The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
The Spill Magazine The Spill Magazine
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • Track Of The Day
  • Track Of The Month
  • Books + Movies
  • About
  • Reviews
    • Album Reviews
    • Features
    • Live Reviews
    • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • Headlines
    • News
    • Contests
    • Events
    • Entertainment Headlines
    • Concert Listings
    • Toronto Concert Venues
  • New Music
    • Premieres
    • Track Of The Day
  • Track Of The Month
  • Books + Movies
  • About
  • Spill Menu
    • Reviews
      • Album Reviews
      • Features
      • Live Reviews
      • Festivals
    • Portraits
    • Headlines
      • News
      • Contests
      • Events
      • Entertainment Headlines
      • Concert Listings
      • Toronto Concert Venues
    • New Music
      • Premieres
      • Track Of The Day
    • Track Of The Month
    • Books + Movies
    • About
Album Reviews
720
previous article
SPILL LIVE REVIEW: THE HARPOONIST AND THE AXE MURDERER @ THE HORSESHOE TAVERN, TORONTO
next article
SPILL ARTIST PORTRAIT BY DANIEL ADAMS: X AMBASSADORS

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DURAN DURAN – PAPER GODS

Duran Duran
Paper Gods
Warner Bros.
RATING_3.5_of_5.ai

Paper Gods does not disappoint. Released Sept. 11, Duran Duran’s 14th studio album since 1981 stays true to the band’s legacy while injecting a fresh flavour.

The Fab Five, as they were known when they ruled the airwaves through the mid- 1980s, has dwindled in number to four, but the quality of their music has not similarly waned.  The opening (and title) track follows the band’s formula of an electronic sound with an upbeat but very recognizable feel.  Simon Le Bon’s vocals eliminate any doubt as to whether or not you’re listening to Duran Duran, and their music’s signature style is at once familiar.

The heavy synthesizers on the remainder of the tracks, put forth by Warner Bros., call up memories of early Depeche Mode. The synth hooks and overall sound are definitely reminiscent of the band’s ‘80s heyday, but the updates make it relevant for modern audiences. Don’t expect “Save a Prayer” or “Girls on Film,” but this is absolutely an admirable effort.  Having lost a member (Andy Taylor, one of the three unrelated Taylor boys in the band) in the mid-1980s (upon his signing a solo recording contract in Los Angeles, although he subsequently rejoined and left the Duran Duran roster a few times), Le Bon carries on along with Nick Rhodes on keys,  John Taylor on bass, and Roger Taylor on drums. Aided by a number of guest contributors, including John Frusciante, a former guitarist of the Red Hot Chili Peppers; Canadian singer and musician Kiesza; and several others, the sound stays true to their signature but adds an air of seriousness. The electronic beat keeps them from falling into the “dark” music category.

The catchiest track was the first, “Paper Gods,” which features the vocals of Ben “Mr.” Hudson, a Birmingham-based producer, songwriter, and musician who spent most of 2014 writing and producing the album alongside Le Bon.  Lyrics are about the impact of all the superficiality of society the obsessive relationship with money so many of us are engaged in.

Another highlight was “What Are the Chances,” which includes Frusciante on guitar and London-based guitarist and singer-songwriter Dom Brown, who has been collaborating with Duran Duran since 2004, when he stood in for guitarist Andy Taylor. This song is one of the slowed-down ballads of the album that illustrate why so many teens and pre-teens swooned over the Durans in the ‘80s.

Overall, I give it a thumbs-up.  I certainly appreciated some tracks more than others, but wouldn’t call any of them bad.  It was a good listen, a trip back to the days of my youth drooling over these guys on my record covers and school folders, and I enjoyed every minute.

– Kathy Nichols

STAY UP-TO-DATE
WITH OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER!

* Mandatory Field

Check your inbox or spam folder now (just in case!) to confirm your subscription.

Item Reviewed

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DURAN DURAN – PAPER GODS

Author

Kathy Nichols

Here's what we think...
Spill Rating
Fan Rating
Rate Here
New Criteria
10
51.7
7.0
Total Spill Rating
51.7
Total Fan Rating
5 ratings
You have rated this
Album Reviews
album reviewsduran duranpaper gods
album reviews, duran duran, paper gods
About the Author
Kathy Nichols
Kathy Nichols, from the land of cheese and beer, has been writing off and on since elementary school. Her passions include hugging trees and trying to make a positive difference in the world, to which end she completed a degree in Mass Communications coupled with Environmental Science. Kathy appreciates all types of music, mainly industrial and punk and the like (especially bands who use their fame and fortune to try to make social or political statements), but with a little bit of Beastie Boys and Billie Holiday thrown in to switch things up a bit. She is the owner and CEO of www.industrialstrengthpublicity.com and enjoys long walks on the beach and (skinny) puppies.
RELATED ARTICLES
album reviewsduran duranpaper gods
 
10
boygenius
10

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BOYGENIUS – THE RECORD

by Joseph Mastel on March 31, 2023
boygenius The Record Interscope The debut album The Record by supergroup boygenius is a remarkable album that showcases the individual and collective talents of Julien Baker, Lucy Dacus, and Phoebe Bridgers. “$20” and “Satanist” are the heaviest [...]
 
