Skip to content
Reviews

The Duke & 
the King, ‘The Duke & the King’ (Anti-)

Gleaned from two U.K. albums released by the Catskills-based band founded by ex-Felice Brothers drummer Simone Felice, this U.S. debut arrives like a greatest-hits collection from about 40 years ago. Posses-sing a James Taylor voice with a Neil Young quaver, Felice delivers devastating tales of traumatized young war veterans (“Priest or pawn, his war’s still on,” in “Shaky”) and ponders the poetics of adult romance (“Love is a coke dealer’s daughter,” in “You and I”). A soulful strut, abetted by a backing singer who’s a ringer for Sam Cooke, plus subtle psychedelic touches demonstrate why they ?don’t call it classic rock for nothing.