Duran Duran – Rio
EMI Records 1982 (produced by Colin Thurston)

Ah the 1980s. Rising like a phoenix out of the depressing blackness of the 70s, the world of Reagan and Thatcher destroying the vestiges of socialism and communism bringing forth the glory of freedom and the idea that the world has something to look forward to. The crushing welfare state in Britain is dismantled; America is trying to forget and forgive itself their nadir of electing Jimmy “Malaise” Carter. Now this is probably the first record review you’ve read that praises Reagan and Thatcher, and I’m sure the BRGCs (for a definition see this ) are getting their turtlenecks and copies of Chomsky all over the place in Village coffeehouses. But the sunshine of the early 1980s coming from the Seattle weather of the 1970s is a great introduction to one of the best records of the “greedy” decade: Duran Duran’s second album Rio.

The people wanted something new to listen to, something that came out of punk but wasn’t gloomy nihilistic post-punk. Don’t get me wrong, the kids just three years before this record were listening to The Clash, Joy Division, and Television. But come on! Isn’t it time for some pretty euphonic music to grace the world? While some punks turned into The Cure, these guys became New Romantics. Maybe it was to get hotter chicks or to get on TV. Duran Duran, who at one time were punks, embraced the positive outlook of the 1980s. At this point the boys from Birmingham with model good looks, were jet setting around the world partying with goddess on yachts in the most esoteric tropical ports where the coke mounds didn’t disappear. Ah the 1980s.

Everyone who grew up in this period could not have escaped Duran Duran. MTV, just getting started, loved them. Their videos were movies, totally encapsulating their images with “Rio” and “Hungry Like The Wolf”. Who couldn’t like Duran Duran? The girls wanted them and the boys wanted to be them. And we haven’t even gotten to the music yet.

Colin Thurston’s production (he was the engineer for Bowie’s “Heroes” and produced many of the big new wave records) is crystal clean. The songs are pop masterpieces. Every instrument is just where it should be, from Nick Rhodes’ sweeping synth lines, John Taylor’s incredible and complicated basslines, and Andy Taylor’s guitar accentuating the right moments neither too much nor too little. Simon LeBon with his veiled sexual reference lyrics seduces you into their world. The album is an easy listen, and while it embodies the spirit of the early 80s with the Sonny Crocket white jacket over a turquoise shirt, it is still fresh today like a menthol cigarette covered in Gold Bond.

Sure awful bars like Applebee’s or Chili’s probably have “Hungry Like The Wolf” on their stereo’s rotation, but have you ever really listened to the song? From the opening hot girl’s laugh to the “Do do do do” refrain the song is absolutely sexy. But it still rocks. Andy Taylor’s guitar is the tour guide pulling the listener through, crashing in perfect syncopation with the drums, and using a sustain that pulls a see-through curtain over the whole track. It is easily one of the best songs of the 80s.

“Save A Prayer” opening up with the bending minimalist synth line, conjures up the images of lovers lying in bed with the windows opened allowing the cool night breeze to blow in. The song is about love quickly attained that will not last, so while it is beautiful, it is forlorn enough for the listener to sense the reality that it must end. “Some people call it a one night stand but we can call it paradise”, hold onto for what it is, worry about the world tomorrow.

But don’t skip over the album tracks either. “My Own Way” may be one of my favorites as it is pure Duran Duran with LeBon’s vocals following the melody perfectly. It is upbeat, sunny, and you will definitely be humming it while you are driving to work thinking about going to a club that Saturday night. You may be surprised by “Lonely In Your Nightmare”, which sounds different from the other tracks on the album. Its more of a ballad, but still has that Duran Duran field surrounding your head as you hear the guitar and bass go in different directions but at the same time compliment the keyboards.

Don’t dismiss Duran Duran as another faceless Hits Of The 80s band, which is totally unfair. They were talented musicians with great ideas of sound and song. They may get written off as another goofy 80s group like Men Without Hats or Spandau Ballet, but their music on this record is pure sonic enjoyment. These days with Osama tapes, “Orange” level threats, and duct tape running out of hardware stores it is nice to grab a record that makes you feel good. We all need to still party. We all need to feel like we are hanging out on white sand beaches sipping umbrella drinks looking for romance. While listening to this record won’t affect the geo-political situation, at least you will feel good for a while. Now who wants to go out Saturday night?

