Another fantastically overlooked album

I just discovered this album, and it is amazing - even moer amazing is why it got lambasted by critics when it was released!

The title track has a great beat, but my absolute favorites are "Too Late, Marlene," "Do You Believe in Shame" and "Edge of American" - all three are beautiful (mid-tempo) ballads, and once again, Simon proves he is one of the most talented song writers out there. Definitely recommended.

Banging on a Big Thing

Coming off the horn heavy funk of "Notorious," Duran Duran the trio stripped the sound down to some heavy beats for "Big Thing." The first single, "I Don't Want Your Love," sounded like a re-invention. Incorporating the current house and new-jack dance trends at the time, it was a major leap away from the candy-floss of "Rio." "All She Wants Is" carried the same sort of dance-floor urgency, and the title track was an arena ready thumper.



But the trademark lushness wasn't ever too far off. "Too Late Marlene" and "Land" are everything you'd expect from Duran Duran, rich arrangements, Simon's grandiose lyrics and Nick Rhodes' atmospheric keyboards. But perhaps "Big Thing's" best moment is the tribute to the band's late friend Alex Sadkin, "Do You Believe In Shame." Slowing down the swamp groove of "Suzie Q" and laying in an emotional vocal, "Shame" connects on a level that only a few songs in the DD library have ever done before.



Equally as good as "Notorious," and in my opinion, better than the "Wedding Album."

Overlooked and underrated

I was a die-hard Duranie in the 80s, but felt like I got ripped off when I plunked down money for Pop Trash and Medazzaland. I picked up Big Thing in a used CD store and felt like I had stumbled across undiscovered treasure. Very mellow, more like Arcadia's So Red the Rose than Astronaut (or even the wedding album). Like the other reviewers mentioned, Edge of America, Palomino, and Too Late Marlene are haunting, beautiful tracks. It's one of my favorite CDs to listen to at work---quiet enough to not be distracting, yet interesting and anything but bland.