Paramore

Through the years Paramore have gone through a lot of changes. They've lost band members, been through heart-ache and tears, but they've battled through and their album Paramore is the product of those never ending wars.

Fast In My Car

"Fast In My Car" opens up the album with a light rock sound, building structure with strong power cords on the guitar and a deep bass but balancing it with the pop overtones from the rift over the chorus that gives the song a cheerier mood than the lyrics project.

They make references to their past, talking of the "Riot!" album, We've got our Riot gear on and talk about how No one's the same as they used to be. After the Farro brothers left the band faced a lot of hate and the songs released on their EP "Singles" made fans say that they had changed and were no longer the band they used to be. This introductory song seems to be a counter to the hate they faced and how they want is to get a break from what they faced and that they deserve a second chance.

It is a good introduction to the album, starting with a strong, unique song that really shows how the band is developing and making music they want to, not what the fans feel is the real Paramore.

Now

This song reflects a lot of Paramore's music from "Brand New Eyes" and maybe this was a way to let people into their new work smoothly. The guitar is very similar to the past despite the lead guitarist changing, and Hayley's vocals are challenged less in this song compared to others. It is powerful lyrical and although there is few hard to hit notes it is still a good song. It's been regarded already as one of the best off the album.

Many of the songs make reference to a battle and this seems to reflect how hard the fight between the remaining members and those who left. Hayley faced the brute of the blow with the Farro's writing that Hayley was not nice girl that the media depicted and this songs seems to be a song written to make herself feel stronger. With lyrics such as for the days I don't feel anything, the days I feel completely useless and there's a time and a place to die but this ain't it it shows the internal battles Hayley has been facing with herself.

Grow Up

"Grow Up" is almost a battle chant in a way, confronting those who have been petty in the situation and that the band is above the low blows. Despite this, it seems to show that the brothers and Hayley, Jeremy and Taylor still get along although it is not always this way.

This song is very simple with a repetitive structure in music and lyrics that make it more 'poppy' than other songs. The vocals are relatively sweet and not as gruff as Hayley's voice sometimes comes across as in the other songs. The simplistic style makes the song less memorable and it is one of those songs that when remembering the track list you may forget.

Daydreaming

It is the first soft song on the album, it has a slow-paced and calming introduction which really projects how adaptable Hayley's voice has become. As it progresses the pace develops , with a dramatic change to chorus which instantly shows this adaptability.

The bridge is probably the best aspect of the song and reflects aspects of the bridge of "In The Mourning" from "Singles". The lyrics don't seem to directly talk of anything that the fans know of like the former songs do but still projects a poetic nature that makes this song truly beautiful.

Interlude: Moving On

This ukulele driven song is another which lyrics don't quite match the nature with it seeming cheery yet when you really dissect the lyrics it presents something else. It's relatively violent with lyrics like let 'em spill their guts but Hayley seems to be saying that she's not angry and moving on but it still creates the image of an musical attack on someone.

The ghostly echo and cutesy music makes it a slightly shiver inducing song and it is a good song to represent the entire album despite being only a minute and a half long.

Ain't It Fun

This song has aspects of 80's pop music with the very electric keyboard undertones and the short burst of xylophone at points. The outro and bridge builds on this with its soul vocals that although is very different for the band somehow works well with this song.

The lyrics seem sarcastic at parts with the rhetorical question Ain't it fun living in the real world? and the song almost seems like a polite way to say grow some balls. The repetitive lyrics work really well in this song and the soul bridge and outro somehow fits Hayley's vocals brilliantly. The mixing of light rock, pop and soul make this song a standout in the album and in my eyes really shows them developing.

Part II

For fans who have listened to Paramore for a long time would recognize this song instantly. On their "Riot!" album they released a song called "Let The Flames Begin" that lyrics are incredibly similar. Is this a sign of reflection for the band? A way of looking back at their old work and adjusting it for how they are now? The rumours are that this is in fact a part two to "Let The Flames Begin".

Compare the lyrics:-

Part II :
What a shame, what a shame we all remain
Such fragile broken few
A beauty have the trade
But if was opposed
Should wings still there are darkened glimpses deep in my heart
What once was blazing like now
There’s a tiny scar

Oh glory, come and find me
Oh glory, come and find me

Let The Flames Begin:
What a shame we all became such fragile, broken things.
A memory remains just a tiny spark
I give it all my oxygen,
To let the flames begin
To let the flames begin

Oh, glory
Oh, glory

And not just the lyrics are similar, the music is too with soft verses and a suddenly loud and powerful chorus.

Despite this, the song is amazing. It's classic Paramore although the album promotes their growth and the lyrics are filled with imagery and is more poetic in style, showing that they are capable of writing some strong imaginative lyrics rather than a lot of the story-telling style of lyrics they have come to use more.

Last Hope

"Last Hope" is another soft song on this album. It uses a mix of long held chords and power chords that creates a delicate aura. The lyrics talk of building up and reminding themselves that they are still alive. The title "Last Hope" backs up this.

