Doug (album)
| Doug | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 1988 | |||
| Genre | Rock | |||
| Label | DB | |||
| Producer | Brendan O'Brien | |||
| The Coolies chronology | ||||
| ||||
Doug is the second album by the American band the Coolies, released in 1988.[1][2] It is a concept album and rock opera about a skinhead punk kid, Doug, who pilfers recipes from a drag queen, publishes them as his own, and becomes famous and wealthy while worrying about his comeuppance.[3][4] The band supported the album with a North American tour.[5] Doug was adapted as a stage musical in 1997.[6]
Production
[edit]The album was produced by Brendan O'Brien, his first production job.[7] It was recorded in less than a week for around $2,000.[7] The Coolies were unconcerned about their reputation as a joke band, preferring to keep their music humorous, unserious, and entertaining.[8] A comic book, drawn by Jack Logan, was included with the LP release.[9][4] "Cook Book" includes musical references to the Who's "Substitute", "Happy Jack", and "Won't Get Fooled Again".[3][10] "Coke Light Ice", a rant about fast food, is performed in a Southern jangle pop style.[3] The drag queen character's name is Cookie Puss, an homage to the Beastie Boys song.[10] "Crack Pipe (Burnin' My Hand)", like the Beatles' "Helter Skelter", ends with a howl of "I got blisters on my fingers".[11]
Critical reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [9] |
| Chicago Tribune | [4] |
The St. Petersburg Times said, "If Dig? ... was a loud, new-wave frat party, then Doug is a thinking man's blowout. The parodies are more subtle, the musical ideas are more developed and as a result, its turntable life should be longer than its manic predecessor."[3] The Chicago Tribune called the album "an adequate-to-good mix of hard rock and mellow rock behind lyrics that advance the story without sounding like a narrative recitation."[4] The Boston Globe opined, "These are solid, witty, hook-packed tunes. 'Crack Pipe', in particular, is a histrionic hard rock delight, as guitarist Teddy Murray wails away into the abyss."[8]
The Washington Post noted that "even the slowest rock fan should appreciate the dead-on musical parodies".[12] LA Weekly called the album "the best plot-rock disc since the Bonzo Dog Band's semi-parodic Keynsham."[13] The State said that Doug is a "masterpiece" of "no-holds-barred rock".[14]
In 2010, the Iowa City Press-Citizen, as part of its "Great Albums Revisited" series, labeled the Coolies an "extraordinary, high-concept metallic/pop machine".[15] Trouser Press stated, "A quantum leap from its predecessor's one-dimensional silliness, Doug is a work of demented genius."[16]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Talkin' 'Bout Doug" | |
| 2. | "Ice Cold Soul" | |
| 3. | "Pussy Cook" | |
| 4. | "Cook Book" | |
| 5. | "Shirts and Skins" | |
| 6. | "Coke Light Ice" | |
| 7. | "Doug" | |
| 8. | "40 Foot Stretch" | |
| 9. | "The Last Supper" | |
| 10. | "Ain't Gonna Eat No More" | |
| 11. | "Crack Pipe (Burnin' My Hand)" | |
| 12. | "Poverty" | |
| 13. | "Talkin' 'Bout Doug" (reprise) |
References
[edit]- ^ Jones, Allan (September 10, 1988). "Albums: The Coolies". Melody Maker. Vol. 64, no. 37. p. 38.
- ^ Corcoran, Michael (September 1988). "A la Doug". Spin. Vol. 4, no. 6. p. 22.
- ^ a b c d Okamoto, David (March 27, 1988). "The Coolies: Hit with wit". St. Petersburg Times. p. 2F.
- ^ a b c d Popson, Tom (April 22, 1988). "Bus Boys Return; Coolies Off to the Opera". Friday. Chicago Tribune. p. J.
- ^ Toombs, Mikel (November 12, 1988). "Coolies' 'Doug' revives concept of the '60s rock operas ... sort of". The San Diego Union. p. D11.
- ^ Rollins, Kenneth (October 9, 1997). "'Doug' digs at American dream". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. p. D6.
- ^ a b Newman, Melinda (December 2007). "Producer's Corner". Performing Songwriter. 15 (106): 75.
- ^ a b Sullivan, James (June 10, 1988). "Coolies: Rock Pranksters Create Mock Opera". Arts and Film. The Boston Globe. p. 55.
- ^ a b "Doug Review by Jason Ankeny". AllMusic. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
- ^ a b Saunders, Mike (April 29, 1988). "The Coolies Twist Familiar Songs into Sly Rock Jokes". Features Showtime. Sun Sentinel. p. 20.
- ^ Goldstein, Patrick (October 23, 1987). "Strange Stuff". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 87.
- ^ Jenkins, Mark (December 9, 1988). "Can You 'Doug' It? Fresh Aussie Flowers". Weekend. The Washington Post. p. 30.
- ^ Lloyd, Robert (April 7, 1988). "The Critical List". LA Weekly. p. 56.
- ^ Miller, Michael (April 8, 1988). "Night Moves". The State. p. 7B.
- ^ Musser, Jim (May 27, 2010). "Record Rewind". Iowa City Press-Citizen. p. C3.
- ^ "Coolies". Trouser Press. Retrieved July 1, 2025.