Paramore, This Is Why | Album Review 💿

Grammy-winning band Paramore make a compelling return with their sixth studio album, This Is Why following a six-year hiatus.

After a six-year hiatus, 🏆 Grammy-winning collective 🎙 Paramore (Hayley Williams, Taylor York, and Zac Farro) are back! The comeback began in 2022 with the epic single, 🎵 “This Is Why”, the first piece of the puzzle from their 2023 album, 💿 This Is Why. After continuing to build the hype with the 🎵 “The News” and 🎵 “C’est Comme Ça”, This Is Why proves to be a consistent, enjoyable, and tight sixth studio album.  At 10 tracks running 36 minutes, Paramore brings the heat.

“This Is Why”

“This is why I don’t leave the house / You say the coast is clear / But you won’t catch me out / Oh, why? / This is why.” There are lots of things to like about 🤩 🎵 “This Is Why”. First and foremost, Hayley Williams sounds awesome, locked in from start to finish.  Beyond her fine vocal performance, her fellow band members are on-point too.  Farro sounds great on drums, anchoring things down with some sick grooves.  Furthermore, York, shines on guitar. Their guest bassist rocks out, providing a fat foundation.  Of course, beyond the excellent performance by all parties, what does “This is Why” entail lyrically and thematically? It encompasses protecting one’s mental health, especially from hateful, insensitive, and opinionated folks, whom Williams considers to be toxic.  She warns of the toxicity and how it can affect her.  It’s best exemplified in the chorus, though the bridge is another masterful illustration: “One step beyond your door / It might as well have been a free fall / …One step beyond your door / And I’m floating like a cannonball.” Despite the toxicity of some people in the world, there’s nothing toxic in the least about 🎵 “This Is Why”.

“So, I turn on the news / Turn off the news.” The premise of 🤩 🎵 “The News” is obvious from the onset and relatable.  There is a lot of bad news going down in the world, and escaping it, via television, via the internet, so on and so forth, is difficult.  Per Paramore, it is not only the news itself that is disturbing and troubling, but the MEDIA.  In the bridge, Hayley Williams labels media as “Exploitative, performative / Informative and we don’t know the half of it.”  Specifically, the band references the war between Russian and Ukraine.  In the chorus, Williams sings, “Every second, our collective heart breaks / All together, every single head shakes / Shut your eyes, but it won’t go away / Turn on, turn off the news.” Beyond the theme and lyrics, the music is energetic, with ripe guitar, robust bass, and a thrilling groove established by the drums. 🎵 “The News” benefits from its theme and lyrics, assertive vocals from Williams, and an energetic backdrop.

“Running Out Of Time” 

Time is a serious issue for Hayley Williams on 🤩 🎵 “Running Out Of Time” – an understatement. She is honest regarding her ineptitude regarding time management in the verses, listing her many time-driven shortcomings. In the pre-chorus, she delivers some of the most memorable lyrics, asserting, “Intentions only get you so far / What if I’m a selfish prick? / No regard, ah!” The catchiest and most energetic section of “Running Out Of Time” is undoubtedly the chorus, which emphasizes the titular lyric.  The music is at its funkiest during the centerpiece.

Following the electric “Running Out Of Time,” Paramore drops the lit French-titled fourth track, 🤩 🎵 “C’est Comme Ça”, which translates as It’s Like That – WOO! Like the preceding three tracks, the third single from This Is Why remains energetic to the n^th degree.  The question becomes, why is it like that? Per the verses, she has her fair share of issues, all of which seem to stem back to mental health.  Despite the fact that being off caffeine is purported to “help level out my hormones,” it’s ultimately matters like “My dependence on the friction that really hinders my progression.” Her honesty, coupled with another awesome supporting instrumental makes “C’est Comme Ça” another surefire winner from This Is Why.

“Big man, ooh / Little dignity / No offense, but you / You got no integrity.” Damn, that stings! Men everywhere should listen closely to the thought-provoking 🎵 “Big Man, Little Dignity,” which calls out those bad apples. Hayley Williams asserts in the second verse, “You keep your head high, smooth operator in a shit-stained suit.” Woo! Despite the harsh and dismissive lyrics regarding these awful guys that seem to get away with murder, Williams and company deliver another well-rounded music selection.  According to 🎵 “You First,” “Everyone is a bad guy / And there’s no way, no way to know / Who’s the worst.” Williams makes a legitimate point about humankind.  Even though she highlights her own shortcomings, she understands it is not solely her who falls short. We are all suspect, which is a sad but true.  “Which wolf wins?” she sings in the second verse, adding, “I guess it really depends, just gotta wait and see.” Facts for sure.

 “Figure 8”

One of the sweetest, most compelling aspects of 🤩 🎵 “Figure 8” are the picturesque, rhythmic music cues.  Like much of This Is Why, the guitars roar in all their rhythmic glory.  Harmonically, “Figure 8” allures as well, particularly in the chorus, where Williams sings dynamically, “All for your sake / Became the very thing that I hate / I lost my way / Spinnin’ in an endless figure eight.”  “Figure 8” is another instance of introspection from Hayley, who nails self-awareness from the opening tip of This Is Why. 🤩 🎵 “Liar” slackens the pace, providing contrast to much of the quicker numbers. Williams sings in poised, restrained fashion in the verses, something that continues on the honest chorus (“And, oh, my love, I lied to you”). A tuneful record, it also marks another vulnerable showing for Hayley, who through lies attempted to hide her feelings and true love for this person (cough* Taylor York). Of course, York knew better than to fall for the denial and lies, per Williams own admission during the chorus.  Ultimately, this is a gorgeous song.

🎵 “Crave” arrives as the penultimate number. It has more energy than “Liar” without over accelerating the tempo.  The best moment, undoubtedly, is the chorus where Williams’ craving sounds incredibly authentic: “Now, I crave, crave / To do it again, all again /… Just for a second, it all felt simple / I’m already missin’ it.”  As for the verses, full-on reflection mode continues, with Haley exploring past, present, and future.  This Is Why concludes with 🎵 “Thick Skull,” another ballad.  Though it is a bit more restrained initially, it percolates more as Williams continues to open up.  “Only I know where all the bodies are buried,” Williams sings, continuing, “Thought by now I’d find ‘em just a little less scary.” Woo! She adds the question, “What’s the body count up to now, captain?” eventually adding “Thick skull never did / Nothing for me / Same lesson again?” Criticism has hurt her tremendously over the years and continues to bother her.  This song speaks to coping and moving beyond such criticisms which is none too easy.

Final Thoughts 💭 

After a six-year hiatus, Paramore makes a strong return.  There are no miscues to be found on the tight, 10-track This Is Why.  Hayley Williams is in good voice from start to finish, successfully conveying authenticity track by track.  The music is terrific too, with aggressive guitars and hard-hitting drumming throughout the course of the LP.  While many have criticize Paramore as Williams suggests on the closer, generally, This Is Why shows why the 🏆 Grammy-winning band continues to endure.

🤩 Gems 💎: “This Is Why,” “The News,” “Running Out Of Time,” “C’est Comme Ça,” “Figure 8” & “Liar” 

🎙 Paramore • 💿 This Is Why • 🏷 Atlantic • 🗓 2.10.23

[📷: Atlantic]