Paramore For Beginners!

On December 26, 2023, pop-punk band Paramore deleted all of their social media posts. Fans were worried about the potential of a breakup, but the band has since confirmed that they are going to continue on. As of 2024, they are a free agent band following the release of their contract from Atlantic Records. This shift marks a new era for the band. As Paramore moves into this new stage of their career, we want to take a look back at their catalog so far. If you’re a new fan of the band, or if they caught your attention with their recent headlines, we’ve got you covered. Here’s a song recommendation from each of Paramore’s albums as a soft introduction to the band! 

1. "Never Let This Go" from All We Know Is Falling (2005)

All We Know Is Falling introduced Paramore to the scene. Female-led groups are often overlooked in the punk scene, so it is wonderful that Paramore gets the respect they deserve. The band had to fight for their right to exist. Their label initially only signed Hayley Williams rather than investing in the whole group, and then their debut album failed to reach the Billboard 200 chart. Despite this, it was well received by fans. The band’s youth, spunk, and resilience helped them reach an audience that appreciated their sound. All We Know Is Falling is a really solid debut album that is easy to connect to.

“Never Let This Go” has the type of emotional lyrics that are common within the pop-punk genre and relatable to the young audience that Paramore cultivated at the beginning of their career. The song is fairly simple, but it expresses deep heartache. The song features the sentiment of feeling as if you’ll never get past the heartbreak of a lost relationship. Williams executes both soft and more powerful vocals as the prominent pop-punk instrumentals guide the song. This song is a good representation of where Paramore started. The lyrical theme and inclusion of softer vocals are reminiscent of the band’s later ballads while still staying true to their pop-punk origins.

2. "Fences" from Riot! (2007)

Riot! was the album that brought Paramore into the mainstream. For example, let’s say you aren’t a fan of the band, but chances are you’ve still heard “Misery Business” at some point. Riot! is considered an iconic pop-punk album, and the praise is well earned. The band avoided the sophomore slump by coming out with an energetic album that feels like a natural progression from their debut.

Though “Misery Business” is a great song to sing and dance to, this list is intended to spotlight songs that you may not have heard. So if you know and like “Misery Business”, there’s a good chance you’ll also enjoy “Fences”, an energetic pop-punk song that feels representative of the album. The song talks about the stress and lack of privacy that comes with fame. This is a topic a lot of artists cover during their rise to fame, and Paramore seemed to understand their new position as celebrities early on. The song is true to the emotional nature of the band, and it reflects the sound that they are best known for.

3. "Ignorance" from Brand New Eyes (2009)

Brand New Eyes had big footsteps to follow after the success of Riot!, and the band pulled through. The album reached number two on the Billboard 200 chart, and it reached number one on the Rock and Alternative Albums charts. The album further cemented Paramore’s place in the pop-punk scene. After the success of their last album, Paramore proved that they could mature and still produce major hits that their fans would relate to.

“Ignorance” was the first track written for Brand New Eyes. The song starts with punchy guitars, and it is a showcase for Hayley Williams’s vocals. The song is about growing up and losing people. It is an experience a lot of people have, and the song captures the angst of the situation well. The instrumentals are fast and loud. This song is great to help you express frustration, headbang, or even just dance. Paramore has always been a versatile band, and this rock hit proves that.

4. "Grow Up" from Paramore (2013)

Paramore’s self-titled album is an experimental mix of genres. The band went through a little bit of rebranding following their lineup change prior to this album, and this new era brought continued success. The album reached number one on the Billboard 200 chart, and the band went on a co-headlining tour with fellow pop-punk band Fall Out Boy. The album came at a turbulent time for the band, but they turned the chaos into a well-celebrated piece of art.

“Grow Up” is a balance between the emotional lyrics the band had previously penned and the mature direction they had started heading. Williams has stated that the song is about self-empowerment. In a similar theme to “Ignorance”, “Grow Up” is the aftermath of moving on from friendships that are stifling you. This song is a good reminder that not every person is open to where you want your life to go, and sometimes it’s best to part ways. The song is a good middle ground between Paramore’s earlier albums and their later ones. This song, as well as the rest of the album, shows that a mix of genres can work really well. It doesn’t have to be a choice between guitars and synthesizers; both can fit together to create a unique sound.

5. "Caught In The Middle" from After Laughter (2017)

After Laughter is the epitome of albums with sad lyrics but a happy tone. Paramore executes this style perfectly. The album is considered divisive by fans due to its departure from the band’s usual sound, but it received critical acclaim. In 2019, Pitchfork named it among the top 200 albums of the 2010s. Rather than remaining in the pop-punk genre, Paramore branched into a 1980s-influenced sound for this album. The bright tones and use of synths are reminiscent of '80s pop and new wave.

“Caught in the Middle” has a perky dance beat despite its somber lyrics. The lyrics contemplate the past and how to move forward even when aging is scary. The song references nostalgia, which ties into the retro aesthetic of the album. Considering that this song was released 12 years after the band’s first album, it makes sense that they used this song to reflect on the topic of not being able to live in the past. The song has a fun sound and lots of layers. It also has a music video that fully embraces the album’s influences. The video features the band in VHS quality as if it was straight out of the '80s.

6. "Running Out Of Time" from This Is Why (2023)

This Is Why followed a break for the band. Once they had finished their tour for After Laughter, the band took time away to focus on other ventures. This Is Why was a long-awaited release for fans, and it did not disappoint. The album reached the second spot on the Billboard 200 chart, and it was nominated for the Best Rock Album Grammy. The album saw more of a return to form after the departure in sound that After Laughter brought but kept similar lyrical themes to its predecessor. 

“Running Out of Time” captures the essence of the album, which deals with themes of anxiety, balancing self and relationships, and navigating life in the modern world. "Running Out of Time" has a danceable beat, much like other songs on the album, but has more downbeat lyrics. The song details the relatable struggles of time management. Williams uses metaphor and hyperbole to explain why she was late or could not achieve a goal. The song’s fun lyrics express sad truths, and the boldly artistic video provides gorgeous accompanying visuals.

We can’t wait to see what Paramore has in store for 2024. We are excited to see them open for the European leg of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour, and we are also looking forward to their contribution to the upcoming Talking Heads cover/tribute album, Stop Making Sense! In the meantime, we’ll be streaming these songs on repeat.