By: James Southworth
Rating: 4/5 Stars
If you know anything about the band Paramore, then you know this group has quite the tense history. I don't think vocalist Hayley Williams or the Farro Brothers could've ever predicted that they would ever blow up at such a young age, with all of them starting the band as teenagers. But they certainly did, and with each consecutive album their popularity only increased. The Farro Brothers both left for a time as they began to not get along with Hayley. After the self-titled record, Paramore went on a hiatus with no return in sight; even Hayley wondered if the band should really come back together with so many broken relationships, and she was going through her own struggles with depression and anxiety. But the band did come together, with the surprising return of Zac Farro, and now we have the product "After Laughter". What we get is a very different album from Paramore, one very much so pop-tinged with lyrics that highlight themes of broken friendships, regret, reconciliation, and depression.
This record gets off to an absolutely dynamic start with what continues to be my absolute favorite song on the album, "Hard Times". This song is a superb choice for a lead single, as it has all the catchiness of a pop song, while also having a refreshing dose of real instrumentation that is absent in almost all pop songs these days. This song also reveals a common trend this album follows: an upbeat sound with some darker lyrics. The lyrics on this song in particular allude to all the hardships the band has gone through: "Hard times, gonna make you wonder why you even try/Hard times, gonna take you down and laugh when you cry/These lives, and I still don't know how I even survive". These lines are decidedly bittersweet, but in the context of the incredibly upbeat nature of the song, they feel more hopeful, like maybe the hard times were worth it. I just love the sound of this song; it's a wonderful combination of 80s rock and modern pop. The unique combination makes for a song that's fun while also having some well-written introspective lyrics. Another great track appears in "Rose-Colored Boy", which appears to be written for Hayley's husband Chad Gilbert and how happy he always seems to be. Hayley wishes she could be like him, but she is struggling with depression. This song is once again upbeat in nature despite lyrics alluding to Hayley's depression, which cleverly reflects the idea that Hayley wants to be happy. The chorus of this song is one of the most catchy, and the synth-pop styling works well for it. The chant-along bridge will have you singing along instantly. "Told You So" is another major highlight simply for its musicality. Taylor York's guitar riffs go all over the place and just sound interesting. Also, the way electronic effects are used here is very memorable to create a song that will be stuck in your head for a long time.
"Fake Happy" is one of the most relatable songs here. Hayley really vents her frustration in the lyrics about how she can't stand people who fake being happy all the time. In this social media infused world, that is something that is highly common. Hayley's sarcasm comes across well, as you can almost tell in her voice she's replicating this forced happiness that so many people try to exude every day. It's a clever move on her part. I also enjoy how the quiet raw acoustic opening that transitions into an enjoyable pop/rock style. "26" stands tall as one of the biggest highlights, as it is a ballad that shows Hayley at her most vulnerable. I could feel the emotion coming from her vocally, something that is more present here than on some of the other songs. Some of the best lyrics appear on this song: "Reality will break your heart/Survival will not be the hardest part/It's keeping all your hopes alive/When all the rest of you has died". Those lyrics really hit me, as these are some saddening lyrics, but it's also inspiring to see Hayley imply that even when she was going through depression she was trying her best to keep hope alive. "Pool" is an effective reprieve from such a raw feeling song, as this one gives a great example of what love songs should be. It also uses water as an intriguing metaphor for Hayley finally fully diving into love. It's nice to see traces in this album of Hayley finally choosing happiness for herself, and this song is a clear indicator of that. This track is a synth-rock tune, and it's one of the most enjoyable to listen to, despite a bridge that is a bit unmemorable.
"Grudges" is a significant favorite of mine, feeling like more of a straight-up rock song. While I like the pop flair the album has, it's nice to hear a song without it. I also like how Hayley and Zac Farro both sing in this song about trying to overcome their problems with each other. It's fitting to have a song where they both explore finding reconciliation with one another, and that makes this song one of the most redemptive on the album. "Caught in the Middle" serves as a fitting summer anthem; I wouldn't be surprised that if this one becomes a single. The reggae flair the song boasts is excellent, and Farro's bass groove is an undeniable highlight that makes this song significantly stand out. "Idle Worship" finds Hayley unleashing a bit more in the vocal department. The tamer vocals on this poppier album are appropriate, but it's still refreshing to hear at least one song where she's letting her vocals unleash a little bit more. This song has a particularly strong bridge, as Hayley becomes really honest about how much she doesn't like being put on a pedestal by fans and media. That makes the title of the song clever, as it not only means that people only "worshipped" Paramore at times when they released a new album, but that Hayley often felt like she was being treated as an "idol" rather than an actual person. The chorus of this song is one of the strongest as well. The album ends well with another ballad in "Tell Me How". While it doesn't have the same punch as "26", the song is still powerful in its own way and really shows "After Laughter" to be the most personal Paramore album to date.
This album is not a perfect release. One of my main problems with it is that it didn't have quite the same aggressiveness that "brand new eyes" or the band's self-titled had. Also, Hayley's vocals are great (of course), but they don't always get to shine like they have in previous Paramore releases. That is due a lot to the more pop influences on this album, and it's a slight, but not significant, detractor. There are some specific songs on here that are weak. "No Friend" is easily the worst song on the album, as it's just straight up bizarre and doesn't match with the rest of the album. This song features the vocalist from mewithoutyou, and I like the idea of having him on this track, but unfortunately, what he was saying is barely discernible. The song musically isn't all that interesting either. "Forgiveness" is bit cliched in the lyrical department, and musically, this one felt like it gave in to its influences; it really drowns out anything that is unique about the song. This one is ultimately unmemorable in context of the rest of the release.
Overall, "After Laughter" is not Paramore's strongest release, but it is still certainly a great album. It's refreshing to hear a pop release that has actual live instrumentation, a talented vocalist, and some very well-written lyrics. It would be remiss of top 40 radio to not make some of these songs successful, but I know they won't simply for the fact that this album does not follow today's pop trends. It's good to have you back, Paramore, you have been missed. I can't wait to see what this dynamic group does next!
Favorite Songs: "Hard Times", "26", "Caught in the Middle", "Idle Worship", "Grudges", "Told You So"
Least Favorites: "No Friend", "Forgiveness"
No comments:
Post a Comment