The Duke & the King News, Reviews, and Interviews
The Duke & The King, the new group formed by good friends Simone Felice and Robert “Chicken” Burke are tearing up the music scene with countless great reviews -- for both live shows and their debut album Nothing Gold Can Stay. They are currently on tour supporting the album and are about to begin a string of European dates. Below I’ve gathered a bunch of links to recent reviews and interviews for those that are fans…and those that just want to know more about this phenomenal group.
Download Now:
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Here’s an amazing video of Simone playing One More American Song
Album Reviews:
“If Simone Felice ever finds himself in hell, he’ll manage to somehow make it sound pretty good…. Felice and Burke write songs that are honest, raw and sometimes painful, as evident on their debut CD.”
-NPR Weekend Edition: Saturday
“The overall sound is supremely sun-kissed, with swathes of high harmonies shadowing Felice’s every beautiful melodic twist. It is, surprisingly, ‘70s west coast FM rock that seems to be a constant sonic reference (perhaps for nostalgia’s sake), though often with enough of a modern rhythmic feel to never feel unsure as to which decade this record was made.”
-Americana UK
“Neil Young meets Marvin Gaye on the kind of record that cults are made of.”
-Word Magazine
“a wondrous album… the music is sweet, soft and for the most part, hopeful.” 4 stars, album of the week
-Sun Times
“Felice’s songs are trim and chiseled, most notable for their sheer honesty and attention to detail… Brilliant.”
-Boston Globe
“The duo swaddle their songs in subdued arrangements that would have sat well among the Laurel Canyon balladeers of Asylum Records: acoustic guitars, pianos, and restrained rhythms, sewn together with subtle detailing, warm harmonies, and a peaceful easy feeling.”
-The Independent
“Songs so perfectly formed they might have been around forever”
-The Daily Telegraph
“They have pulled off a quite remarkable feat on Nothing Gold Can Stay -- one of my favourite albums of the year. Each song somehow sounding like a classic, each live performance suggesting we are in the presence of a rare, fiery brilliance.”
-The Guardian
“Simply has to be the must-have album of the year so far.”
-Maverick Magazine
““One More American Song,” on which Felice makes bittersweet nostalgia especially heartfelt, really keeps Nothing Gold Can Stay from being just one more American folk album.”
-Paste Magazine
Show Reviews:
The Basement -- Nashville TN
The Chapel -- Philadelphia, PA
Interviews:
-The Duke and the King embrace sorrow and joy on Nothing Gold Can Stay
