1990's LIBERTY introduced Duran Duran's second full-fledged lineup, with guitarist Warren Cuccurullo (ex-Zappa, ex-Missing Persons) and drummer Sterling Campbell (later in Soul Asylum) replacing Andy and Roger Taylor. The band's creative core of singer Simon LeBon, bassist John Taylor and Nick Rhodes on keyboards remained unchanged, however, and the album really doesn't sound that different from 1986's NOTORIOUS or 1988's BIG THING, except that Cuccurullo and Campbell are much better musicians than the folks they replaced.
Cuccurullo reels off some surprisingly satisfying solos, as on the funk-pop opener "Violence of Summer (Love's Taking Over)." Though the band's commercial fortunes were on a downturn at the time of this album's release, LIBERTY is a more-than-respectable addition to its slick dance-pop canon.
Tessa Niles, Silvia, Claudia.
Duran Duran: Simon LeBon, John Taylor, Nick Rhodes, Warren Cuccurullo, Sterling Campbell.
Additional personnel: John Jones (keyboards, programming); Spike Edney, Stan Harrison, Luis Jardin, Paddy Lorimar, Bernard Fowler, Carol Kenyon,
Rolling Stone (10/18/90) - 3 Stars - Good - "...the libertines are aging beautifully--the best songs [are] unabashed paens to sensualism, conveyed with swanky musical style and uncharacteristically disconnected lyric images....proves that sensual excess is still a thriving concern..." Spin (11/90) - "...shows the band in its most appealing form in years....Duran Duran once again successfully straddle the line between dance and rock..."
very underrated. duran durans liberty with the funky sound of violence of summer and the beautiful serious this has to be one of there best.very overlooked.great guitars,and beautiful simon le bon vocals Submitted by duran1978 (bronx,ny,usa) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
Complete and unheralded Duran Duran didn't miss a beat on this one. Pure energy and the boys sound as good as ever. Makes you wonder where the rest of the world was when this music was realeased. Wonderful! Submitted by AChica (Beaumont, Texas) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
This Album Kicks My Arse This album, like all Double D's albums, wails and is, like clock work, overlooked again. But who needs the masses to determine something is good? A lot of people like Michael Jackson and Culture Club, so what does that say? Gees. Warren was allowed to unleash his ripping guitar on this album. Wild times. Sterling fired up a bowl of drums, and the three foundation members produced the hooks. This album is well-in. Submitted by jamesallen26 (Alpaugh, CA, USA) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
pedstrian, but nice attempt Grasping at straws in some of their most trying times the boys attempt to toughen up their sound with skectchy results , fist two tracks are nice and hothead sparkles for a bit with the guitar overall though the shimmery neo-funk Duran was known for absolutly vanih some nice attempts at evelution, overall for completists only Submitted by Shane (Maine) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
They haven't been this good since. Short of Rio, Liberty is Duran Duran's best album, especially considering it followed Big Thing, which is perhaps their worst. The official addition of Warren Cuccurullo on guitar and Sterling Campbell on drums brought an energy to the band that had been lacking since the early 80s. Liberty is their hardest rocking album, quelling the belief they're a synth-pop band, but their catchy melodies and memorable hooks remain. True, there were no hits off this album, but it was released at a time when grunge and hip-hop were starting their strangle hold on popular music. Four years earlier or four years later, this album could have been huge. Every song stands well on its own (with the notable exception of the horrible Can You Deal With It), yet complement eatch other very well. Here's hoping the newly reunited Duran Duran will produce an album this tight and this fun. Submitted by a reviewer (Cuyahoga Falls, OH) Was This Review Helpful? YesNo
very underrated.
This Album Kicks My Arse
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