The Dutchess and The Duke – She’s the Dutchess He’s the Duke
It’s sad what has happened to the Rolling Stones. Once considered the most dangerous band on the planet, the only kind of danger they court now is the possibility of breaking a hip. Their early albums were full of the kind raw lust and energy that comes only with the decadence of youth. And that groove has long ago slipped through their arthritic fingers. The Dutchess and the Duke seem determined to pick up the slack with their new album “She’s the Dutchess, He’s the Duke”, and maybe even blaze new trails.
The comparisons with the Stones come easily and it’s not just because singer Jesse Lortz voice echo’s with the same charming limitations of a young Mick Jagger. It’s their entire, low-fi sound. When I first listened to the album I honestly thought it had come from another decade. Recorded in a small, wood paneled studio by a band that was never heard from again. To my surprise and ultimate delight, I was wrong.
The album is a primarily acoustic affair but peppered with the heavy twang of electric guitar. The overall feeling they create is so warm and analogue. Cracking mics, studio chatter and a real, “live off the floor” feeling. Yet I don’t think they did it for effect. It just seems like the band was more interested in the honesty of the music than adding a layer of radio friendly gloss.
Lortz’s voice may have the aforementioned limitations but he never pushes it beyond it’s station. He writes for his voice and it works. He shares vocal duties with Kimberly Morrison (the Dutchess). Her voice smoothes some of Lortz’s rougher edges and provides a good counter point. One standout on the album is Reservoir Park. An upbeat, rollicking track where Lortz sings a tale of lament and desperation. Could there be any better a topic?
The album is fairly short, clocking in at a whopping 30 minutes and some change. I think that’s a good thing though. It keeps everything tight and doesn’t allow it to grind along. The only song I didn’t care for was “The Prisoner”. It starts off well enough as a brooding kind of folk song. It eventually devolves into the two singers wailing insesently (there may have even been some gnashing of the teeth). I found it so offensive that I had to skip the track. I tried listening to it again a few days later with the same result. All in all though, this is a minor misstep.
“She’s the Dutchess, He’s the Duke” is a really fine album. It’s as raw and exciting as it is thoughtful and contemplative. I really like their sound and their ability to keep things stripped down. It makes for a much more interesting and involving listen. There aren’t many albums that state that claim these days.
Reservoir Park by The Dutchess and the Duke
Tags: album
This really is a fantastic source of information that you are offering and you provide at no cost. I enjoy seeing web-sites that have an understanding of the importance of offering a excellent resource without charge. With thanks!