On September 29, 2009, Paramore’s latest release is set to rock a store near you. Their highly-anticipated third album since their debut with All We Know is Falling in 2005, this record does not disappoint.
And just in case you aren’t familiar with this band—which if you aren’t, where have you been my friend?—ok, I jest…moving on to the intro. When Hayley Williams (lead vocals), Josh Farro (lead guitar, backing vocals), Jeremy Davis (bass guitar), Zac Farro (drums), and Taylor York (rhythm guitar) got together in Franklin, Tennessee back in 2004, they formed the Grammy-nominated band known as Paramore.
Brand New Eyes is an amazing mesh of songs. We’ve all come to know and love the classic power, energy-driven rock sound that Paramore has graced us with songs like “Misery Business” for the past 5 years, but this album has taken the Paramore to a whole new level and has even showcased their softer side. Yes, I did it, I said “softer side.”
The record starts out with “Careful,” a bone-rattling rock song that showcases the most powerful range and capabilities of Williams’ voice and the band’s rock sound. I think it’s safe to say that Williams has one of the most unique and rippling voices in the world of music today, and “Careful” puts that amazing voice on parade.
Brand New Eyes continues with “Ignorance,” which also happens to be the band’s first single off the album, and a song I’m sure you’ve heard on the radio in recent months. I remember the first time I heard “Ignorance” on the radio. I was immediately impressed. I have always been a fan of Paramore but I was immediately jolted with excitement at hearing how their sound had grown and changed since the last album. And since they just finished a world tour with them, I think it’s safe to say this song even has a slight old school, No Doubt-esque sound to it.
“Playing God” still keeps the quintessential Paramore rock sound but nicely slows down the album’s pace following two such power-packed songs. The echo effect used when Williams’ sings “way I” in the lyric “but the way I see it” is positively beautiful. Don’t be confused by this presence of softness, however. The lyrical edge is ever-present in this tune (i.e. “The next time you point a finger, I might have to bend it back and break it, break it off”).
“Brick By Brick,” is one of the best examples of the band’s growth in sound and in lyrics over the years. It’s unlike pretty much any other Paramore song I have ever heard and offers a great transition on the album. The bridge utilizes a great combo of Williams’ and Farro’s voices too.
When “The Only Exception,” came on, I actually thought my iTunes had randomly switched to shuffle and I was listening to “Yellow” by Coldplay. The initial acoustic riff threw me off that much. And make no mistake, though Paramore perfects the angsty, guitar-driven tune, they show on Brand New Eyes that they can do meaningful, ballad-esque tunes just as well. “Looking Up” is a great example of this, combining a great rock sound with lyrics that describe the exhilaration of a new relationship.
