown, coat and I'll I can remember is thinking I need to get my playbill signed, screw my camera. What feels like 30 pairs of hands next to me are stretched out waving stuff for Simon to sign and there were a couple playbills in the mix. I have my playbill stretched out and I'm struggling to get the cap off of it.

Me(In my paparatzi debut):"SimonSimon, sign my program, IN RED, IN RED"
I don't know what got over me, i wasn't yelling but being a pain in the ass...but he obliged instead of leaving as he was going to. (My friend Stacy made my day when she later told me she had gotten a photo of his back and Myself in the photo).

I think I thanked Simon and then I told him I "Loved Him" *Smacks Self again*""

Pop stars...is there anything they won't make me do to look stupid?

Spin Magazine-October 2007 issue

The October 2007 Edition of Spin Magazine has a one page interview(Pg. 40) featuring a solo shot of him taken during the 2005 Fashion Rocks photo sessions by Stephanie Pistel. In the interview he reveals a few observations about his bandmate, Nick Rhodes along with various tidbits about himself as a rock star in the '00s.

X-Rated Duran Videos? Surely you jest...

As reported this week by both The Daily Mail and NME the band have been filming the video for the 1st new single "Falling Down." Scantly clad models have been seen wearing nurses uniforms and flesh colored underwear and there is word of both a "clean" and "x-rated"(topless) version featuring said Nurses. While, Simon looks like he's actually dressed to film a less nerdy version of himself in a follow up to Acadia's "The Flame" single, I'm not sure Nick is in costume at all(see above). "Falling Down", being a ballad somehow will be able to hook the theme of the song to the video...I hope, when it is released.
Meanwhile, Speaking of songs from RCM, the following Nylon magazine DD article has this bit-"She's Too Much" was originally called "Gentle Touch" until Nick pointed out that sounds like a diaper brand. Simon complains that Nick is always like that: "He wouldn't let me use the word 'nostril' in a song once. I was like, 'fckuing hell! Jim Morrison did!' But, upon reflection, he was probably right."
The Star 98 listening party from this past tuesday can be downloaded At this link

Emmy Entertainment(Tonight)

Duran Duran performed a full set last night at an post-Emmy 'Entertainment Tonight' party. Highlight footage is expected to be shown on today's program(check local listings). The new single coming out next tuesday, "Falling Down" was played during this show. My thanks to TOSN for these photos.

line.dash.line continues

The official duranduran.com website is in the process of updating the for promotion of the new album, Red Carpet Massacre. At the same time, they are asking for votes to win BTDigital Music Awards based on its(dd.com's) site. I would not give my vote to dd.com even if you set me on fire. While the concepts are obviously bold, it has physically looked like a jigsaw puzzle since as early as the Medazzaland-era content. The text can be confusing(see "line.dash.line" blog) and the 2007 content is mixed with early Astronaut-era navigation bar. It always feels "under construction." Now that the new album has set release dates for November, the new designs are being rolled out, but the designs are not representing the Duran Duran image they are trying to convey; Sexy, Seductive, Flashy and Bold. Currently, the site as a whole reminds me of an old-beatup pair of jeans which I sewed a strobe light into. Trash the entire site and start over with an entirely new approach to match the style. The album and single designs that have been revealed (ex.CD cover, right) and they are AMAZING! "Amazing" because who knew a positive would be presented
without a proper web launch? Its sad, really, what a waste of a gorgeous design. If it were not for the latest candid photos of the band, its doubtful that anyone would choose to visit the site, especially in its current state. And that was your official "Website Ranting Massacre"

Live in the studio yesterday? A Croc!

Yesterday, Long Island's WBLI morning show broadcasted the morning interview taped friday(9/6) featuring Simon and Nick. You can listen to the interview and view more station photosHere or at DuranDuran.com. Other photos from this day can be seen at www.myspace.com/duranduran. More RCM chat and Simon's unfashionable Love for Crocs were a couple of the topics. In the last couple of days, Simon has called into Star 98.7(LA) and WMMX(Ohio). Star 98.7 will be giving away tickets for a special album listening party with the entire band schedualed for next week. Also, check out the GTBJ Youtube player w/ the WMJC interview!

Fashion Week Goodies?

