What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
That can certainly be seen as true for Paramore. The band have had their ups and downs over
the last couple of years, but now they’re back and better than ever. The reason?
No matter who plays drums and guitar, Paramore is Hayley Williams. As she
grows as a singer and songwriter, so too does the band grow from strength to
strength.
With this, the band’s self-titled fourth album, Paramore are
making a fresh start. No longer are they
an emo punk band with pop success, but a pop band who happen to make their
music on guitars; no longer are they optimistic pessimists wallowing in misery
business, instead they’re all grown up. With
No Doubt being an obvious comparison and production coming from pop producer
Justin Meldal-Johnsen (most recently working with Tegan & Sara and M83),
the songs are catchier than ever. As
track six declares, “ain’t it fun?”.
The fun begins immediately with opener Fast In My Car – a giddy rush of a pop song as Williams sings “we’re
driving fast in my car…tonight we want to have fun”. It’s also a song that acknowledges that the
band have moved on: “we aren’t looking backward, we won’t try raising the dead”. ‘Paramore’ is a new beginning, a high-tempo
adrenaline rush. It’s a theme that incessantly continues throughout the album, such as in the catchy chorus of Grow Up – “some of us have to grow up sometimes
and so, if I have to, I’m gonna leave you behind”.
Judging by the lyrics, current single Still Into You should be a sickly love song (like the video below), but Williams’ punk
vocals and the staccato guitar playing give the track a welcome rock edge. Amongst the punky, gusto performances of ‘Paramore’
at large, it feels sweetly intimate. Part II features new-wave guitar lines
in the verses, proving a willingness to break from the norm that permeates the
album, before lurching into a typically huge chorus. Ain’t
It Fun, however, marks the pinnacle not only of the album but quite
possibly of the band’s whole output.
Funk guitar lines dappled with pop synths, hooky chorus, hand-clap
breakdown and gospel sing-along finale (“don’t go crying, to your mama”): it’s
the sort of fan favourite song played at the end of a stadium tour guaranteed
to leave you grinning from ear to ear.
As a result the rest of the album, though still solid, doesn’t
quite hit the same highs. Despite some
upbeat tracks like Proof or Be Alone, the second half of the album
sags with the midtempo [One of Those]
Crazy Girls and ballad Hate To See
Your Heart Break. And throughout the
album the pop choruses are interrupted by ukulele interludes that feel
unnecessary. The more you sing "I’m not angry anymore", the more it will be questioned.
As a fresh start for the band, ‘Paramore’ is a massive pop
success. It does have its fair share of
lulls, but these are matched by some incredible highs that will undoubtedly put
a smile on your face – Ain’t It Fun especially. Welcome back Williams and co.
4/5
Gizzle’s Choice:
* Ain’t It Fun
* Part II
* Still Into You
Listen: 'Paramore' is available now.
Watch: Paramore are touring the States and Europe throughout the summer, info on their website.
Listen: 'Paramore' is available now.
Watch: Paramore are touring the States and Europe throughout the summer, info on their website.
