PARAMORE - This Is Why - Album Review

I am the kind of music lover that will set aside my undivided attention to listen to a band’s new album in its entirety. Time is precious and there are no repeats so when I have free time to just sit and unwind. I’d like to grab a coffee or tea and put something fresh to my ears on in the background. No phone nearby as I put it on do not disturb and sat it on the nightstand by my bed. The world has had enough of my attention for the moment. Let me dive into something sweeter to my ears…the new Paramore record This Is Why. 

When the world saw teases from members of Paramore that they were recording in the studio again – music fans rejoiced as their favorite Tennesseans would be once again gracing their existences again. The ten song track enlists some of the iconic Paramore sounds that we have come to adore but with a grittier touch and experiences from the last several years to really sharpen the edge of the lyrical sword. Layered with guitar laden riffs, breakdowns and synthesized harmonies and rhythm – Paramore makes it known that this isn’t a comeback moment. They were always there, existing and living and breathing what the universe was giving and through This is Why  they have returned the favor. 

The opening song (and the title track) kicks off with This is Why which basically is this generations middle fingered anthem to the last three years. “This is why I don’t go outside, you say the coast is clear, but you won’t catch me out…” really gestures to the mood of everyone, myself included, who are tired, sad and out of words to describe the state of things. It could not have come at a better time for me personally as I resonate strongly with the song lyrics. I often want to scream “if you have an opinion, maybe you should shove it” because the sympathy in me has gone dry and I am setting boundaries that should’ve been built in place a long time. Therapy helps with that and this is music therapy at its core. (Least it is for me.) 

But the hits don’t stop there, as the band weaves their sonically, iconic sounds in and out, with tracks like Running Out of Time, You First, and Liar. It gives the listener a sense of camaraderie as they aren’t alone in feeling like the world is a shitty place to be in. Like Hayley Williams, I have a bad sense of direction and my time management skills, if improved upon, would help to ease my anxiety levels a bit. In an interview with Genius, Williams mentions that the song was one of the earliest pieces of writing for the new album and that hearing the chorus made her excited - ”I have to write the coolest shit ever.” I feel like she’s a kindred spirit as a 30-something year old living in the US who without a doubt have had their rights and opinions and freedoms challenged daily. Even at the time of writing this review, I always get the question ”when are you having children?” or ”when are you settling down?” As if life and its finite moments had a shelf life or expiration date on it. You First and Liar are both similar musical thought pieces and in the same vein as running out of time. It challenges the societal expectations that a woman (and one in the music industry) should have certain things etched onto their life mile markers. 

My other favorite tracks are ”C’est Comme Ca” and “The News”  and it is such a powerhouse kick to the face. In C’est Comme Ca, Williams switches back and forth from singing and spoken word effortlessly and her vocal inflections gives the lyrics an added punch to the gut. She even taps into the ideology of mental health advocates suggesting cure alls for what ails us but never allowing us the access to those resources. ”I know that regression is rarely rewarded. I still need a certain degree of disorder. I hate to admit getting better is boring. But the high cost of chaos, who can afford it?”  I mean who can argue that it’s not evident that mental health resources and illnesses are imbalanced and doesn’t help the entire population who needs said resources. The News also shouts out how fast paced things are and taps into the idea that “news travels fast” and how much of a headache we can attain when we think too much of it. “Shut your eyes, but it won’t go away. Turn on, turn off the news. Exploitative, performative, informative.” And honestly same. Everywhere we go it seems to be performative actions masked by false pretenses. 

I had a nice morning just sitting in quiet reverie and really allow myself to unwind. Self care can be seen in the form of a bubble bath or a face mask or retail therapy. But for me, and many others, it’s just a quiet space with great music blasting on the record player. And in due time, there will be a return of Vinyl Collections featuring the Target variants of the album.