It had to happen. Despite how awesome everyone thinks tiny, nut-squeezing jeans and wispy moustaches are on dudes, someone had to start the backlash. As with all awesome things, The comedy of Dane Cook (who I actually used to find hilarious), Nickelback, Drake, the vuvuzela, eventually there is a saturation point and a small, underground resistance builds slowly into a movement that ends up turning the public’s opinion. So who’s the vanguard of the anti-skinny jeans & ‘stache battalion you ask? That would be Montreal’s Dukes of Burgundy.
In truth, I know nothing about the Dukes, other than the debut EP for this four-man outfit showed up on our cyber-doorstep out of the blue with a note (or bio) attached, proclaiming that the band “ignored the current trend of skinny jeans, dirty moustaches and having 20+ band members to focus on crafting solid rock tunes”. It’s an admirable sentiment, but one that would ultimately ring hollow if you didn’t back it up with good music. And if you’re asking me, I think the Dukes of Burgundy have done exactly that.
The 1-2 punch of Strong and Talking Backwards open the EP rather impressively, showcasing the Dukes brand of indie rock, mixing melodic vocals & catchy hooks with a bit of an edge that go above & beyond radio rock territory. Obviously the Dukes can do catchy very well, but they aren’t averse to getting expansive and a little experimental as the nearly 7 minute Vultures shows. If you’d like indie rock-out of the catchy, clean-faced variety, the Dukes of Burgundy might just be for you.
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MP3:: Dukes of Burgundy – Talking Backwards
MYSPACE:: www.myspace.com/dukesofburgundy