Paramore - After Laughter

Rating:

‘After Laughter’ is ok with not being ok.

“We are Paramore.” For four albums, the band were defiant and united under that simple idea. Bold, brash and determined to persevere, the band took the fires of the world and used them as fuel. No matter the odds, Paramore came up on top because what other option was there.

Album five is different. The band are still a band but there are no brave faces here. There’s no hiding behind an idea, or pretending because you have to. Instead ‘After Laughter’ is ok with not being ok.

While the music busies itself with a tropical landscape, all sunshine, smiles and postcard-perfect moments of joyous escape, the lyrics are trapped under the weight of the real world. And it ain’t fun. ‘After Laughter’ knows something has shifted (“remember when we used to like ourselves?”) but it doesn’t know how to react. Caught somewhere in the middle, the record pushes people away (‘Idle Worship’) and is desperate to hold them close (‘Grudges’).