Product 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.

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: #57078 in Music
• Released on: 2005-01-03
• Number of discs: 1

Customer Reviews

The Pits, really.
Oh dear. What a shambles this album is.
By far and away Duran Duran's worst, this album has nothing to make it stand out, Simon Le Bon admitting himself in 2004 that "we made a mistake with it."
Such a shame too, Duran Duran had made a big deal in the build up to this album, because they were working as a five piece again.
Warren Cuccurullo had joined the band full time, and Sterling Campbell had joined on Drums.
The shouldn't have bothered, the album is a complete mess, "Violence Of Summer" must be one of the worst pop songs I've ever heard, with similiar crossover genre song's like "All Along The Water," "First Impression" and "Can You Deal With It" equally awful.
At a real push, the only real half decent song is "Serious," it was just about good enough to make it onto their Greatest Hits album in 1998.
Unsurprisingly, "Liberty" failed commerically, only selling one million copies worldwide, hardly multi platinum success when compared to Duran's early material.
It was back to drawing board, Sterling Campbell left the band and it was time for a serious rethink. With that in mind, in 1993, Duran Duran released "The Wedding Album," now that's a totally different story...

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.

liberty
Well, this is the worst Duran Duran album, i have never met anyone who likes this, i am a hardcore Duranie and belive me its a struggle there is maybe 4 songs you can listen to, but Hot head is one of the worst songs ever!!! i play it for my friends to see their reaction :) Serious, liberty are the best songs violence of summer sounds lazy and my antarica is ok but a bit dated sorry guys, thank heavens that the next album was the great Wedding album