Duran Duran “Paper Gods” released today, September 11th 2015. Double LP, gatefold. AAAHHHH! A new Duran Duran album! My beautiful beautiful boys are back again, enlisting the production guidance once again of Mark Ronson (who did a spectacular job producing D2′s last album “All You Need Is Now”), as well as the legendary Niles Rodgers, who has collaborated with Duran Duran many times in the past. Performance guests are equally as famous (and, in the case of Lindsay Lohan on “Danceophobia,” infamous): Janelle Monae on “Pressure Off” and John Frusciante on “Butterfly Girl,” “The Universe Alone” and “What are the Chances?”

I’m looking forward to many many days of listening and absorbing this album – and, fingers crossed, dancing my butt off when I see them in concert – so far my favorite tracks are the highly danceable “Last Night in the City,” the lovely ballad “What are the Chances?,” the infectiously optimistic “Sunset Garage” and the bass-heavy (“Play the fucking bass, John!”) ass-shaking “Butterfly Girl.”

I’m also loving the cheeky nods to Duran Duran’s past records on this album’s artwork: the iconic images of the “Rio” lips, the “Girls on Film” sumo wrestler, “The Chauffeur” cap, the ragged tiger.