After quite successful comeback album "Astronaut" follows now with "Red Carpet Massacre" a production that attempts to sound modern with all his might. To this end, such pop "sizes" as Timbaland & Timberlake took it to the studio. Certainly a smart move. The result, however, disappointed unfortunately on the board. Stomping synth bass through the whole plate (could not play Roger?), Boring melodies, uninspired songwriting. The drive runs so through no obvious highlights or unusual song ideas. One hears that it was imported into the shortest possible time. In places, the impression is spreading, the plate was produced entirely by Timbaland Nick and single-handedly on the iBook. The single "Falling Down" is at best a good album song. One of the few highlights of the plate are still "Box Full O Honey" and "Skin Divers". Probably the best track "Cry Baby Cry" will be heard as a bonus on the Japanese Edition. This sounds as the only, at least under the old Duran: pop'ig, funky and always a bit tongue-in-cheek. I am writing this as a fan, who for over 20 years holding the band now the loyalty and counting disk as "Rio", "Notorious" or "Arcadia" to my all-time faves. Unfortunately, the new album is not convincing. I think it is wrong to want to sound modern and contemporary hook or by crook, just to be still "relevant" in the charts. Good music is always timeless. Who wants to set yet, I recommend the deluxe version with well-made bonus DVD and aufweniger packaging.
