After Laughter

Last updated

After Laughter
After Laughter Paramore album cover.png
Studio album by
Paramore
ReleasedMay 12, 2017
RecordedJune – November 2016
Studio RCA Studio A (Nashville, Tennessee)
Genre
Length42:31
Label Fueled by Ramen
Producer
Paramore chronology
The Holiday Sessions
(2013)		After Laughter
(2017)		 This Is Why
(2023)
Singles from After Laughter
  1. "Hard Times"
    Released: April 19, 2017
  2. "Told You So"
    Released: May 3, 2017
  3. "Fake Happy"
    Released: August 29, 2017
  4. "Rose-Colored Boy"
    Released: March 2, 2018
  5. "Caught in the Middle"
    Released: June 26, 2018

After Laughter is the fifth studio album by the American rock band Paramore. It was released on May 12, 2017, through Fueled by Ramen, as a follow-up to their 2013 self-titled album. After Laughter was produced by guitarist Taylor York alongside previous collaborator Justin Meldal-Johnsen. It is the band's first album since the return of drummer Zac Farro (who left the band with his brother Josh in 2010) and the departure of former bassist Jeremy Davis (who left the band in 2015). [1] [2] After Laughter represents a complete departure from the pop-punk and alternative rock sound of the band's previous releases and, in direct contrast to its upbeat and vibrant sound, touches on themes of exhaustion, depression and anxiety.

Contents

Upon release, After Laughter received critical acclaim from music critics, who praised the band's new sonic direction and the 1980s new wave and synth-pop sound on the album. Several publications featured the album in their year-end lists, including Billboard and Rolling Stone . In 2019, Pitchfork listed it at number 169 in their list of best albums of the decade. [3]

After Laughter was supported by five singles: "Hard Times", released on April 19, 2017; "Told You So", released on May 3, 2017; "Fake Happy", released on August 29, 2017; "Rose-Colored Boy", released on March 2, 2018; and "Caught in the Middle", released on June 26, 2018. The album debuted at number six on the US Billboard 200, marking their third top 10 album on the chart, with 67,000 album-equivalent units. [4]

Background and recording

On January 19, 2016, singer Hayley Williams announced that the band was in the process of writing their fifth album, following up their 2013 self-titled album, Paramore . [5] On June 8, 2016, the band posted a short video of themselves in a studio to their social media, [6] the same month the album recording started. [7] [8] This was preceded by a number of images which all included both former drummer Zac Farro and producer Justin Meldal-Johnsen, [9] leading fans and various media outlets to speculate the return of Farro. [10] On June 17, Farro was featured yet again in a picture uploaded to social media, this time behind a drum set, confirming that he would be recording drums for the album, [11] though he later clarified that he was only recording drums for the album and that he had not rejoined the band as a full member. [12] Despite this, on February 2, 2017, the band announced that Farro would return as the band's official drummer. [13] [14] The album was recorded in Nashville's historic RCA Studio B, marking the first time the group recorded an album in their hometown. It was produced by the band's guitarist Taylor York, and Meldal-Johnsen, both of whom also produced their self-titled record. [15] The recording of the album concluded in November 2016. [16]

In an interview with The New York Times , Williams stated "I didn't even know if we were going to make another record...There was a moment when I didn't even want it to happen. Then it was like, I want it to happen, but I don't know how we're going to do it." [17] Williams was also interviewed by DIY Magazine , where she mentioned "I still feel like we're really green, especially with this record. It felt like there were so many new things to try and so many new feelings about life – you're finally all the way over the hump of being able to deny that you're an adult now. Yeah, this was a crazy record to make." [18]

Release and promotion

On April 19, 2017, the lead single, "Hard Times", was released along with a music video. [15] [19] [20] [21] On the same day, pre-orders of the album were made available, [15] revealing the album title, cover art, track listing, and release date. [15] [19] [20] [21] A European headline tour was later announced via the band's official website, kicking off in Ireland on June 15. [22] Riot Fest also announced that Paramore would be part of the festival's lineup in September. [23] [24] On May 3, the band released a second single from the album, titled "Told You So", along with a music video. [25] [26] On May 10, the album leaked online before its official release. [27] On the day of the album's release, the band announced their third "Parahoy!" cruise, which took place from April 6 to April 10, 2018, sailing from Miami to Nassau, Bahamas. [28] [29] On May 17, the band performed "Hard Times" on Jimmy Kimmel Live! , [30] [31] Following this, on May 25, they performed "Told You So" on The Late Late Show . [32] [33] On August 29, 2017, the band released "Fake Happy" as the third single from the album, [34] [35] On February 5, 2018, a music video directed by Warren Fu for "Rose-Colored Boy" was released, [36] [37] [38] which is also the album's fourth single. [39] On June 26, 2018, a music video for "Caught in the Middle" was released, which also serves as the album's fifth and final single. [40] [41]

