So Red the Rose: Special Edition/+DVD (Audio CD)

Truly the best album Duran never made This has always been one of my favourite albums. Amazing to think it's 25 years old, as it still sounds fresh and hasn't dated at all. I've been waiting for this to come out in expanded form for many years. I wrote to the record company asking them to consider doing something like this for the 20th anniversary but never had a response. It's great to get 'She's Moody...' and the single remixes on CD at long last, not to mention 'Say The Word', of which I had only previously heard the 12" mix on a bootleg. As for the remix disc, I had already heard most of them. I'm not a big fan of extended remixes but, as another reviewer commented, the singles benefit from more atmospheric treatment on the longer versions. I was most keen to hear the Early Rough Mix of 'Election Day', as this was a first time. I can't see this disc coming out of the box very often though. Having previously owned the VHS and not having seen it for years, it was nice to see the film again. The videos were always inventive. (I had forgotten about the Docklands images - the makers of Ashes to Ashes could have done with these for the first episode of series 1). But I digress. The sound quality is ok to my ears (but I might just dig out my Japanese CD of the original album to compare). The packaging is ok. I'm not buying all the Duran remasters, so it doesn't matter to me personally if it doesn't follow the same format. The jewel case is sturdy (but a digi-pak might have been better for my eco credentials). It's still not a complete collection by any means though. Biggest disappointment for me is that the single mix of 'El Diablo' was omitted (I would rather have had this than the sountrack or dub version of STW). I think it's a shame that this wasn't released in multiple formats, rather than only the 3 disc set. I would welcome the opportunity to buy a single disc of the album and the bonus single tracks, instead of having to pull the whole thing just to listen to disc 1. Overall though I've given it 4 stars. Better late than never!

The darker and artier side of Duran Duran... If you like classic-era Duran Duran, but have never listened to Arcadia then you are in for a treat. So Red The Rose explores the artistic side of the band, making it perfect for fans of Duran Duran album tracks such as The Seventh Stranger, The Chauffeur and Winter Marches On. The album itself is essential listening, while the alternative versions offer an opportunity to explore different aspects of each song. Disc 1 contains So Red The Rose, remastered from 1985 plus the 7" remixes of the five singles and more. We may never really know what Election Day is about. I don't mind making my own interpretations when you've got a groove this hypnotic. Nick Rhodes provides the synth sounds, while also indulging in his fetish for adding atmospheric noises. Simon promises: 'I pull my shirt off and pray!' What sort of religion requires such an action? Count me in as a convert! Keep Me In The Dark is an overlooked gem, with Simon singing in a lower register than usual. He sounds more in control and playful. Goodbye Is Forever is moody, with lashings of 80s synth magic. Its jerky rhythm keeps the listener on their toes. I love the Gothic horror aesthetics of The Flame. Maybe the devil does have all the best tunes, Simon certainly sounds possessed. In a good way. This is my favourite song on So Red The Rose. If you listen to Missing superficially you might think it suitable as a soundtrack to a relaxing bath, with the essence of your choice. On closer inspection, it reveals itself to be one of Simon's ghost stories. Fans should check out the poem On a Dead Child by Richard Middleton, which inspired Simon's lyrics. The rendition of Rose Arcana on So Red The Rose is only a fragment, we'll get to hear the full version on Disc 2. The Promise doesn't warrant its 7.30 minutes running time. Having said that the song does handle a social conscience subtly, with Sting providing backing vocals. This album is indulgent at times, but rarely at the cost of the listener. El Diablo is entrancing, particular the ocarina solo, played by Simon, which fans will recall from The Chauffeur. Lady Ice is Arcadia's darkest moment, though it wanders too far into dirge-like territory for my liking. It's great to have Playing For Keeps on CD, rather than the vinyl soundtrack album. It starts like Duran Duran's cover of Bowie's Fame and has an edge of hysteria vocal from Simon during the chorus. The 7" version fills my needs, but you also have Soundtrack, Extended Vocal and Extended Instrumental mixes to choose from. One song that benefits greatly from an extended playing time is Election Day. I always thought the 7" version was like listening to an abridged version of a book, you get the essential facts but miss out a lot of important scenery on the way. The Flame also feels truncated in 7" mix form. She's Moody and Grey, She's Mean and Restless is an instrumental version of Election Day. This song is so rich and layered, one doesn't feel short changed not to hear Simon singing along. Disc 2 starts with Election Day (Consensus Mix), which is over eight minutes long. It will meet all your needs. Arcadia weren't around long enough for there to be many unreleased rarities. The nearest we get to this is Rose Arcana (Extended), which sounds like instrumental Japan. Goodbye Is Forever (12" Extended Mix) is worth checking out for some new synth harmonies, which you won't have heard elsewhere. Election Day (Early Rough Mix) offers an insight into the band's creative process. The only fly in the ointment is Flame Game (Yo Homeboy Mix) which is as irritating and repetitive as its name might suggest. This is the only remix which actually diminishes my enjoyment of the original. The DVD features the videos for Election Day, The Promise, Goodbye Is Forever, The Flame and Missing. Simon and Nick are always good value for money when it comes to behind the scene footage. Simon and Nick are interviewed, talking about artist and film maker Jean Cocteau and how the band got their name. The videos themselves are as extravagant, ridiculous and entertaining as Duran Duran videos pre-1985. Once viewed it's impossible to hear Election Day or The Flame without seeing images from the videos played out in your mind. Overall, this is a good package, which I would recommend to fans of Duran's early - and darker - days.

