Go back to the main Duran Duran page, you ragged tiger! Eight and the Carpeted Bobcat Overall Album Score: 8.1 out of 10 Hey! Duran Duran is back for a third time ... and they have yet to suck! Yay! Because, ya know, a band that has given the world such a wonderful set of two albums ... if they ever started to suck, ya know, that would be utterly terrible. In fact, I wouldn't like it. Not at all. If Duran Duran ever starts to suck, I might have to hit something. And you don't want me to hit anything. Especially if it even slightly resembles your face. Unfortunately for this band, however, this is their last album during their reign as super-duper pop stars. Even though they were much better at creating pop music than 97.5 percent of their contemporaries, the whole reason they aren't common household names anymore is because of their very short reign in pop-stardom. (I mean ... they were only really big in the 1982-85 era, weren't they? ... Although their album sales remained fairly decent throughout the 90s.) The big improvement that we see in Seven and the Ragged Tiger is that it has better melodies than Rio! However, Rio is a much better album, and I'll tell ya why. Rio's songs are more exhilarating! (I mean ... DUDE! Re-listen to Rio! That is one exhilarating song!) The only track here to really make it in that category is "New Moon on Monday," which again displays the fact that Duran Duran was really on top of the 80s. It's slick, smooth, classy, and exciting. The big hit on this album, one which in my opinion is strong but doesn't really take the cake, is none other than "The Reflex." Even though I fail to get overly excited about it, I do recognize that unlike most songs from Rio, this song has much better melodic qualities. ... I mean, Duran Duran even attempted doing a prominent riff for it! It's not that kind of New Romantic rambling that just focuses on delivering us a strong chorus ... and, when we're not in the chorus, giving us nothing that's wonderful (but nice and smooth and mellow). However, my point is that I like all the New Romantic rambling from Rio ... so therefore Seven and the Ragged Tiger is but a minor step down for the band. Nevertheless, I love this album as if it were one of my own. Overall Album Score: 8.1 out of 10 (Duran Duran goes more for the mainstream ... and they lose some of their edge in the process. Oh well. They're still pretty enjoyable.) Average Song Score: 8.3 (Compared to Duran Duran's previous albums, this is a set of much less inspired songs ... strangely enough, however, the melodies seemed to have improved. But the songs are less bold.) Album Tilt: 8.0 (It's a pleasant listening experience ... nothing more.) Artist Rating: 8.0 (Oooooh, I was *this* close to slapping on a 7.5 in this category. Even though this isn't an artistic album, really, in any sense ... it looks like pretty standard 80s fare to me. However, I appreciate Duran Duran for not allowing anything bad go in this album.) Track Reviews The Reflex 9/10 While I definitely think "The Reflex" is a good song, I certainly don't think that it's anything we should be utterly worshipful over. I think the riff is rather primitive ... but heck! At least they have a riff! (Their previous album Rio was rather riff-sparse ... "The Reflex" doesn't rely on its chorus as its only source of energy.) Even though this is the first Duran Duran song to ever reach No. 1 on the American charts, I don't find it to be particularly memorable ... nor do I think it's any reason for me to leap out of my chair and scream HAPPINESS. Also, oddly enough, the singing here doesn't have those deep, lucid vocals that Duran Duran have otherwise displayed. New Moon on Monday 9.5/10 This song is cool! Oh yeah ... it's pure 80s, but it's pure 80s exactly where you want it! On the moon! ... Ah ... nah ... This song sounds like it belongs on Rio, because its primal source of energy lies on its cool chorus. The deep, lucid vocals are back, and not too soon! I dew enjoy this one. Cracks in the Pavement 8/10 This is pretty good! It has a nice melody and everything ... however, I just find it entirely unremarkable. It's even unmemorable. In fact, I've forgotten it already. (By the way, at the end of this track, I think the Asian-inspired instrumentals are pretty cool.) I Take the Dice 7.5/10 When you listen to this, you know it's mediocre. See ... there's no reason for you to enjoy it. There's no reason for music art-seekers to like it. It's run-of-the-mill 80s stuff. However, just to prove to you that Duran Duran was one of the better 80s rock groups, when I listen to this song, somehow, they manage to make it pretty good. Of Crime and Passion 8/10 Crap! This song is still pretty good ... I don't understand what's going on! Why do I like this standard 80s stuff? ... Man! The melody here is rather excellent. It's a bit disconcerting for me to discover, however, that while the melodies on Seven and the Ragged Tiger are better, I'm not enjoying the songs quite as much as I did on Rio. I guess Rio was slightly more artistic-sounding, or whatnot. This is standard 80s pop rock, but it's solid. Union of the Snake 9.5/10 Well! This is a pretty classy pop song! The synth-backing they create is, unlike many of the other songs, memorable. So ... the backing is really what makes this song great. (The instrumental interlude in here is pretty entertaining as well.) The melody, while good, isn't great, however. Nevertheless, I enjoy it! Shadows on Your Side 8/10 Cool! This one is like some of those other "average" 80s songs, except the tempo of this one is increased just enough to make it quite a bit more enjoyable. Ooooh baaaybe! It still doesn't kick major butt or anything, like I would have liked for it to do! Oh well. You can't have all the shadows on your side all of the time. Tiger Tiger 8/10 Look! The band's name repeats itself ... and now the band's songs are beginning to repeat themselves! How weird is that? I dunno! Anyway, this song, which is entitled "Tiger Tiger" is Greeeeeeeeeeeeeeeat! (Greeeeeeeeeeeeeat!) In fact, it's so good that I just want to eat it (eat it!) It's also an instrumental (instrumental)! And it sounds neat-o (neat-o)! Also, (also) you might note that it has a bit of an Asian influence (Asian influence). And you can't count that against anybody (anybody) unless you are a kamikaze pilot from World War II (II), in which case you probably would have died already by now (now). That said (said), I'm not insanely impressed with it (with it). The Seventh Stranger 7.5/10 Is that who this "Seven" feller is in the album tit(tit)le? I was wondering about that(hat)! Hey! Wou(ou)ld you quit it with the parenth(nth)esis thi(thi)ng? It's not funny anymo(ymo)re! St(t)op it! It wasn't even fun(un)ny in the first plac(lac)e! Dude! Qu(Qu)it it! Okay, after a ruthless struggle, I have temporarily restrained one of my other personalities by handcuffing him with German sausage links. I don't know why, but that always seems to work. Oh ... where was I? Oh yeah! The "Seventh Stranger." As the last track of the album, it certainly isn't *bad*. In fact, I think the melody here is rather strong. However, I can't be altogether convinced that this is an exciting song. It doesn't affect me much, anyway (anyway). Tell me just what you think of Nine and the Washclothed Mountain Lion here! yoyon_yogo@yahoo.com (yoyon) received Jan. 15, 2005 i love this songs very much, the reflexs, new moon monday , the union of the snake are very cool and melodies so very nice beside shadow on your side and of crime passion, i like very much

All reviews are copyrighted by the author, Michael Lawrence. He just asked you where is the nearest restroom facility.