Composition

Music and lyrics

After Laughter is a departure from Paramore's previous material, leaving behind the pop-punk and emo genres of previous releases entirely. [42] [43] Matt Collar from AllMusic described the album's sound as new wave. [42] Ilana Kaplan at Paste characterized the album as 1980s new wave pop. [44] Similarly, Billboard's Chris Payne described it as an "early '80s new wave" album, as well as calling the songs on After Laughter "slick, sun-kissed alternative pop". [43] Marianne Eloise of The Forty Five described the album as synth-pop. [45] Brad Nelson of Spin also described the album as new wave, saying that "it's the band's brightest, most animated album. The sound is crisp, every layer discernible, lacking the blurs and reverberations that constitute traditional rock production and instead drawing from the rhythmic separations that characterize '80s pop and freestyle." [46] Glenn Gamboa from Newsday stated that the band is "pushing deeper into their own pop-rock world," and that the album has "the candy-colored energy of '80s pop built on sleek synths and spiky, Afrobeat-tinged guitars." [47] Pitchfork writer Ryan Dombal categorized the album a "piece of '80s pop-rock," stating "York focuses his inspirations the styles of 1980s rock and pop, conjuring a slicked-back take on fixtures like Talking Heads, Paul Simon, and the Bangles." [48] The Line of Best Fit's Dannii Leivers noted "the band have fully embraced chart-friendly, power pop." [49] According to PopMatters , "[the album] fuses sleek elements of '80s new wave, funk, and synthpop." [50] Punknews.org described the album as an "80s electro-pop album". [51] Eve Barlow from Variety observed "...these tunes builds upon the more ambitious, experimental sounds of radio stalker "Ain't It Fun" off their previous, self-titled LP, leaning on their crossover success." [52] [53]

The album's lyrical content predominantly touches upon themes of exhaustion, depression, and anxiety. [46] NME said the album is a "pop triumph", highlighting the contrast between the "serious sadness" of the lyrics "underneath all the bangers". [54] Similarly, The Guardian called the album a "vibrant record, a contrast to its lyrical themes, which cover masking misery, spiralling depression and the anxiety of ageing, only with a knowing wink." [55] Newsday called the album "a collection of songs about remaining upbeat in the face of adversity that bounce around with." [47] Billboard said "Williams sings about the act of crying on no less than five songs, and there are numerous moments where she could be addressing the unfriendly exit and subsequent legal entanglements of former bassist Jeremy Davis." [43] Spin said the album "observes a different aspect of the subject of survival: the emptiness and pointlessness, and how often it fails to alter the indifferent universe that surrounds and requires it." [46] The Line of Best Fit said "despite all its sunny hooks, After Laughter is a deep album with plenty to say. It's easily the most honest and mature Paramore have sounded yet." [49]

Songs and lyrical content

Aaron Weiss of MewithoutYou (right) is featured on "No Friend". Mewithoutyougreendoor.JPG
Aaron Weiss of MewithoutYou (right) is featured on "No Friend".

Tracks 1–6

After Laughter opens with "Hard Times", a synth-heavy, disco-tinged new wave song about the feeling of going through hard times, and being useless in achieving one's goals. [42] [48] [56] "Rose-Colored Boy" is a synth-pop song that Rolling Stone compared to Cupid & Psyche 85 by pop group Scritti Politti. [57] "Told You So" is a song that has been described as funk-pop, [58] [59] as well as new wave, indie pop and electropop. [26] [60] [61] "Forgiveness" is a "dreamy power ballad" which features "sassy handclaps and hairflicks", which has been compared to pop rock bands Heart, Fleetwood Mac and Haim. [54] [43] NPR said the song is "the band's take on Haim's chiming California soft-rock revival." [62] Spin called it one of the band's best songs, "their gentlest and most buoyant kiss-off". [46] "Fake Happy" starts out as an acoustic dirge that transforms into an "ambitious, funky anthem about everyone masking their sadness." [47] "26" is a string-laden ballad that "sighs into its lush strings". It has been compared to the songs "Misguided Ghosts" and "The Only Exception" from their 2009 album, Brand New Eyes . [54] [46] [57]

Tracks 7–12

The seventh track "Pool", described as "aqueous" and "bouncy", is a new wave song that "bathes Williams' voice in crystalline distortion" and "shimmers like a mirage on a blazing day." [54] [57] [43] "Grudges" is "a sweet reflection of Williams' repaired relationship with both Farro brothers", with Zac Farro harmonizing on the track. [62] It has been compared by NME to The Bangles' work, whereas AllMusic compared it to The Cure's "Friday I'm in Love". [42] [54] "Caught in the Middle" is a "ska-inflected" song of persistence and goal setting. [54] [63] According to NME, it is one of the album's nods to their punk past, which they also compared to No Doubt's earlier music. [54] "Idle Worship" is a commentary about fame, with Williams' voice providing even more of a contrast to the stunning acridity of lyrics. [57] York revealed that he sampled wind howling through a building in the UK, then played the sample on a keyboard in the song. [64] The "moody" and "marauding" eleventh track "No Friend" has been described as post-hardcore. [62] It is the only Paramore song to not feature Williams on the vocals. Instead, Aaron Weiss from MewithoutYou is on the vocals, delivering a spoken word monologue buried in a cacophony of York and Farro's dark inversions of the "Idle Worship" riff. The lyrics add metrical detail to the sentiments of "Idle Worship", a song about interpersonal expectations, and the vast distance between one's self-conception and the idea of oneself that exists in the minds of others, [46] [57] Many of its lyrics also make references to past Paramore songs. [62] Several publications referred to it as "the strangest song that's ever made it to a Paramore album." [43] [48] [65] The album closes with "Tell Me How", a tender piano ballad which features a "vaguely tropical pulse and warily confessional words" that allows Williams' voice to curl around and into expressions of anxiety that sound impossible to quiet. [43] [48] [57] It's been characterized as "a soft R&B exploration disguised as a piano ballad" by NPR, who compared it to works by Drake and The Weeknd. [62]

