When I was a young teenager in the 80's Duran Duran was my LIFE- I was so excited to see that they got back together, but also really skeptical of how they would sound after 20 years. . .
My review- I love it!! This may be one of their best recordings! Simon LeBon still sounds the same as he always did, you can still hear Nick Rhodes tinkering with the keyboard and yet the music sounds more mature somehow... I haven't been this excited about a new cd in a long time - and it feels good!
So for all of you 'thiry-somethings' out there with kids and responsibilities who used to call yourself "Duranies" - buy this cd! You won't regret it!! :)
.... and to the "Fab Five" boys- thanks for taking us back! It's even better the second time around.

astronaut is most certainly the worst album i have come across in a while.i am amazed as why did these guys reform.maybe because of their shrinking bank balances or plain greed anyway what ever their motive this kind of 80's new wave boring music is irrelevant these days.it is best to skip this album from these aging bozos in toto.get something fresh like an audioslave album instead.

First, a note about the trolls who come in here to post their "reviews"---the general public should ignore such pointless rants. (Why doesn't Amazon do a better job of filtering these?)

For those that only recall "Hungry Like the Wolf" and all the countless songs Duran Duran had on the radio, one can easily forget how different, unique and innovative a band like Duran really was in the early 1980s. Duran Duran was no doubt the first "new romantic" or "new wave" outfit that bands today like The Killers, Franz Ferdinand, The Strokes, The Bravery, Interpol and the like are influenced by/imitating with a great degree of success. (Who said the '80s were never cool? The joke is on them now!)

This album, the first new material by the original lineup of Duran Duran since 1985's #1 single "A View to a Kill", showcases both elements of Duran Duran-the early dark, brooding and eerie "new romantic" sound they mastered on their first and second albums (and heard here on "Still Breathing", "Point of No Return" and "Chains") as well as the masterful pop music found in their third album and all of their singles (heard here on a plethora of tracks, most notably "Sunrise", "Want You More", "Finest Hour" and "Nice"). The sleeper classic on this album is "What Happens Tomorrow", the album's second single which continues to gain traction at radio. The relevance of the Duran sound has been vindicated by the current rush of today's top acts to say Duran Duran was an influence. The songs on ASTRONAUT sound as fresh and vibrant as their original body of work.

Duran Duran are indeed a talented and instrumentally gifted outfit. The rhythm section of Roger Taylor (drums) and John Taylor (bass) are at long last getting their dues for the true talent they possess. Andy Taylor is an underrated guitarist who shines with both his delicate, atmospheric tones and the more urgent and rocking sounds displayed on this album, and Nick Rhodes does just the same thing, only with keyboards. Finally, Simon LeBon is perhaps the most brash and over the top front man since Mick Jagger, and the fact that his voice sounds better than ever is a testament to the quality of the band in 2005.

You like The Killers? You like the rush of "new wave" influenced music currently underway? ASTRONAUT is simply the originators doing what they do best and holding their own in today's fickle music market.

Highly recommended.

Also recommended by Duran Duran for modern day "new wave" fans: albums like "Duran Duran" (their debut album), "Rio", "The Singles 81-85" and "Seven and the Ragged Tiger".

I can't stop listening to this CD. I've not been this impressed with a CD overall since Maroon 5 hit the airwaves. Duran Duran is back and better than ever! "Astronaut" is, without a doubt, Duran Duran's best release, to date. If I could, I would give it 100 stars as it is, in my opinion, worthy of a Grammy. I enjoyed the music of Duran Duran in the 80s and some of their musical art in the early 90s, but this CD turned me into a real Duran Duran fan. Every song could be a hit and every track is radio friendly. Each song flows brilliantly into the next and all are mixed to perfection with exquisite engineering and production. There is not one bad song on "Astronaut" and they all get better with each listen, even though I was hooked from my first listen. It is a great CD to listen to at home or while driving along, enjoying a beautiful day of sushine. Even on a rainy day, this effort by Duran Duran can bring a positive change in one's mood. That is what music is supposed to do - make you feel - and this CD certainly does that. This is the band's best in terms of music, lyrics and originality. Musically, it moves from motivating to moving to haunting to even being Beatlesque. Remove the music and the lyrics could stand on their own as poetry. They range from clever to fun to humorous to deep and thought provoking.To top it off, their voices and musicianship are better than ever. If you liked Duran Duran in the past, you will love "Astronaut" as it has their flavor from the 80s mixed with the sounds of today. This is the Duran Duran we loved years ago - only better! If you are only a casual Duran Duran fan, I still recommend adding this to your music library along with their CD entitled "Greatest." One track, entitled "Taste the Summer" should be a summer staple on radio. I can imagine driving the highway on a summer's day with this song making my car a stereo on wheels. Buy it, Try it, You'll like it!

Yes, I've been a fan since 1984. Fan status or not, this album is excellent.
Too bad MTV and the american-mob-radio-networks are profiting so much from music promoting sex, violence, & crime; otherwise, they might play real music like this Duran Duran CD.