Paramore - After Laughter review: 'They’ll gain fans with this stylish reinvention'

The US trio have replaced their sound with Eighties-style off-kilter pop
New album: Paramore's Hard Times
Andre Paine15 May 2017

Summer arrived early with Paramore’s single Hard Times, an infectious, tropical tune that ditches the US trio’s emo and replaces it with Eighties-style off-kilter pop. Yet beneath the highgloss surface, their fifth album isn’t exactly feelgood.

“The best is over and the worst is yet to come,” sings Hayley Williams (who’s only 28) on Told You So. Fortunately, she’s channelled this angst into bold, colourful songs.

There are obvious anthems — the stomping Fake Happy, the stroppy Idle Worship — as well as fluent grooves. There’s a lighter touch on the big ballad Tell Me How.

Paramore may lose a few of their pop-punk fans but they’ll gain a lot more with this stylish reinvention.

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