Customer Reviews

Double Standards

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Another great cd from Patti. She's hard to describe: 1 part singer songwriter, 1 part hard rocker, 1 part glam rocker & 1 part alt rocker. All 3 of her cd's are must owns & show how out of touch the major labels are. Her cover of the Rolling Stones "Sway" may actually be better then the awesome original! She stays close to their arrangement, but adds a sense of joy that the original was missing (though I do prefer Keith's guitar solo!). I love all 3 of Patti's full length cd's, but the more I listen to this one, the more I think it's her best.

What can be said about Patti Rothberg that hasn't been said before? And why hasn't one of the major labels picked her up yet since the EMI fiasco? Clearly they're clueless. But we major Patti Rothberg fans know better. On "Double Standards," her 3rd full length album, Ms. Rothnerg crashes through the gate, steals and glues your attention and takes you on a relentlessly butt shakin', joy inducing, fun and thought provoking rock and roll ride from note one of "Alternate Universe" until the closing acoustic folkiness, kazoo strains and studio chuckles of "Someone I Love." I'm in love with this album. Even the gentler acoustic songs somehow rock. My favorite track is the title cut, "Double Standards," an addictive, ass kickin' Hole like (yet more sophisticated) hard rocker that I can't help listening to more than once. Other stand out songs are "Eye to Eye," "Retrograde," "After the Parade," "Wavelength" and a heavy duty, true to form cover of the Rolling Stone's classic "Sway." Patti's got that streetwise, tough, gritty, New York rock and roll attitude in spades; and the incredible thing is that she does the tough rock and roll thing with the heart and soul of a sensitive, thoughtful, artful singer-songwriter. I doubly declare that you pick up "Double Standards" today.

Have you ever heard a song and thought, "Wow, everyone should hear how awesome this song is!"? I feel that way about Wavelength, the 12th track on this album.

But track 12 isn't the only track that deserves attention. I think all of Patti's songs are full of lyrics worth listening to, whether it's for the clever puns found in tracks such as Retrograde ("I was never cast in shows, I was just cast in shadows") or the poignant sentiments in tracks like Unconditional Love ("I'll stay with you on one condition--that you let me be myself").

And I don't need to talk about Patti's raspy rocker voice or the songs' catchy riffs. You can hear those if you just listen to a sample.

This album is a compelling mixture of memorable songs, punchy, melodic, edgy and more. The tunes stay with you--especially ones like Unconditional Love, Hard Times, Alternate Universe, and Inventory--enough so that you find yourself singing or humming them to yourself throughout the day. Really a very fine album indeed.

Backed by a great band and expertly produced by the multi-talented Freddie Katz, Patti delivers an album of consistently inspired, engaging, catchy, heartfelt, cool, fun, funny, touching and cynical song gems. With so much bland mediocrity flooding the music "market" Patti is a truly original, spirited lifesaver. When was the last time you bought a CD you would want to play again and again? So why isn't she getting all the recognition she truly deserves? Welcome back, Patti. You're the best.

Patti's back with her best yet - it's got the rawness and intimacy of "Between The One And The Nine" AND the gritty rock and eclecticism of "Candelabra". The best of both Patti worlds. Highly recommended!

If true talent was translated into sales, Patti Rothberg would be platinum many times over. With just her third full-length release in 12 years, Rothberg again displays her lyrical and musical genius on "Double Standards." Her rockers and ballads pack equal punch. Rothberg's backing band is top notch.
Rothberg is one of the finest rock singers of the last 15 years. Now if only she would tour outside of the Northeast, all would be right with the world.