Well, i don't really agree with the comment of Globe199. First of all (that has nothing to do with the comment from Globe199 but just for info): Duran Duran is still active and DEPECHE MODE is not the "only" group from the 80ties who is still performing!John Taylor already experienced live on stage with his Band called THE SHOCK TREATMENT next to ADAM AND THE ANTS, SIOUXSIE & THE BANSHEES and THE POLICE in 1977. The Birmingham boys formed their band in 1978 and had their first performance at the Lecture Theatre at (Birmingham). Duran Duran had their influences in punk and rock music. Check out the You Tube Vid "Whats In My Record Box", Simon still buying music from Led Zeppelin, Patti Smith! John like's The Tubes, P.I.L., etc...What the band makes unique is: Duran Duran was the first "boy group" band ever, long before boy group band's coming on plan. Second, they create a stylish white 80tie decadent pop genre with their music, their fashion, their FIRST!!! MTV live Video and their performances which was the timer for later groups like AHA or THE BLOWMONKEYS. They impersonate "THE 80ties" than nobody better, beside THE POLICE, ROXY MUSIC, SIMPLE MINDS, YELLO or TALK TALK, if we put PRINCE on Funk side. (should I mention PET SHOP BOYS here?) Better than LEVEL 42, SPANDAU BALLET or FYC. (But I agree that's a matter of taste)Duran Duran is a pop band! Their music sounds still Duran Duran, less house mixes, remixes, etc. are available. Duran Duran was always hard to play in clubs except one song: "Girls On Film" which was tuned from the hardest electro underground parties to the retro student parties up to special insets for House or Techno. Of course "Rio" or "Hungry Like A Wolf" are cult. Duran Duran had at least minimum the same quantity of good pop songs like THE POLICE if you look on "View To A Kill", "The Reflex", "Save A Prayer", "Wild Boys", "Union Of A Snake", etc..The point for my comment regarding Globe199 are two things: the so called new sound of Duran Duran or "returning to one's roots" are simply nonsense. Simon Le Bon write new songs and lyrics and he still create perfect pop songs like "Falling Down" on Red Carpet Massacre, "Girls Panic!" or "All You Need Is Now" from the same called Album 2011!!! With his song writing he has at least the same success like Dave Gahan or even more. Look at the other comment how people value the album with best notes. I would recommend "Before The Rain" from this album. To see this group still from the time of 1981 is parenthetically or nostalgic. I think "Falling Down" for example is at least minimum the same good as "Rio" was. If "Falling Down" came out 1981 and "Rio" came out today, the comment of Globe199 would looks the same. That's the second point! Duran Duran have still this 80ties sound and so what! There are thousand's of retro band's out today. Duran Duran are original. Let the growing generation who like pop music discover this band. Better that the so much overproduced pop from today.

Well, first boy band ? The Beatles were the first boy band to my knowledge...

Are the lambs still screaming?

This isn't gonna be a popular thing to say. But from an artistic standpoint, I don't get the idea of "returning to one's roots" or whatever BS the band uses to justify making an album of sellout, throwaway pop. When a band does that, it's codeword for "our last album of real music didn't sell for shit and now we need money." Well, it's not 1981 anymore. There will NEVER be another Rio. But that's OK. Let it go. Stop trying to recreate the glory days because it won't happen and doesn't need to.I'd much rather see the band thumb their noses at critics (and fans) and do something like Pop Trash. Yeah, it won't sell, and it will get savage reviews, but at least there's honour and respectability in doing that. Pop Trash isn't even a great album, but at least it isn't sellout. And it has memorable songs that I'll listen to more than once, and that's what counts to me.Instead, they'd rather make albums like Astronaut and Red Carpet Massacre; nary an offensive nor memorable moment on either of them. You listen to them and they're gone like the wind. They're designed to sell and maybe give the band something new to play at concerts, but that's it. These albums are simply products and they contribute nothing of lasting value to the band's body of work. Apparently good music has to come out of dark times like Pop Trash, with the band on the brink of collapse. They played five or six tracks off All You Need Is Now at the show I attended last week. Wow, did that drag down the momentum or what.I don't want to hear some crap that a lifelong Duran fan designed for the band. I'm sure this Mark producer dude is a nice guy. Whoopee. But obviously Nick Rhodes and Simon Le Bon are capable of composing heartfelt songs. Please either do that or give up the pretense of making "new" music.