Doghouse Rose – Unlearn

Female fronted pop-punk band Doghouse Rose first landed on my radar a couple years back with the release of their Stomp Records debut, The Harder They Fall.  The album offered that sweet, gummy chew of youthful bubblegum pop-punk done right.  More Bombpops than Paramore, the Toronto quartet quickly established themselves as one of the region’s local frontrunners in the genre, and fans have been embracing them ever since.

A short few years later the band returns with their follow-up, Unlearn, twelve songs that pick up where Doghouse Rose left off.  Building from their strong foundation and further refining their already light hearted style, the album makes a strong statement right from the start.  “Don’t Be An Asshole” is a witty introduction that reinforces the band’s positive tone.  It’s a strong and pointed message that squarely puts the onus on those being a jerk, reminding listeners through colourful and comical language that they are solely responsible for their actions.  The song ends on a tongue-in-cheek note with the comment, “what do you mean you’re the manager?” calling out the metaphoric “Karens” of the world on how they choose to conduct themselves.  The song succeeds as an attention grabbing opener sure to hook listeners from the opening moments.

Unlearn maintains a strong tempo, exploring related themes throughout.  “The dirty bird catches the worm / The hangman takes his turn / Some things are so hard to unlearn,” sings vocalist Sarah Beth Rose, emphasizing the idea that knowing the right thing and learning how to do the right thing are two very different realities.  The concept of effort and choice bounce around like kernels in a popcorn machine, juxtaposing weighty concepts behind a melodic sugary glow.  The idea of staying true to one’s self and morals surfaces explicitly in “reality.”  Taking the form of a guitar-heavy mid-tempo rocker, the anthem “I saw the brand new day / the veil was torn away,” and the repetitious choral proclamation “nothing’s gonna change me” make for a strong mission statement.  Doghouse Rose is not here to change you, but to remind you that you are the best person you make yourself, and that starts with a good long look in the mirror.

“These Four Walls” deserves a particular shout out for the band’s willingness to tackle the difficult subject of a transient life spent in and out of care.  The track maintains an upbeat, hopeful tempo, helping establish a sense of resiliency, while the lyrics describe a bleak world of instability and the unknown.  “Since 13 I’ve had the same theme / I just keep moving through constant instability / No more than 13 months I’ve spent in the same home” describes Sarah, giving way to the emotional toll in which she states, “I don’t get comfortable I’m so Impossible.”  Given the rise in public discourse of the effects of trauma and disruption in childhood attachment, the song brings awareness to a serious concept, not unlike what Blink 182 did with “Adam’s Song.”

Unlearn is surprisingly heavy for such a light hearted album.  For those willing to put in the time, there’s some real depth to be unearthed.  And for those less committed, these sugary melodies and tongue-in-cheek lyrics will be more than enough to keep them bopping along.  This far reaching charm is what makes Doghouse Rose shine so brightly, and with Unlearn they have captured that lightning in a bottle for a second time.