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by Tony Pascarella Published: July 20, 2005
You know, there's something to be said about hype. Rarely does it live up to the expectations of those who do the judging. I can't count the number of bands I've heard hyped even in the past year whose albums have fallen well short of expectations. Then again, I should probably learn to count past ten sometime this year…but I digress. Paramore is one of those bands that have earned their fair share of the h-word. Why? Well, they recently signed to Fueled By Ramen Records, a label that boasts such alumni as Jimmy Eat World and Yellowcard as well as current bands Fall Out Boy, The Academy Is, Gym Class Heroes, and Less Than Jake. Basically, Paramore was signed to one of the hottest independent labels around. Paramore Is: Hayley Williams (Vocals) Josh Farro (Guitar) Jason Bynum (Guitar) John Hembree (Bass) Zac Farro (Drums) The band hails mostly from Franklin, Tennessee, where Hayley met the Farro brothers. They have performed live in big shows over the past year or so, including a short stint with Fall Out Boy, Taste of Chaos, Bamboozle, and now Warped Tour. Their debut album for Fueled By Ramen Records, All We Know Is Falling was co-produced by James Wisner (Dashboard Confessional, Further Seems Forever) and Mike Green (Yellowcard, Over It, Rufio), and, having heard several of those albums they've worked on, their influences are both evident and positive additions to Paramore's music. I had the opportunity to see three of the (then) four band members do an acoustic set to open the Fueled By Ramen & Friends Tour back in April. And since then, I've been hooked on Paramore, waiting with rapt attention for their full-length debut. Of the songs they performed live, only "Here We Go Again" appears on the album, but that is definitely my favorite. An upbeat rhythm section deftly backs Hayley's weighty vocals. Her voice wanders from concentrated and forceful to absolutely soaring and back again. It's honestly hard to believe she's only sixteen years old. And since I know it's come up before, the comparisons to Avril Lavigne are sorely unfounded. Paramore even delves into the screamo genre on All We Know Is Falling. Now before you plug your ears and run from the room screaming, they do it very well. "My Heart" is a cool song from start to finish. Light guitars and heavy drumming intro the song, which begins with slow, musing vocals from Hayley. She picks it up a bit, but the screamo part doesn't come in until much later in the song when her lovely singing is accompanied by the screams, which are rough yet very focused. There's really only one weak song on All We Know Is Falling. "Whoa" happens to carry a horrendously lame title with lyrics that are politely described as cliché. The crunching, metal-esque guitar/drums combo is great, but the lyricism is just not there, which is pretty disappointing given the quality of the other songs on the album. Standouts like "Pressure" and "All We Know" are still eclipsed by "Let This Go." These passionate, rocking tracks are what make this Tennessee group so talented. In the latter song, they transition smoothly from heavy music with a powerful bass line to melodic, piano-based goodness. All the while, Hayley's singing stands out, channeling raw innocence with maturity beyond her years. "Franklin" is a song about their adopted hometown of Franklin, Tennessee. The male harmonies add just the right amount of flair to this emotionally reminiscent piece. Paramore is a band you may not yet have heard of, but look for them to make a major splash in the very near future. They're definitely on my bands-to-watch list, and, if you get the opportunity, they're playing Warped Tour this year; go see for yourself. Hayley Williams has a rich, powerful voice that rarely makes a mistake on this stunning debut. If you enjoy scintillating vocals with carefully crafted rhythm parts, Paramore deserves to be one of the next CDs you purchase. All We Know Is Falling is just that good. With a string of bonafide single-worthy tracks, you'll be hearing from Hayley, Josh, Jason, John, and Zac a lot in the next few months. 
Recommendation: All We Know Is Falling will be a very solid addition to any CD collection. Genre: Rock Overall Grade: A- (91%) |
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