Fiery, spunky and brilliant
This Is Why, released on February 10th, 2023, is Paramore’s sixth album. Paramore is known for their pop punk and rock fusion which they stay true to with this album. The album is classic Paramore and reaffirms why they are so popular and loved among listeners from all genres. Hayley Williams’ vocals are out of this world and her performance on this album is beyond explanation. This record demonstrates the band’s maturity as artists, performers, songwriters and their ability to perfectly cater to their fans.
The title track and first song on the album, “This Is Why” combines a classic rock instrumental with pop inspired vocals, a combination associated with Paramore for years. The distortion on the guitar suits their inspiration and gives it the feel of a song that came out in the ‘70s. The lyrics are sung by Williams with a passionately angry voice determining the mood of the song. This vibe continues onto the next song “The News” which is an angsty anthem depicting the frustration with American politics. With overdriven vocals and a continuation of distorted guitars, it is impossible to not feel riled up by this song.
The next song “Running Out Of Time” is a bit stripped back compared to the first two songs but still energetic and full nonetheless. With laid back verses and a powerful chorus, this song sets up the album’s transition to a calmer and melancholic feel. Williams knows exactly how to work her voice and how to add elements of quirkiness and texture to make the song more interesting for the listener. “C’est Comme Ça,” the fourth song, also demonstrates the band’s quirkiness and overall incredibly fascinating sound.
With “Big Man, Little Dignity,” the album begins to transition to its melancholic sound as the instrumentals become more stripped back and Williams’ tone switches from anger to sadness. Woodwinds such as flutes, clarinets and horns can be heard in the instrumental allowing it to feel softer but the classic rock influence is still present.
“Liar” is the most emotional song on the album yet it somehow still fits the vibe perfectly. Williams’ harmonies are extraordinarily beautiful. The vocals on the entire album establish her right to be known as one of the greatest vocalists of this generation.
The last track “Thick Skull” is most reminiscent of ‘90s grunge but it blends all the genres Paramore referenced in this album together. It closes the album perfectly creating a cohesive album from start to finish. This album is exactly why people love Paramore and why they have continued to garner so many fans and even casual listeners. This Is Why has set the stage for other fantastic 2023 releases and it will be difficult for others to live up to this phenomenal album.
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