Astronaut (Duran Duran album)

Critical reception

Astronaut was met with "mixed or average" reviews from critics. At Metacritic, which assigns a weighted average rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, this release received an average score of 52 based on 17 reviews.

Upon its release, the album was well received by Billboard, stating that "Duran Duran has a new lease on life, sounding more vibrant and exciting than it has in eons". Sarah Pratt in Rolling Stone also positively reviewed the album, describing it as "feel-good pop". Doug Brod in Entertainment Weekly found "Glistening zero-gravity synth-funk that's mostly unembarrassing and at times shockingly vital", while reviews in NME and The Guardian were largely negative. Dorian Lynskey in the latter publication finding "Duran Duran are adrift in an unforgiving sea of disco-dad dance-pop, anaemic vocals and lyrics too distressingly awful to repeat in a family newspaper." Matt Dentler of The Austin Chronicle called the album an "overproduced synth shuffle", going on to say "With too many songs trying too hard, Duranies will still go hungry for quality."

In a review for AllMusic, Andy Kellman wrote: "Even with a handful of forgettable songs beyond that, the album is easily the best one credited to the Duran Duran name since 1993's Wedding Album."

Commercial performance

Astronaut debuted at number three on the UK Albums Chart and at number 17 on the US Billboard 200, with similar top-20 debuts elsewhere in the world. Meanwhile, the CD/DVD set debuted at number one on the Billboard Top Music Video chart. The album peaked at number 29 in Japan.

The first single, "(Reach Up for The) Sunrise", was released in the US on 30 August 2004 and in the UK on 4 October 2004. It debuted at number five on the UK Singles Chart. In late November, it topped the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.

The second single, "What Happens Tomorrow", was released on 18 January 2005 in the US and on 31 January 2005 in the UK.

Astronaut has been certified "Gold" in the UK for sales of over 100,000 copies. It was certified Gold in Italy. As of 2008, it had sold around 260,000 copies in the US.

Track listing

Notes

• signifies a vocal producer
• signifies an additional producer
• signifies a pre-production

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of Astronaut.

Duran Duran

• Simon Le Bon
• Nick Rhodes
• Andy Taylor – background vocals (tracks 1, 3, 4, 10)
• John Taylor
• Roger Taylor

Additional musicians

• Mark Tinley – programming (track 12)
• Lily Gonzalez – additional percussion (tracks 3, 8, 12)
• Guy Farley – string arrangement (tracks 3, 8, 12)
• Sally Boyden – background vocals (track 1)
• Tessa Niles – background vocals (tracks 4, 5, 7)
• Jason Nevins – additional programming (track 1)

Technical

• Duran Duran – executive production, production
• Don Gilmore – production (tracks 1–3, 6–9); additional production (tracks 5, 12); engineering (tracks 1–3, 5–9, 12)
• Nile Rodgers – vocal production (track 1); additional production (track 5); production (track 11)
• Dallas Austin – production (tracks 2, 4, 10), engineering (tracks 4, 10)
• Mark Tinley – pre-production, engineering (track 12)
• Jeremy Wheatley – mixing at Townhouse Studios, London
• Leon Zervos – mastering at Sterling Sound, New York City
• Rich Hilton – Pro Tools, engineering (track 11)
• Daniel Mendez – Pro Tools, additional engineering (tracks 1–3, 5–9, 12)
• Rick Sheppard – Pro Tools, additional engineering (tracks 4, 10)
• Francesco Cameli – engineering assistance (tracks 1–3, 5–9, 12)
• Richard Edgeler – engineering assistance (tracks 4, 10)
• Dean Barratt – engineering assistance (track 11)
• Jason Nevins – additional recording (track 1)

Artwork

• Kristian Schuller – cover photography
• Richard Haughton – guitar photography
• FAILE – art
• Clarissa Tossin – art
• Sean Hogan – art
• Bernie Beca – art
• Patty Palazzo – art
• John Warwicker – creative direction, graphics remix
• Sara Syms – graphic art

Charts

Certifications

Release history

References

References

1. (23 October 2004). "Duran Duran: Astronaut".
2. (19 March 2021). "Duran Duran's Medazzaland is officially available in the UK for the very first time".
3. "Astronaut Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic".
4. Kellman, Andy. "Astronaut – Duran Duran".
5. Dentler, Matt. (26 November 2004). "The Austin Chronicle Review". [[The Austin Chronicle]].
6. (October 18, 2004). "Duran Duran - Astronaut".
7. Larkin, Colin. (2011). "[[The Encyclopedia of Popular Music]]". [[Omnibus Press]].
8. Brod, Doug. (15 October 2004). "Astronaut Review".
9. Lynskey, Dorian. (1 October 2004). "Duran Duran: Astronaut". [[The Guardian]].
10. (31 October 2004). "Duran Duran: Astronaut". [[Los Angeles Times]].
11. Fitzpatrick, Rob. (12 September 2005). "Duran Duran: Astronaut".
12. Pratt, Sarah. (28 October 2004). "CD Review – Duran Duran – Astronaut".
13. (November 2004). "Duran Duran: Astronaut".
14. (23 October 2004). "Duran Duran: Astronaut".
15. (27 August 2004). "Going for Adds".
16. (2 October 2004). "New Releases: Singles".
17. (14 January 2005). "Going for Adds".
18. (29 January 2005). "New Releases: Singles".
19. Caulfied, Keith.[http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1046911/ask-billboard "Ask Billboard"]. ''[[Billboard (magazine). Billboard]]''. 4 January 2008.
20. (2004). "Astronaut". [[Epic Records]].
21. (22 October 2004). "Oficiální česká hitparáda IFPI ČR – 43. týden 2004".
22. (30 October 2004). "Hits of the World".
23. (21–27 November 2004). "Top 50 Ξένων Άλμπουμ". [[IFPI Greece]].
24. "Astronaut – Duran Duran (LP - Epic #82796929001)".