Genesis - Duke


What's the real theme of this particular Adventure Time? Well, when it comes to assessing the validity of genre labels and the value of any particular album from them, it matters who's doing the labeling and why. Plus i just like hating Walmart out loud. The magic part is that i didn't plan it that way, that's the story these albums tell as i pick them up. I try to make them funny or relevant, but i'm still just making it up as i go. Power Pop, Britpop, Alternative Rock, Hair Metal, Prog-Rock, and now Prog-Pop. It's the 10th Genesis album, Duke. 

I'd call Duke the first proper Phil Collins's Genesis album, And Then There Were Three was merely the result of first Peter then Steve quitting. Phil's wife didn't want him to do the full tour and moved to Canada. After the 1978 tour he told the band he was moving to Canada to save his marriage, but they divorced anyway so he moved back and the trio started a new record in late 1979. Now keep in mind, this is still pre-famous Genesis, Phil's convinced they are finally about to "hit it big" like Ice Cube in his garage not wanting to be a barber for the rest of his life (a Friday reference? Bad news Bottle, it's only Wednesday). They definitely did with the next 2 albums, so Duke is the actual switcheroo, the offical half prog/half pop recipe that got everybody on board. I love Invisible Touch, so let's see what Duke's all about. 

The artwork has nothing to do with the album, they just really liked Koechlin's L'Alphabet d'Albert. But, as Becky's friend points out, of course it does, of course putting Albert staring out the window on the cover becomes the titular character who we all know is Phil. It's another one of those bifucating reality thingies i like talking about so much. Phil goes down his path where it definitely has nothing to do with whatever the band had in mind when they wrote the songs, no, not at all, not in any way, some people go down the path where that guy IS Duke, some people hold the two ideas side by side letting whatever they know about Albert refine their understanding of the album, i only know the song Misunderstanding, so i'm new here. I'm gonna take a wild blindfolded guess and say it's a relationship metaphor: Duke and Duchess, Duke's a little bit too SQUIRREL! for Duchess's liking and now they don't pass the dutchy on the left or the right hand side 'cause she divorced him in Canada and he's recording an album with his two remaining friends in Sweden to prevent Charisma's paying for it counting as income come tax time in England. Press play... 

Holy hell-balls, now that's an intro! Yeah, that cover art is 100% the concept. I criticized Harry Connick Jr. For a totally ridiculous track 2 slow down, but for this concept it's perfect. We're only 6 minutes in and i'm totally hooked like walleye on a minnow. Don't blow it, guys, don't blow it. 

No words, Side A is phenomenal. Just amazing. Seriously, this is beyond exceptional. Again, guys, don't freakin' blow it [flip] wait, mixed meters? Back to the beginning, yeah skipping beats to throw everything off kilter for the start of Side B, chef's kiss boys, magnifique. Oof, yeah, you got me right in the feels there Phil. Alone Tonight could totally have backfired, but i'm all in, you got me, you need a hug? Hyperbole, yes, go on. Oh, aw man, i'm bro crying, i feel it dude, i feel it. Whether it's real or true or not, don't care. I'm not you. But if it is true, then those are some grade A sushi quality emotions, my man. Reprise the Guide Vocal and let the caliope cool us down before reprising the intro for the curtain call. 

Bravo, guys, bravo. This is a masterpiece of an album. Seriously, if you've never listened to Duke from start to finish, then you just don't even have a clue. I mean, we started on a high note with Bram Tchaikovsky and waded through some murky territory to get here, but tomorrow's album would have to be ridiculously spectacular to top this. I don't think it's possible, honestly. There can't be a better concept album than the imaginary version of the story of the making of Duke, there just can't. I guess join us tomorrow when we find out, but i really don't think there's much point. Duke is about as good as humans could possibly make....

Intergalactic Touring Band

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