DUKE

Along with other reviewers, I subscribe to the strategy of re-imagining this album. After removing the offending songs, you are left with a 43:57 minute album, (the standard length for that day), and a surprisingly good Genesis album. The first 3 songs deliver some nice drama, ambience and melancholy, all trademarks of the Genesis brand. Man Of Our Times is an excellent example of the late 70's cynical brand of prog along the lines of UK's first album. The various effects used on Collin's voice remind me of PJ Harvey's Rid Of Me album, where you have this extemely strong vocalist being aurally hamstringed, increasing the tension between music and vocalist. Very effective in its claustrophobic angst. With the leap frog in full effect, we move right into Heathaze, a typical Banks-ian affair, and [Side 2 opener] Cul-De- Sac, which at times is reminiscent in some chord changes and melody lines to (of all bands!) Steely Dan, another great band that people had trouble accepting until later in their career. Please Don't Ask gets to stay for its plaintive sincerity, melodic richness and brevity. The much lauded Duke's Travel/End is really a pale shadow of ...Sleepers..., Los Endos, and mostly Cinema Show (ie no Hackett, just ad nauseum Banks arpeggios). The return of the Guide Vocal theme serves little purpose, then after a coda of calliope (Hackett always liked those too), we have a restatement of themes (Turn It On Again rocking the house!), and then out. Sort of perfuntory (still can't find that great Rutherford guitar moment I keep reading about), but like The Wall, it's always hard to write the end to the end. But hey, they're upfront about it: the choices are gone, you're on your own, you wouldn't understand, take what's yours and be damned. When I first bought this album in 1980, I was embarassed and disgusted, but now 28 years later, I've listened to it 7 times (okay 10) in the last 5 days. I'm chalking it up to 1 part nostalgia and 2 parts listening without bias for the first time. Don't start with this album, but a truly developed love of Genesis can't help but see that they, unlike many of their compatriots, could still deliver 43 minutes of potable listening in 1980, no small feat.