Duke [Remastered] - Genesis > Reviews > Duke goes "pop"

Author's product rating:   

Originality	Average
Lyrics	Standard
Quality and consistency of tracks	Mixed
How does it compare to the artist's other releases	Average
Value for Money	Good

Advantages:	Duchess is one of the best Genesis tracks .
Disadvantages:	Some nasty synth - pop and bland tracks

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

The three remaining members of Genesis hit the 1980s by starting to write synth-pop songs. Their prog-rock roots hadn't entirely disappeared though. leaving some of the material on this album neither pop nor prog and suffering as a result. Initially they created a suite of songs about "Duke", and then split up the suite and added other tracks, keeping the title for the entire album.
Opening with a joyful fanfare, "Behind The Lines" sounds like it is going to be another good Genesis instrumental, however after a couple of minutes it decends into a rather mundane song with only an occasional glimpse of how it started. Luckily the Genesis magic hasn't completely gone just yet as "Duchess" is a glorious track. I love those drum machine sounds and swirling synths. The whole track has a raising-hairs-on-the-back-of-the-neck energy. This is the last great track that Genesis wrote; well I suppose "Mama" could take that claim to fame but it's nowhere as beautiful as "Duchess".
"Guide Vocal" acts as a coda to "Duchess", and was a part of the original "Duke" suite of songs ("Behind The Lines, Duchess, Guide Vocal, Turn It On Again, Duke's Travels, Duke's End") and hence its reprise in "Duke's Travels". On its own it is nothing, but it does end "Duchess" rather well. After that the rest of the original LPs side one is not much to speak about. "Man Of Our Times" has a good riff during the verses, and a reasonable hook for the chorus, and makes a decent 4 minute pop song. Trouble is, it goes on for 5 minutes and then irritatingly fades out slowly. Argh!
I used to hate "Misunderstanding" with its irritating lyrics and poppy tune. Nowadays I think it is a charming little tune, but those lyrics and the fade out still bother me. "Heathaze" is a nice song, but it sounds like a leftover from the previous album and it is not a patch on the bulk of the stuff on "And Then There Were Three".
I don't like "Turn It On Again" as much as I used to. I used to think it was a Genesis classic but it tends to sound a bit tired nowadays. It is a good pop song and it still has that strange effect of sounding as if it is speeding up in parts when it isn't. I must confess though to a softspot for "Alone Tonight". It has just the right amount of gooeyness like a decent chocolate caramel and it did get me through one of those "I fancy her but she fancies someone else" moments many years ago. "Cul-De-Sac" goes by in a haze of blandness. There really isn't anything there. I often forget the track exists. Pointless. "Please Don't Ask" is a soppy song but with a decent chorus. Then we get the uplifting highland fling of "Duke's Travels" and a reprise of the very beginning (and best bit) of "Behind The Lines" in "Duke's End". A great fun ending to the album.
All in all it is not too bad an album but I do find it rather bitty. This used to be the last Genesis album I enjoyed, but the years have mellowed me somewhat to their next two albums.