We love it when a pop group is over-the-top in love with their influences and for Duke Fame, they are many(witness their MySpace list). Duke Fame are old-ish school power pop and, by that, we mean 90`s indie power pop. There`s a mix of pure popped up Guided By Voices, Illinois-based power pop bands(think Material Issue), Barely Pink, some Big Star, definitely some Replacements and why not throw in a bit of The Smithereens. There`s more, too, of course, bless `em. " "I dug the Duke`s debut album - Regrets - and had none. If anything, Too Proud to Practice is even better - more hooks, more harmonies, more hip songs about being square. The Duke treads a fine balance between rock abandon and pop finesse."-Power Of Pop. " "Whereas the last album from Atlanta`s Duke Fame reminded us of early David Bowie...Too Proud To Practice has much more in common with 1990s guitar bands like The Young Fresh Fellows. This band has come a long way in terms of sound and style since their last release...the sound quality has improved and the tunes are more focused. Songs are the real meat of this band...and songs are what make them stand out from the pack. Many of the tracks on Practice sound strangely familiar..giving the listener a decided feeling of deja vu. Rather than try to fit in molds and genres, these fellows seem to be recording music for the right reason..to entertain themselves and others. You have to admire bands that stick to their guns and play music for pure enjoyment. This is a cool, upbeat album full of infectious melodies. Duke Fame is a
band that is clearly on the right path."-BabySue. " "On their first
album...Duke Fame struck me as...the sort of pop/rock band you might encounter in an everyday-life setting. That is, I imagined coming across them at a house party, at an outdoor fair, or at a neighborhood bar, and being inspired by both the quality of their music and their obvious love for how great melodies sound backed by loud instruments. This album, as the joking, Replacements-esque title Too Proud to Practice might indicate, is louder than before. It has more of a ragged rock sound, and that`s fine by me. There`s traces of punk ("Patterns"), of Superchunk ("Hong Kong Rob"), of Guided by Voices (or a song in tribute to them at least, "All Hail the Monument Club"). There`s also, maybe even mostly, straight-up power-pop. And there`s a ballad, even ("Memory Bucket"). This is quick, fun, catchy music. Some of the songs are more distinctive than others, but all are played with spirit, sincerity, and an obvious appreciation for the role music plays in people`s lives, the way a song can lift you up or ease the pain.""-ErasingClouds. Very Highly Recommended.
 Proctor, Gamble and Huff - mp3
Patterns - mp3
Minor Chords - mp3
All Hail The Monument Club - mp3
Hurry Up, Crow - mp3 | 
