DUKE

Genesis first Nr. 1 in the UK (reached 11 in the US). This record clearly drew the line between their prog era and their pop one (which in terms of sales will be very profitable) although this is still an OK album. In my jargon, OK means three stars. "Behind the Lines" is quite a good opener. Strong drumming and heavy keys from Tony. Vocals from Phil will be typical for this Genesis period. "Duchess" musical intro is spacey and nice : it could have been a good Oldfield production. The second part is less interesting. "Guide Vocal" is a very short and unnecessary transitional track. "Man of Our Times" is a nice ballad : very similar to what they have done in "And Then There Were Three" (like "Cul de Sac" and "Please Don't Ask"). "Misunderstanding" written by Phil is a poppy tune that they will play quite a bit in their concerts for the years to come. Some like it, some hate it. I belong more to the latter category. "Alone Tonight" is a short, very nice, and romantic ballad. The "Duke" suite is a great prog moment on this album. "Duke's Travel" is superb (a bit in the style of "One For The Vine"). Quiet for most of the time but with a strong and rocking section towards the end. With "Duke's End", the band seems to reproduced a song like "Los Endos". It is also a very good moment. It is a shame that it only lasts just over three minutes. Two highlights. Genesis adapted themselves quite successfully (in terms of sales) to the eighties period. For "old" fans like me though, a song like "Turn It On Again" was the worse we could endure.