Paramore - This Is Why (February 10, 2023) Album • Page 88

Echoing the comments around Big Man, Little Dignity... definitely the biggest grower on here for me. What a tune.

 

Aside from a few songs this album isn't for me (as I expected) compared to the vibe that After Laughter was.

Hopefully it grows on me a bit though.

 

This is exactly my experience. Least favorite easily on first listen then suddenly it's been in my head the most.

 

Running Out of Time is my favorite here. Not only does it describe my life (and basically everyone else in LA), but that is one of the coolest choruses I have ever heard.

I love how this record is more experimental and lowkey on one end, and then on the other end we're hearing Hayley belt like she hasn't belted in ten years. AL is my favorite Paramore record, but man, I've missed hearing her go for it like she does so many times here.

 

this reminds me a lot of No Cities to Love, a similarly concise, post punk/dance rock indebted work that also feels deeply connected to the history of the band

 

Paramore’s new album dropped on Friday, and my read from the forums is that it’s been a relatively polarizing release. Some seem very into it, but I’m also seeing the most negative responses to an album of theirs in a very long time. With a few listens under my belt, I do think I understand most of the criticisms I’ve seen. As a whole, the album de-emphasizes a lot of the traits I believe a significant portion of the fanbase associates with the band, but this is also a band that’s been exploring different sides of their sound for years now, and I don’t find any of their choices here that shocking. On my end, I do think I’d move the clear standout “You First” up higher in the tracklist, cut “C’est Comme Ça” altogether, and try and work the slower back-half tracks into the sequence differently, so it didn’t end feeling a little too on the same note. As we sit today, After Laughter has grown to be my favorite Paramore album, and I adore both of Hayley’s solo albums. (Those ended up being colossal pandemic plays for me.) So, by just the nature of how high regard I hold this band’s catalog, I think at the moment, this would land near the bottom. But I say that not out of a dislike for this record; it’s more a reflection of how this band’s discography has been incredibly consistent over the past 19 years and given us so many iconic tracks. And out of the ten new songs, at least 8 of them are right up there with the best for me. I’m also really drawn to the musicianship, post-punk funk, and groove of the album. In some ways, it feels like the flipped mirror version of the band’s self-titled album. With that album, it was like the band was expanding outward, searching for what they wanted to be next, and that showed with a behemoth, almost 20-song opus packed with ideas and multiple zigs and zags. Here we have a concise, tight, clear-edged galloping record of a band that seems, maybe for the first time in their storied career, 100% sure of who they want to be right now. (Ok, it’s Paramore, and I’ve read all the recent interviews, maybe 98.5% sure of who they want to be right now.) One of the somewhat unique services I think I provide these days is that I’m one of the few people that has written about some of these bands and this music scene for practically their entire careers. I can view a band’s catalog through the lens of that history and of our fandom with the artist. So, if Riot! made me want to jump around the house, and Brand New Eyesmade me want to throw up the rock fist, and the self-titled album made me want to (oh no am I going to do this) drive fast in my car, and After Laughter had me melting hard into the 80’s synth aesthetic, what does This is Why do for me? I think it’s a bridge. It’s the intertwining of the band’s sound with their current interests, Hayley’s solo albums showcasing similar styles, and clearing the stage for whatever Paramore is to become next. For a band that’s had its share of drama over the years, to see the three of them seem happy, content, and collaborating in this way brings a smile to my face.

chorus.fm/newsletter

 

This record also gives me late 2000s/early 2010s vibes when a ton of the top critically acclaimed indie rock music was darker, post-punk, guitar-noodly, srs bznz stuff. I personally consider that one of my least favorite eras of indie rock, even when it’s done very well.

 

the zane lowe interview was very good. interesting to hear that thick skull was the first song they wrote — it really does sound like an incredible catharsis after a while away. i am so so glad that you first made the album

 

I think my favorites right now are the title track, Running Out of Time, You First, and Thick Skull. I’m reallllllllllllly feeling this.

 

Only listened a couple of times but I can already tell this is one's going to get plays for years to come from me. This is Paramore firing on all cylinders showing yet another side of themselves.

I'm pretty shocked this isn't more to this community's taste. Whatever your expectations and preconceived notions towards the band are, this is quality music and should be appreciated in isolation. I certainly think these songs will grow on people that didn't connect on initial listens.

Gutted the vinyl pressing is a dud though.

 

I think the songs here are fun.

But I’ll echo the vast comments on the lack of hooks, at least hooks you would associate with them. A huge part of that is the atonal/non-standard keys they’re playing in. They’re not doing usual progressions either, so it’s hard to know where the next note is coming from. A great example is “Running Out Of Time.” After a few listens where you know where the notes are gonna go, it’s a groovy listen. Same with C’est Comme Ca, perhaps to an even stronger degree. But that’s not the immediate sugar rush nursery rhyme with a fist in the air you typically expect from them.

It’s only baffling to me why they would hide their strengths (big melody! Perhaps the best front person in music with a pantheon voice!) inside some monotone, first take sounds. It’s a choice, for sure. I can appreciate the quality of the writing. It’s just different. And most people don’t respond to differences well, even when they’re good and done well.

 

Hooks don’t have to be choruses. The bridge of C’est Comme Sa has been the part stuck in my head, not the actual chorus. This album may not have as many massive choruses as their previous records, but every song still has at least moment that qualifies as an ear worm to me.

 

What I’m stuck on right now is complaints about Hayley’s vocal performance. To me this is so dynamic, she belts like she used to, she sings in the soft tones of her solo albums, she does new stuff like the more dead pan verses of CCC… she’s singing all over this album in all kinds of way

 

Listened to this six or so times since Friday, once on vinyl tonight. It just keeps growing on me so much with every listen. “You First” and “Crave” are just incredible.

 

I went into this with low expectations because I didn’t like “this is why” and was worried it would be too “weird,” for lack of a better word. but after a casual first listen I was immediately pleasantly surprised and This is Why is still the only track I don’t care for. Not sure it hits the highs of my favorite paramore songs and there’s some clunky lyrics (C’est esp) but it’s super consistent. and despite the relative lack of hooks I love how many new things Hayley does with her voice and melodies. Im glad the new vocal style is paired with the return of more typical indie/rock instrumentation and tones. All in all I’m a pretty happy camper. If I’d heard the record before reading the thread or reviews I’d have assumed it would have been incredibly well accepted. Don’t really get most of the critiques.

 

This album unfortunately isn't for me. Don't get the praise for songs like Running Out of Time and You First.

I like C'est Comme Ce and Figure 8 but that's about it.

 

Wild to me because Running Out of Time and you First are now in contention for my favorite Paramore songs. Both feel so special to me

 

But to be fair, Running Out of Time speaks very closely to me as someone who is late to (and unprepared for) everything

 

Hooks all over this album

 

That. I mean there’s plenty of hooks? I can understand it not being people’s cup of tea, but that’s a weird criticism to me. Not even going to address the criticisms on the singing « playing it safe » or whatever, because the vocals are awesome on this

 

What's wrong with the vinyl? Haven't picked up a copy yet.

 

Crave really makes me want them to make a whole dream pop album lol.

 

Ce comme sa haters check in after this:

https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRt6pUSF/

 

I’m pretty sure Figure 8 is my favorite Paramore song now

 

Production is indisputably great, just not sure the songs are. The drums and guitar really stand out, they’re doing all kinds of interesting shit on here.