Patti Rothberg has released Douche in 2021 and it is one of two of her latest albums. The other is a compilation album entitled Pizza Box-you can find a music review of it here. Douche is a musical conceptual art piece that explores the characteristics of the type of people the album is named after. The music and the lyrics are compelling when listened to individually; however, one of the best ways to experience this album is to listen to it non-stop, from start to finish. One thing that makes this album special is that it has traditional rock vocals mixed with spoken word. Also, all of the songs are interconnected musically, which generates the lyrics being about different people and the things they do, and the artist’s perspectives on why they are a “douche”. The album is fun, humorous and each song has its own ideas that collectively form conceptual art.
Dial a Douche: has a great mixture of drums and piano. It tells the story of a person who realizes that the guy they frequently call is a “douche:. As listeners we learn about the characteristics of this person and how the singer established such a category for him.
Is This a Date: is one of my favorite songs on the album. It describes two different characters on the same track. The first one was supposed to have a radio session with the singer, but it turned into a random dinner date. The place he intended to go to was down due to a powerline and he decided to go out for burritos instead, expecting the singer to cover the bill. The second character showed similar characteristics to the other one on the track; therefore earning the title of being a “douche”. Or in this case a “Double-douche” as it is stated on this track.
Hack Clones: has a similar instrumentation to the previous track but has new variations. The characters in this song are the entire touring band and the guitarist individually. The singer certainly establishes just cause as to why many of them deserve the title of being a “douche”.
Dictation Machine: this song is about anyone that has been taken for granite by their partner. The drum and the associated instruments played on this track, as well as the previous two, become more dynamic the more you listen to them. Dictation Machine has more vocals and seems to function well at this part of the album.
No Big Surprise: is mostly performed in spoken word with some vocals throughout the verses. The character in this song has many shortcomings and the singer is unwillingly to take him back, but was willing to have conversation with him not for who he is today but rather who he was 30 years ago. The song describes a man who is trying to be something he is not; he thinks highly of himself but he is truly no deeper than some of his wrinkles. The song asserts that inauthenticity is a strong characteristic of a “douche”.
Lazy MacBeth: depicts the person who tries to make it seem like they are more successful than they truly are. They might have a sports car or some other seemingly lucrative things or other good qualities about who they are and what they can do. At this point in the album, the music becomes more upbeat which compliments the singer’s spoken words and lyrics.
That’s What He Said: is a sexy interlude of romantic sounding piano keys and the singer expressing what men typically say to her. When men say these types of romantic things it can be difficult to know if he is a “douche” or not, but it is important to pinpoint in the art that a romantic entanglement may start with such beautiful language and music, but still has the opportunity to take a different turn.
Through My Eyes: is a classic rock song that features great storytelling through the lyrics, features the singer’s vocals over a nice sounding guitar, and encourages audiences to give empathy where they can in life.
Douche onto Others: in this song, the singer successfully identifies the “King of the Douches”. He uses his influence as a writer in order to communicate with ladies that are too young. He is also the master of giving compliments and then letting people down. He may capture a woman’s attention in the beginning, but when they find out how he truly behaves, he is deserving of the title because he is constantly using his influence for negative things.
New Kid on My Block: is about freedom and being liberated from the bad people from the past. The artist tells the story of the latest person added to her block list. The vocals sound great over acoustic guitar, and is an excellent example of the singer’s rock n’ roll performance.
Curb: depicts a situation in which the singer is cheated on by her partner and then is “kicked to the curb” by him even though there is no reason to do so. This almost feels like a universal experience, most people throughout their lifetime may experience this. The instrumentation has a dark, edgy side to it that sounds like it was placed in the perfect time on the album. The dark keys played on the piano creates an ambiance that is perfect for the singer’s strong vocals and excellent storytelling ability.
Constant Validation: is another one of my favorite tracks; it is a classic rock song performed with acoustic guitar and the singer’s excellent voice. It is about getting someone to realize that what they perceived to be positive actions are actually narcissistic expressions of a need for constant validation. This is another universal scenario that many people experience throughout life. The shocking part about communication with someone who needs constant validation is that they may not be aware of their behavior and continue it because they do not see anything wrong. The track has excellent songwriting and a strong performance that gives audiences a clear perspective on this particular type of person.
Stick Em’ Up: is a spoken word song with some vocals that tells the story of the singer being in jury duty and trying to figure out how she was able to obtain a half-eaten peanut butter sandwich from a torn bag. The lyrics describe the singer as being in the jury stand holding the sandwich. This image is symbolic of what everyone has to go through in life. Sometimes people are prepared and things go smoothly, other times they are prepared and something unexpected occurs. The symbolism works in similar fashion to Prince’s “Starfish and Coffee”.
Back in the Pond: the character at the center of this song pretended to be someone he is not, and when he finally had the opportunity to meet with the singer he was not the person he described on the internet. To make matters worse, when he finally had the courage to speak he used the singer as his personal psychiatrist. Here we have someone who is suffering from an identity crisis and is trying to bring others along on the ride, which automatically removes him from the friend zone and into the “douche” category.
Airhead B&B: the character in this song is a “douche” for the following reasons: every morning the singer wakes up and thinks of him but it never occurs vice versa, he would talk about his friends but never invite the singer to meet them, he supposedly carried his heart on his sleeve and was allegedly a lonely artist which may not be totally accurate, he used the singer for her connections and showed no interest in building a relationship, he is also a recovering drug addict. All of which categorizes him as a “douche”.
Bossa Me: the song is like a blooming flower. It’s like all of the previous songs are leading audiences to the final track that has a broad production with exotic quality; the sound is like being on an island or paradise, and the only way to reach utopia is to understand that the singer wants to remain free and independent with music, life and all that it entails. The singer is truly the boss of herself. .