You're welcome!

Duran Duran all-covers album "Thank You" elicited a predictable knee-jerk reaction from the critics, along the lines of "How dare they?" The critics apparently hoped to keep the "classics" on a pedestal in the Rock `n' Roll Hall of Fame, or somewhere.

The truth is that Duran Duran rocks out, and has fun doing it, on some of their favorite songs. The selection may strike some as odd; no Roxy Music, David Bowie, or other `70s glam icons that Duran hailed as major influences. Rather, the boys from Birmingham take on the gamut of classic rock & R&B: Led Zeppelin, Bob Dylan, The Doors, Sly and the Family Stone, and a host of other A-list greats. And for the most part, Duran does them justice.

Grandmaster Flash himself appears on the first track, a turbo-charged rendition of his "White Lines," instantly lending street cred to the proceedings. Duran's cover of Lou Reed's "Perfect Day" is a lush, dreamy affair in the tradition of their own "Save a Prayer" or "Ordinary World." Reed himself called this the best cover ever of one of his songs; believe him!

Simon LeBon's crooning on Bob Dylan's "Lay Lady Lay" gives the song the vocal treatment it deserves, a great improvement over Dylan's Muppet-like phrasing on the original (Dylan was never the best intepreter of his own songs). Elvis Costello's "Watching the Detectives" gets a high-tech, art-rock workout, replete with ambient sound effects. Even the title track works far better than anyone could have expected, as LeBon effectively matches Robert Plant's histrionic delivery.

The production and engineering are simply astonishing; this is probably Duran Duran's best sounding record. Once you get past the audacity of Duran's song selections, you'll find yourself addicted. "Thank You" is simply fun to listen to.

Duran Duran gives their fans a real treat, a sincere "thank you" card for returning them to the top of the charts in 1993. Don't listen to the critics. Accept Duran's "thanks" - you won't regret it!

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