Paramore Albums (4)
'Brand New Eyes'
Release Date 9/29/2009
Tracks 11
Label Fueled by Ramen
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What The Critics Say
With 2007's Riot!, Paramore proved that pop hooks and a killer set of pipes can still vault a band to platinum status, economic downturn be damned. Success comes with a price, though, and Paramore struggled as media outlets reserved most of their coverage for Hayley Williams, deemed by many to be the group's leader. Rather than calling it quits, the musicians sought therapy in the studio, where tales of self-doubt and frustration were captured on tape by mega-producer Rob Cavallo. The anthemic, celebratory songs that made Riot! so appealing were largely absent, but the band found a new way to rock during those sessions, prizing catharsis and nuanced arrangements above the hooks of albums past. Released in late 2009, Brand New Eyes presents Paramore as a stronger, leaner, and altogether more consistent band. "Careful" and "Ignorance" are two of the group's most aggressive tunes to date, and the rest of the disc follows suit, with the guitar interplay of Josh Farro and Taylor York (who makes his studio debut here, having joined the lineup after Riot! was recorded) receiving much of the spotlight. Drummer Zac Farro anchors the band with a flurry of snare hits and cymbal crashes, but the true MVP is none other than Ms. Williams, who sings with all the gusto of an angsty, 21st century Ann Wilson. She's fun, fiery, and altogether fantastic, a pint-sized powerhouse who attacks everyone from holier-than-thou naysayers ("Playing God") to egocentric space cadets ("Brick by Boring Brick"). Williams also tones down the sonic assault whenever it's appropriate, offering a beautifully understated vocal during the album's centerpiece ballad, "The Only Exception," and championing the band's longevity during songs like "Where the Lines Overlap" and "Looking Up." "God knows the world doesn't need another band," she sings during the latter track, "but what a waste it would have been...I can't believe we almost hung it up. We're just getting started." Riot! explored similar thoughts with its closing track, "Born for This," but "Looking Up" is made all the more convincing by the band's recent turmoil. Accordingly, Brand New Eyes is the band's most credible album to date, a blend of melody and muscle that packs a punch in spite of its tumultuous origin. ~ Andrew Leahey, All Music Guide
'Live in the UK 2008'
Release Date 1/29/2008
Tracks 14
Label Fueled by Ramen
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What The Critics Say
Move over, Avril; there's a new gun in town. And even though Paramore's lead singer Hayley Williams is a few years younger than her predecessor, she has a way bigger set of vocal pipes. Lavigne and Williams share a similar register, but Williams belts it out with way more control and authority. She may even be more of a respectable pop idol since her image isn't manufactured to be rebellious and angst-ridden; instead, Williams appears to be a genuinely sweet girl, bottling up a huge voice and a heart full of lost loves. On 2008's Riot!, she fills the majority of her punk-pop tales with emo angst and declarations of boy woes. Contrived as this may sound, her lyrics feel authentic and representative of actual teenage puppy love, where a breakup feels like the end of the world. Filled with crossover potential, the songs are consistant and zippy with catchy hooks in the vein of Boys Like Girls fronted by a young Shirley Manson. Meanwhile, the production is sparkling and heavily compressed due to the golden hands of David Bendeth, but these ultra-clean sonics also tend to cramp up the band -- clouding the dynamics and turning the listening experience into a relatively risk-free one. When the group breaks away from the chugging guitar Fall Out Boy formula, they're at their best. Mid-song breakdowns and cathartic power ballads (think "Don't Speak") showcase the band's maturity as musicians. More importantly, Williams shines through in these openings. In the last track, "Born for This," she takes a break from her love confessions and commands everyone to sing like it's the last song they will ever sing, making for a sentimental finale and a perfect closer for the live shows. ~ Jason Lymangrover, All Music Guide
'All We Know Is Falling'
Release Date 1/1/2005
Tracks 10
Label Fueled by Ramen/Ada/Atl
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