Album Review - Lissy Trullie: Lissy Trullie

Lissy Trullie
Lissy Trullie
Rating: Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It

Singer-songwriter/model Lissy Trullie (nee Elizabeth "Lizzy" McChesney) came to light in 2009 with her well-received EP Self-Taught Learner, and then took her time working on her full-length debut, Lissy Trullie. Initially working with former Suede guitarist Bernard Butler, Lissy ended up recording the album with the help of producers John Hill and Dave Sitek of TV on the Radio. Four years is an eternity in the music world, and what might have been a revelation back in 2009 can be a misfire in 2012. Lissy Trullie is a solid alt-rock record that hits all the right notes but somehow seems off, and well, dated at times. More troublesome is that from listening to the record you really don't hear who Lissy Trullie is; instead, you get a good approximation of who Lissie Trullie's influences are, and that is about it. Every so often, a track pops out and sounds a little different, and those glimpses, while fleeting, shed a little light on who exactly this woman is. But as it stands, Lissy Trullie is merely a competent mix of tracks that echo the work of bands like The Pretenders, PJ Harvey, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Bloc Party, Franz Ferdinand, and any post-punk/new wave act from the 80s, and works well in a nostalgic sense but stubbornly refuses at times to burst out of its carefully produced shell.

Initially, the album starts out promisingly with the rise and fall of "Rules We Obey" which begins softly with delicate guitar strums and whispered drum work, adding a mix of horns and sweeping synths at the end to ballast the strong vocal turn from Trullie.

Lissy Trullie - Lissy Trullie by Wichita Recordings

"It's Only You, Isn't It" carries a bit of swagger in its pop-punk/ska referencing bones, but doesn't transcend its Sinead O'Connor/PJ Harvey-esque sound.



Which is a game within the record of spot the influence. From the Pretenders-lite of "Caring,"

Lissy Trullie - Lissy Trullie by Wichita Recordings

the chugging Cure-isms of "I Know Where You Sleep,"

Lissy Trullie - Lissy Trullie by Wichita Recordings

or snarling guitar-driven Primitives sounding "X Red."

Lissy Trullie - Lissy Trullie by Wichita Recordings

What drives me crazy about the record is that there are plenty of moments where you get who she is, and want her to throw off the shackles of her influences and really shine as an artist. The drony, druggy "Madeline" is a stunning slow-burner featuring a beautiful vocal turn which is matched by the fuzzed out guitars and subtle electronics, which hold the song in a perfect frame of tension.

Lissy Trullie - Lissy Trullie by Wichita Recordings

"Glass Mountains" also dials things down, allowing a simple drum program shoulder a ringing guitar line, which then erupts at the chorus in a haze of guitar effects.

Lissy Trullie - Lissy Trullie by Wichita Recordings

"Spit You Out" is a swirling, anthemic rocker which shades the edges with horns and haunting organ.

Lissy Trullie - Lissy Trullie by Wichita Recordings

It's these moments that make me like this album more than I should; I just get frustrated when the songs take shortcuts and lean too heavily on nostalgia, without adding anything personal to the mix. Lissy Trullie hits all the right notes for me from a sound perspective but never truly comes alive in the end. It's a promising debut muddled by lack of focus and an indistinct personality.

Rating Scale:

Chilfos: masterpiece; coolest thing I've heard in ages.

Woof Daddy: excellent; just a hair away from being a masterpiece.

Grrrr: very good; will definitely be considered for my top releases of the year.

Yeah Daddy Make Me Want It: good; definitely invites further listens and piques one's interest for more material.

Meh: not horrible, but certainly not great; could have either been polished, trimmed, or re-thought.

Jeez Lady: what the hell happened? Just plain bad. They should hang their heads in shame and be forced to listen to Lady Gaga ad nauseam as penance.

Tragicistani: so bad, armed villagers with pitchforks and torches should run the artist out of the country for inflicting this abomination on the human race.