lead of Paramore, solo stuff is distinct enough for a separate entry. I really quite like the first album, suspect it will grow on me, second album maybe, too soon to say. Overall solid.
RELISTEN1: I like it a lot. I just really like Hayley Williams, I think. She’s an interesting person, an interesting artist. The arc she’s drawn since she was a teenager is compelling, and where she’s ended up is deeply thoughtful and insightful, I think. I think maybe what I most respect about her is that as she’s gotten older she hasn’t really mellowed out or backed off or moved on from the struggles of her youth so much as she’s grown into them. I think all of that applies, as far as I can see, to her work lyrically, musically, and personally.
That’s all pretty general though. Specifically, she’s got two solo albums and they’re both excellent. I already knew I loved Petals For Armor, that’s got song after song that I love, music and lyrics and message and all. I definitely don’t like FLOWERS for VASES / descansos as much, but that’s because it’s a high bar to measure up to, not because it’s bad. I definitely like it way more than I remember liking it, it’s a good album.
It’s hard for me to distinguish super well between Hayley Williams as a solo act and Paramore as a band. In so many ways, Paramore is Hayley Williams. The types of sounds employed are different, but the feeling is in many ways the same, the person is the same, and especially with This Is Why, it’s clear that Williams’ exploration on her own translates back to Paramore pretty strongly. I don’t want to merge their entries. That feels disrespectful of Williams’ solo stuff, disrespectful to the rest of Paramore. But I also don’t really want to put one strongly ahead of the other while they feel so similar to me.
What I’m gonna do is put Williams just beneath Paramore, because Paramore is the act that is currently continuing forward, that is producing new music, that’s more alive. And until I can put a finger on a distinction that makes sense and feels true to me, I’ll move them up and down together. So for now, that means pushing Williams up to an A+. I’m happy with that
tunafruitsandwitch 