Duran Duran
All You Need is Now
iTunes Store exclusive
by David Chiu
After 2007’s Red Carpet Massacre, Duran Duran have finally got their mojo back with this latest album. Certainly a considerable amount of credit has to go to producer Mark Ronson, who helped craft Duran Duran’s best album in a while by channeling the spirit and sexiness of the band’s early ’80s records. Some of the tracks on All You Need is Now in fact could easily be on either Duran Duran’s first album or Rio: “Girl Panic” and “Being Followed” are very Rio-esque; “Blame the Machines” can sit along side with songs like “Planet Earth” (it even sounds like Bowie-era “Scary Monsters”); and the haunting Gothic ballad “Before the Rain” certainly echoes “The Chauffeur.” There are plenty of dynamic rockers like in the title track and “Runway Runaway” and some danceable funk in “Safe” (with a sexy rap by Scissor Sisters’ Ana Matronic) This might be Nick Rhodes’ finest hour because his keyboards really come to the fore on this record–his playing really reinforces Duran Duran’s signature sound complemented with Simon LeBon’s arty, poetic lyrics. All You Need Is Now is a true return to form.
NewBeats 
Being Followed and All You Need is Now are the best songs (IMO), but unlike so many cd’s I’ve purchased recently, I can listen all the way through and enjoy all the music. When I listen to this, I definitely think of the Rio album. Nice review!