Paramore album review: ‘This Is Why’

Paramore returns to a guitar-driven sound with their new album.

by Alex Ross Managing Editor

Paramore was, and still is in some circles, seen as the band that defined the mid-2000s poppunk scene. The majority of their popularity can be attributed to lead singer Hayley Williams who has been the heart of the band since their formation. Her poignantcy as a singer and songwriter let the group rise in popularity, finding a spot between their pop-punk contemporaries like Fall Out Boy or Panic! At The Disco.

Their previous effort “After Laughter” was released in summer of 2017. This album deviated from their usual teenage and melodramatic pop-punk roots, vying more for a pop-driven 80s-inspired album that faced mature topics like hiding behind a facade of happiness and failing to stay optimistic despite social pressures.

A sound shift like this one was met with critical appraisal at the time and proved that the band can remain popular despite forming 13 years prior.

“This Is Why,” Paramore’s sixth album, is yet another sound change for the band. The title track, which is also the first song on the album, strays away from the pop-punk of prior albums and develops a post-punk sound with a danceable groove.

In the anthemically catchy chorus that contrasts the laidback build of the verses, Williams passionately shouts, “This is why I don’t leave the house/You say the coast is clear/But you won’t catch me out/Oh why?/ This is why.” While some listeners could interpret these lines as quarantining during the