The lyrics are really relatable and is a song that many fans who are struggling with something could use to help them get through it. It explains how no matter how small you feel, there is still something there, a spark which you can build back up into a fire and it will get better.

Still Into You

The second single from the album is an incredibly perky love song. It's easy to see is about Hayley and Chad Gilbert from New Found Glory. Their relationship was originally controversial as rumours spread that the two started dating whilst Chad was still married to Sherri DuPree from the indie rock band Eisley, but this has never been confirmed.

The lyrics and music are very cutesy which is shown through the sweet music video where the band members and set are dressed in bright pastel colours. It's really a playful song and although there isn't exactly a deep, emotional meaning like maybe "Last Hope" or "Fast In My Car" it is still a good quality and the lyric and music video combined have over 30,4000 views, even though the music video has been out less than a day.

Anklebiters

"Anklebiters" has much more of a rock feel to it which is shown through the harsher tone Hayley uses in her vocals and the slightly heavier guitar, drums and bass. It's a short song, but the shouting of anklebiters would make it a fun live performance song which would really get the audience going.

Again the lyrics are relatively vengeful and it seems to be about someone who is egotistical, but this song makes it seem more playful and less harsh. It's one of those songs when hearing you'd instantly start dancing to.

Interlude: Holiday

Another ukulele and vocal driven interlude that is short and simple. The lyrics maybe make reference to the past once more, talking of high school drama which Hayley faced so much of she was forced to become home schooled. There is also saving money, eating only top ramen which is possibly a link to the first label Paramore was signed to; Fueled by Ramen, which was so poor when starting up that the creators had to live off ramen due to spending all their money on producing music. It's a charming little song that breaks the album up.

Proof

The bass and guitar is so much more powerful in "Proof" and is another song which is more in the rock genre than other songs in the introduction, but through it there is more of a pop sound developed. The lyrics seem to be talking about a long distance relationship and the lyrics 'cause you're not here, my heart is bigger than the distance in-between us and you can count the miles away from where I wanna be give that impression.

Like "Grow Up" it is another song that fades into the background as there are other songs on "Paramore" which are more powerful than this.

Hate To See You Heart Break

The third soft song on their album shows Hayley's vocal range once again with the verses low and the chorus much higher. We also see how the guitar skills of Taylor have improved with a strong undertone rift that repeats throughout and this style is similar to Josh's in the "Brand New Eyes" album. He's managed to develop a lot more than the simple power chords he used to do so often as a rhythm guitarist and has filled the shoes of lead guitarist well.

This song is another one about love, showing how it's not always like it's so often depicted and that it can tear apart people from just the thought of it ending. It's already become one of the most popular songs on the album.

(One of Those) Crazy Girls

This is another song that shows the 80's pop influence there has been on the album. The guitar is very reminiscent of the late 70's/early 80's scene and Hayley's vocals are more clear and well pronounced.

It is another love song, but the lyrics talk about developing an obsessive, fan-like love for someone. It is a story telling style of lyrics that is hard to tell if it's a sarcastic song about the stalker behaviour some girls show in relationships or if it's truly how Hayley behaves or has come to behave since she originally says I'm not one of those crazy girls in the bridge but in the outro this changes to now I'm one of those crazy girls.

It's a pretty weak song for Paramore and doesn't live up to the vast expectation this album had.

Interlude: I'm Not Angry Anymore

This is the third interlude in the album, and it is another sweet ukulele and vocals only song that Paramore do so well. This is another of the songs within the album which has received a lot of praise due to the simplistic yet catchy style. It's very well written despite being under a minute long and it is clear to see why it is so popular.

Be Alone

"Be Alone" depicts an introvert side to Hayley, talking of how she'd rather be inside and be alone with the one she loves.

The style of the song is relatively simplistic once more with a repetitive style to lyrics and music and like others like this is disappears into the background a bit. What made "Brand New Eyes" such a popular album for Paramore was that every song on the album could be released as a single as each song was total different from each other yet they still worked on a whole, with none of the songs showing that repetitive structure that many bands do when they just need something to fill the album in between the singles they spent hours upon hours on. In "Paramore" they have failed to do this and the songs which stand out are the ones which don't have a predictable style which makes it pretty easy to guess what the next singles on the album could be, instead of not having any idea like on their older albums.

Future

Future is the eight minute monster of a song which ties the album together and does so incredibly well. It lacks lyrics but that does not make the song any less brilliant. Being able to produce instrumental music that the listener wants to hear to the end really shows the talent of the musician. It's a strong ending to an album of ups and downs and ends it on a truly positive note.

Overall, "Paramore" is a very mixed album with songs that are brilliant and songs that are pretty poor. Paramore have changed and this album does show that, but for fans who have been with them for a long time I think this album will be a disappointment. It's inconsistent and not the same quality as before. Maybe in a few years when they release a new album they'll have developed and the album will be better but they're still finding their feet without the main lyricist and musician, Josh Farro.