New Duncan Imperials review
The New Duncan Imperials, “End of Phase One,” (Pravda)
***
NDI displayed a knack for breaking rock down to its barroom essentials and mixing it with off the cuff (and just as often, sophomoric) humor long before it ever occurred to the Presidents of the United States of America. Those frequent Presidents comparisons made little sense anyhow, unless they were listed alongside psychobilly anarchists like Mojo Nixon or Southern Culture on the Skids, with an ample dose of the Replacements’ gloriously trashy delivery.
The veteran Chicago trio have returned with their first album since 2000’s “Sticky,” ready to make a fine racket at your local dive. They may be too long of tooth for the buzzsaw abandon of “High School Soul,” but don’t remind them. NDI leads by example regardless, taking aging rockers to task for losing youthful fire.
Drummer Goodtime drives a blistering cowpunk beat during “I Love You Honey, but I Hate Your Band” (nodding to Cheap Trick’s “All Shook Up” album). The song reveals that guitarist Pigtail isn’t above dirty tricks like tearing gig fliers down or sabotaging his true love’s touring van in order to save her from the shame of making lousy music.
The punchy “Mother Ship” keeps the energy amped, cribbing from The Who’s debut single “I Can’t Explain.” The mellower “Land of the Elegant Bachelors” skirts Camper Van Beethoven’s esoteric country-pop territory, while the shuffling swing of “Nothing to Do” would fit comfortably within Paul Westerberg’s solo catalog.
NDI has waited until it was standing on the doorstep of its second full decade to announce the end of phase one. Judging by results to date, phase two should be interesting. And overall, loud.
- Jeff Elbel