58. Annie Zaleski Discusses Arcadia, So Red the Rose

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Music writer — and author of the 33 1/3 book on Duran Duran’s Rio — Annie Zaleski joins Al for a discussion of Arcadia’s So Red the Rose. In addition to diving into the album itself, Annie makes the inevitable comparisons with Duran Duran, from which Arcadia temporarily split off, and provides insight as to how the experience of making So Red the Rose may have impacted future Duran Duran recordings. Annie also talks about how she became a music writer and a Duran Duran fan, and the path leading to the publication of her Rio book.

Annie writes a lot of cool stuff! To keep up with it, follow her on Twitter and Instagram at @anniezaleski.

Also, be sure to check out Annie’s website, anniez.com...

…and her 33 1/3 book on Rio! https://anniez.com/order-rio-book/

While you’re at it, there’s a whole bunch of books in Bloomsbury’s 33 1/3 series worth checking out: https://333sound.com/33-13-series/

Al is on Twitter at @almelchiorBB, and this show has accounts on Twitter and Instagram at @youmealbum. Be sure to follow @youmealbum to find out in advance about upcoming guests and featured albums for this podcast.

Al has recently launched You, Me and An Album: The Newsletter. You can subscribe for free to get Al’s monthly posts, but paid subscriptions give you access to weekly posts and much more. Please consider trying a paid subscription as it also helps to support this podcast! https://youmealbum.substack.com/

2:01 Annie joins the show

2:46 Annie started writing about music in high school

4:56 Annie could (and may) literally create a website with just the pieces she has written about Duran Duran

6:27 MTV and alternative rock radio were instrumental to Annie’s Duran Duran fandom

10:27 Annie was persistent in her quest to publish her book on Rio

12:51 The story of Rio’s success was a complicated one

17:04 Annie talks about some non-Duran Duran-related bands she could have discussed on this episode

18:10 Al got hung up on trying to understand Arcadia’s musical identity

22:10 Annie thinks So Red The Rose stands up well against Duran Duran’s albums

24:09 Annie breaks down the specific things she likes about So Red the Rose

26:22 So Red the Rose is basically a time capsule of everything musical from 1985

32:30 Producer Alex Sadkin was key to Arcadia’s sound

35:14 Annie and Al discuss Roger Taylor and Steve Jordan’s drum work on the album

38:03 The guest musicians played an important role in shaping Arcadia’s sound

40:26 Al explains why he had never given Duran Duran a fair chance as a listener

41:24 Annie thinks Arcadia may have been trying to address Duran Duran’s critics

42:34 The album can be viewed as a showcase for Nick Rhodes

46:47 Al has opinions about how the sequencing could better reflect Arcadia’s mission

53:00 Annie is pretty fond of "Election Day"

55:32 If you’re looking for So Red the Rose to be distinct, there is plenty to focus on

56:51 So Red the Rose hints at changes you can hear in Simon Le Bon later on

1:01:39 "Ordinary World" has reshaped Duran Duran’s legacy

1:04:31 Annie talks about the Duran Duran-Japan connection

1:07:37 Annie discusses her upcoming projects

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