On April 1, 2013, Paramore released their self-titled album, and I fell in love. Over the course of 17 marvellous tracks, the band, currently made up of Hayley Williams, Jeremy Davis, and Taylor York, takes listeners on a journey into the psyche of a fed-up young adult who’s ready to say goodbye to her boring surroundings and stuck-up companions. Though Paramore has certainly explored these themes before- for instance, in their popular hit, “Misery Business”- the emotions expressed in their new album are more mature, befitting their more grown-up music and vocals.
The album is divided into four sections by short interludes. The tracks in the first section, “Fast In My Car,” “Now,” “Grow Up,” and “Daydreaming,” describe the emotions of young woman who feels trapped in her high school. “Fast in My Car” starts out the album on a fun, carefree note with a driving drum beat and lyrics that connote warm, late-night outings with friends just before the end of school. “Now” introduces more dramatic, desperate emotions as the speaker seeks the light at the end of the tunnel, battling her own emotions and external obstacles. By comparison, “Grow Up” is much more relaxed musically, but the lyrics betray the speaker’s frustration with her petty, immature classmates. “Daydreaming” finishes out the section; the track’s initial slow haziness contrasts with more upbeat sections that simulate an actual daydream. The interlude punctuating this section is “Moving on,” in which the singer finally escapes her mundane school life.
Section two begins with “Ain’t It Fun,” which is probably my favorite song on the album. The song is fun and joyful, describing the speaker’s satisfaction at her former classmates’ trouble getting accustomed to the world outside of high school. “Part II” harkens back to “Let The Flames Begin” off of “Riot,” a Paramore album released in 2007; it, more than any of the other songs on the album, highlights how much the band has grown. In “Last Hope” the speaker realizes that she can’t control everything and that what needs to happen will eventually happen. This song fades into popular single “Still Into You,” which, despite being a departure from the major themes of the album, maintains its maturity of emotions. “Anklebiters” finishes off this section; it’s a companion of sorts to “Ain’t It Fun,” offering words of advice to the people the speaker had previously made fun of. In the interlude, “Holiday,” the speaker says that her life after high school is a vacation, despite the difficulties she faces.
The third section is a trio of songs about love. “Proof” is an upbeat display of confidence that introduces another level of maturity: trust. In “Hate To See Your Heart Break,” the speaker says that, though heartbreak is painful, it will eventually be okay. However, in “(One Of Those) Crazy Girls,” heartbreak makes a fool of our heroine. “I’m Not Angry Anymore,” the interlude after this section, brings us back to the themes of the rest of the album, the speaker letting go of her anger to be a nicer person.
The final section consists of only two songs: “Be Alone” and “Future.” The former is the perfect anthem for introverts in love. I’m usually not a fan of spoken words in a song, but Williams is one of a few vocalists who can pull it off. “Future” is a letter to the girl the singer was at the beginning of the novel, assuring herself that her life will get better. It wraps the album up with reflective instrumentals that morph into harsher guitars and drums, a nod back to the band’s earlier sound.
There might be a few kinks in the album’s narrative, but the individual tracks are so good that you can’t really complain. And overall, this album is a testament to a lyric from “Brand New Eyes,” Paramore’s last album: “We’re just getting started.” The band has matured in all areas; I can only hope that they’ll continue to improve. “Paramore” is a must-listen for long-time fans and newcomers alike. I give it 4.75/5 stars.
~Rachel A. Schrock