It’s time. Paramore officially released their fourth studio album last week, titled Paramore.
Now, as a bit of history, I’ve been a fan of Paramore since you could download their HS performances of Here We Go Again and Hallelujah off of their website. Haley still had brown hair, wore a locket around her neck, and she and Josh were tag teaming guitar responsibilities. As a soccer player myself, I loved the fact that she sported samba classics and was clearly the frontman for the group. I loved them from that moment forward.
The band that released that released their CD last week is a different group. That’s my only disclaimer. Once Josh and Zach left, two INSANELY critical elements of the writing genius behind Paramore’s previous sound were no longer present. Both those guys brought music influences that I fell in love with as a fan and I was sorry to see them go. You can find Zach’s stuff here and Josh’s here. I’m not saying that Jeremy, Taylor and Hayley couldn’t make Paramore without the Farro Brothers, I’m simply saying it’s a different band.
That being said, I’m glad Hayley and Taylor have developed their own sound, and it’s something that has brought them such huge success. Just yesterday, they reached #1 on the billboard charts which I think is just fantastic. Major props! ..For those of you expecting the ol’ Paramore, though. You won’t get it. Taylor simply doesn’t write like Josh, nor do I necessarily think he should.
Of my opinion, the best, the VERY BEST song of the album is Ain’t It Fun. Xylophones? Church Choirs? Done subtly, mixed perfectly? Yes, please. Listen in below:
Another song that blew me was Part II which Hayley was able to re-use lyrics from Let The Flames Begin. If that was a collaboration from Taylor and Hayley to completely reinvent the song, they succeeded on so many levels. I was blown away. I also thought the use of the ukulele interludes to split the album up was so interesting. Hayley has been quoted in saying that without them, the album might have not have been able to be written and I’m glad they felt comfortable taking a risk. Whether it worked or not, they took it and it’s clear it’s paying off.
I’m still proud to still be a fan. Yes, it’s a different group, but for a first effort from a band trying to reinvent themselves after losing so much core identity, I think it’s a great start.
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