Track Listing

1. Violence Of Summer
2. Liberty
3. Hothead
4. Serious
5. All Along The Water
6. My Antarctica
7. First Impressions
8. Read My Lips
9. Can You Deal With It
10. Venice Drowning
11. Downtown

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #44212 in Music
• Released on: 2005-01-03
• Number of discs: 1

CD Description
1990's LIBERTY introduced Duran Duran's second full-fledgedlineup, 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.

Customer Reviews

Misjudged Classic
Having spent the early 80s doing no wrong, the loss of two Taylor hit Duran hard. Each subsequent non-five piece album saw diminishing returns - from Notorious (1986) to Big Thing (1988). Seen as a critical and financial failure, in hindsight 1990's Liberty should be seen as a misjudged classic.
In a time when Madchester and baggy ruled Brittania, in the days just before grunge, Duran were desperately trying to find where they fit in the pop spectrum. The tracks on Liberty show an tremendous growth from the early pop of the 80s. Tracks like Can You Deal With It? or the hard rock of First Impression deserve a second or third listen.
The fact that My Antarctica and Serious are on here is reason enough to purchase. Two of the finest songs of any genre, ever.

A transitional period.
Previously capable of writing some of the catchiest songs around, Duran Duran hit upon a somewhat dry patch here. Some possibly good songs marred by lacklustre performances and production, with Hothead and Venice Drowning providing enjoyable moments of distraction. Album opener Violence of Summer is however one the best songs any form of Duran Duran has ever recorded. Not the best D2 album including Warren on guitar, (Surely that would be the Wedding Alum, or maybe even Pop Trash) but maybe worth a listen every now and again to remind you of how diverse and genre stepping Duran Duran have attempted to be in 20 years of music.

Criminally under-rated, i found this an immensely enjoyable album
Barcode: 0077779429226

Duran Duran have always been masters at coming up with catchy, well-crafted pop songs and contrary to many reviews, Liberty is no exception. Like all their albums it sounds perfectly off its time and this time sees the band soaking up the glossy pop-dance scene of the early 90s. Less experimental than Big Thing and more carefree than The Wedding Album, Liberty provides the perfect middle-ground.

First track and single 'Violence of Summer' is focused around a great little organ hook. It's a deliriously charming song and along with All Along The Water typifies the energetic, quirky feel of this album. The latter takes on more of a rock feel, its sensual lyrics echoing parts of the band's Rio album.

Title track Liberty and second single Serious take on a more leisurely, soul tinged feel, showcasing the band's versatility. This theme reaches perfection in album highlight My Antarctica. Starting with a simple piano hook the song progresses into an epic ballad with a truly amazing chorus. It is tracks like these that really showcase Simon's voice to its fullest and hint towards the direction they would take for future songs like 'Come Undone'.

First Impression and Can You Deal With It add further to the early 90s acid-house side of the record, more infectious piano riffs driving the songs while album closer Downtown sounds like a progression of Big Thing's 'All She Wants Is', all heavy bass and synths

My favourite track from the album has to be 'Read My Lips' though. Kicking off with a throbbing bassline, squelchy synths and heavy guitar riffs as the chorus rolls in the song evolves into an epic stadium rocker as Simon sings 'Get a grip, don't resist, read my lips!' over Nick's synths. Awesome.

All round, Liberty presents Duran Duran doing what they do best and while it may not be their most commercially successful or well-known record, there is a lot here to enjoy. Definitely recommended.