Upon first hearing “The Step and the Walk” from The Duke Spirit’s second album Neptune I couldn’t help but think, “Wow, what a great sounding pop song”. Then I listened to the album.

This is a well-produced album with competent musicians that reminds me of other bands that frankly, I’d rather listen to. Liela Moss has a sexy voice that reminds me of Hope Sandoval from Mazzy Star, but it never quite hits me the same way.  Neptune isn’t quite  stale or entirely dull, but I can’t foresee multiple listens either. If you’re in the mood for an album that sounds like something from the early 90’s or don’t care for bands that want to express something new or real, well here you go. The best example of how their music sounds can be summed up by telling you that the trumpet on “Wooden Heart” is resplendent in its ethereal simplicity. Really. And ouch.