Beyond the Hits: Best Paramore Deep Cuts
Whenever a band hits mainstream success, their most popular hits inevitably define how casual listeners perceive them. The Rolling Stones have released dozens of albums with original work, yet the…
Whenever a band hits mainstream success, their most popular hits inevitably define how casual listeners perceive them. The Rolling Stones have released dozens of albums with original work, yet the same handful of songs spring to most fans' minds when they hear the band's name. This happens with every successful band or artist, regardless of music genre, and the downside is that some amazing songs will never reach most listeners' ears.
Paramore is a case in point. While hits including "Misery Business," "Decode," and "Still Into You" have achieved huge commercial success, many of Paramore's best songs throughout its 20-year-plus history remain familiar only to dedicated fans.
All We Know Is Falling: The Debut's Hidden Treasures
Although it wasn't a huge commercial success, Paramore's debut album, All We Know Is Falling, managed to put them on the map. Despite being initially signed by Atlantic Records as a solo pop singer, Hayley Williams had other plans and persuaded Atlantic to let her change paths. While casual music fans may remember singles such as "Pressure," "Emergency," and "All We Know," the album's deep cuts are equally impressive. Standouts include:
- "Brighter": This powerful-sounding emo-punk anthem is dedicated to Hayley's childhood friend, Lanie Kealhofer, who died in a boating accident at 16. The haunting lyrics "And if you ran away/I'd still wave goodbye, watching you shine bright" lead the listener into the catchy chorus.
- "Conspiracy": This slower and darker piece contrasts with the rest of the album. Its posthardcore guitar sound matches perfectly with Hayley's delivery.
- "Franklin": This track is about the band's hometown, Franklin, Tennessee, and explores common themes, such as the challenges that come with leaving home and finding your identity outside your comfort zone.
- "My Heart": The closing track starts as a ballad but quickly evolves into a faster and more aggressive sound. It's regularly played live by the band, as it captures the essence of their beginnings.
Riot!'s Overlooked Masterpieces
Paramore's commercial breakthrough came with their 2007 sophomore album, Riot! Mainly written by Hayley Williams and Josh Farro, the band's guitarist at that time, it received mostly positive reviews and went on to sell over 6 million copies in the U.S. alone. While such tracks as "Misery Business," "crushcrushcrush," and "That's What You Get" dominated the airwaves, fans were also delighted by the album's lesser-known songs. These included:
- "When It Rains": Arguably the album's most emotion-filled track, it starts slowly and gradually builds up greater intensity, but its overall restrained sound and mood contrast with most of the band's other songs.
- "Fences": A testament to the band's musical growth, "Fences" has a jazzy vibe, showing that not all Paramore songs are energetic, in-your-face anthems. Its lyrics explore the challenges of fame: "It's obvious that you're dying, dying/Just living proof that the camera's lying."
- "I Caught Myself": While this song isn't on the Riot! album, it is included in their 2008 live version, The Final Riot!. This track isn't just loved by hardcore Paramore fans but also by fans of the movie Twilight, as it features on its soundtrack. The movie's producers accidentally included the song's soundcheck demo version on the official soundtrack, with the band only finding this out at the premiere.
Brand New Eyes: The Album's Underappreciated Depths
Paramore followed up Riot! with 2009's Brand New Eyes, which critics and fans praised for displaying the band's increased maturity. Despite spawning five singles, with one of them even receiving a GRAMMY nomination, plenty of deep cuts rival them in quality. These include:
- "Feeling Sorry": One of the album's most raw and intimate tracks, "Feeling Sorry" explores themes of self-empowerment and tough love, with standout lyrics including "I feel no sympathy/You live inside a cave/You barely get by, the rest of us are trying."
- "Misguided Ghosts": This haunting acoustic piece is the perfect symbol for the band's musical evolution. Its subtle instrumental arrangements let Hayley's voice fully shine, despite being more delicate and restrained than in most other songs.
- "Where the Lines Overlap": This track explores themes that include being grateful for success, exemplified in lyrics such as "No one is as lucky as us/We're not at the end but oh we already won."
Self-Titled Era: Transitional Gems
The band's self-titled album, their first without guitarist Josh Farro, was praised by critics for its maturity, as well as for the band's willingness to experiment with new styles and sounds. It includes the hit singles "Now" and "Ain't It Fun," as well as lesser-known but equally impressive songs, including:
- "Grow Up": This guitar-heavy, funky-sounding song perfectly reflects the band's musical evolution. This growing maturity is also evoked in the lyrics: "Some of us have to grow up sometimes/And so, if I have to, I'm gonna leave you behind."
- "Interlude: Moving On": This ukulele-powered interlude has a nostalgic sound and showcases the band's willingness to explore different styles and genres.
After Laughter: Synth-Pop Deep Cuts
Their fifth album saw the band move into synth-pop territory, while also managing to maintain their signature style. Most songs contrast upbeat melodies with deep, introspective lyrics. Some deep cuts that stand out include:
- "Pool": Although this song was a good choice for a single, it was overlooked in favor of other tracks. This doesn't make it less musically impressive, though, as it manages to showcase the album's approach of mixing upbeat themes with deep lyrics.
- "Idle Worship": This track explores the band's views on fame, after more than a decade in the business. Such lyrics as "We all need heroes, don't we?/But rest assured, there's not a single person here who's worthy" expose the fake allure of celebrity.
The Value of Exploring Paramore's Deep Catalog
Some bands focus on singles and use fillers to complete their albums, while others take advantage of tracks that aren't singles to experiment and explore new sounds, styles, and evoked emotions. Paramore is firmly in the latter category, and their discography is a fascinating journey from start to finish, featuring hidden Paramore gems amongst the hits and showcasing their musical evolution as you listen to the discs in chronological order.