Title and artwork

Regarding the album's title, Williams told iHeartRadio that "After Laughter is about the look on people's faces when they're done laughing. If you watch somebody long enough, there's always this look that comes across their face when they're done smiling, and I always find it really fascinating to wonder what it is that brought them back to reality. So, that's what After Laughter is." [66]

The artwork of After Laughter, which features an impossible trident optical illusion, was designed by Los Angeles–based designer Scott Cleary. It reflects a new sound and direction for the band. Cleary stated: [67]

The band came to me when they were recording the album in LA. We've been friends for a while so we were spending a lot of time together while they were in town from Nashville. They asked me if I'd be interested in doing the album artwork and band re-brand, to which I jumped at the chance. They had some ideas around the 80s vibes of the record, and a few visual references they were feeling. I did the usual "listen to the record, write/draw a bunch of stuff" and came up with the idea of a landscape where colors, shapes and textures would represent sounds and moments on the record...Sonically, the record is very "real" and I wanted the imagery details to have that finishing touch as well.

According to Cleary, his artwork was "the first piece of visual material that accompanied the new record and the band wanted a super-cohesive roll-out", therefore the music video for the lead single "Hard Times" was "very much influenced by the artwork." [67]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
AnyDecentMusic?7.9/10 [68]
Metacritic 82/100 [69]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [42]
Consequence B [70]
Drowned in Sound 8/10 [71]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [55]
Newsday A− [47]
NME Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [54]
Pitchfork 7.5/10 [48]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [57]
Sputnikmusic4.1/5 [65]
USA Today Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [72]

After Laughter received critical acclaim. At Metacritic, which assigns a normalized rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream publications, the album received an average score of 82, based on 15 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim". [69]

Matt Collar at AllMusic commented that "much credit here goes to York, who co-wrote all of the songs and whose deft guitar and keyboard make up much of the album's distinct aural character. But of course, Williams still beats at the center of everything, her voice providing the album's warm, exuberant core." [42] Brice Ezell of Consequence stated "Colorful instrumentation and insistent hooks overpower the uneven parts of the band's fifth studio outing". [70] Joe Goggins writing for Drowned in Sound described the band as being as "Musically...free as they've ever sounded [on this album]." [71] In a positive review, Harriet Gibsone at The Guardian said the album is "candy-coated bitterness at its best – may steer them away from the Kerrang! crowd, but one thing remains consistent to Paramore's emo roots – the theatrical mellifluence of internal angst." [55] Dannii Leivers of The Line of Best Fit called it a "deep album with plenty to say" and "one of the best pop albums [of the] year." [49]

Writing for Newsday , Glenn Gamboa praised the album, stating that "the closer Paramore gets to breaking up, the better it gets at finding reasons to stick together," adding that the album "is packed with potential pop hits that only Paramore could deliver. And that's the perfect reason for the group to keep going." [47] Leonie Cooper from Jon Caramanica from The New York Times noted that Paramore are "single-minded again, but not of the same mind as it once was. Ms. Williams and her bandmates, Zac Farro and Taylor York have remade themselves into a 1980s pop-rock outfit: tinny digital percussion, synthesizers and mostly constrained, saccharine singing from Ms. Williams." [73] NME gave the album 4 out of 5 stars, writing: "Catharsis is never usually this joyous, but sometimes smiling through the pain works better than crying." [54] Laura Snapes of 'The Observer called the album "one of the year's best pop albums." [74]

Iiana Kaplan of Paste said After Laughter is "an undeniably hooky record that strays from its grunge-rock roots and finds the band in a place where they've found the fun in their craft once again." Kaplan also stated that the Williams people love is still around, while noting "Once immersed in the pop-heavy album that is After Laughter, it becomes clear that the less angsty outlook of Paramore is something only surface-level. If you look beneath, it shows Williams battling with herself to make amends ("Forgiveness", "Caught In The Middle") and put on a front to the public ("Fake Happy")." [44] Pitchfork writer Ryan Dombal described it as the band's most "fizzy" album, adding that it "highlights Williams' most existentially despondent musings to date." [48] Maura Johnston of Rolling Stone was positive towards the writing stating, "[the] lyrics evince a weariness that makes [the brightness of the album] seem garishly empty and called the album a "gorgeously produced, hook-studded record." [57] Sputnikmusic staff writer Sowing described the album as the "fresh start" that the self-titled album was meant to be, adding "After Laughter is the first post-2010 Paramore record to truly break form," mentioning "No Friend" and "26" as discography highlights. [65] Patrick Ryan writing for USA Today noted that "Paramore is clearly aiming for more radio-friendly music here, but their deceptively moving lyrics and audacious fusing of genres is what makes it such a rewarding listen." [72]

