Three and half years after brand new eyes and a whole lot of drama left people questioning the future of Paramore, but really, there was no need, as if their self-titled album is anything to go by Paramore 2.0 is here to stay. After their Singles Club releases at the end of 2011, the band hid away for much of last year to work on the seventeen track full length that pushed their boundaries to the point that there weren't any left and, ironically, produced a more comfortable Paramore. Boasting a broad range of exceptional musical ability from the trio that shows them at their very best, the album is unpredictable, experimental and full of surprises, but, ultimately, feels like Paramore at the highest possible standard.
The writing team of Hayley Williams and Taylor York has proven to be the best yet.
Shining musically, Taylor takes front seat on the album with guitar solo's that take fantastic songs and make them into something epic, and accompanied by Jeremy Davis who destroyed any limits bass on previous Paramore albums may have had, if the album had turned out to be seventeen instrumentals, I would not have complained. But, Hayley came back too giving it her absolute all and after so many years of Paramore you'd think that we had heard the best of Hayley's vocals but apparently that wasn't the case. With healthier sounding matured vocals, she sings us through the album playing around with singing styles and flaunting notes and tones we were yet to hear. Lyrically the album ventures further into the world and instead of writing angry songs there is the literal opposite with one of the three interludes "I'm Not Angry Anymore"and with several love songs it's apparent the band are in a better place.
Their signature sound is still in there, more notable on some tracks than others, but with their new sound a stronger, honest and matured Paramore has risen from negativity and are ready for a positive future. Those still clinging to the shreds of Paramore's past and unwilling to accept any change need to "Grow Up" and embrace this album with an open mind as there is no better feeling than growing with a band, which essentially this album will prove to anyone who is ready to listen.
***
Opening track, "Fast In My Car" kicks off the album with a punchy beat and hella lot of attitude musically, vocally and lyrically highlighting the previous struggles and the fact they overcome them. The line "already proved we can tough it out, and we get along so sweetly" brings this home, along with lead single "Now" and poppy "Grow Up" whose chorus declares "some of us have to grow up sometimes, and so, if I have to i'm gonna leave you behind". With the lyrics to the bridge being "we get along for the most part, me and reality" it seems fitting that the next track is "Daydreaming" which between the far-away sound of the vocals and up beat instrumentals will float around your subconscious with a dream-esque vibe, and boy, are those harmonies, "we're only half alive", dreamy.
Their signature sound is still in there, more notable on some tracks than others, but with their new sound a stronger, honest and matured Paramore has risen from negativity and are ready for a positive future. Those still clinging to the shreds of Paramore's past and unwilling to accept any change need to "Grow Up" and embrace this album with an open mind as there is no better feeling than growing with a band, which essentially this album will prove to anyone who is ready to listen.
***
Opening track, "Fast In My Car" kicks off the album with a punchy beat and hella lot of attitude musically, vocally and lyrically highlighting the previous struggles and the fact they overcome them. The line "already proved we can tough it out, and we get along so sweetly" brings this home, along with lead single "Now" and poppy "Grow Up" whose chorus declares "some of us have to grow up sometimes, and so, if I have to i'm gonna leave you behind". With the lyrics to the bridge being "we get along for the most part, me and reality" it seems fitting that the next track is "Daydreaming" which between the far-away sound of the vocals and up beat instrumentals will float around your subconscious with a dream-esque vibe, and boy, are those harmonies, "we're only half alive", dreamy.
First of the interludes, "Moving On", is our first glimpse of Paramore's foray into folk. Country vocals, a ukulele and honest lyrics to the point of brutal. It's marvelous. Following on is the infectious "Ain't It Fun" and if funky soul gospel music wasn't your thing before then it sure as hell will be after a few listens to this and good luck getting rid of the grin on your face.
"Let The Flames Begin" now has a twin in the form of dark "Part II". Similar guitars, but with electro overtones, the song opens calmly with "what a shame, what a shame we all remain such fragile broken things" but it is the calm before the storm as the sad song explodes in all aspects on the chorus and for one of the stand out instrumentals that leads into what we all thought was the "Monster" outro. The saddened - and yet still somehow hopeful - tone carries on to "Last Hope" with fragile vocals, more harmonies to die for and delicious gang vocals. The next single "Still Into You" perfectly describes how I feel about Paramore, "after all this time i'm still into you" and grungy follow up track "Anklebiters" contrasts brilliantly with the pop love song.
Something about the second interlude "Holiday" just screams Jeremy and so the fact that he's been cited as one of the writers is no surprise. Upbeat "Proof" will cheer you up enough that when it gets to "Hate To See Your Heart Break" it will feel like a knife stabbing you repeatedly and the fact Hayley wrote this for Taylor will only add to your pain. Slow, heart-breaking and utterly raw Hayley's vocals sparkle as she croons along with an orchestral arrangement to the simple yet beautiful musical outro. Allowing us to recover "(One Of Those) Crazy Girls" is fun and tells the tale of an overly obsessed girlfriend to music that seems reminiscent of salsa in places.
The last interlude "I'm Not Angry Anymore" is lyrically genius, "i'm not bitter anymore i'm syrupy sweet, i'll rot your teeth down to the core", and the smiles on their faces can be heard through the song making it feel personal on a whole other level. The keyboard on the chorus of "Be Alone" is fast becoming one of my favourite things along with the closing track "Future" which starts with conversation, again adding to the personal feel to the album, before simple quiet music and vocals begin (I can't be the only person who was immediately reminded of "Plane Crash Dreams"). At nearly eight minutes long you know that something is going to change and on this song, which is like jumping into the darkest part of the trio's minds, the change comes in the form of the most insane sounding instrumental. The acoustics build and build before being replaced by epic electronic guitars and heavy drums that increase in volume, disappear and then come back twice as hard which will leave you sitting there exclaiming what just happened for a long time before you hit the repeat button to be sure you heard it right.
***
Paramore is rock and funk and folk and pop and just about everything in between.
Paramore is dark yet hopeful.
It is the same and different.
It is grown up.
It is Paramore.
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