BASEMENT DWELLER ANTHEMS? | PARAMORE - THIS IS WHY (ALBUM REVIEW)

Recently skimmed over Paramore's new album This Is Why which was released today.

1. This Is Why

The first single comes across as a basement dweller's anthem. Hayley Williams complains that other people should keep their opinions to themselves and talks about why she never wants to leave the house. How ironic.

2. News

The chorus rocks but the verse repeats itself constantly in the same vein as Green Day's "Know Your Enemy." Unlike the opening track, I enjoy the lyrical content.

3. Running Out Of Time

I thought this was going to be a pop/punk or emo album. I was clearly wrong. That being said, I do enjoy the song more-so than the previous two.

4. C'est Comme Ca

Have you ever noticed that sometimes the songs that are immediatly catchy tend to become annoying after a while and sometimes the songs that initially miss their mark on first listen can grow on us? This song feels like the prior. Very catchy, I do enjoy it. But I can see myself skipping this type of song on future listens.

5. Big Man, Little Dignity

I really enjoy the music. I mean I really enjoy it. Too bad the lyrics are filled with misandry. Scorned modern day toxic-feminists will probably eat it up though.

6. You First

Keep this song in mind when the lyrics ironically backfire... wishing bad karma on others is just bad karma for ourselves. Another song toxic modern-day feminists will eat up. So at least Hayley has chosen an audience and is going for it.

7. Figure 8

Weak rhymes. Lyrical content that seems to play the victim and point fingers while ignoring any personal accountability.

8. Liar

Hayley's voice sounds amazing. The sound is a departure from what fans of Riot! are familiar with but if you can get past that, it's actually a very enjoyable song. The lyrics are vulnerable and take self-accountability. This is the best song on the album, in my own humble opinion.

9. Crave

Another beautiful pop-rock song. This feels like a song that could stand the test of time.

10. Thick Skull

A somber tune with a touch of psychedelic guitar. Not bad.

Overall Take: 

This is not a pop-punk or emo album. Paramore are clearly a pop-rock band now. Perhaps they've been one for a while. I honestly haven't kept up with them aside from their first album. Hayley intentionally refused to become a Top 40 artist when writing music for their breakthrough album Riot! However, it seems as if she very quickly went against her original ideals. Nothing wrong with that by the way, just a bit different from what I was expecting.

Not sure who shit in Hayley's cheerios during the pandemic but she sure seems to be taking a lot of anger out on men with this album. Take it out on the scumbag politicians, Hayley. Not on the guys who supported your music early on... 

Hayley has clearly become a vehement feminist, for better and worse. While one can certainly understand why she might feel the way she feels, it doesn't mean that I have to buy in to it either. But this doesn't feel like an album that was made for a person like myself, and that's ok.

There are two songs on the album that I really enjoy (Lira & Crave) and can see myself putting them in to a playlist but overall I won't be returning to this album.