Paper Gods
by Duran Duran
User Score
7.3

Generally favorable reviews- based on 45 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 33 out of 45
  2. Mixed: 7 out of 45
  3. Negative: 5 out of 45
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  1. sk75
    Oct 26, 2015
    9
    "Paper Gods" is a great dance-pop album that sound modern and fresh, with an excellent set of songs, an excellent production and some very special guests. Even after all these years, Duran Duran never missed their ambition to move forward and change their sound and style, to write new music and not sitting comfortably to their past glories. The result is challenging and intriguing with an"Paper Gods" is a great dance-pop album that sound modern and fresh, with an excellent set of songs, an excellent production and some very special guests. Even after all these years, Duran Duran never missed their ambition to move forward and change their sound and style, to write new music and not sitting comfortably to their past glories. The result is challenging and intriguing with an album that is better than most of the big dance-pop names of the today music industry! If "Paper Gods" was an album by a young new group, critics would rave about it and it could have easily a place in the end of the years lists of 2015. So listen without prejudice and enjoy the ''guilty'' pleasures that DD can still offer us with their new release. My verdict 9/10.… Expand
  2. Prosmooth
    Sep 15, 2015
    10
    I'm not much into dance music anymore--but the production and melodies on this one are first rate. It SOUNDS really, really good. Play it loud. Can guarantee you will be humming choruses from it the next day. Strong album.
  3. hpantazo
    Sep 19, 2015
    10
    This is one of the top 3, most complete, yet adventurous albums in Duran Duran's career. They managed to seamlessly combine modern electro-pop sounds with the classic Duran Duran sound to make their best record since the Wedding Album. It is amazing that a band 30+ years into their career are still innovating at a high level and producing some of their best music ever. There are a varietyThis is one of the top 3, most complete, yet adventurous albums in Duran Duran's career. They managed to seamlessly combine modern electro-pop sounds with the classic Duran Duran sound to make their best record since the Wedding Album. It is amazing that a band 30+ years into their career are still innovating at a high level and producing some of their best music ever. There are a variety of styles on here, from EDM to funk/mowtown to great guitar solos from John Frusciante. I highly recommend the Delux version, as the bonus tracks Planet Roaring with the Sex Pistols Steve Jones on guitar and Northern Lights with John Frusciante on guitar are two of the best tracks on the album.… Expand
  4. esgiii
    Sep 20, 2015
    9
    Competing with an 80’s catalog as solid as Duran Duran’s has to be a chore, especially when you refuse to ride the nostalgia circuit. The case for latter day Duran Duran used to be pretty hard to make, but since Mark Ronson all but forced the band to revisit its Rio-era sound for All You Need Is Now in 2010-11, Duran Duran has built up enough insurance with fans to become experimentalCompeting with an 80’s catalog as solid as Duran Duran’s has to be a chore, especially when you refuse to ride the nostalgia circuit. The case for latter day Duran Duran used to be pretty hard to make, but since Mark Ronson all but forced the band to revisit its Rio-era sound for All You Need Is Now in 2010-11, Duran Duran has built up enough insurance with fans to become experimental again. Paper Gods sounds almost nothing like the product of the same band that wrote “Girls on Film” or “Hungry Like the Wolf.” Guitars are used sparingly, save for some curated appearances by John Frusciante. The emphasis here is on synths and electronic beats, which is certainly not alien to Duran Duran fans, but the lack of a traditional, organic rhythm section is glaring, especially when you have a bass player of the caliber of John Taylor. Where this record succeeds is in its instantly catchy hooks, memorable melodies, and cutting-edge production. Vocalist Simon Le Bon has more than proven himself an astoundingly great front-man over the decades, but the fact that his voice is still so insanely powerful defies logic. The man belts out notes that most singers lose two decades before turning 57. Duran Duran hasn’t sounded this confident since “Wild Boys,” ripping through brilliantly layered electronic anthems, ear-worm, Chic-style funk, and blatant disco dance-floor grooves with the swagger of a band 30 years younger. Sustaining momentum has been a problem for this band since its Live Aid performance in 1985, but Paper Gods reveals a band - already more than three decades in - determined to push its legacy well into the future. The songs are certainly there, albeit in a kaleidoscopically manic shifting of styles, but whether they can capture the zeitgeist just one more time is the challenge. The fact that this should be a huge record doesn’t always fight through the noise.… Expand
  5. electricone
    Sep 16, 2015
    10
    While other bands, evolving from the 80's, are repeating themselves constantly, Duran Duran is constantly looking for new dimensions within their reach. With this offering, named Paper Gods, they really produce a very mature and flowing album. Danceable songs like Danceophobia (featuring Lindsay Lohan), Last Night In The City (featuring Kiesza) and the current single Pressure OffWhile other bands, evolving from the 80's, are repeating themselves constantly, Duran Duran is constantly looking for new dimensions within their reach. With this offering, named Paper Gods, they really produce a very mature and flowing album. Danceable songs like Danceophobia (featuring Lindsay Lohan), Last Night In The City (featuring Kiesza) and the current single Pressure Off (featuring Janelle Monae and Nile Rodgers) are fantastic. But also the more Duranish tracks as Face For Today, What Are The Chances and You Kill Me With Silence are great! Outstanding songs on this album are the title-track Paper Gods (featuring Mr. Hudson), Change The Skyline (featuring Jonas Bjerre), Butterfly Girl (featuring Anna Ross) and Sunset Garage. Universe Alone provides in the best ending song of a Duran Duran album since Rio's The Chauffeur.
    Pop greatness!    … Expand
  6. jeff2417
    Sep 11, 2015
    9
    A great follow up to 80s smash hits from Seven and the Ragged Tiger, Rio, and more. 100x better than anything else they call pop nowadays. While not perfection, certain songs like "What are the Chances" make up for any shortcomings on other tracks. 80s greatness in their 60's? I'm in. 9/10.
  7. Neil_B
    Sep 11, 2015
    9
    I think largely the 'professional' critics haven't listened to many Duran albums. I have. Every one. Whereas All You Need Is Now was a homage to Rio; Paper Gods takes it's influence from the best tracks from all of their albums, some of which were not singles. There are many stand out tracks: Pressure Off leans towards the sound of Medazzaland's Big Bang Generation. What Are The Chances,I think largely the 'professional' critics haven't listened to many Duran albums. I have. Every one. Whereas All You Need Is Now was a homage to Rio; Paper Gods takes it's influence from the best tracks from all of their albums, some of which were not singles. There are many stand out tracks: Pressure Off leans towards the sound of Medazzaland's Big Bang Generation. What Are The Chances, which for me is one of the best tracks on the album, could easily be a track on Big Thing and The Universe Alone has the huge wall of sound that was present on The Wedding Album. 9/10… Expand
  8. D34DL1N3R
    Sep 19, 2015
    1
    What happened? The last two albums were excellent (especially All You Need is Now), but Paper Gods is a steaming pile of dog doo-doo. If I wanted to hear this garbage I would simply buy a Janelle Monáe or Kiesza album. There are a few decent enough tracks but even those are scraping the bottom of the Duran Duran barrel. Anyone who thinks this is a good Duran album must listen to an awfulWhat happened? The last two albums were excellent (especially All You Need is Now), but Paper Gods is a steaming pile of dog doo-doo. If I wanted to hear this garbage I would simply buy a Janelle Monáe or Kiesza album. There are a few decent enough tracks but even those are scraping the bottom of the Duran Duran barrel. Anyone who thinks this is a good Duran album must listen to an awful lot of terrible music.… Expand
  9. bruhfromthela
    Sep 15, 2015
    8
    Its inventive, dance pop adventure into the non-habitual textures for a Duran Duran concept.
    Its very joyful, its make me wanna dance. 8/10