In a fifth anniversary retrospective review of the album, Yasmine Summan from Alternative Press considered it to be a "saving grace" for the band, and stated "Right now there might not be a Paramore as we know it, but with Zac's return, York's incredible talents and Williams having a place to confront her emotions, this album not only earns its acclaim for its chart-topping successes but is as crucial to the band's growth as Riot! or brand new eyes." [75]

Accolades

PublicationAccoladeRankRef.
AllMusic AllMusic's Best Albums of 2017—
Billboard 50 Best Albums of 2017
15
Consequence Top 50 Albums of 2017
45
Drowned in Sound Favourite Albums of 2017
13
NME Albums of the Year 2017
20
Noisey The 100 Best Albums of 2017
33
NPR The 50 Best Albums of 2017
50
PopMatters The 60 Best Albums of 2017
52
Rolling Stone 50 Best Albums of 2017
25
The Skinny Top 50 Albums of 2017
14
Stereogum The 50 Best Albums of 2017
37
Time Out New York The Best Albums of 2017
8

Commercial performance

After Laughter debuted at number six on the US Billboard 200, making it their third top 10 on the chart, with 67,000 album-equivalent units, of which 53,000 were pure album sales, [87] and was certified gold by the RIAA for shipments of 500,000 albums. [88] It also debuted within the top 10 of seven other countries including Australia, Austria, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland and the UK.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Hayley Williams and Taylor York, except where noted

After Laughter track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Length
1."Hard Times" 3:02
2."Rose-Colored Boy"
3:32
3."Told You So" 3:08
4."Forgiveness" 3:40
5."Fake Happy" 3:55
6."26" 3:40
7."Pool"
  • Williams
  • Farro
  • York
3:52
8."Grudges"
  • Williams
  • Farro
  • York
3:06
9."Caught in the Middle" 3:34
10."Idle Worship" 3:18
11."No Friend"
3:24
12."Tell Me How" 4:20
Total length:42:31

Personnel

Paramore

Additional musicians

Technical

Artwork

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for After Laughter
RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [117] Gold100,000‡
United States (RIAA) [88] Gold500,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paramore</span> American rock band

Paramore is an American rock band formed in Franklin, Tennessee, in 2004. Since 2017, the band's lineup includes lead vocalist Hayley Williams, lead guitarist Taylor York, and drummer Zac Farro. Williams and Farro are founding members of the group, while York, a high school friend of the original lineup, joined in 2007. Williams is the only member to appear on all six of Paramore's studio albums.

<i>All We Know Is Falling</i> 2005 studio album by Paramore

All We Know Is Falling is the debut studio album by the American rock band Paramore, released on July 26, 2005, under the Atlantic-distributed Fueled by Ramen in the United States. Its production was handled by James Paul Wisner, Mike Green, Nick Trevisick, and Roger Alan Nichols. The departure of bassist Jeremy Davis, which occurred a few days after arriving in Orlando, served as the album's main theme. This theme was reflected especially in the album's cover and title. Mostly categorized as a pop-punk album, the album received mostly positive reviews and has been labeled a "scene classic".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hayley Williams</span> American singer and songwriter (born 1988)

Hayley Nichole Williams is an American singer and songwriter. She is the lead vocalist and only constant member of the rock band Paramore, which she co-founded in 2004.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zac Farro</span> American drummer

Zachary Wayne Farro is an American musician, best known as the drummer for the rock band Paramore. He is the younger brother of Josh Farro, who was Paramore's former lead guitarist and backing vocalist. After he and his brother exited Paramore in 2010, Josh formed a band named Novel American, which Zac was also a part of. Farro is currently the sole member of the band HalfNoise. Farro rejoined Paramore in 2016.

<i>Riot!</i> 2007 studio album by Paramore

Riot! is the second studio album by the American rock band Paramore. It was released in the United States on June 12, 2007 through Fueled by Ramen as a follow-up to the band's debut album, All We Know Is Falling (2005). The album was produced by David Bendeth and written primarily by band members Hayley Williams and Josh Farro, with Bendeth. The album explores a "diverse range of styles," while not straying far from the "signature sound" of their debut album, with several critics comparing it to the music of Kelly Clarkson and Avril Lavigne. The cover of the album also resembles the cover artwork of No Doubt's 2001 album Rock Steady.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paramore discography</span>

The American rock band Paramore has released six studio albums, five extended plays, two live albums, one remix album, twenty-eight singles, one video album, and thirty music videos. The band was formed in Franklin, Tennessee, in 2004 by lead vocalist Hayley Williams with guitarists Josh Farro and Taylor York, bassist Jeremy Davis, and drummer Zac Farro. In 2005, Paramore signed with the New York City-based Fueled by Ramen and released their debut album entitled All We Know Is Falling. Three singles were released from the album, but none of them charted. The album did not chart in the Billboard 200 either, although it peaked at number thirty in the Billboard Top Heatseekers. All We Know Is Falling received gold certification in the United Kingdom and in July 2014 the RIAA certified the album gold in the United States.