9.0
John Foxx
10

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JOHN FOXX – THE ARCADES PROJECT

by Aaron Badgley on March 31, 2023
John Foxx The Arcades Project Metamatic It seems hard to believe that after close to 50 years of making music, John Foxx has never recorded a solo piano album until now. The Arcades Project is his second release this year and although it is not [...]
 
9.0
Foghat

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: FOGHAT – ROAD FEVER: THE COMPLETE BEARSVILLE RECORDINGS 1972-1975

by Aaron Badgley on March 31, 2023
Foghat Road Fever: The Complete Bearsville Recordings 1972-1975 HNE/Cherry Red Records I remember watching an MTV awards show, many, many years ago. Jim Carey, dressed as a hippie,  made the joke “would it kill you to play some Foghat?” He was [...]
 
9.0
Peggy Lee

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PEGGY LEE – I’M A WOMAN (60th ANNIVERSARY EDITION)

by Aaron Badgley on March 31, 2023
Peggy Lee I’m  A Woman (60th Anniversary Edition) Capitol Records/UMe In 1963, Peggy Lee had a surprise hit with the song “I’m A Woman”. She had not been on the charts since 1958 with her classic “Fever”. Rock ‘n’ roll had a firm grip on [...]
 
10
Kilmore
10

SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: KILMORE – FROM THE INSIDE

by Andre Skinner on March 31, 2023
Kilmore From The Inside Independent Kilmore’s latest release From The Inside hits all the marks on the Psych/Groove/Stoner Rock report card. Straight A’s here! This exceptionally talented Halifax-based band led by female vocalist [...]

Latest Album Reviews
View All
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BOYGENIUS – THE RECORD
10
10
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JOHN FOXX – THE ARCADES PROJECT
9.0
10
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: FOGHAT – ROAD FEVER: THE COMPLETE BEARSVI...
9.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: PEGGY LEE – I’M A WOMAN (60th ANNIV...
9.0
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: KILMORE – FROM THE INSIDE
10
10

STAY UP-TO-DATE
WITH OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER!

* Mandatory Field

Check your inbox or spam folder now (just in case!) to confirm your subscription.

Tweets by @spillmagazine

SPILL MAGAZINE MENU
  • Home | The Spill Magazine
  • Premieres
  • Track Of The Month
  • Album Reviews
  • Books + Movies
  • Features
  • Live Reviews
  • Festivals
  • Portraits
  • News
  • Events
  • Entertainment Headlines
  • Concert Listings
  • Toronto Concert Venues
  • About Us
  • Contests
  • New Music
  • Contributors
  • TOTD
  • Privacy Policy
  • The Scene Unseen
  • Newsletter

Copyright © 2023 | The Spill Magazine
All Rights Reserved.

TRENDING RIGHT NOW
   
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: DELERIUM – SIGNS
881
 
SPILL VIDEO PREMIERE: WITHERED HAND – “WAKING UP”
858
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: GODSMACK – LIGHTING UP THE SKY
838
 
SPILL NEWS: CLAN OF XYMOX TOUR NORTH AMERICA
737
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: BOB DYLAN – FRAGMENTS – TIME OUT OF MIND SESSIONS (1996-1997) THE BOOTLEG SERIES VOL. 17
688
 
SPILL NEWS: RICKIE LEE JONES NEVER DID FOLLOW THE RULES | ‘PIECES OF TREASURE’ OUT APRIL 28 (BMG MODERN)
569
 
SPILL LIVE REVIEW: ALTER BRIDGE w/ MAMMOTH WVH @ HISTORY, TORONTO
530
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE ROLLING STONES – GRRR LIVE!
524
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: JOHN FOXX – AVENHAM
489
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: STEEL PANTHER – ON THE PROWL
468
 
SPILL ALBUM REVIEW: THE KINKS – THE JOURNEY – PART 1
371
 
SPILL FEATURE: THE GIRL IS CRYING IN HER LATTE – A CONVERSATION WITH RUSSELL MAEL & RON MAEL OF SPARKS
355
 
SPILL LIVE REVIEW: ON THE BLUE CLASSIC ROCK MUSIC CRUISE 2023
352
ENTERTAINMENT HEADLINES