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Track Listings
| 1. Mockingbird Wish Me Luck |
| 2. Sweet, Sweet Kisses |
| 3. Those Proverbs We Made in the Winter Must End |
| 4. Diggin\x{2019} an Early Grave |
| 5. I Never Thought this Day Would Come (and Now it Won't Go Away) |
| 6. Why Does Anybody Love? |
| 7. Flesh and Blood Dance |
| 8. If I Don\x{2019}t feel it |
| 9. Let Me Go (Please, Please, Please!) |
| 10. By the Skin of my Teeth |
| 11. Nothing Comes Easy |
| 12. Nothin\x{2019} You Could do Could Bring Me Around |
Product Description
Review
Duke Special - Peter Wilson to his wife and children - is a Belfast-based singer-songwriter who enjoys a good deal of popularity in his native Ireland without yet having quite won over an international audience. This album (his third) was released in his homeland last year, but now it's crossed the Irish sea in search of approval from UK audiences. It's a close run thing as to whether his blend of oddball pop will find a place in our hearts.
Wilson sings and plays piano and incorporates a strong sense of vaudeville into his material - the vaudeville element comes through in a jaunty sense of music making, a willingness to play up the absurd and goofy, choruses that encourage audience singalongs and a very visual and quite ridiculous quality to it. All of which is good - the last thing the world needs is another po-faced singer-songwriter - and Duke Special conveys a real sense of entertainment across this CD.
But . . . but who is this album aimed at? Several listens don't suggest Duke Special is very certain himself. There's the influence of Rufus Wainwright - the archness and camp playfulness - yet Wainwright is a much more distinctive talent. And while Duke Special can create a big, rolling chorus (actually, many of the songs appear to consist of little other than big, rolling choruses) that does not make for much more than a pub singalong. The more personal songs - such as Why Does Anybody Love? - recall Elton John's 1980s work. Yet they lack the voice, melodic gift and lyrical tautness of the best Elton material. This is big statement stuff but there's not yet enough concentration in the craft to guarantee the hits that he so obviously craves.
Duke Special's an odd one; mainstream yet offbeat. Perhaps what we have here is the Irish Meatloaf. --Garth Cartwright
Find more music at the BBC This link will take you off Amazon in a new window
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful
By RJW
Format:Audio CD
I bought Songs From The Deep Forest on the basis of a 4-star review in Q. Leafing through the various music magazines this past few weeks, I have yet to read a single review of his new album. Needless to say there are plenty of reviews of the new Girls Aloud album etc etc, but you'd think there would be room to review an album as outstanding as this. This is another 4-star album. The first time I heard it I thought it was way inferior to Deep Forest. Now after 5 listens, it stands comparison easily. Brilliant melodies, funny lyrics, great playing. Duke Special is hugely talented - but I get the impression that he will never be anything more than a cult artist. Shame, the guy is better than 99% of the stuff in the charts.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Blue Raven
Format:Audio CD
Great melodies, intelligent lyrics and a couple of real stand-out songs that you can't help but sing along to! (Especially 'Why does anybody love' and 'Let me go')
No more to say really: if you're a fan of the Duke and enjoyed his last album then picking this up is a no-brainer. If you've stumbled across this album in some other way, get it anyway - it's an absolute gem.
No more to say really: if you're a fan of the Duke and enjoyed his last album then picking this up is a no-brainer. If you've stumbled across this album in some other way, get it anyway - it's an absolute gem.
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
By Clematis
Format:Audio CD
More wonderful music from Duke Special. Just gets better every time I hear it. This is one hard working guy and he has sure come up trumps with this one. It's an amazing album to hear live too! Duke is hugely talented and original, he's comfortable doing what he likes best and you can tell when you hear the wonderful lyrics, music and humour coming through, he really deserves to be highly successful.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Making the World a Better Place
...Duke Special, what a talented guy, and his music is the spoonful of sugar we need to make the medicine of life go down. Read more
Published on 3 July 2010 by Ms. Joanne L. Bork
5.0 out of 5 stars
Why is this guy not world famous, he is fantastic!
I was so priviliged to hear the Duke life in a private setting last year. I had never heard anything about him but his music captured me. Read more
Published on 12 May 2010 by Elisa Emper
2.0 out of 5 stars
Rather disappointing
Sadly I have to agree with the reviewers that have said they are disappointed with Duke's latest offering. Read more
Published on 9 April 2010 by Lady Lavender
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great, unique and original
There is no doubt that Duke Special is one of the more original artists around at the moment. This album is essential for all those that enjoy their 'pop' music in a slightly more... Read more
Published on 2 May 2009 by Mr. Julian F. Whitehead
5.0 out of 5 stars
Buy it now!
I went to see Duke Special in concert last week for the first time. I was completely blown away by him and his music. Amazing musician. Read more
Published on 30 Mar 2009 by Grace O'donnell
4.0 out of 5 stars
Very God, but........
this album has lost some of the charm and quirkyness of its predecessor, having said that it is still enjoyable.I suppose it was bound to lack the impact of the previous album. Read more
Published on 6 Jan 2009 by nudger99
5.0 out of 5 stars
I never thought this day would vome
Love it..every home should have one! This album takes you on a rollercoaster of emotions and is definitely a real grower. Read more
Published on 17 Nov 2008 by C. MACPHIE
5.0 out of 5 stars
Duke Does it again!
This may not fight it out for album of the year in the mainstream press, but for those few who give it the chance it deserves it is a grower from start to finish. Read more
Published on 29 Oct 2008 by sheffield's finest
4.0 out of 5 stars
From Duke to King
Here we have the eagerly awaited follow-up to the infectious 'Songs From The Deep Forest'. Once again, Duke and his merry lot do not disappoint. Read more
Published on 29 Oct 2008 by Paul A. Kirwan
4.0 out of 5 stars
I Never Thought This Day Would Come
I disagree with the above review; this album is not comparable to the twee pop records around currently, it is much better than that. Read more
Published on 24 Oct 2008 by B. Wright
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