Missile batteries surround D.C.

So jeeps outfitted with Avenger anti-aircraft missiles are surrounding the Nation's Cap. I'm in Kansas City right now to fly home to D.C. tomorrow night; maybe I should stay in the Heartland where I guess the chance of getting hit by a terrorist is less. But I haven't been home in two weeks, and I have a lot of records I need to listen to and I have this party to go to on Saturday. And Grand Theft Auto 3. If I can't play Grand Theft Auto 3 then They've already won.

I remember my mom telling me stories about how it felt to see the Capitol surrounded by machine gun nests back in the turmoil in the late 60s. Fear, unbelief, and a general sensation of how did it come to this? I wonder which is worse, seeing the machine guns nests or the missile batteries. Does it matter? God I hate these damn terrorists.

The Conflict

"These are the times that try men's souls". I am opening my blog with a quote from Thomas Paine's The American Crisis written in December 1776. At that time the Revolutionary War was just underway, but the movement to American independence was not universally supported by the colonies. Even though General George Washington led his fellow patriots into battle against the British, other colonists remained loyal to the crown or supported appeasement to the oppressive regime to avoid war. American blood had already been spilled at Lexington, Concord, and Bunker Hill, but still many thought that if the Americans would give some concessions, and liberties to the British, violence could be adverted. Morale for the independence movement was low. These patriots, hunkered down in camps in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, cold and hungry, thought of their homes back in Massachusetts and Virginia, sitting around the fire with their families. Wouldn't it be so easy to surrender? Give in to British demands? Paine sensed this feeling swarming around the ranks, and penned his eloquent and straightforward writing, reminded the patriots what they were fighting against, and what they were fighting for: "The harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value". In the American patriot's mind, liberty and freedom were worth the price of war. Diplomacy with the Crown was tried and failed, only a resort to arms would prevent oppression and grant liberty. Paine's words were well received with the troops and colonists, and in the next years American resolve strengthened and key battles won. The American Crisis convinced many Loyalists and would-be appeasers that war with Britain was the only chance to save human liberty, the ultimate sacrifice was necessary for the good of mankind.

227 years later once again human liberty is threatened, in ways that are more dangerous than the founding Americans faced. America and the rest of the free world is under attack by Islamic fascists that seek to destroy our civilization, namely a society that believes in liberty and the advancement of mankind. We are a threat to their revolution, to make the world dominated by Islamic fundamentalism and ruled by caliphs, much like the Arab world in the 8th century. They do not want peace; their view is to destroy the infidel, all "non-believers" who do not share their religious and political views. But while their political vision is stuck in the 8th century, their means are in the 21st. Communications and weapons will be and are used to inflict as much murder and damage as possible. Right now in 2003, there is a correlation with us and the patriots of 1776, but our fight is on a greater scale. The freedom of the modern world is not safe with these terrorists and rogue nations aiming to arm themselves with weapons of devastating consequences. But even in this balance of civilization there are people and nations who believe appeasement to the evil will solve the problem. France, Germany, and Belgium are thwarting every move the the US and its allies make to try to cripple Iraq's maniacal advancement. Many in the Left believe that America and Israel are to blame for the Islamic terrorism and we should listen to their demands before we take action, even though many Americans have trouble sleeping at night, for fear of waking up the next morning and hearing that a horrendous calamity struck Washington, Miami, or Denver. We can not reason with this enemy. Diplomacy has been tried by the UN many times and has failed. These are indeed the times that try men's souls, and is why we must resort to arms to once again protect the civilized world.

With this space I wish to discuss these trying and historic times, and offer my and other viewpoints regarding the Conflict. Much like Thomas Paine, I would like to convince many neutrals and appeasers that their way cannot work, and in the end may help our destruction. The world must open their eyes and become vigilant to the evil that is spreading; I hope that Cato's Letters will help that cause. Everything won't always be completely serious, even in serious times life must go on. Music, books, and films are the products of a free society too, and comment and review about them will also be published here.

So I invite you to come back here often and peruse my rants. While they may not always will be agreeable, I hope they will be interesting.