Well, the lack of attention given to the rest of the band
beyond Hayley finally hit its limit on the patience of the Farro brothers and
in 2011 they quit (it was well known that the band had almost broken up around
the time Brand New Eyes was released, so this was expected). This left the band
without the innovative musical minds of the two, particularly Josh, who with
Hayley wrote musically revolutionary songs such as Brighter, Hallelujah and
Ignorance. In 2011 the band released
their first set of songs without the Farro’s, an EP called Singles Club, which showed promise that the band’s sound wouldn’t
change drastically with such songs as Monster.
Then this past April, the band finally released their fourth self titled album, this time as a trio,
with session musicians featured on some parts to help with the sound. The
result is not like the bands previous albums. This time instead of keeping a
consistent punk sound through all seventeen (yes seventeen) songs, the band
showed a great deal of maturity in creating an album of various influences,
with practically no two tracks sounding the same.
The album starts off with Fast In My Car. It doesn’t take ten seconds to realize that there
is something different. The song has a good heavy beat and guitar sound, but
adds some electronic elements that have never been heard on a Paramore song.
Thankfully the electronic effects don’t overcome the song, leaving it a great fun
song, similar to past songs like That’s
What You Get.
The first single released from the album is Now. Though the song has apparently
come with acclaim, a number of people I’ve spoken to, as well as I myself did
not initially like the song. The song is good but not great. I just had to
remind these people what I have said in many of my past reviews; bands as of
late have NOT been releasing the best song on their album as the first single. The
more you listen to the song the more it grows on you. It has a strong message
and some powerful parts, but it is a drastic change from past Paramore songs,
most similarly comparable to a song like Decode,
just a little more intense.
The second, and as of yet last single released from the album
is Still Into You; a rather happy
sounding love song, a change from the usual gloomy sound that the band usually
incorporates to their music. This is one of a few slower songs on the album. Daydreaming is among one of the others.
This song in particular sounds very much like past Paramore songs with the slightly
unhappy sound of Hayley’s voice and the undeniable rock beat that is heard in
the background. Last Hope, much like
Daydreaming, has a familiar Paramore
sound yet you can tell there is definite maturity, particularly in how it starts
off very soft and picks up, but still remains a soft heartfelt song all the way
through.
Grow Up is another
example of the different mix up of influences featured on the album. The song
has some hip-hop and some electronic influence to its sound. The music is
bright and fun while the lyrics aren’t. It gives a late 90’s pop/alternative
feel, similar to that of Sugar Ray,
which some fans of the band might not get, but luckily it still as a bit of a
Paramore sound to it. Ain’t It Fun
also has some funk and soul influence to it, making it almost as different as
Grow Up, only this time the song sounds more like a Paramore song, with an
upbeat guitar riff and drum beat, and Hayley singing her teasing style in the
songs chorus.
Some of the songs on the album do sound through and through
like the Paramore we used to know in the past. Part II for instance, true to its name is in fact a sequel, to the
song Let The Flames Begin from the Riot! Album. This song features very
similar yet slightly tweaked lyrics, but musically you’d never be able to tell
that this wasn’t the same band that released any of the previous albums. Taylor
York really does find his inner Josh Farro in his guitar playing for this song.
Anklebiters has a good familiar fun
Paramore feeling to it, but with a bit of a newer sound, sort of blending in
both the old and new elements of the band. Proof
and Be Alone are very much like an
older song by the band, with Be Alone sounding the most like older Paramore
compared to any other song on the album.
One sign of the maturing song writing of the bands is found
in the songs Hate To See Your Heart
Break and [One Of Those] Crazy Girls,
both my personal favourites and both have a very old fashioned punk sound,
blending 50’s and 60’s doo-wop similar to how The Ramones used to do it however these songs seem to be done in a
more in a Green Day style; kind of
in ballad form rather than fast and quick.
The album ends off with Future.
With this song clocking in at 7:53, it is the longest song the band has ever
recorded (in fact, six of the songs on this album make up for the six longest
songs the band has ever recorded). The song sounds more like a grunge song. It
starts off acoustically and sounding suspiciously like it was recorded on analog.
As the song gets heavier (and the singing stops), the guitars get more and more
sludgy. The song is merely just a track to end off the album, but still an
effective one. It even does the old trick of sounding like its finished by
having the sound fade, and then two seconds later when you’re about to turn the
song off, the volume starts to rise again for another two minutes.
Paramore has
officially shown the world that they are serious musicians. They are no longer
kids playing adult singing about childish problems, they are adults and write
music like adults that still sounds fun, but also still sounds serious. This
album is a major turning point for the band, getting acclaim from everywhere. Hayley’s
voice is in absolutely fine form and Taylor York has really broken out of his
shell having a writing credit on every single song this time around, not having
to play behind Josh Farro any longer. It is, however, very different from past
albums, so existing fans of the band will have to have an open mind before
listening to the album.
ALBUM HIGHLIGHT
“Daydreaming” – For one simple reason,
this song would best exemplify the crossover between old Paramore music and
this album. Not to mention it is a fantastic song all around. It flip from
being a kind hearted soft song to picking up to a more than exceptional level
for its chorus, which is something done in many past Paramore songs. It maintains
a fun and free feeling throughout the song, almost as though it is the soundtrack
to a day dream.
FINAL RATING
9 (Out of 10)
Track List:
1.
|
"Fast in My Car"
|
3:42
|
2.
|
"Now"
|
4:07
|
3.
|
"Grow Up"
|
3:50
|
4.
|
"Daydreaming"
|
4:31
|
5.
|
"Interlude: Moving On"
|
1:30
|
6.
|
"Ain't It Fun"
|
4:56
|
7.
|
"Part II"
|
4:41
|
8.
|
"Last Hope"
|
5:09
|
9.
|
"Still Into You"
|
3:36
|
10.
|
"Anklebiters"
|
2:17
|
11.
|
"Interlude: Holiday"
|
1:09
|
12.
|
"Proof"
|
3:15
|
13.
|
"Hate to See Your Heart Break"
|
5:09
|
14.
|
"(One of Those) Crazy Girls"
|
3:32
|
15.
|
"Interlude: I'm Not Angry Anymore"
|
0:52
|
16.
|
"Be Alone"
|
3:40
|
17.
|
"Future"
|
7:52
|
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