At 20, Hayley Williams has done more than most people dream of doing in their lives. The lead singer of the alternative rock band Paramore will celebrate her twenty-first birthday in December while leading the band through a whirlwind tour of Europe promoting their newest album Brand New Eyes. Already the band’s most successful album to date, Brand New Eyes is enjoying time on the best sellers list and shows no intent to slow down any time soon.
Paramore had enjoyed limited success around the country with the releases of their first album All We Know is Falling in 2005 and their sophomore effort Riot!, which released in 2007, but it wasn’t until two of their track appeared in the film phenomenon Twilight that Paramore found the recognition they deserved.
Brand New Eyes not only showcases the band’s efforts to change up their sounds, but also illustrates how the five members of Paramore are coming into their own as musicians and are branching out to try different things.
For fans of All We Know is Falling, “Careful” is classic Paramore. Williams’s power vocals carry the melody through the syncopated bass and drum rhythms. “Careful” also echoes the theme of Paramore’s albums—heartbreak is unavoidable.
The first single, “Ignorance” fits very much in the vein of Riot! with its driving rock rhythms and sarcastic lyrics that have become a staple of the quintet. “Ignorance is your new best friend” is the last of what Paramore fans are used to hearing from the band.
“Playing God” introduces listeners to the softer side of Paramore. Still relying on tongue-in-cheek lyrics, such as “Next time you point a finger, I might have to bend it back and break it off,” this track sounds like it could be found on Katy Perry’s next solo album. And the new sound isn’t bad, just surprising.
Article comments
1 - Katherine Trim
I love Paramors music!! I Love how in Brand New Eyes it has Rock and Softer Songs Like Misguided Ghosts.
2 - Haley
i love paramore so much. the new album is genius.