So, Paramore have finally recorded their long-awaited third studio album, September’s to-be-released Brand New Eyes. Though it’s a highly anticipated follow-up to late 2007’s Riot, Paramore still have a lot to prove to the underground/indie/whatever it’s called scene of music skeptics. Perhaps it’s the suspiciously catchy power pop, or female fronted-ness that keeps some people’s gimmick detector on high alert. However, with a genuine listen through of this band’s catalog one will see some more depth than the hyper slick presentation and over-produced sound of others in this genre.




Let’s take a quick tour of Paramore’s discography, all of which can be heard streaming on Paramore.net

All We Know is Falling
2005

Paramore took to the road almost non-stop for their debut with tour support provided by Fueled by Ramen. Two key tracks from this record helped push this band to the forefront of the pop/rock/punk scene, Pressure and Emergency. Both were pushed to the Warped Tour set and enjoyed the music video treatment. In addition to these two, I recommend listening to Conspiracy (my favorite track from this record), which shows some more minor key tonality and hints at an ocean of depth not yet fully tapped. I generally appreciated this album because of Hayley Williams’ actually good singing. The press just eats this up with “power house vocals” printed everwhere. Generally basic pop punk construction, punchy production, but a good development for the genre, not a carbon copy.

Listen to: Pressure, Here We Go Again, Conspiracy, Emergency

Riot
2007

Riot proved to be a huge leap forward for this band as it included a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist, the band also began to enjoy more international recognition, and grew their fully rabid fanbase even more. In Riot the band perfected the melding of the pop gloss with their rock/punkish tendencies. This was epitomized with their first single Misery Business. “Spunky” lyrics gave skeptics even more reason to love/hate this band. Further listening would indicate there’s more to the band than catty lyrics from their frontwoman. Josh Farro’s guitar shows some more variety, gratefully departing from the last remanants of last-wave emo rock. Riot shows a greater range between straight up pop and Fueled By Ramen-style indie rock. There’s also the strangely fitting jazz-like Fences.

Listen to: That’s What You Get, Hallelujah, For A Pessimist I’m Pretty Optimistic, We Are Broken

Twilight (Soundtrack)
2008
The Final RIOT!
2008

Two-thousand eight saw a live DVD and two new tracks for the Twilight movie soundtrack. Finally, some video evidence of their “explosive live show” and some expansive rock for the soundtrack. Tracks like Decoy serve as a record of the band’s further growth. Decode was a surprising hit clocking in around four minutes and showcasing a broader reverb-y sound.

Brand New Eyes
September 29, 2009



Promotion for this record is in full swing now with the first single Ignorance streaming around the web. Honestly I was disappointed with this single but it does grow on you. Some more cheeky, but honest, lyrics. It points to an even more eclectic sound for the band which is something to look forward to when other “scene” and pop punk bands on the mainstream side of the divide seem lost and going in circles repeating the same synth lines, punk-t progressions, and chugging “breakdowns.”

Many of my more d.i.y. musician friends can’t understand why I’m honestly a fan of this band, but there is something to be said of honest lyrics and solid songwriting. More importantly, Paramore sound like they are growing musically between albums and singles which is very important once a band reaches the international stature they’ve toured their heels off to acheive. Sometimes I grimace when I see some of their promotional materials. However, after seeing their live show I have no problem saying I like this band (very high energy, really fun), although I’m not exactly shouting about it on Grand Avenue here in Phoenix or at the anarchist library.

Take a listen, maybe you like. Or maybe you’ll hate. C’est la vie.

Jonathan/Jimmy is a musician and writer based in Glendale, Arizona. You can hear his indie/folk-punk project Snail Quail by visiting: SnailQuail.net