The truth never set me free, so I did it myself

My latest and greatest musical obsession

brand new eyes by Paramore - This album will go down as one of the best that I have ever listened to. So much of what makes up this album, lyrically and musically, is so profound it astounds me. Now, there is no doubt this is very much tied in with my personal experiences, but nevertheless, it is also universally relateable (oxymoronic much?). Paramore comes back from what was almost their demise and delivers an album that blows Riot! out of the water. As you know (if you've read previous posts) I think very highly of Riot! and it continues to be one of my favorite albums. But brand new eyes takes Paramore to the next level, with lyrics that are so raw and honest it seems as though the band needed everyone to feel what they were feeling at the time when Paramore almost saw the end of their band. Hayley Williams' lyrics strike a very personal chord and show the listener from her point of view what the last tomultuous year and a half was like for her and the band. Opening with Careful, which is my favorite track of the album, the band delivers the kind of guitars that we've come to expect from Paramore, perhaps with a little more grit and rock feel. Top that with much more raw vocals from Williams, and the opener takes old Paramore and roughs it up a little bit. The lyrics take the band to a slightly darker side than For A Pessimist, Riot!'s opener, and introduces those darker themes that will continue throughout the album. Next is Ignorance, the first single off of the album, which returns to a similar sound as Misery Business, a more classic Paramore sound. Although some might like this, it does have the tendency to bore a little bit. Playing God is another depiction of Williams' feelings toward her bandmates, with a sound more original than the previous track. Next is Brick By Boring Brick, one of my own favorites from the album, with a chorus that deviates into a softer, rawer feeling than the guitars that open the track. The melody is very beautiful and gives the song a wonderful charm and emotional quality. I can't even explain why this song moves me so much, but it certainly does. Turn It Off comes next, which is another great track that shows the progression and maturity of the band's sound and lyrics, another look at the realizations of the past year. The Only Exception is the first time we here an acoustic ballad from Paramore, who sing about love and lost love. This one definitely strikes a personal chord considering my own experience with my parents' divorce, and the lyrics are pretty much exclusive to the point. It does have a little too much, well, almost floatiness to it (great job with that description, huh?) which might make me skip over it when listening to the album. Feeling Sorry has a great musical opening, and the first few lines of lyrics are really good, but for some reason, it kind of drops off a little for me. I really like the song, but I almost feel like there is something about it that makes me not want to listen to it as much. Looking Up is a great, feel-good track that reminds me why I love Paramore. They have a wonderful way of getting the listener to feel really good and happy, and the chorus of the song gets stuck in my head quite easily. Following that same train of thought comes Where The Lines Overlap, which ensures the listener that despite some of the struggles the band has gone through, they are certainly not done. The upbeat aspect of the chorus and the lyrics, paired with the musical sound in general makes the track vibrant and encouraging. Another favorite of mine. Misguided Ghosts is simply beautiful in so many ways. The acoustic aspect of the music works much better here than with The Only Exception, with Williams' voice displayed beautifully. I can't describe how perfect the vocals sound, and the lyrics compliment it perfectly, along with the guitars. A simply astounding track. All I Wanted closes the album with a reminder of how versatile Paramore can be. The sound is different from what you've come to expect from the band, even with an album that boasts a sound different from that of their previous work. This track starts slow and ends heavier, also displaying the more raw tendancies of Williams' vocals. Overall, brand new eyes finds Paramore reaching above and beyond what they did so well in Riot! and All We Know Is Falling. An exceptional album that deserves way more than the credit I have tried to give it here.

Key Tracks: Careful, Brick By Boring Brick, Misguided Ghosts, Where The Lines Overlap, Looking Up

Currently Listening To: "Misguided Ghosts" by Paramore from "brand new eyes"