Who would have believed it at the time? What an amazing song cycle; made all the more so by the fact that Duran Duran at the time were considered to be a pretty mediocre band (at least in my neighborhood). I take it all back now after so many years later. Bought this on vinyl when it came out hoping it would be different, and....it was. The songs are sonically interesting and quite complex in their arrangements when one listens to what's going on deep in the background (which this remaster ably makes plain). Nick Rhodes (truly a mad scientist of the CMI)has got to be the best Fairlight programmer and player that ever touched the instrument; I can barely make out what it is he does with it, it's so subtle an approach. The stand out track for me is GOODBYE IS FOREVER which has a very mournful tone and yet is quite uplifting at the same time. The guest musicians are all in tune with the project, and never overpower the main protagonists with useless signature solos which gives this project a truly band-like feel over all. This re-master is a MUST HAVE, but then did I really need to emphazise that? The sound quality is actually much much better than described by other reviewers. I have the earlier version and I have compared them on a very good sound system. I wish these guys would make another set in this manner, but that's unlikely I suppose.

The best remastered "Duran" album so far... Fortunately there are no mastering problems this time like on "Girls on film" or "Union of the snake" of the previous "real" Duran Duran remastered album releases. But as someone said, having yet another kind of casing for this album is a little disappointment. It should have been released the way "Duran Duran" and "Seven and the ragged tiger" were released. Because of this ordinary packaging, we only have 3 pictures of Arcadia in the booklet (!). When I think about all the thousands of photographs that were available on all the teen's magazines published in 1985, I regret that I didn't kept any of them. They could have digged a little bit further in their archives. A real shame for a so-called "special" edition. Personally I didn't care the lyrics weren't there because they were printed in my Japanese previous edition of this album. And even if japanese CD's are reknowned for their great sound quality when you compare them to U.S. or European releases, in this special edition, I must admit that the sound is very clear and more powerful, so that's great. I'm glad to finally have all singles remixes and extended versions, even Election Day's b-side, the instrumental "She's moody and grey, she's mean and she's restless" : I'd never thought I'd get this one on CD ever ! The DVD offers a great image quality and the videos are awesome. I never had the original vhs released in 1987 so my only regret is that the pieces of music heard between the videos are almost unbearable to listen to, who made this awful soundtrack, certainly not Arcadia. But all in all, I'm proud to have this edition in my collection and it truly deserved my money, in the end.

Good - Another missed opportunity though Star Rating: Gave **** for buyers who do not own the DVD/extras. Would advise *** for fans who were looking for something special. Sound Quality: To my relief, the remastering appears to be better than on the recent releases 'Duran Duran' and 'Seven & Ragged Tiger' - though not as perfect as I was hoping for, for my favourite ever 'Duran' album! Yes, I am a bit of a perfectionist but then this album was perfect in every sense and deserved better, only my opinion of course. Packaging (double jewel case): Slightly disappointed really. Reason: four recent remastered releases with 3 different packagings - clam box (DD + Seven), double jewel case (Arcadia) and the rather excellent Book Style (Rio). Basically, there is no continuity in the design of the product, although seperately they are just fine .You just know that Nick would be horrified by this! Also, a very thin insert with absolutely no lyrics, little information and just a few pictures. Tracks - I had most of these mixes anyway, if you didn't then it will be a big bonus. The extended version of 'Goodbye Is Forever' makes a great song even greater and the single version of 'The Flame' adds more power to another great song. Just a shame we didn't get any demos at all, really a shame actually, I was hoping for a mix or alternate versions of 'El Diablo' or 'Lady Ice', my favourite tracks (sigh, oh well)... DVD - Fine really: picture and sound quality okay. Again, if you don't have it, you will be really pleased with it. I already had it and it offers nothing new to me really in the way of quality or content. I think there is a pattern emerging here actually; for us fans who own all this stuff on previous formats and ealier remasters we are not going to get much out of these new remastered releases, save for maybe a few songs here and there that we didn't own already. These releases are so far away from being classed as definitive and appear to be a way of securing future releases to keep the revenues coming in, quite disappointing after the excellent singles collections / Rio. I will now be giving serious consideration to pre-ordering Notorious and Big Thing. I can't keep throwing my hard earned pennies away and I'm sure we'll eventually get something better in the future (fingers crossed).