Press Play: Talulah Paisley

Talulah Paisley is the stage persona of musician Lyris Faron, known for her work with the riot grrrl group T-Rextasy. In June, Paisley released her album, Fool, an experimental concept album. According to Paisley, this was a long time coming. She says that Fool took around 5 years to record.

Fool is whimsical and childlike, yet it still manages to rock. The entire thing is almost theatrical. The first track of the album is “Entry of Talulah,” a slow orchestral piece that welcomes us into Paisley’s domain. This leads us into the high-energy “Penny,” which is one of my favorite songs from the album. It’s loose in some ways, which makes it feel carefree (sometimes the music cuts out completely, allowing Paisley’s voice to shine), but the construction itself is very tight and intentional. The song “Eccentric Man” directly mentions Lennon and McCartney, and I agree that this album feels very much like Sgt. Pepper. Just because it’s fun doesn’t mean it’s always happy, though. “Baby Ballerinas” is a slow track about growing older, and “Pool” is a heavy, almost operatic confessional track. Overall, this is a solid album from Paisley, and any listener can have a great time unpacking the story of each track. Other notable songs include “Talk to You,” “Slink,” and “Ballad of Boston.”

For more Talulah Paisley, check out her 2018 album Talulah Paisley’s Baby and the Fuzz. This album is perfect for anyone looking for an album like Fool, with a bit more edge. Baby and the Fuzz is more punk, while Fool is psychedelic. Listen to both albums together for the full experience!

Fool is out now on The People’s Coalition of Tandy and Ducky Collection. Talulah Paisley’s Baby and the Fuzz is out on Ducky Collection. For more information about Talulah Paisley, check out her Facebook page.