Like a fluorescent-lit snack-aisle oasis in some desolate interstate road stop, brimming with Skittles and limited-edition Sno Balls, Tacocat's Easter-egg-hued pop-punk-pop is bubblegum-sticky with hooks, bound to brighten up the most drab stretch of bummer backroad.
The band's four-person, seven-layer-burrito came together organically: Lelah Maupin (drums) and Eric Randall (guitar) met in their native Longview, WA—two hours south of Seattle, the very town that Green Day named their breakout debut single after. Lelah's family room was wallpapered with framed Magic Eye posters, hence "Stereogram," the cross-eyed love letter to that bizarre ‘90s optical fad. She met lanky Eric while both worked at Safeway, wearing the chain's distinctive navy aprons before breaking north to Seattle. Eric's band The Trashies practiced and played in the basement of the 24/7 House in the Central District, where Long Beach, CA native Bree McKenna (bass) was living, amongst the dust, boxes, and spiders. Lelah met Butte, MT native Emily Nokes (voice, tambourine) in one excruciatingly early/boring graphic design class, slipping her a doodled-upon note; she soon noticed Emily's big voice while she sang along with R. Kelly on the radio. Emily and Bree hit it off one sloshy night at the Comet. Eric impressed Emily with his reenactments of scenes from Anaconda. Sometime around 2007, via countless raucous house party shows, the legend of Tacocat was born.
The foursome would quickly make a name for themselves with their simply energizing power pop, drawing on classic Northwest energy with an uncommonly upbeat, surfy swag that could only come from gray skies and hydroponic sunshine. Their sly and unabashed ‘90s revivalism has, in the past, found the band pondering Evan Dando and Waterworld—and Bree herself explains finding about riot grrrl via Napster and Julia Stiles in 10 Things I Hate About You. They've described themselves variously as "Feminist sci-fi" and "Equal parts Kurt and Courtney"; oh well, whatever…NVM.
NVM—Tacocat's second full-length album and first for Hardly Art, opens up like some mystery shoebox, wistful, instantly nostalgic: snapshots of mortifying exes ("You Never Came Back") and sketchy party situations ("Party Trap"), maybe a postcard with an alien smoking a joint. Cigarette cellophane-wrapped weed nugs, pain pill crumbs and wrapped tampons ("all the girls are surfing the wave, surfing the crimson wave today”), all serve as a roadmap through Tacocat’s bong-ripped reminiscences, scenarios all-too familiar and hilariously improbable. There's the notoriously inconsistent #8 Metro line ("F.U. #8") and the accountability-allergic, black-clad brick-heavers of "This Is Anarchy." The protagonist of "Psychedelic Quinceañera"—based on Bree—just wants to dance with rainbows, mind-expansion style, instead of having to wear a frilly dress in front of her whole family. Emily daydreams of a "Bridge to Hawaii," where even the destitute could walk their asses to paradise—before being snapped out of it by cat-calls from construction workers, business dads, and drunk hobos ("Hey Girl"); sweaty jerks telling her that she shouldsmile!
NVM all that, though: you should, and will, smile—either a wry little corner-lifter or a big ear-to-ear equator—and shake what's yours, when you hear the whippet-smart latest album from the world's favorite palindromic band. Text a friend.
--Larry Mizell, Jr.
Hologram
Tacocat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I was too sensitive to even be alive
But maybe now it′s the opposite
Too much to say
So I don't say anything
Is numb even a feeling?
I just wonder how anyone falls for this anymore
Don′t take this the wrong way
Just remember if you can
Power is a hologram
And every reality
Every little reality
Is rippin' at the seams
How did we come to be so jaded?
I guess it′s more that the rest has faded
But little by little it′s getting bright again
I saw a beaded curtain in your window
Late, late last night
Otherworldly bits of plastic
Catchin' all the purple light
I closed my eyes and thought about
The Milky Way
Just remember if you can
Power is a hologram
And every reality
Every little reality
Is rippin′ at the seams
How small
How small are you?
How small
How small are you?
It's hard not to know a single answer
When your eyes are closed
And all the signs are backwards
But isn′t that a sign that we don't need them anymore?
Half is just for show, at least that′s how it started
Can't separate it now that it's too distorted
But you know it′s okay to feel everything at the same time
Just close your eyes and think about the Milky Way
Just remember if you can
Power is a hologram
And every reality
Every little reality
Is rippin′ at the seams
Just remember if you can
Power is a hologram
And every reality
Every little reality
Is rippin' at the seams
I saw a beaded curtain in your window
Late, late last night
Otherworldly bits of plastic
Catchin′ all the purple light
In Tacocat's song "Hologram," the singer reflects on feelings of emotional numbness and cynicism. They feel like they used to be too sensitive, but now they have too much to say and don't know how to express it. The lyrics suggest that the world has become overly jaded and skeptical, and that people have lost touch with their emotions and their connection to the universe. The line "power is a hologram" is repeated throughout the song, reminding the listener that the social constructs and systems that we think give people power are not real, but instead are a kind of illusion like a hologram.
The singer finds hope in little things, like a beaded curtain catching the purple light shining through the window. They close their eyes and think about the Milky Way, which represents a sense of wonder and awe at the universe. The song suggests that even though the world might seem dark and cynical, there is still beauty and meaning to be found if we look for it.
Line by Line Meaning
Not so long ago, I used to feel like
In the recent past, I felt as though
I was too sensitive to even be alive
My emotional reactions were overwhelming and made it difficult for me to function
But maybe now it′s the opposite
However, I may now have gone too far in the other direction
Too much to say
I have so many emotions and thoughts that I struggle to express them all
So I don′t say anything
As a result, I often choose to keep silent
Is numb even a feeling?
I question whether feeling emotionally numb is truly feeling anything at all
I just wonder how anyone falls for this anymore
I am skeptical of the illusions that many people continue to believe in
Don′t take this the wrong way
I hope you won't be offended by what I am about to say
But you're doing this the wrong way
I believe that your approach is misguided
Just remember if you can
I want to remind you
Power is a hologram
The concept of power is an illusion
And every reality
All perceptions of the world
Every little reality
No matter how small or insignificant it may seem
Is rippin' at the seams
Is slowly beginning to unravel or fall apart
How did we come to be so jaded?
I wonder how we became so cynical and disillusioned
I guess it′s more that the rest has faded
Perhaps it's because other things we believed in have proven to be false
But little by little it′s getting bright again
However, I am starting to see glimmers of hope and optimism
I saw a beaded curtain in your window
I noticed a decoration in your home
Late, late last night
In the early hours of the morning
Otherworldly bits of plastic
Small pieces of synthetic material that seem almost otherworldly or surreal
Catchin' all the purple light
Absorbing the soft lighting in the room
I closed my eyes and thought about
I then closed my eyes and reflected on
The Milky Way
The vast and awe-inspiring galaxy that contains our solar system
How small
I realized how insignificant
How small are you?
Human beings truly are in the grand scheme of things
It's hard not to know a single answer
It can be challenging to arrive at a definitive conclusion
When your eyes are closed
Especially when one's perception is limited
And all the signs are backwards
And the clues or hints point in the opposite direction
But isn′t that a sign that we don't need them anymore?
However, I believe this may indicate that we no longer require these signs or guideposts in order to move forward
Half is just for show, at least that′s how it started
At one point, only a portion of what appears to be true was intended to be a ruse
Can't separate it now that it's too distorted
Now, it is impossible to separate reality from fiction because it has become too convoluted
But you know it's okay to feel everything at the same time
Despite all of this, it's acceptable to experience and process a range of emotions simultaneously
Just close your eyes and think about the Milky Way
Instead, focus on the larger picture and let yourself marvel at the wonder of the galaxy
Writer(s): Tacocat
Contributed by Jake L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@jessemoynan4332
[Verse 1]
Not so long ago, I used to feel like
I was too sensitive to be alive
But maybe now it's the opposite
Too much to say
So I don't say anything
Is numb even a feeling?