<i>The Final Riot!</i> 2008 live album by Paramore

The Final Riot! is the second official live album by the American rock band Paramore and was released on November 25, 2008, with a bonus DVD containing the full live concert plus behind-the-scenes footage.

<i>Brand New Eyes</i> 2009 studio album by Paramore

Brand New Eyes is the third studio album by the American rock band Paramore, released on September 29, 2009, through Fueled by Ramen in the United States and Canada. The album was produced by Rob Cavallo and recorded in Hidden Hills, California from January to March 2009. It was written by band members Hayley Williams and Josh Farro, with guitarist Taylor York who co-wrote on four tracks, as a follow-up to Riot! (2007).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ignorance (song)</span> 2009 single by Paramore

"Ignorance" is a song by American rock band Paramore. It was released on July 7, 2009 as the lead single from the band's third studio album, Brand New Eyes (2009). The song impacted radio on July 28. The song was written by band's members Hayley Williams and Josh Farro, although Paramore is credited as being co-writers of the song. The track, recorded in early 2009, was the first song to be written for the album.

<i>Paramore</i> (album) 2013 studio album by Paramore

Paramore is the fourth studio album by the American rock band Paramore. It was released on April 5, 2013, through Fueled by Ramen as a follow-up to Brand New Eyes (2009). Recorded between April and November 2012, the album was described by the band as being a "statement" and a reintroduction of the band to the world and to themselves. It is the first album without guitarist Josh Farro, the only album without drummer Zac Farro and the final album with bassist Jeremy Davis before his departure in 2015.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">HalfNoise</span> Musical project of Zac Farro

HalfNoise is the musical project of Zac Farro, drummer of the American rock band Paramore. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Farro formed the project alongside Jason Clark following Farro's departure from Paramore in 2010. The project now consists of Farro alone. He released the debut self-titled EP of the project, HalfNoise, in 2012. Since then, he released four studio albums, Volcano Crowe (2014), Sudden Feeling (2016), Natural Disguise (2019), Motif (2021), and City Talk (2023); and two EPs The Velvet Face (2017) and Flowerss (2018).

"Caught in the Middle" is a song by American rock band Paramore. It was released on June 26, 2018 through Fueled by Ramen as the fifth and final single off their fifth studio album After Laughter (2017). The track was co-written by lead vocalist Hayley Williams and guitarist Taylor York, and recorded in Nashville, Tennessee.

"Fake Happy" is a song by American rock band Paramore. It was released on August 29, 2017, through Fueled by Ramen as the third single off their fifth studio album After Laughter (2017). Written by lead vocalist Hayley Williams and guitarist Taylor York and produced by Justin Meldal-Johnsen and York, the song was recorded in the band's hometown, Nashville, Tennessee.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hard Times (Paramore song)</span> 2017 song by Paramore

"Hard Times" is a song by American rock band Paramore from their fifth studio album, After Laughter. It was released on April 19, 2017, through Fueled by Ramen as the album's lead single. The song was written by lead vocalist Hayley Williams and guitarist Taylor York and was recorded in the band's hometown, Nashville, Tennessee. It is the first single to be released by the band since the return of drummer Zac Farro and the departure of former bassist Jeremy Davis.

"Rose-Colored Boy" is a song by American rock band Paramore. It was released on March 2, 2018, through Fueled by Ramen as the fourth single off their fifth studio album, After Laughter (2017).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Told You So (Paramore song)</span> 2017 single by Paramore

"Told You So" is a song by American rock band Paramore. It was released on May 3, 2017 through Fueled by Ramen as the second single off their fifth studio album After Laughter. It was written by lead vocalist Hayley Williams and guitarist Taylor York and was recorded in the band's hometown, Nashville, Tennessee. A music video for the song, directed by drummer Zac Farro and Aaron Joseph, was uploaded to their record label Fueled by Ramen's YouTube channel along with the release of the song.

<i>Petals for Armor</i> 2020 studio album by Hayley Williams

Petals for Armor is the debut solo studio album by American singer-songwriter Hayley Williams. It was released on May 8, 2020, by Atlantic Records. The album was preceded by two extended plays (EPs), Petals for Armor I and Petals for Armor II, which make up the album's first ten songs.

"This Is Why" is a song by American rock band Paramore, released as the lead single from their sixth studio album This Is Why, on September 28, 2022. It was written by Hayley Williams, Taylor York, and Zac Farro and produced by Carlos de la Garza. The song was accompanied by its music video, released the same day.

<i>This Is Why</i> 2023 studio album by Paramore

This Is Why is the sixth studio album by the American rock band Paramore, released on February 10, 2023 through Atlantic Records, their final studio album for the label. It is their first album since 2017, following After Laughter, and is the band's second album to have that lineup. The album was supported by four singles: "This Is Why", "The News", "C'est Comme Ça", and "Running Out of Time".

