Paramore fans are thrilled as the band recently came out with their long-awaited, sixth album, “This is Why.” After the five year hiatus, lead vocalist Hayley Williams, guitarist Taylor York and drummer Zac Farro released “This is Why” on Feb. 10 through Atlantic Records. 

The album consists of 10 songs and lasts about 36 minutes. “This is Why” really features Williams’ amazing voice as she holds notes with varying pitches. Though all the songs have pretty simple lyrics, the songs all get catchier as you listen to them more. Apart from Williams’ amazing vocal range, the songs have great instrumentation in the background and I personally think that York and Farro are incredible. 

Apart from it being the album’s name, “This is Why” is the first song of the album and according to the band, it was the last song they finished. The song itself is very calm but it gradually gets louder during the chorus. I honestly do love how York and Farro propel Williams’ voice. It’s almost as if they are mimicking her voice with the instruments. The song itself also demonstrates what the rest of the album is going to sound like: ranging vocals with rich instrumentation adding a layer of depth to each song. 

“C’est Comme Ça” is easily one of my favorite songs on the whole album. Though the melody of the song is up-beat and fun, Williams’ husky voice is really calming and slow. Though this seems like it wouldn’t go together, Paramore really makes both elements blend nicely. Her voice changes from up-beat and higher pitched to lower and much more smooth. “C’est Comme Ça” is French for “That’s just the way it is” and the song makes you feel exactly that. As Williams says, “I still need a certain degree of disorder,” because we have come to accept that life is how life is, it’s chaotic.

“Figure 8” is one of the last songs on the album and has a lot less of that indie, calm vibe of the album. I believe that this song stands out and just lets the drums and guitar go all out. Williams seems angry and just lets her emotions take control which only adds to the amazing build up of frustration that this song exudes. It is as though she’s yelling out the chorus, “All for your sake. Became the very thing that I hate. I lost my way. Spinnin’ in an endless figure eight.” The sheer emotion in this song, along with Farro just putting his soul into the drums, makes this easily the best song in the album. “Figure 8,” could’ve been a single that Paramore released as it’s so good on its own. 

Though the whole album is really good and I don’t think there are any skips, my least favorite song is “Liar.” Though it isn’t a bad song, I feel like it’s too calm for me. “Liar” plays directly after “Figure 8,” which is a super strong and loud song, whereas ‘Liar” is the opposite. It’s calm and really shows off Williams’ high-ranging vocals but I expect something more after hearing “Figure 8.”

“Thick Skull” is the closing song of the album and in my opinion, a bit underwhelming. I was really waiting to hear how Paramore would finish off the album and this isn’t what I was really expecting. It has a great message about making the same mistakes over and over again but always bouncing back from it. Even though I love the message about resilience, it’s just too soothing for me.

The more I heard “This is Why” the more I enjoyed and appreciated all of its components. It’s pretty different from their other work and definitely a change from their last album. If anything, that shows just how versatile Paramore is. Paramore in all has matured past their teen, angsty music (which I still love) and now are speaking on real world issues and exploring different genres. Overall, the album is mind blowing and I would recommend it to anyone.