Post by Josh McLaughlin on Apr 8, 2013 1:22:42 GMT -5
Paramore: Hayley Williams, Taylor York and Jeremy Davis
Label: Fueled By Ramen
Producer: Justin Meldal-Johnsen
Released: April 5th, 2013
In the three-plus years since reaching new heights as a band with the acclaimed and hit album "Brand New Eyes", Paramore sure have gone through a lot of change. A glorious implosion led to founding members Zac and Josh Farro leaving the band as well as leaving fans wondering about the future of Paramore. But all the worrying is swept away with the release of their long-awaited self-titled album, as Paramore rise from the ashes like a flaming phoenix hell-bent on showing the music world that they have so much more to offer.
The album's opening song, "Fast In My Car" immediately highlights the change within the band as it comes out with a very electronically-charged alternative rock sound, very distant from previous albums. The beat is catchy and above all else, unique. It is certainly a departure from the pop-punk sound that Paramore mastered over the course of their previous three studio albums and may take some getting used to for fans of the band. Having said this, the song still has the exciting, youthful spirit that embodies the band and catchy hooks abound. To quote an older song of theirs, the album may yet show that "the change is good".
The album's lead single"Now" immediately bursts into an alternative pop-punk hook where Hayley Williams shows off her flair and charisma as a front-woman. When I first heard the song, I was undecided on whether I liked it or not, but after multiple listens, it really grew on me, to the point that it's one of my favourites of the album. Having seen them live just last month, I can also attest that the song gels perfectly into their setlist and even shone as a standout during the show. Any reserved feelings I had for the song at first are well and truely gone. Heavy, fast, funky and rocking. This is Paramore. For those who claimed the band was over with the departure of the Farro brothers, Williams sums it up in this song with the lyrics "there's a time and a place to die, but this ain't it"!
"Grow Up" is another quirky, funky song that bleeds heart and soul. The chorus is undeniably catchy and for what the band has lost in heaviness, they have gained in character. A definite highlight of the album, in my eyes. It's obvious so far in the album's positivity that the band were in a much better headspace creating this album than they were creating "Brand New Eyes". "Daydreaming" starts of with a guitar build up that reminds me of the style shown by The Killers. Hayley's vocals bleed emotion and synthesizers in the background give the song a great depth. The chorus mixes catchy vocal hooks with a fantastic instrumental build up that explodes in the second half of the chorus. I can't help but feel happy listening to the songs far. Their positivity is infectious.
The first of three interludes titled "Moving On" follows, leaving me rather shocked on a first listen. Paramore? Ukulele? Did I say that right? Despite the initial shock, I must say, the song is fantastic! It's catchy, heart-felt and a breath of fresh air in a relatively stale and unoriginal pop-punk scene. "Ain't It Fun" booms with energy with a guitar led verse moving into a synth-vocal hook that has been stuck in my head for days. The surprising addition of a full choir on the bridge of the song cements the idea that the band were looking to make a soulful and meaningful album. In my eyes, the fully succeeded thus far. A fantastic song, and undoubtedly another of the highlights of the album for me.
The next song is an interesting one, being a sequel to their song "Let The Flames Begin" from the album "Riot!". Aptly titled "Part II" the song starts off with a very similar guitar-line to the first part, but with the rhythm section reflecting the band's modified stylings. Hayley Williams shines here, and fans of their old style should appreciate this song. The lyrics, the punk pacing and the hard-hitting chorus should all resonate to old-school Paramore fans who may be undecided on the band's new direction. "Last Hope" is a melancholy ballad that offers four chords, a synthesizer and pain-filled vocals. It's nice to hear a simple, straight forward song. The song keeps building and building, becoming more and more optimistic as it goes on. I quite enjoy it.
The second single from the album "Still Into You" is a song that comes from the heart. It's incredibly refreshing to hear a love song that shows originality. The song has heart and honestly doesn't sound like any love song I've heard before. The instruments are funky, the band is tight, and Hayley Williams bleeds charisma. The lyrics in this song really resonate to me. It's a great track. The first punk song of the album follows with "Anklebiters", combining The Killers-esque synths with classic Paramore happy-aggression. I can hear this song rocking out live. It's full of energy, catchy and much like "Part II", it should please classic Paramore fans.
The second ukulele interlude follows with "Holiday", a song about growing up, a theme that follows throughout the entire piece. This song sounds like it could have been made 50 years ago, while still holding a modern touch. "Proof" opens with chugging guitars and an extremely tight rhythm section which builds up towards a catchy pop-punk chorus. It's clear that the band wanted to heavily expand their sound, but without ignoring their roots. "Hate To See Your Heart Break" highlights the diversity of sound the band has, as well as the extreme vocal talents of Hayley Williams. The song is touching and emotive, though maybe not to the same level as "Misguided Ghosts" from their previous release.
"(One Of Those) Crazy Girls" is a funky ballad. I'm not sure what styling I'd put it in, but it has hints of pop, hints of punk, hints of reggae. I believe I can even hear a cowbell in the intro. Gotta love cowbell. The song builds up into a No Doubt-esque pop-punk-ska song. It's not a highlight of the album for me, but it's a solid track. One key aspect of it that I love is that it features, I believe, the first guitar solo of the entire album. The third and final interlude follows, named "I'm Not Angry Anymore" and it is much like the last two. They are a great way to break the album up.
"Be Alone" is a song that shows a lot of their classic sound. It's fast-paced, energetic and has a youthful charm. I really enjoy the song, and it would fit right into the previous album while still showing the greater depth of their new material. The last track of the (extremely long) album is "Future", starting out mellow with moody guitar and a audio overlay. Hayley Williams' voice once again shows it's versatility, sounding sorrowful and solemn. The lyrics are insightful and the instruments are very interesting. This song shows as much mood and emotion as the band ever have before.
Musically, the album is quite easily the best the band has EVER done before. Intricate rhythms combined with funky, off-beat guitars and the addition of synthesizers, ukuleles, cowbells, violins and even a choir show that the band has undoubtedly grown as well as grown up. There are hints of old Paramore's youthful energy, but mostly the album progresses to a new, more alternative sound. There are still pop-punk/punk-rock songs on the album, but it is unquestionably softer than their previous albums. For fans expecting something heavier and punkier (if that wasn't a word, it is now), the album may fall short. For a fan with an open mind and a taste for something out-of-the-box, the album shines. The band have entered a new era, and although unsure at first, I now have complete faith in their song-writing direction without the Farro brothers. A very solid, highly-original album, this self-titled release stands on its own two feet in an often crowded, uninspired genre.
8.5/10
By Josh McLaughlin