DUKE

This album is a mix between progressive rock and pop rock. The progressive songs like Heathaze and Cul De Sac are the best on the album, only responsible because of Tony Banks. Whilst Phil Collins had other ideas with Misunderstanding and Please Don't Ask, where these songs had the pop sound. I don't think it's fair to just reject them just because of the pop sound, Please Don't Ask should of been on a Phil Collins album than a Genesis one. After saying that they a quite good songs, very well writ, a bloke who's just been divorced or just been stood up, might appreciate them more, who knows?

Heathaze and Cul De Sac still remain the best songs here. Heathaze is of a man who can't seize the day and is forced into doing the same old things like everyone else- "throw some bread to the ducks instead, it's easier that way".Both songs are filled with interesting messages which I can appreciate and still shows that Tony Banks is hanging on to the old Genesis. Where Heathaze is a mellow, calm ballad Cul De Sac has a catchy refrain and an explsive finish, which makes them great songs. These are the songs Genesis should of shared with the mass audience.

Other songs like Turn It On Again is another song I love just for it's gritty rock sound, which recalls Down and Out and is a base for songs like Land Of Confusion and No Son of Mine. But in Man Of Our Times Phil Collins voice gets drowned by The guitar work from Rutherford and is hard to understand the lyrics without reading the lyrics book. For this I can't enjoy the song. Alone Tonight is a depressing song of a lonely man, it has no catchy music in it, just dribble.

Here it's 50/50 Good or just ok but at the end they deliver Duke's Travels/End which should of been one song. It's a piece that grows momentum with Guide Vocal at the end sounding meancing and haunting, great stuff! In Duke's End they have a clever little trick by putting Behind The Lines opening in at the start and the end of the song with the Turn It On Again guitar work in the middle, which ends the Duke album on a high. I think early Genesis progressive rock fans shouls give this a chance and not just brush it off just because of Phil Collins pop friendly sound, it's not the end of the world! Great Work from Genesis and Phil!