(Finished March 13th, 2023) How is Paramore’s “This Is Why”?

Hello,

There’s still a lot of great rock music out there, but there are so few that reach the mainstream. One of the few rock CDs that made the mainstream is Paramore’s “This Is Why”. This is my review of that recent CD. I am a big fan of Paramore, but I haven’t listened to this CD yet.

1) At the start of this song I’m thinking it doesn’t sound like a Paramore song, which is not a complaint. At the :55 mark it starts to sound like a Paramore song, before it goes back to the more mellow sound. “This Is Why”:

2) This has an almost funky vibe. “The News”:

3) “Running Out of Time”:

4) Paramore at The Grand Ole Opry? “C’est Comme Ca”:

5) “Big Man, Little Dignity”:

6) From a couple of days ago. “You First”:

7) “Figure 8”:

8) I love that Paramore is trying to change their sound a bit. However the best version of Paramore is the one that rocks and kicks butt. For instance songs like “CrushCrushCrush” and “Misery Business”. This song just doesn’t move me much. Liar”:

9) This is one of the three best songs on “This Is Why”. It’s sort of a middle ground between their rock past and their seemingly move towards more mellow sounds. “Crave”:

10) Although this starts out a bit too slow for me it ends up being one of the best songs on “This Is Why”. This is a great album closer. “Thick Skull”:

Paramore seems to be walking a fine line here, combining both new sounds along with their previous rock vibe (see below). Paramore goes for new sounds and it mostly works. This is a perfectly decent CD and likely will be one of the rock albums of the year. That’s not due it being so amazing, it’s mostly due to the dearth of great rock music in 2023. This CD doesn’t rock enough, I wish it had one or two out and out Paramore rockers.

If you’re a Paramore completist you already have this in your collection. But as only a big Paramore fan I can take or leave this CD. Again it’s a perfectly fine CD, but it’s a CD you can take or leave. Grade: C+

Side note: as a lover of women with red hair I love Hayley’s hair- long or short.

Paramore’s Seven Best Songs:

11) “Riot” is without a doubt one of the best rock albums of the last 25 years. It’s one of those CDs that when you first hear it you know you’re going to love it forever. Much like MCR’s The Black Parade”. “CrushCrushCrush”: