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.
Talk
Tacocat Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Stay true, true to your phone
Together, together, alone
Stay true, true to your phone
But I wanna talk
Talk until the neighbors knock
And I wanna move
‘Cause I wanna dance, unwind the universe
‘Cause I wanna talk, talk until my throat hurts
Come and sit next to me, faces lit by a screen
What does it mean inside, outside reality?
I want in real life, turned on the Christmas lights
And put on a song, one that's kind of fast and kind of long
‘Cause I wanna dance, unwind the universe
‘Cause I wanna talk, talk until my throat hurts
Together, together, alone
Stay true, true to your phone
Together, together, alone
Stay true, true to your phone
But I wanna talk
Talk until the neighbors knock
Cause I wanna move, move, move
Move the furniture around the living room
‘Cause I wanna dance, unwind the universe
‘Cause I wanna talk, talk until my throat hurts
‘Cause I wanna dance, unwind the universe
‘Cause I wanna talk, talk until my throat hurts
The lyrics of Tacocat's "Talk" explore themes of isolation and disconnection in the digital age. The lines "Together, together, alone" and "Stay true, true to your phone" suggest a sense of togetherness through technology, but also a certain degree of loneliness that comes with relying on our devices for communication. The singer expresses a desire to break free from this isolation and connect with others face-to-face, as seen in the lines "Come and sit next to me, faces lit by a screen / What does it mean inside, outside reality?"
The lines "And put on a song, one that's kind of fast and kind of long / 'Cause I wanna dance, unwind the universe" reflect a longing for physical expression and release. The idea of "unwinding the universe" suggests a desire to let go of technology and engage with the world on a deeper level. The repetition of the chorus, particularly the line "Talk until my throat hurts," emphasizes the need for genuine connection and conversation, rather than superficial interactions through screens.
Overall, "Talk" is a commentary on the ways in which technology can both connect and isolate us, and the importance of maintaining real, human connections in our increasingly digital world.
Line by Line Meaning
Together, together, alone
Despite being surrounded by people, we often feel alone and isolated.
Stay true, true to your phone
We are often more invested in our phones and virtual relationships than our real-life ones.
But I wanna talk
Despite our reliance on technology, we crave genuine human interaction.
Talk until the neighbors knock
We long for deep conversations that last long into the night, even if it may disturb those around us.
And I wanna move
We crave change and excitement in our lives.
Move the furniture around the living room
We want to shake things up and create a new atmosphere in our familiar spaces.
‘Cause I wanna dance, unwind the universe
We seek release and freedom through movement and expression.
Come and sit next to me, faces lit by a screen
Despite being physically near each other, our interactions are often dominated by technology and screens.
What does it mean inside, outside reality?
We question the value and authenticity of our virtual relationships and their impact on our real lives.
I want in real life, turned on the Christmas lights
We crave authentic, in-person experiences and human connection.
And put on a song, one that's kind of fast and kind of long
We want to create a joyful, lively atmosphere during our in-person interactions.
Together, together, alone
We are often physically together but emotionally alone.
Stay true, true to your phone
Despite our longing for genuine human interaction, our addiction to technology often prevails.
Cause I wanna move, move, move
Our desire for change and excitement persists.
‘Cause I wanna talk, talk until my throat hurts
We yearn for deep and meaningful conversations that last for hours and leave us feeling fulfilled.
‘Cause I wanna dance, unwind the universe
We continue to seek release and freedom through movement and expression.
‘Cause I wanna talk, talk until my throat hurts
Our craving for genuine human connection and deep conversations is insatiable.
Contributed by Christopher E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Stephen Hill
This really might be your best song yet. There's something really melancholy and beautiful here.
Bunnula TV
Definitely my favorite song of theirs.
JP Tyson
I dont know but I love listening this song at midnight or driving with the city lights
swhall72
Best band in long time, love this song.
Wolfgang 644
Most dedinetely agree🤘💜💯
nizhoni
i got a chance to see them in seattle in 2016. i was 13, though and my dad wouldnt let me smh. love you tacocat.
robfayder
🔥❤️I LOVE TACOCAT!!!! THEY ROCK!!!!❤️🔥
Hilda Mendoza
Beautiful voice, great band
Daniel Tittyfish
god i love them so
the new album is sooooo fucking great.....you should buy it!! one of the few bands now-a-days that deserves your money
Monstaar Media
Great song. Plus, I love the singer's teeth. They are mesmerizing.