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Friday, March 29
The Indiana Daily Student

Not quite a knockout

dukespirit

The Brit-rockers of The Duke Spirit have been on the stateside music scene since 2005, releasing a couple of albums and playing pretty much every talk show Americans love and cherish.

It is quickly apparent with its third LP “Bruiser” that The Duke Spirit is looking for a little more recognition. But in an album that never really seems to take off, these Londoners might still have some work to do.

First track “Cherry Tree” is a good indicator of what frontwoman Liela Moss wants “Bruiser” to accomplish as she belts out “I don’t look back/Why would you?”

However, the band’s same downtempo rock found on 2008’s “Neptune” is back and doesn’t do anything new.

The bright spots are where the band decides to do something different, the first of which is “De Lux,” a ballad that plays like a rock lullaby with Moss’ soothing voice dipping low and soaring high.

Radio-friendly “Everybody’s Under Your Spell” embodies what “Bruiser” could have been if they had only let themselves really go for it. Uptempo, catchy and fun, this is the single to build on.

If only “Bruiser” hadn’t pulled its punches, we’d be black and blue and in love with The Duke Spirit.

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