Blast off to the main Duran Duran page... Astronut Overall Album Score: 8.5 out of 10 I was probably more excited over the reunion of the original Duran Duran line-up than is normal for a 22-year-old male living in Wichita, Kansas (who was, like, one year old when the band split up). Nevertheless, I got excited about it, and I sent the individual band members a pair of my panties. And now! The year is 2004, and Duran Duran didn't let their reputation fade. Astronaut is a dang fun album full of some very fun, very tasteful, and (naturally) danceable pop songs. They're not a far cry away, stylistically, from Rio. The songs are similar! Except, the sound is updated for modern teenagers (as opposed to middle-aged office secretaries with fake fingernails). Instead of the jerky New Romantic beat, we get slick dance grooves. New Romantic dance beats are generally more exciting to me than slick dance grooves, but Duran Duran manages to make 00s dance-pop as exciting as they made New Romantic back in 1982. These are good songs!!! The album's first two songs, "(Reach Up For the) Sunrise" and "Want You More!" are some hella awesome dance songs. I never dance, myself, but these suckers at least made me *think* about it. That's much more than I can say about Christina Agioreiieia whose dance music makes me think more about puking. Anyway, you've got to loooooooove these guys. This is a prime example of how 00s dance music can be tasteful and awesome. The End. Overall Album Score: 8.5 out of 10 (Once again, Duran Duran offers something valuable to the pop music genre. This isn't immaculate, of course, but it's sure is a heckuvalot better than what everyone else is doing.) Average Song Score: 8.4 (Good pop songs! There are a few real standouts in here ... and the other songs are good, too.) Album Tilt: 8.5 (I like this album. It's consistently good, and it's diverse. Whether it's dancable or simply listenable, there's a lot of fun to be had here.) Artist Rating: 8.5 (Duran Duran's ability to write good, solid songs and give most of them such inspired instrumental backing is present here in full form!) Track Reviews (Reach Up For the) Sunrise 9.5/10 This is a totally excellent pop song! ... FREAKING CRAP! MOVE OVER STUPID CHRISTINA AGINREOIGIA! YOU STINK! ... Again, Duran Duran gives to 00s pop what they gave to 80s pop and 90s pop. This isn't anything remarkably new, but it's something remarkably good, which is something Christina Agoreioia doesn't know how to do. That's 'cause she's a cool skank. These are formerly cool awesome-guys. This song not only has a good and very catchy melody, but very well-done instrumentation. Very well done. They were always good at that. Want You More! 9.5/10 They don't even remotely get off their awesome platform with this utterly fun and dancable pop number. Even with hints of techno, Duran Duran proves that all you need to do is have a good melody and inspired instrumentation to make a good pop song. (Doncha just love that acoustic guitar in here ... and that synth bass? FARK!) ... Good 00s pop is real! I've seen it! What Happens Tomorrow 8.5/10 Still excellent! Duran Duran does a great job keeping up with their awesome melodies. This one not only has solid hooks throughout and the instrumentation was just perfect. (Yes, it's lavish and pop, but it's excellent ... and kind of moving.) Dudes. If you're into Christina Agnoeirnoia, then BUY THIS ALBUM!! IT'S BETTERRRRRRR!!!!!! (This song is almost a 9.) Astronaut 8.5/10 The Backstreet Boys tried writing songs like this. And they never even remotely were able to hold a candle to it! GOOD POP!!!!!!! Not only is this song absolutely dancable, it's another great example of Duran Duran's superb songwriting abilities. And the instrumentation, again, is top-notch. Bedroom Toys 7.5/10 Ohhh... this is still fairly solid, but it's a bit disappointing after what we just heard. This is Duran Duran's obligatory mediocre track. ... The melody and instrumentation both seem mediocre. Nice 9/10 Hey, Madonna! Check out these vocal effects! ... CHECK OUT THESE VOCAL EFFECTS, YOU SKANK! Unlike YOU, Duran Duran not only knows how to make vocal effects work in a song, but they know how to make vocal effects ENHANCE a song! FREAKKK!!! This is another very fun, dancable, and utterly hook-filled pop song from the guys. They rule above all stupid idiots like Britney Spears and Christina Agiroeiorieia and they know it! SKANKS! Taste the Summer 8/10 How can you taste the summer? It's a season? ... Oooooohhhh ... but you can taste a seasonING. I get it. I think. This is another dancable pop song, but it's not quite as exciting as some of the other wonderful pop songs on here. Still 399404 times better than Christina Agieoiorignia. Finest Hour 8/10 The instrumentation, again, is very nice and refined. It has pop sensibilities and it manages to satisfy me as someone who DEMANDS GOOD INSTRUMENTATION. Other than that, the song isn't that great. It's slow. But it has a good enough melody and, as I already said, great arrangements. So. Yay! Chains 7.5/10 Hmmm... I could be more under enthusiastic about this song. The melody is workable, but there aren't really any deathly hooks in them. The instrumentation is tasteful, but it's not amazing. This is track is ignorable. But it doesn't bomb even in the slightest. And this song is on the lengthy side. One of Those Days 8/10 I love the chorus! This isn't a dance song. It's a regular old pop ditty! And I like it! ... But it doesn't enthuse me. It's well-written though, and, again, the instrumentation is very nice. You've simply got to appreciate these guys' amazing ability at the arrangements! Too few pop artists are able to do that! Point of No Return 8.5/10 This one reminds me especially of their Rio days! ... Awesome! They start out kind of slow (but awesome) and then is slowly builds up to a nice chorus! ... Granted, this song doesn't sound nearly as awesome as "Rio," but it's very fun just the same. Still Breathing 8/10 Oh, man! Is this album over already? ... I was enjoying it too much! Oh well. Duran Duran doesn't close their album with another awesome-like dance song. They close it with a slow old pop song. Hmmm. It has a nice enough melody and (AGAIN) the arrangements were well crafted. It's a SOLID song, but I'm just sort of complacent about this. It's a solid 8, though, all the way. Give your astronomical observations about this album here.

All reviews are copyrighted by the author, Michael Lawrence. He sells seal apples.