I just wonder how anyone falls for this anymore
Don't take this the wrong way
But you're doing this the wrong way
[Chorus]
Just remember if you can, power is a hologram
And every reality, every little reality is ripping at the seams
[Verse 2]
How did we come to be so jaded?
I guess it's more that the rest has faded
But little by little it's getting bright again
I saw a beaded curtain in your window late, late last night
Otherworldly bits of plastic catchin' all the purple light
I closed my eyes and thought about the Milky Way
[Chorus]
Just remember if you can, power is a hologram
And every reality, every little reality is ripping at the seams
[Post-Chorus]
How small, how small are you?
How small, how small are you?
[Verse 3]
It's hard not to know a single answer
When your eyes are closed and all the signs are backwards
But isn't that a sign that we don't need them anymore?
Half is just for show, at least that's how it started
Can't separate it now that it's too distorted
But you know it's okay to feel everything at the same time
Just close your eyes and think about the Milky Way
[Chorus]
Just remember if you can, power is a hologram
And every reality, every little reality is ripping at the seams
Just remember if you can, power is a hologram
And every reality, every little reality is ripping at the seams
[Outro]
I saw a beaded curtain in your window late, late last night
Otherworldly bits of plastic catchin' all the purple light
@MrVirlo
Greetings from France ! Let's build a bridge to here !
@jfvlopes
Oh wow! How come could I just discover this band now? Can't stop listening to it and this music especially, which was the entrance gate for so much good sound! Thanks! I organise a modest alternative music festival every semester (Solstício do Som) in the city of Petrópolis and I dream of having bands like yours playing and partying with us. It feels like we could be good friends as I, of course, dream of coming to Seattle one day, it is like Mecca for me in therms of sound. ; o)
@rskalski
Is anyone getting a serious Cranberries vibe from these guys? Thanks to Sound Opinions for turning me on to this awesome band.
@justinturner4681
They do like the Cranberries. "Dreams"
@PatrickS.Tomlinson
no.
@jessemoynan4332
[Verse 1]
Not so long ago, I used to feel like
I was too sensitive to be alive
But maybe now it's the opposite
Too much to say
So I don't say anything
Is numb even a feeling?
I just wonder how anyone falls for this anymore
Don't take this the wrong way
But you're doing this the wrong way
[Chorus]
Just remember if you can, power is a hologram
And every reality, every little reality is ripping at the seams
[Verse 2]
How did we come to be so jaded?
I guess it's more that the rest has faded
But little by little it's getting bright again
I saw a beaded curtain in your window late, late last night
Otherworldly bits of plastic catchin' all the purple light
I closed my eyes and thought about the Milky Way
[Chorus]
Just remember if you can, power is a hologram
And every reality, every little reality is ripping at the seams
[Post-Chorus]
How small, how small are you?
How small, how small are you?
[Verse 3]
It's hard not to know a single answer
When your eyes are closed and all the signs are backwards
But isn't that a sign that we don't need them anymore?
Half is just for show, at least that's how it started
Can't separate it now that it's too distorted
But you know it's okay to feel everything at the same time
Just close your eyes and think about the Milky Way
[Chorus]
Just remember if you can, power is a hologram
And every reality, every little reality is ripping at the seams
Just remember if you can, power is a hologram
And every reality, every little reality is ripping at the seams
[Outro]
I saw a beaded curtain in your window late, late last night
Otherworldly bits of plastic catchin' all the purple light
@justinturner4681
I feel like saying .. Um bop. Bop bop um bop. The whole song. 😏
@sctv8907
Lost Time is one of my favorite albums of all time
@moongloomable
TacocaT great song
@chirpchirp8716
Love this❤️ Wish there was an official video for Alien Girl!