Paramore’s break-out single, “Misery Business,” was climbing the charts. “Riot!,” the album in which the song was featured, was closing in on 1 million copies sold. The band seemed to be on top of the world.
So what happened? Where did they go?
2008 saw the five Tennessee’s natives having trouble coping with the spotlight.
After canceling the tail-end of their 2008 European tour, fans were uncertain if Paramore would be around to follow up their breakout album.
As an answer to their fans’ prayers, the band found the strength to fight through the troubled times and come back stronger than ever by following up their massive 2007 success with “Brand New Eyes,” their third full release to date.
“Brand New Eyes” reveals a mature and sophisticated side of the band that seemed to be in their infancy in 2007.
The 11-track album features songs that almost come off as a continuation of “Riot!,” and some that prove that wisdom truly does come with age. Songs like “Ignorance” and “Turn It Off” feature the same amount of commercial appeal that made the band so successful in 2007, while “The Only Exception” and “All I Wanted” show a new sense of maturity.
The song, “Misguided Ghosts,” quite possibly the best material the band has recorded to date, almost inadvertently argues the point many have wondered themselves: “Is the band necessary, or is lead singer Hayley Williams the one to thank for all of the band’s success?”
“Misguided Ghosts” goes on to show a more intimate side of the band and almost gives listeners a taste of what Williams would be like on her own, if she ever was to choose that route.
“Brand New Eyes,” as the title suggests, is a departure from the Paramore of the past. The album displays a raw side of the band while still highlighting the talent that made them so successful a couple of years back.
Though devout Paramore fans have been through a few anxiety attacks during the past couple of uncertain years, they may rest assured with the release of “Brand New Eyes” that Paramore is here to stay.
To hear music from “Brand New Eyes,” visit the band’s website at http://www.paramore.net/.
