New Duncan Imperials: End of Phase One

The New Duncan Imperials went back to the studio after an eight year hiatus and continued creating its weird rock and roll ways with loud, crunchy guitar riffs, straight ahead drumming, and half-drunken vocals. New Duncan Imperials always sounds like they’re having a good time, even when lamenting the end of parties’ past. This new record walks that fine line behind the classic indie sound of The Replacements (check out the song “Nothin’ to Do”) and the classic rock of Tom Petty (“I’m Invisible”) and goes on various inebriated sidetracks in between. There’s a kitchen sink approach to the lyrics, which mostly fall on the side of funny but sometimes just sound out there. The fact that NDI doesn’t take itself too seriously works in its favor. Rock is supposed to be fun, and this disc offers lots of entertainment value. Even the one self-consciously country tune, “What do People Like”, cries its tears in its beer for amusement purposes.