It had been 5 long years and Paramore fans everywhere were getting antsy, however, in September of 2022, they got what they desired and a new era of Paramore began.

After the successful After Laughter was released in 2017, fans were excited to see this pop punk band’s re-entry into the music world with their single, This is Why, in 2022. Over the next 5 months, two more songs were released, The News and C’est Comme Ça and on February 10th, 2023, the long-awaited 6th album, This is Why, was revealed. 

The album is 10 songs long and roughly 36 minutes long. The album begins with the relaxing guitar riff performed by the band’s guitarist Taylor York. Soon, Hayley Williams fills the song, This is Why, with her unique singing voice and it is obvious that the time off has not altered her ability to create a plethora of singing styles. The song is unique, out of step and very catchy. While the lyrics are fairly surface-level, it is a perfect start to the album and a great choice for the title track.

The album moves onto the second single released, The News. When I originally heard this song, I was slightly disappointed. It is unlike most of the Paramore songs I grew up with, but after multiple listens, this song became one of my favorites on the album. It starts out with a punchy lyric and it shows you this song is going to be anything but subtle. Most of the album has to do with the current events that are occurring in the world, but this one is the most in-your-face about its message. This song is about the war in Ukraine and the lack of trust the band has in the news. It is filled with unique percussive parts by the band’s drummer, Zac Farro, including the addition of a cowbell. The whole song makes you want to dance and William’s voice is filled with so much emotion, you have no choice but to sympathize for her.

The accessibility of the first two songs does not seem to stop. The 3rd song, Running Out of Time, talks about procrastination and poor time management. The background vocals during the chorus are what really drew me in. They almost repeat Hayley’s lyrics, but sing it slightly differently in a creepy/echo way. While the background vocals in this song are phenomenal, it is hard not to discuss the power that comes from Hayley Williams. She has never been one to shy away from hard vocal choices, which she proves with the high pitch screams she creates in this song.

The next two songs in the album,  C’est Comme Ça and Big Man, Little Dignity, end the first side of the vinyl. These songs didn’t seem to have the same pull on me as the first three. While they are both very strong instrumentally, with a very interesting bass riff in C’est Comme Ça and a beautiful vocal performance in Big Man, Little Dignity, they both felt very repetitive to me. In both songs, the lyrics felt slightly unvaried and after a couple of listens, I had them entirely memorized. Despite this, I still enjoy the songs and they don’t throw off the continuity of the album. I was also pleasantly happy to hear the similarities between C’est Comme Ça and the 2007 album, Riot. 

Side B of the album begins on the song You First. This song seemed to mix the older Paramore sound with some 70s-like musical components. When listening to this song, I wrote down lots about the guitar style of this song. Taylor York appears to be really enjoying himself when performing on this, and it definitely transfers over to my enjoyment of the music.

While the first side of the album is enjoyable and creative, the second side is where I see Paramore’s creativity and musicianship at their peak. After the album moves from the 1st track on side b, the 4 song run is astounding. First, there is the angry Figure 8 with its highly relatable lyrics, then onto the gorgeous Liar with phenomenal high notes by Williams. Crave shortly follows with Farro’s distinct drums and the climax of the album is reached at Thick Skull.

Thick Skull is the perfect ending for such a fantastic run of songs. If you were still determining your alliance to the album, it is set in stone. The dark lyrics draw you in and when the beat drops, you are placed in a trance. The ability to create a fabulous album and end it on such a high note is something Paramore has shown off time and time again.

Overall, this album gives a great representation of Paramore’s time as a band. In After Laughter, it is obvious that the band is experiencing difficulty in their lives and that hurt is definitely felt in this album. After the era of After Laughter, history was made time and time again and they honed in that pain to make This Is Why. The variety of genres combined with the lyrics and messages show us a common theme. Disarray.

When I spoke to fellow Paramore listener, Leannah Harbison, they said this album was a surprise to them. “I started listening when I was 6 years old. My family was just interested in the band…  this album was a little different from what I heard in older Paramore, but I liked it. It was new and I liked it a lot.” Harbison says they would strongly suggest this album to other people. “What I get from it is that you’re able to scream with it. It’s like you’re letting something out when you listen to it. So for listeners, I guess it’s just kind of a reliever.” 

Both Leannah and I agree that while this album is certainly different from 2004 Paramore, it is unique and absolutely worth a listen. The band is certainly growing, and you can absolutely see this in the album. So if you enjoy relatable, deep and “relieving” music, This Is Why will definitely hit those marks.