Brand New Eyes by Paramore

Brand New Eyes by Paramore
Genre: Alternative rock, pop punk, emo
Released: September 29, 2009
Music Label: Fueled by Ramen

Annotation: Brand New Eyes is the third album released by the pop, emo group Paramore.

Summary: Paramore is a pop, emo group that formed in 2004. It consists of lead vocalist Hayley Williams, bassist Jeremy Davis, guitarist Taylor York, lead guitarist Josh Farro, and drummer Zac Farro. Their third album, Brand New Eyes, was released in September, 2009, and is the group's highest charting album to date. Many critics also gave it good, positive reviews stating that they are maturing. The album consists of 11 songs, which tops out at around 40 minutes. The group released a set of singles such as "Ignorance" and "Brick by Boring Brick," which were available via digital download. The album itself was formed under the public impression that the group was breaking up but the group said that they wanted to make an album about how they were growing up but not always growing together. Therefore, their songs are revolving around more realistic and current issues than their previous albums.

Critical Evaluation: Unfortunately, the majority of the songs all sounds the same, with each song leading into the other without any differentiation. That isn't to say that the music is bad: the drums thrash, the guitars clash, the bass rumbles, and Williams pours her heart out. Thus the relentless pace of the emo, pop punk sound. But "Careful" sounds very similar to "Ignorance," for example. However, the way Williams sings is what makes the album acceptable. She knows how to sing in the right pitch to make her point and ends each ryming phrase with a pitch that leaves an impression. And with Williams at the helm at the majority of the songwriting, the lyrics have a more mature feel. The songs aren't up-beat, their brutal and honest, which is what the group was experiencing at the moment. "I had it all, but not what I wanted cause hope for me was a place uncharted and overgrown" from "Careful" sets the tone for the album. As their audience, teens, are growing up, the attractive looking group is also growing up, trying to relate to their original audience while continuing their quick pop punk pace to attract younger teens. And it looks like its working.

Why Included: This might be the biggest teen band out there right now.  Check any teen website, or any music website, and you will see what I mean.  I decided to give it a listen and it just wasn't for me.  I'm just not a fan of music that sounds the same on every track.