The Paranoyds
Talk Talk Talk
THIRD MAN
When I first heard The Paranoyds a little over a year ago, I was immediately inspired. To me, the group are like new-age riot grrrls (and guy)—they bring a political perspective to their music that one may think would contrast with the upbeat tunes. But on the contrary, the political voice adds an inspirational sense of urgency while still making their music enjoyable. On their sophomore album Talk Talk Talk, they continue their fight for what’s right, but guarantee that us listeners continue to have a great time.
On Talk Talk Talk, The Paranoyds’ sarcastic tone proves to be a major highlight. This really stood out to me on the track “Single Origin Experience” in which the band struggles with the implications of living in America due to how our society functions. “Nihilism bobbleheads / Misogynists, but working on it,” they sing on the track. “American means shaking hands and stealing land / Modern horror is unmotivated.” The lyrics are not only quick-witted, but also clearly spelled-out; there’s a moment of sarcasm, but then they begin to describe this country in a way that, no matter how aware or angry one is about the state of the nation, it’s still jarring. It’s a joy to hear them lay it out.
Throughout the album, the theme of the country’s future remains a constant. In “Single Origin Experience” they sing, “The future is not so clean.” This idea builds further in their song “LA 2032,” where they attempt to predict the future of their hometown, describing going from “clean” to “dirty” while saying that they still “love this place.” Talk Talk Talk has a futuristic feel, as seen on the Devo-indebted cover with the members—all wearing tinfoil hats—staring out into the sky. Contrasting with that playful cover, the album struggles with the implications of the future and how the present will affect us in 10 years.
Another standout song on the album is “Freak Out,” the track that ties The Paranoyds’ first album Carnage Bargain into Talk Talk Talk. Their sardonic but honest opinions really shine through in this song as they continue a major theme from their last album: self-love. It does a great job of making The Paranoyds’ small output feel cohesive, and, perhaps more importantly, it gives the listeners a reminder that they’re more than enough.