    Its inventive, dance pop adventure into the non-habitual textures for a Duran Duran concept.
    Its very joyful, its make me wanna dance.
  10. cger
    Sep 13, 2015
    10
    Always a Duran Duran fan since the early days, I give a 10 to this album, but my prefered tracks are:
    1-The Universe Alone
    2-What are the Chances
    3-Face for today
    4-Butterfly girl
    5-Danceophobia
  11. antpaca
    Sep 30, 2015
    7
    This often feels like an unfinished album. It's like Simon and Nick layed down the basic tracks and subbed in synths for drums, bass, and guitar, waiting for Roger, John and Dom (or whoever) to come in and do their bits. This leaves fans wanting more. Roger's drums, John's bass, and guitar are fundamental to the Duran Duran sound, and whenever any of those elements are missing, the songThis often feels like an unfinished album. It's like Simon and Nick layed down the basic tracks and subbed in synths for drums, bass, and guitar, waiting for Roger, John and Dom (or whoever) to come in and do their bits. This leaves fans wanting more. Roger's drums, John's bass, and guitar are fundamental to the Duran Duran sound, and whenever any of those elements are missing, the song suffers. Paper Gods would be a 8/10 album otherwise.

    Also: It would be 9/10 if they put Cinderalla Ride and Northern Lights into the standard album and released Butterfly Girl and Sunset Garage as bonus tracks. Also if they worked on the verses to Planet Roaring and included that in the main album, too.    … Expand
  12. nomank
    Aug 23, 2022
    10
    With this album, the band changed its direction again with the inclusion of john Frusciante's brilliant guitar work.My fav tracks are, northern lights, valentine stones, sunset garage, universe alone, you kill me with silence etc

Awards & Rankings

87
#87 Most Discussed Album of 2015

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
64

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 7 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 14
  3. Negative: 1 out of 14
  1. Magnet
    Sep 22, 2015
    30
    Paper Gods is an exercise in shamelessly rehashing every tired, vaguely transgressive cliche that's defined Duran Duran's 30-plus-year career. [No. 124, p.55]
  2. Billboard.com
    Sep 18, 2015
    70
    In this age of frivolity, Duran Duran is straight-up thriving.
    Read full review
  3. PopMatters
    Sep 14, 2015
    80
    As they prove yet again with their latest triumph, Paper Gods, Duran Duran is one of the most consistently entertaining bands of our generation.
    Read full review
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