This band has never had an AOTY for me personally (may change here), but their last three records have been the most enjoyable and compelling first listens of their respective release years, that's for sure.
This album is incredibly catchy. It would have been nice if the lyrics were good. These seem pretty basic. Does she write them all herself?
I honestly don't view these lyrics as 'basic' or sophomoric. Especially indepth and symbolic? Not necessarily. But definitely not vapid, nor something I feel like calling negative attention to when the rest of the record rocks as much as it does.
Not every band has to be top notch at every element of music. Adversely, I don't see the point in calling attention to simple arrangements on a lyrics-forward folk record.
I think she touched on some topics that may be different than a lot of similar artists, I don't think there is anything over complex though, but not sure it would fit this music well
This record rules, "Fake Happy" & "Rose Colored Boy" are my standouts after listening all weekend and the last two days. Even bought it for my Mom on Sun. as a last minute mother's day gift. This may have already been posted but the NY Times had an interesting take: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/11/arts/music/paramore-after-laughter-review.html?_r=0
The lyrics are really strong here and I think this album shows that Hayley's lyricism is at its best when she really goes for it thematically.
Out of all the amazing, catchy hooks there are on this thing, the few lines that keep repeating in my head are the ones Hayley talk-sings at the end of Tell Me How: "you don't have to tell me / if you ever think of me / i know you see me dancing wildly in the fog of your memory". It's also the song I've changed my opinion on the most since release. Didn't really think of it as anything special at first, but right now it's the one I want to come back to the most.
I mean, from Paramore's generation of those bands? I think Dan Nigro was someone who knew how to use his voice. Honestly, it's a genre where subtlety and nuance is in fairly short supply, which is part of why it's so awesome to see Hayley's strides as a singer.
What ever happened to that dude? Absolutely he knew how to use his voice. I sing along to "Love Love Love" whenever it comes on and it is fucking hard to do.
Pretty successful songwriter now. Did a bunch of Sly Ferriera's stuff, if I'm not mistaken. Edit: Also CRJ, Andrew McMahon and Twin Shadow co-writes.
They are about as basic as it gets. It's not a big deal, I mean it's not like they are trying to be progressive lyrically. But I mean, some of these lines are pretty bad. For instance, "Told you so" does not have even the slightest hint of originality lyrically...
Honestly trying to think of another song that expresses the sentiment of actually taking no pleasure in constantly having to prove doubters wrong. I think it's fairly novel.
That's a pretty generic topic if you ask me. I would have just liked to see some more interesting lyrical content that's all. Like I said, this is the catchiest album I've heard in a long time.
Hayley isn't some expert wordscrafter, nor does she have to be, and also some of the people so highly regarded for their skills as lyricists don't really do much for me either so... But she's good at staying the course in her songs, being thematic to the topic at hand, and getting her point across.
Addressing doubters and haters is. But can you think of another that isn't confrontational or triumphant in that and instead is dispassionate about continually succeeding?