After a 5 ½ year hiatus from making music together, the trio of Paramore has returned to release their sixth studio album This Is Why. Led by Hayley Williams’ otherworldly voice, pop-punk has a new album to love.
The Nashville trio, completed by guitarist Taylor York and drummer Zac Farro stepped away from the band back in 2018 and have come back together this year stronger than ever. This Is Why is an encapsulating listen for all 10 tracks, exploring new tones and cadences we’ve never heard from the group before. Still reminiscent of their old sound while addressing the current world, Paramore has managed to create an album that feels like something 10 years old and 10 minutes old at the same time.
This Is Why opens with a song of the same name and an epic guitar and drum sequence. The opening lines of the album really set the tone for the remainder: “If you have an opinion, maybe you should shove it.”
Track 2, “The News” is a politically charged angsty anthem, followed up by “Running Out Of Time” which is groovy and fun with an addictive chorus. “C’est Comme Ça” is track 4; the song is upbeat and will have you screaming along to words that you don’t even understand (C’est Comme Ça is a french expression for ‘it is what it is’)
“Big Man Little Dignity” rounds out the first half of the album as a slower ballad harping on people’s refusal to change from their old-fashioned thinking. Williams is the sound of sass in this number.
Staring off act II of the album is “You First.” A ringing guitar solo leads to a chaotic chorus of social unrest and fear of the future. The ferocity of Williams’ voice blends to a hypnotic bridge that brings Paramore back to their animalistic roots. “Figure 8” is the real song to listen to off the album for any percussion lover out there – Farro’s performance is one to be envied.
Next up is the closest the band gets to a love song on the album. “Liar” is a soft-sung ballad dealing with the denial of feelings. The lyric “love is not an easy thing to admit” is accompanied beautifully by acoustic fingerpicking on the guitar by York.
“Crave” is the penultimate track that serves as a reminder of the band’s previous work. Williams’ powerhouse vocals are showcased with melancholic lyrics that show her evolution of emotion.
The closing track, “Thick Skull,” is arguably the best feature of the album. It paints the picture of a crime scene while the lyrics follow making the same mistakes over and over again. The slow build leads to bouncing back, even with all the consequences of past actions. This Is Why proves that teen angst continues into adult life. Williams, Farro, and York leave listeners wanting more and questioning everything.
I think it’s in your best interest to listen to the album right now, preferably in a rebellious mood.