What makes Paramore so special? Hayley Williams and crew aren't doing anything all that different, as female vocalists are a rarity in the rock scene but still nothing new. And their fusion of poppy, almost emotional vocals set to a backdrop of power-chord abusing punk is a scene in itself that's starting to show its age. But even with their newest release, brand new eyes, Paramore have beaten the odds and kept themselves alive.
What makes Paramore worth listening to is how much confidence they have for being such a young group. Ranging from ages 19 to 24, and originating when lead singer Hayley was only 15 years old, the band has done some considerable growing up in the past five years. Previous albums Riot! and All We Know is Falling attained their popularity quickly due to Hayley's demanding vocals and encouraging lyrics, inspired by the band's Christian background. And with brand new eyes, they've just gotten better at their own game.
Now, brand new eyes may not change up Paramore's game plan at all, but it positively builds upon their already near-famous repertoire. Every song on the album has at least one moment where it just pops, where Hayley's alarming voice raises expertly out of your speakers and demands your attention. She's easily found a confidence in herself that only experience can bring, which you'll experience in tracks like the first two singles, "Ignorance" and "Brick by Boring Brick". In both songs, Hayley's tone comes off as natural and strong, as she spits each lyric out in turn.
The rest of the album follows suit, as each new track is performed as only Paramore can. "Playing God" and "Feeling Sorry" are classic Paramore numbers, instantly easy on the ears while also riddled with allusions to actual life lessons. Gone are the blistering accusations off of Riot!, and while no song on brand new eyes really comes close to besting "Misery Business", as a whole there's a defining consistency that makes this album stand above their previous efforts.
Even the obligatory lighter tracks find their way into the mix, as the album concludes with the slower, more melancholy "Misguided Ghosts" and "All I Wanted". Together, they make for a couple of decent tracks to muse upon, but they're nothing compared to brand new eyes' sixth track, "The Only Exception". It's a cute, simple song on love, but has a feel of sincerity to it that the rest of the album cannot even reach. Definitely worth listening to.
The problem with brand new eyes is well-explained in opener "Careful", where Hayley proclaims "you can't be too careful anymore". Paramore leans on the edge of "too careful" with this album, and while it has a unifying feel and is arguably their best effort yet, brand new eyes is still just a very good pop-punk album. Musically, the album is uninspired, resorting to chords and riffs that eventually blend into each other. This isn't a huge surprise knowing the band's history, but they definitely need to change things up for their next album.
So why is this band so special? Chances are if you liked All We Know is Falling or Riot!, you've already figured it out on your own. If not, take some time and try out brand new eyes, and experience the confidence and encouraging spirit that is Paramore.
Rating: 4/5
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