Riot! [FBR 25th Anniversary Edition]

by Paramore

Overview

Move over, Avril; there's a new gun in town. And even though Paramore's lead singer Hayley Williams is a few years younger than her predecessor, she has a way bigger set of vocal pipes. Lavigne and Williams share a similar register, but Williams belts it out with way more control and authority. She may even be more of a respectable pop idol since her image isn't manufactured to be rebellious and angst-ridden; instead, Williams appears to be a genuinely sweet girl, bottling up a huge voice and a heart full of lost loves. On 2008's Riot!, she fills the majority of her punk-pop tales with emo angst and declarations of boy woes. Contrived as this may sound, her lyrics feel authentic and representative of actual teenage puppy love, where a breakup feels like the end of the world. Filled with crossover potential, the songs are consistant and zippy with catchy hooks in the vein of Boys Like Girls fronted by a young Shirley Manson. Meanwhile, the production is sparkling and heavily compressed due to the golden hands of David Bendeth, but these ultra-clean sonics also tend to cramp up the band -- clouding the dynamics and turning the listening experience into a relatively risk-free one. When the group breaks away from the chugging guitar Fall Out Boy formula, they're at their best. Mid-song breakdowns and cathartic power ballads (think "Don't Speak") showcase the band's maturity as musicians. More importantly, Williams shines through in these openings. In the last track, "Born for This," she takes a break from her love confessions and commands everyone to sing like it's the last song they will ever sing, making for a sentimental finale and a perfect closer for the live shows. ~ Jason Lymangrover

Product Details

Release Date:	05/28/2021
Label:	Fueled By Ramen Records
UPC:	0075678645679
Rank:	1264

Tracks

1. For a Pessimist I'm Pretty Optimistic
2. That's What You Get
3. Hallelujah
4. Misery Business
5. When It Rains
6. Let the Flames Begin
7. Miracle
8. Crushcrushcrush
9. We Are Broken
10. Fences
11. Born for This

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Paramore   Primary Artist
Hayley Williams   Vocals
Josh Farro   Guitar,Vocals
Zac Farro   Drums,Vocals
Jeremy Davis   Guitar (Bass),Bass,Vocals
Brian Weaver   Bass
John Bender   Vocals,Strings,Vocals (Background)
Taylor Robinson   Vocals
Sebastian Davin   Piano
Kathleen Smith   Vocals
Sarah Wood   Vocals
Carl Delbuono   Vocals
Derek Robinson   Vocals
Kate Bonney   Vocals
Mary Bonney   Vocals
Steven "Untitled" Smith   Vocals
Bekah Sheets   Vocals

Technical Credits

Kato Khandwala   Audio Engineer,Engineer,Digital Editing
David Bendeth   Audio Production,Mixing,Composer,Producer
Ted Jensen   Mastering
John Bender   Arranger,Engineer,Vocal Producer,Digital Editing
Justin York   Composer
Hayley Williams   Composer
David Sandstroem   Composer
Zac Farro   Composer
Josh Farro   Composer
Dennis Lyxzen   Composer
Dan Korneff   Engineer,Explosions,Digital Editing
Taylor York   Composer
Mark Obriski   Type,Design,Art Direction
Jon Braennstroem   Composer
Jeremy Davis   Composer
Josh Rothstein   Photography
Steve Robertson   A&R
Kristopher Campbell   Composer