DuranDuranMusic.com has announced a contest for all registered members, a G-Star Autographed Giveaway from Simon and Nick. The items aren't listed but a picture had been provided. Looks like a program and a bag from the event. Both items are signed. Maybe the winner would be kind enough to take a photo so we can find out if it was, indeed, a program and a designer carrier bag?

line.dash.line

The long Island Sirius Music radio station radio interview that will be broadcasting today(http://wbli.com/morningshow/) is a bit confusing to when it was recorded(monday) or if it was live(today). Duranduran.com posted a photo today and mentioned it along with a message that would suggest that tour de rhodeslebon aren't doing anymore NYC press this week. DD.com's news has been using Wordpress, as the blog feed to report updates. It has been damaging my eyesight for about a month due to tiny turquose font on black, and even tougher to navigate. With a new album coming up in November, it would be wise to revamp the entire page to attract people who have yet to pay $35 a year for unlimited access to duranduranmusic.com, a slightly clearer presentation. Even if Wordpress news was listed in order(it wasn't today), it would be nice if the took down the WPLJ listing with "September 8th" 1st at the top. I am about 75% confident it was canceled until futher notice. Rocky Allen does not re-list them as the guests for today, yet it would be wise to reschedual this major radio market soon as the station has yet to add "Falling Down" to their rotation. However, DD.com needs to better present its information if they want to avoid looking unprofessional. I suggest they get a bit more creative then avoiding news topics with distracting blue morse code text...

Maybe Tomorrow for WPLJ...

95.5 WPLJ live interview with Simon and Nick was canceled today and possibly postponed until tomorrow, DJ Rocky Allen gave the reason as "Simon hurt his back," on air, though the official websites DD.com has said it will be reschedualed, but no other info had been provided. The interview to promote the single "Falling Down" had been expected at 5pm this afternoon.

The Rocky Allen Showgram guest list page(http://www.wplj.com/Article.asp?id=324463&spid=5707) removed this info posted earlier-


"Simon LeBon and Nick Rhodes of Duran Duran visit to talk about their upcoming CD release "Red Carpet Massacre." "
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Simon did call in this morning to 105.3 KALC (Denver), listen here and WDVD (Detroit) which will repeat wednesday morning.

NYC Fashion Week

Nick and Simon have been enjoy Fashion Week, visiting events like:
9/6 G-star
9/8 Temperly
9/9 Jefferson Hack
9/9 Wakiya Restaurant@Gramercy Park Hotel
9/9 Gianni and Donatella" by Sante/ D'Orazio cocktail party
9/10- Marc Jacobs (Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring 2008)
Simon left this update of these events at duranduranmusic.com yesterday
“We’re in New York and of course, it’s Fashion Week.

We’ve gone to a few shows, Nick and I. G Star – it was really good and pacey, well choreographed, it was more of a performance than a Fashion Show really. If you’ve ever seen one, they are typically very generic, with Models walking up and down the cat walk, in a tent...this one wasn’t like that. I’ve been to a few Fashion Shows in my day and even fewer interesting ones, and the G Star show was one of the best I’ve seen. And I love their clothes – great jeans.

I also went to Alice Temperley – Temperley London. Really beautiful. Just beautiful, comfortable, fun and amazing looking. That’s Alice Temperley clothes.

We are off to Marc Jacobs this evening. I know what you’re thinking – but hey, we’re working very hard, a small break never hurt anyone...

Whoooshman,

S.”

An Evil Chat and No M&Ms...

Listen to Nick and Simon interviewed on 94.3 WMJC in Long Island, New York. An upcoming special RCM concert event was announced(Nurses' uniform optional)http://www.wmjcfm.com/images/duranduran091007/

A Party For K'nick'ers

From Javno.com-"CK used the spectacular New York Fashion Week to mark the 25th anniversary of his line of underwear. With such a reputation, it did not come as a surprise that the guests included the arts' creme of the crop: actress Hilary Swank, musician Nick Rhodes, model Bridget Hall, etc. " Photo: Reuters.

Basic Introduction

This blog is a cutdown version of the masterpiece that was once Glamour Tiger Baby Junkie(the website '00-'06). This blog will be just that, a blog. You've seen the rest, you know i'm the best...but I cannot be very flashy just a bit glossy. I will post updates when I feel the need to open my beautiful gob...Please note: see www.templeofsaintnick.com for links to the fashion show Nick and Simon attended in NYC last week. Here's another blurb about the men being seen-(http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2007/09/new_york_fashion_week_spring_2008_celebrity_sightings.html) & While I set up shop here view the 20+ youtube videos I have arranged for your viewing pleasure...you know you want to...