Paramore - This Is Why (February 10, 2023) Album • Page 85

Just finished my second listen. Love it even more.
My only criticism is that the three least energetic songs on the album (Liar, Crave, Skull) are back to back. Figure 8 should’ve been after Liar to keep the momentum up.

 

I listened a couple times through and by the third listen I was just bored. Unfortunately not doing it for me

 

I just want Brand New Eyes 2.

But I will definitely give this a listen

 

have now listened to it (or at least portions of it) on my studio monitors, (rather expensive) mixing headphones, my partner’s shitty car stereo and now my car’s much better stereo, and personally I think the thing sounds fucking great. don’t get the complaints whatsoever. seems nearly every record anymore some folks try to find something to criticize with the production/mixing and sometimes I get it and sometimes I don’t but here I really don’t. it strikes a perfect balance to me on so many fronts. it sounds organic— like a band in a real-life space, doesn’t sound totally squashed within an inch of its life to my ears but still manages to maintain a sense of sheen and density that folks have come to expect from modern production sensibilities. the music breathes and has a sufficient sense of dynamics (imo) thanks, in large part, to the band’s performances and the arrangements rather than a reliance on modern production tricks. the vocals have such a beautiful weight and presence, and yet you can pick out what each member is doing at any given point. in many ways I find this to be an ideal mix/production job for a band of this ilk.

as far as the criticism I am seeing a lot of regarding this album “not playing to the band’s strengths” I find that to be kind of odd. feels like putting the band in a box to me, tbh. the best musicians are constantly growing, developing their tastes, expanding on their skillsets, improving their techniques, etc. to not do so is creative death imo and is how many bands stagnate. a band constantly retreading familiar territory and playing it safe to appease their fans, rather than following their own ambitions and making the music they want to hear is never playing to their strengths imo.

I feel like the musical skill on display here is pretty self-evident, Taylor is truly playing his ass off and he seems to have really cemented his own identity as a player— in many ways this feels like the culmination of everything he’s been striving for since the S/T. Zac’s always been an awesome drummer but he feels even more energized here than AL (the music also calls for it more imo), and I don’t know who’s doing bass duties but they’re killing it too and are embellishing just enough to keep things interesting while still providing a perfect bridge between the guitars and drums. and personally, as much as I loved Hayley’s performances on earlier records when she was really reaching for those crazy high notes… I think the restraint she’s shown over the course of the last couple records has not only suited the music they’ve been making better, but also shows a lot of growth and maturity as a musician. she’s still able to show she’s got great range and a remarkable command of her instrument, without constantly pushing her voice to its absolute limits, all while still crafting memorable melodies (I really do think this record is filled with hooks, you just gotta be receptive to them).

just my 2 cents. I understand that all that said some folks still aren’t gonna vibe with the direction the band has gone in here, and that’s fine. I do think it has more merit and way more hard work put into it than some of the more dismissive criticisms I have seen have given it credit for.

 

The talking parts on C’est Comme Ça reminds me of Say Anything.

 

PREACH

 

This pretty much is exactly how I would describe it. Besides This Is Why and Running Out Of Time I’m not feeling it at all.

 

Am I the only one on here that really likes Cest Comme Ca lol? The only song on here that I'm kinda meh on is The News; really don't like the chorus.

 

I fucking love it

 

I liked it at first, find it very irritating and repetitive now

 

I don't love it, but I don't hate it. It's perfectly fine to me

 

It’s on the same level as “Now” for worst Paramore song IMO.

 

Both are great songs.

 

It's not my taste that's all. As someone who has liked every single song Paramore has put out to this point, the tone/mood/pacing is so distinctly different that it just doesn't resonate.

I think it's a pretty good album with a type of sound I'd just never listen to for enjoyment and will try a few times but doubt I'll listen to it again after that.

 

I think I have a new favorite Paramore album. Very cool.

 

Cest Comme Sa rules. I liked it as a single and I like it even more in context.

 

How dare you

 

Now is top tier. How dare you.

 

Some people have clearly never lost a battle but won the war.

 

Brian Robert Jones! He’s been playing with them live throughout the rollout as well, but on guitar

 

now is a great song

 

They just need a song called Then and I'll be happy

 

The first five tracks are solid; I absolutely love the production and think the sound fits them so well.

However, the second half wasn't quite my thing. I agree with the above quoted post that the mood and pacing felt a bit off from what they've previously done. That's not to say it's an inherently bad thing, but the difference in mood in the second half wasn't very enjoyable to me.

 

Those were probably my two favorites and I didn't even like them very much