Paramore
RIOT!

THE REVIEW

A fiery red-haired young lady hopping furiously from side to side on stage. This is Hayley Williams, the essence and lead singer of the American band Paramore. Born in '89, she has energy to spare during live performances and that powerful voice that seems almost impossible to be coming from such a petite girl. Beside her, the Farro brothers (Zac on drums and Josh on guitar), guitarist Taylor York, and bassist Jeremy Davis. This quintet, still (and unfortunately) not very well known in Italy, has climbed the charts thanks to "Riot!", the latest album, from which three singles have been released: "Misery Business", "Crush Crush Crush", and "Hallelujah".

The album opens with the single "For a pessimist, I'm pretty Optimistic", which for some reason reminds me a lot of the eternal and unpronounceable (for us Italians) song titles of bands like Fall Out Boy or Panic! at the Disco. "For a pessimist, I'm pretty Optimistic" is a gritty track, with a chorus that sticks in your head after just one listen. "That's what you get", the second single, alternates some more pop and melodic parts with slightly more aggressive riffs. It's a pity for the excessive "Whoa"s, which, as it turns out, Hayley loves to insert here and there in songs when she doesn't know what to write. I find the video for "Hallelujah" decidedly cute, where you can see some of the band's performances (check it out on YouTube); however, the idea of the photos vaguely reminds me of an old Kanye West video (although I believe Paramore had better things to do than copycatting a rapper’s videos). In the song, one of the most intense on the album, you can also hear, at times, the full power of Hayley's voice.

And we arrive at the masterpiece. "Misery Business". What can I say, simply fantastic. Rhythm and lyrics thrilling, crazy, it has nothing to envy from other more famous punk songs. Speaking of the video, I find the idea of setting it in a typical American high school genius, where among nerds and the classic cheerleaders (I refuse to call them "pom-pom girls"), a girl full of makeup and bosom creates chaos, only to be shamed by our providential Hayley. The only, small, almost insignificant flaw: enough with these "Whoa"s, which are too '80s!

And after an eardrum-splitting tune comes "When it rains", a decidedly slower track. The lyrics are very intense, at times more gritty, once again showcasing Hayley's vocal abilities. The opening riff of "Let the flames begin" slightly reminds me of the style of Incubus, but the rest of the song is decidedly more aggressive. However, the lyrics aren't particularly original. As in: seen it, heard it. Thanks a lot. The lyrics of "Miracle" are a bit borrowed from other songs. I find nothing special about it; in some parts, it’s very much like: okay, life sucks, now I'm gonna slit my wrists. Even the melody seems recycled from other tracks, even from the same album. And on "Miracle" we lightly draw a pitiful veil and move on, to arrive at another of my favorite tracks from "Riot!": "Crush Crush Crush". Gritty just right, yet catchy, lyrics decidedly more dignified than some previous ones (see "Let the flames begin" and "Miracle") and a video with a very original setting. The most moving and slow track of the album, however, is "We are broken", where Hayley's voice is heard in all its extension, without the need for many frills and guitar solos. A song that clearly shows that to be a respectable rock band (allow me this categorization, even if it's not my style), it's not always necessary to write songs that burst the eardrums of those who listen. Well done Hayley!

"Fences" and "Born for this" have an engaging rhythm, placed specifically to lift the spirits of those who listen to the album, after an intense track like "We are broken". Powerful, aggressive, they could even make an octogenarian with a catheter jump out of a rocking chair.

Paramore: write this name down wherever you want (underwear is not valid), but make sure you write it down. Because, mark my words, in a few years they will be known here too.

And please, do not compare Hayley to Avril Lavigne!