References

  1. ↑ Lindner, Emilee (December 15, 2015). "Paramore Announces 'Painful' Split With Bassist Jeremy Davis". MTV . Archived from the original on December 26, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  2. ↑ Sharp, Tyler (December 15, 2015). "Paramore part ways with bassist Jeremy Davis". Alternative Press . Archived from the original on April 15, 2017. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  3. ↑ "The 200 Best Albums of the 2010s". Pitchfork . October 8, 2019. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
  4. ↑ "Harry Styles Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard . Retrieved August 18, 2018.
  5. ↑ Payne, Chris (January 20, 2016). "Hayley Williams Announces Paramore Is Writing a New Album". Billboard . Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  6. ↑ "Instagram video by Paramore • Jun 8, 2016 at 10:29pm UTC". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved June 14, 2016.
  7. ↑ Payne, Chris (July 3, 2016). "Paramore's New Album: What We Do (And Don't) Want to Hear". Billboard . Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  8. ↑ "Day one in Nashville: time to unpack". Instagram. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Is Zac Farro Back In Paramore?". Kerrang! . June 7, 2016. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  10. ↑ "What are Paramore doing with..." news.google.com. Retrieved June 14, 2016.
  11. ↑ Moore, Sam (June 21, 2016). "Paramore reunite with drummer Zac Farro for new album sessions". NME . Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  12. ↑ Stam, Janneke (July 5, 2016). "Zac Farro Confirms He's On The New Paramore Album". Rock Sound . Archived from the original on February 25, 2017. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  13. ↑ Payne, Chris (February 2, 2017). "Rejoice, Paramore Fans: Drummer Zac Farro Is Back in the Band". Billboard . Archived from the original on July 2, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  14. ↑ Luke Morgan Britton (February 2, 2017). "Paramore appear to confirm return of original member". NME . Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  15. 1 2 3 4 Kaufman, Gil (April 19, 2017). "Paramore Drop Single, 'Hard Times,' Announce New Album, 'After Laughter'". Billboard . Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  16. ↑ Taylor, Sam (November 24, 2016). "It looks like Paramore have finally finished their album". Upset Magazine. Archived from the original on April 27, 2017. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  17. ↑ Coscarelli, Joe (April 19, 2017). "Paramore Bounces Back With Old Faces and a New Sound". The New York Times . Archived from the original on April 20, 2017. Retrieved April 23, 2017.
  18. ↑ Jamieson, Sarah (April 28, 2017). "Time for moving on: Paramore". DIY . Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  19. 1 2 McDermott, Maeve (April 19, 2017). "Paramore return with surprise new single 'Hard Times'". USA Today . Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  20. 1 2 Wicks, Amanda (April 19, 2017). "Paramore Announce New Album After Laughter, Share Video for New Song 'Hard Times': Watch". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on April 20, 2017. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  21. 1 2 "Paramore announce new album 'After Laughter', hear new track 'Hard Times'". DIY . April 19, 2017. Retrieved April 20, 2017.
  22. ↑ Pell, Mike (April 19, 2017). "Paramore Drop All The Details Including New Single 'Hard Times', Album & Tour Dates!". MTV . Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  23. ↑ Roffman, Michael; Cosores, Philip (April 19, 2017). "Riot Fest Chicago's 2017 Lineup: One Day Later". Consequence . Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  24. ↑ Trendell, Andrew (April 19, 2017). "Riot Fest 2017 announces huge line-up". NME . Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  25. ↑ Gordon, Jeremy (May 3, 2017). "Here's Everything We Know About Paramore's New Album After Laughter". Spin . Archived from the original on May 4, 2017. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  26. 1 2 Trendell, Andrew (May 3, 2017). "Paramore unveil new single and video 'Told You So'". NME . Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  27. ↑ R. Moss, Marissa (May 10, 2017). "Paramore Is Finally Back With Their New Album". Nylon . Retrieved May 10, 2017.
  28. ↑ Moore, Sam (November 30, 2017). "Paramore announce first wave of acts for Parahoy 2018 cruise". NME . Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  29. ↑ Toney, Jordan (May 12, 2017). "Paramore's Parahoy! announced for 2018". Alternative Press . Archived from the original on May 12, 2017. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  30. ↑ "Paramore Perform Live on Jimmy Kimmel". Melodic Mag. May 18, 2017. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  31. ↑ Dickman, Maggie (May 18, 2017). "Watch Paramore's energetic "Hard Times" performance on 'Jimmy Kimmel Live!'". Alternative Press . Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  32. ↑ Roberts, Christopher (May 25, 2017). "Watch Paramore Perform "Told You So" on "The Late Late Show with James Corden" After Laughter Out Now via Fueled By Ramen". Under the Radar . Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  33. ↑ Renshaw, David (May 25, 2017). "Watch Paramore Perform "Told You So" On The Late Late Show". The Fader . Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  34. ↑ DeVille, Chris (November 17, 2017). "Paramore – "Fake Happy" Video". Stereogum . Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  35. ↑ Darville, Jordan (November 17, 2017). "Watch Hayley Williams search for sincerity in Paramore's "Fake Happy" music video". The Fader . Archived from the original on January 23, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  36. ↑ Rettig, James (February 5, 2018). "Paramore – "Rose-Colored Boy" Video". Stereogum . Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  37. ↑ Dickman, Maggie (February 5, 2018). "Paramore blow our minds with new music video for "Rose-Colored Boy"". Alternative Press . Archived from the original on February 7, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  38. ↑ Sargent, Jordan (February 5, 2018). "Video: Paramore – "Rose-Colored Boy"". Spin . Archived from the original on February 6, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  39. ↑ Roth, Madeline (February 5, 2018). "Hayley Williams Reaches Her Breaking Point In Paramore's 'Rose-Colored Boy' Video". MTV . Archived from the original on February 7, 2018. Retrieved February 7, 2018.
