Duel
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Description
Some of the best records are all about a mood. The Duel displays a kind of world-weariness bordering on despair, evidenced immediately by the languid vocal delivery and the sparse, laid-back, but intense sound of the band. The lyrics themselves may take a while to creep up on you. Moorer has never quite fit the Nashville mold, and her songs here certainly don't follow the Music Row formula. Instead they paint dark pictures of failed faith (the title tune), alcoholism, ("One on the House"), and death ("Sing Me to Sleep"). R. S. Field's perfect production owes more than a passing debt to Neil Young. If you think this all sounds depressing you'd be wrong. As with all great country music, exquisite execution, splendid sound, and depth of feeling combine to create a cathartic, redemptive result. On some dark night of the soul, The Duel just might save your life. --Michael Ross
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