‘This is Why’
Paramore’s newest release This Is Why, might just be the best Paramore album to date. Don’t get me wrong – I love their old, emo music. Like many little emo children back in the 2000’s, Paramore dominated much of my listening; from the second I heard Misery Business, I was hooked. Being the type of person who is incredibly resistant to change, I personally did not find their Paramore album much to my taste – for me, I felt it strayed too far from the Paramore I knew and loved. It didn’t stop me from listening to After Laughter of course, but again, I just did not see Paramore in the songs. To me, those two albums are almost a crossroad for the band – they were exploring and trying to re-invent and find themselves as a band after so much conflict between the members. Some wonderful songs from these albums still – Part II, (One of Those) Crazy Girls; Pool and Idle Worship to name my favourites – but as an overall, to me, it just wasn’t what I saw Paramore to be.
Hayley’s self-titled album, on the other hand, was truly a masterpiece. Petals for Armour was what I listened to on repeat in the first covid-19 lockdown – her pain and anger, brought out so beautifully with her magnificent vocals, truly showcased an unmatched talent. Sudden Desire, Roses/Lotus/Violet/Iris, and Crystal Clear, display her vocal range and musical abilities to their highest form. Petals for Armour was such a step away from Paramore, and especially the Paramore I was used to – leading to a wondering of what this meant for the band’s future.
Their first single since After Laughter, This is Why, again took a step in another direction. You can see the elements of Paramore and After Laughter within the song, yet still brings a completely new era into the equation. I wasn’t sure what to expect with the album – with the accompanying singles of The News and C’est Comme Ça, I was expecting a newer, improved era of their 2013 and 2017 albums. What has been produced, however, is something entirely different. This is Why, is that perfect blend of Hayley’s solo projects, and Paramore as a band – Figure 8, especially, for me, is the perfect example of such. The lyrics, raw, emotional vocals and the accompanying music mesh perfectly, combining Hayley’s solo work exploration, and Paramore’s new era.
I saw a tweet (@tinyhottopicbish) upon release date, suggesting listening to Pool, Crystal Clear and Liar in a sequence. The way the songs flow into each other, across the span of three sperate albums, made me second guess my initial reactions to Paramore and After Laughter. It is almost as if a plan was truly made – perhaps this was always the route Paramore was to go. I’ll re-iterate that I am not a fan of change – when My Chemical Romance’s Danger Days album was released, I was almost hurt by the drastic change in their tone and mood. Paramore's 2013 album brought about the same reaction. But we all must grow up and mature at some point, and Paramore’s evolution is clearly one for the better. This is Why, is a wonderful example of such maturity: it is different but holds elements of their roots still at heart. It has made me re-think my emotions on their 2013 and 2017 albums, and although they will never be my favourite of their six albums, This is Why may have overtaken Brand New Eyes, and I am so excited to see what the future holds for Paramore.