  40. ↑ Tornow, Sam (June 26, 2018). "Paramore Drops Fruity Video For 'Caught In The Middle': Watch". Billboard . Archived from the original on June 26, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  41. ↑ "Paramore Release Trippy Video For Caught In The Middle". Kerrang! . June 26, 2018. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  42. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Collar, Matt. "After Laughter – Paramore". AllMusic . Retrieved February 10, 2023.
  43. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Payne, Chris (May 12, 2017). "Paramore's 'After Laughter' Swaps the Band's Pop-Punk Past for a Chance to Elbow Into Top 40's Future". Billboard . Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  44. 1 2 Kaplan, Ilana (May 12, 2017). "Paste Review of the Day: Paramore - After Laughter". Paste . Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  45. ↑ Eloise, Marianne (November 5, 2022). "Every Paramore song ranked from worst to best". The Forty Five. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  46. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Nelson, Brad (May 12, 2017). "Paramore 'After Laughter' Album Review". Spin . Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  47. 1 2 3 4 5 Gamboa, Glenn (May 12, 2017). "'After Laughter': Packed with potential pop hits". Newsday . Archived from the original on October 2, 2018. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  48. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Dombal, Ryan (May 15, 2017). "Paramore: After Laughter". Pitchfork . Retrieved May 15, 2017.
  49. 1 2 3 Leivers, Dannii (May 15, 2017). "Paramore's move away from their roots delivers one of the pop LPs of the year". The Line of Best Fit . Retrieved May 15, 2017.
  50. 1 2 "The 60 Best Albums of 2017". PopMatters . December 11, 2017. Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  51. ↑ "Paramore After Laughter (2017)". Punknews.org. May 16, 2017. Retrieved January 1, 2022.
  52. ↑ Barlow, Eve (May 3, 2017). "Paramore Grows Up With 'After Laughter' — But Will Fans Follow?". Variety . Retrieved April 26, 2022.
  53. ↑ Pell, Mike (April 19, 2017). "Paramore Drop All The Details Including New Single 'Hard Times', Album & Tour Dates!". MTV . Archived from the original on April 7, 2022. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  54. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 Cooper, Leonie (May 12, 2017). "Paramore – 'After Laughter' Review". NME . Retrieved December 17, 2019.
  55. 1 2 3 Gibsone, Harriet (May 12, 2017). "Paramore: After Laughter review – bitter candy-coloured pop". The Guardian . Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  56. ↑ Richards, Will (April 19, 2017). "Paramore - Hard Times". DIY . Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  57. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Johnston, Maura (May 12, 2017). "Review: Paramore's 'After Laughter' Triumphs Via Shiny Pop, Moody Lyrics". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on December 6, 2017. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  58. ↑ Reed, Ryan (May 3, 2017). "Hear Paramore's Funky, Sleek New Song 'Told You So'". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on October 11, 2017. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  59. ↑ Corcoran, Nina (May 3, 2017). "Paramore's Video for "Told You So" is Retro Noir Candy". Nerdist . Archived from the original on August 16, 2017. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  60. ↑ Trageser, Stephen (May 3, 2017). "Paramore Makes a Getaway in 'Told You So,' Reportedly Playing Exit/In [Fresh Vid]". Nashville Scene . Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  61. ↑ "Paramore Premiere 'Told You So,' Another Shimmery Indie-Pop Gem from their New Record 'After Laughter'". Rock Cellar Magazine. Archived from the original on May 4, 2017. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  62. 1 2 3 4 5 Sherman, Maria (May 20, 2017). "Paramore's 'After Laughter' Is Something New, Built From Pieces Of The Past". NPR . Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  63. ↑ Manders, Hayden (May 12, 2017). "Paramore Usher In A New Era Of Pop-Punk With 'After Laughter'". Nylon . Retrieved May 13, 2017.
  64. ↑ Paramore: 'After Laughter' Full Interview, Apple Music, May 11, 2017, retrieved January 1, 2023
  65. 1 2 3 Sowing. "Review: Paramore - After Laughter". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  66. ↑ Mastrogiannis, Nicole (April 20, 2017). "Interview: Paramore Talks 'Hard Times' & Reveals 'After Laughter' Meaning". iHeartRadio . Archived from the original on April 25, 2017. Retrieved April 25, 2017.
  67. 1 2 "The Designer Behind Paramore's New Album Artwork On Visually Capturing The Band's New Sound - Society6 Blo". Society6 Blogg. May 15, 2017. Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  68. ↑ "After Laughter by Paramore reviews". AnyDecentMusic?. Retrieved September 14, 2019.
  69. 1 2 "Reviews and Tracks for After Laughter by Paramore". Metacritic . Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  70. 1 2 Ezell, Brice (May 16, 2017). "Paramore – After Laughter". Consequence . Retrieved May 17, 2017.
