The Dutchess and the Duke
She’s the Dutchess, He’s the Duke (Hardly Art)
By Abigail Bruley
Published: July 16th, 2008 | 9:00am
Remember those obscure ‘60s garage bands that your cool uncle turned you onto? You know the type: sweet simple-syrup harmonies, an underlying melancholy that makes you feel like you’re the only one who understands, and the rebellious swagger that makes it all cool. The Dutchess and the Duke are just that: a cool uncle band. The kind of band that make you feel like you’ve uncovered a rarified gem in an old stack of vinyl.
Kimberly Morrison and Jesse Lortz make up a duo that is equal parts coming-of-age and sweet nostalgia. She’s the Dutchess, He’s the Duke is a fine testament of youth and an homage to youth’s heroes. The gracious and tender “Ship Made Of Stone” is the best Leonard Cohen ballad not written by Leonard Cohen.
The B-side from their debut single, “Mary,” is a heartsick obsession with striking lyrics that aren’t soon forgotten, the rival of Jagger’s “Angie.” Ray Davies haunts the downtrodden “Out Of Time,” and the agonizing moans of “The Prisoner” are no doubt a pain last felt when Eric Burdon fled the “House Of the Rising Sun.”
—
The Dutchess and the Duke's official site
The Dutchess and the Duke's MySpace page
Issue #27
Comments
Please login to be able to comment on this article.
more