Paramore - Paramore (2013)
I think it's kinda beautiful how an album can take you back to the first time that you listened to it, or even remind you of where you were. Was I in a car full of friends, blaring the joyous opening "Fast in My Car"? Was I on a date when the sugary-sweet "Still Into You" came on at just the right time? Or was I perhaps close to ending it all when the beautiful and epic "Last Hope" came on and made me realize that it was all going to be okay? Nah, I was actually just sitting on my ass while playing "LEGO Batman 2: DC Super Heroes" on a boring afternoon. That's all. Truth be told, even though that game is good.. I'd say that this album is much more fun. See, whereas that game is full of predictable (but fun, don't get me wrong) gameplay, this album is just so varied and out there to the point where the album might as well be a concept album based around an episode of "The Twilight Zone" where the protagonist is constantly switching through radio stations, different genres and all, but no matter what radio station he lands on, Hayley Williams is the one singing the song. That is to say that anyone who still jerks off to "Riot!" and can't accept that a band can change should probably jump ship now. By all means, old Paramore was angsty and almost enjoyed its own pain, but on this album, we see a much more adult Paramore that still has its physical and mental scars, but has found itself in a much better place in life.
Sure, this is their first full-length studio album since the departure of Josh and Zac Farro (guitarist and drummer, respectively) leading just vocalist Hayley Williams, bassist Jeremy Davis, and guitarist Taylor York, but this time around, they recruited (as a studio musician, not full-time, sadly enough) the excellent drummer Ilan Rubin, who, if you didn't know, has also served as the drummer for Angels & Airwaves, Lostprophets, and most interestingly enough, Nine Inch Nails. Rest assured that the dude fuckin' kills at drums and that anyone who misses Zac Farro's skills behind the kit shouldn't even worry, because the percussive section of Paramore is being taken care of by a real pro, and he generally just works fuckin' great with Jeremy Davis' funky-ass basslines. While I'm talking about all of this, just to get it out of the way.. I don't get how anyone can hate this record and then blame it on the departure of the Farro brothers, because if you listen to "Brand New Eyes", you could tell with several songs on that record that the band was going to head in a direction like this, but whatever, you gotta hate on something all the time, right? Makes ya feel alive, gets the fluids goin'.
This album is pretty fuckin' great and I ain't gonna take no GODDAMN FUCKIN' SHIT from any landlubber that says otherwise. You really get a little bit of everything on this album, from Paramore embracing poppier music, ukelele tunes, and even (I fucking shit you not) a massive, beautiful post-rock/shoegaze jam at the end. Don't believe me? Look up "Future" and shit yourself. This album is so exciting to show people that I almost feel like I've spoiled part of it in this review, but dammit, this album really is one you should just listen to instead of reading about. It's a fun, light-hearted experience that, y'know, sure, won't exactly challenge you immensely musically, but is a collection of varied killer sounds to have blaring through your car stereo, as you make even the most mundane of trips in your car, reminding you that the weekend's coming up, and that your youthful "prime" isn't gone just yet. This album, on the musical side of things, is really well-thought out and textured (definitely a headphones album if you want the full experience, you'll find little hidden details in even the simplest songs), and when you couple that with Hayley Williams' huge and beautiful voice.. Yeah, it's some really fucking great stuff. It's hard to make me happy, but this album is one of those things that does. Fuck what your friends or music critics say, just have some fun for once in your life, dude.
9/10
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Feel free to check out the song previews/buy this album using my Amazon Associate link!