  71. 1 2 Goggins, Joe (May 18, 2017). "Album Review: Paramore – After Laughter". Drowned in Sound . Archived from the original on May 19, 2017. Retrieved May 18, 2017.
  72. 1 2 Ryan, Patrick (May 15, 2017). "Paramore, Linkin Park take big swings, but only one hits". USA Today . Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  73. ↑ Caramanica, Jon (May 11, 2017). "Paramore Tries to Find Itself in the '80s on 'After Laughter'". The New York Times . Archived from the original on May 13, 2017. Retrieved May 12, 2017.
  74. ↑ Snapes, Laura (May 14, 2017). "Paramore: After Laughter review – one of the year's best pop albums?". The Observer . Retrieved October 2, 2018.
  75. ↑ Summan, Yasmine (May 12, 2022). "How 'After Laughter' became Paramore's saving grace". Alternative Press. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
  76. ↑ "AllMusic's Best of 2017". AllMusic . Retrieved December 11, 2017.
  77. ↑ "Billboard's 50 Best Albums of 2017". Billboard . December 12, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  78. ↑ "Top 50 Albums of 2017". Consequence . December 26, 2017. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  79. ↑ Adams, Sean (November 22, 2017). "Drowned in Sound's Favourite Albums of 2017". Drowned in Sound . Archived from the original on November 23, 2017. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  80. ↑ "NME's Albums of The Year 2017". NME . December 17, 2017. Retrieved November 27, 2017.
  81. ↑ "The 100 Best Albums of 2017". Noisey . December 5, 2017. Retrieved December 6, 2017.
  82. ↑ "The 50 Best Albums of 2017". NPR . December 12, 2017. Retrieved December 14, 2017.
  83. ↑ "50 Best Albums of 2017". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  84. ↑ "The Skinny's Top 50 Albums of 2017". The Skinny . November 29, 2017. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  85. ↑ "The 50 Best Albums of 2017". Stereogum . December 5, 2017. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  86. ↑ "The best albums of 2017". Time Out New York . December 11, 2017. Archived from the original on December 14, 2017. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  87. ↑ Caulfield, Keith (May 21, 2017). "Harry Styles Debuts at No. 1 on Billboard 200 Albums Chart". Billboard . Archived from the original on November 18, 2021. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  88. 1 2 "American album certifications – Paramore – After Laughter". Recording Industry Association of America . Retrieved April 14, 2021.
  89. ↑ "Australiancharts.com – Paramore – After Laughter". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  90. ↑ "Austriancharts.at – Paramore – After Laughter" (in German). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 25, 2017.
  91. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Paramore – After Laughter" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
  92. ↑ "Ultratop.be – Paramore – After Laughter" (in French). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
  93. ↑ "Paramore Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
  94. ↑ "Czech Albums – Top 100". ČNS IFPI. Note: On the chart page, select 20.Týden 2017 on the field besides the words "CZ – ALBUMS – TOP 100" to retrieve the correct chart. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
  95. ↑ "Dutchcharts.nl – Paramore – After Laughter" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
  96. ↑ "Paramore: After Laughter" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved May 21, 2017.
  97. ↑ "Le Top de la semaine : Top Albums – SNEP (Week 20, 2017)". Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique . Retrieved May 23, 2017.
  98. ↑ "Offiziellecharts.de – Paramore – After Laughter" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
  99. ↑ "Album Top 40 slágerlista – 2017. 24. hét" (in Hungarian). MAHASZ. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
  100. ↑ "Irish Albums Chart: 12 May 2017". Irish Recorded Music Association. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  101. ↑ "Italiancharts.com – Paramore – After Laughter". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  102. ↑ "Top Album - Semanal (del 26 de Mayo al 01 de Junio)". Asociación Mexicana de Productores de Fonogramas y Videogramas (in Spanish). Archived from the original on July 7, 2017. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  103. ↑ "Charts.nz – Paramore – After Laughter". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
  104. ↑ "Norwegiancharts.com – Paramore – After Laughter". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  105. ↑ "Portuguesecharts.com – Paramore – After Laughter". Hung Medien. Retrieved June 1, 2017.
  106. ↑ "Official Scottish Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
  107. ↑ "Spanishcharts.com – Paramore – After Laughter". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  108. ↑ "Swedishcharts.com – Paramore – After Laughter". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 19, 2017.
  109. ↑ "Swisscharts.com – Paramore – After Laughter". Hung Medien. Retrieved May 24, 2017.
  110. ↑ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 13, 2023.
  111. ↑ "Paramore Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
  112. ↑ "Paramore Chart History (Top Alternative Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
  113. ↑ "Paramore Chart History (Top Rock Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2017.
  114. ↑ "Year-End Charts: Top Current Album Sales (2017)". Billboard . Retrieved April 3, 2024.
  115. ↑ "Year-End Charts: Top Rock Albums". Billboard . Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  116. ↑ "Year-End Charts: Top Alternative Albums (2017)". Billboard . Retrieved April 4, 2024.
  117. ↑ "British album certifications – Paramore – After Laughter". British Phonographic Industry . Retrieved December 4, 2018.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.