After Laughter is the fifth studio album by Paramore, released on May 12, 2017.
This marks the first album since 2013 and is the first album since the departure of long time bassist Jeremy Davis [1], along with the return of drummer Zac Farro [2] whom originally left in 2010. [3] Alongside this, this is the first full-length album released by the band in over four years.
The lead single, Hard Times was released on April 19, 2017 with a new music video, Paramore.net layout change, merchandise, Tour One dates, and an album pre-order both physically and digitally. [4]
Background[]
On January 19, 2016, Hayley Williams announced that the band was in the process of writing their fifth album. [5] On January 28th, possible lyrics were tweeted by Williams as well, albeit there was no confirmation that they were album related. [6] On Parahoy! 2, Williams and York claimed they would get to work in the studio in the following months. [7]
From June 8 and continued, the band posted numerous photos and videos of themselves on their social media, many in which Justin Meldal-Johnsen and Farro posed in. [8] On July 4, an audio interview with Farro was published, in which he let fans know that he would not join as a member of the band, but focus as a studio drummer. [9] On February 2, 2017, the band made it official that Zac had rejoined the band, releasing a new shirt on their website celebrating his return. [10]
The album was recorded fully in Nashville's RCA Studio B, marking the first time an album was done by them in their hometown. In a short video interview with Taylor York, they were seen using multiple instruments at this location, including a tambourine and guitar. [11]
On March 14, twelve new tracks were added to Paramore's ASCAP Ace Registry, all of which ended up on the album, which a few title alterations. [12]
The day following, fans leaked a 30-minute long interview between Williams and Behind the Brand, where Williams discussed her company goodDYEyoung and her mental state after the departure of Davis. [13]
| “ | Two years ago I was ready to quit... I've been through a lot personally, and our band has been through a lot. I doubted if I could write a record as much as I loved our self-titled record. | ” |
—Williams for Behind the Brand | ||
In an interview released later by the New York Times, Williams continued to mention the self-doubt, depressive period, and near-end experience of the band. [14]
| “ | We were down another member - same old story almost from Day 1. It made me question everything - am I doing something wrong? You read things that people say about you... [and it causes] a lot of self-doubt. | ” |
—Williams for the New York Times | ||
In an interview with Zane Lowe for Beats1, Williams claimed that Taylor was the reason the band stuck together, and that he gave her a choice to continue on with Paramore or not [15]
In another interview with iHeartRadio, Williams had stated why the album title had been named After Laughter.
| “ | After Laughter is about the look on people's faces when they're done laughing. If you watch somebody long enough, there's always this look that comes across their face when they're done smiling, and I always find it really fascinating to wonder what it is that brought them back to reality. | ” |
—Williams for iHeartRadio | ||
Release & Promotion[]
Tour One Poster
On April 19, 2017, the band released a new music video-this was the music video of Hard Times. Album pre-orders, merchandise, website changes, and concert dates around Europe were also released.
The first leg of their tour, named Tour One, started in Ireland on June 15. Apart from this, the band has also been confirmed to be playing shows for Riot Fest, [16] the KROQ Weenie Roast 2017, [17] and the Karoondinha Music & Arts Festival. [18]
On May 2, the band had let their fans know via social media that a new song, Told You So, would drop via Beats1 Radio on May 3, 2017. [19]
Track Listing[]
| # | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Hard Times" | Hayley Williams · Taylor York | 3:03 |
| 2. | "Rose-Colored Boy" | Williams · York · Zac Farro | 3:32 |
| 3. | "Told You So" | Williams · York | 3:08 |
| 4. | "Forgiveness" | Williams · York | 3:39 |
| 5. | "Fake Happy" | Williams · York | 3:55 |
| 6. | "26" | Williams · York | 3:41 |
| 7. | "Pool" | Williams · York · Farro | 3:52 |
| 8. | "Grudges" | Williams · York · Farro | 3:07 |
| 9. | "Caught in the Middle" | Williams · York | 3:34 |
| 10. | "Idle Worship" | Williams · York | 3:18 |
| 11. | "No Friend" | Williams · York · Aaron Weiss | 3:23 |
| 12. | "Tell Me How" | Williams · York | 4:20 |
| Total length: | 42:31 | ||
Personnel[]
Paramore
- Hayley Williams – lead and backing vocals, keyboards, percussion, composition
- Taylor York – guitars, keyboards, percussion, marimba, production, engineering, mixing, programming, composition, backing vocals
- Zac Farro – drums, keyboards, percussion, bells, composition, backing vocals
Additional
- Justin Meldal-Johnsen – bass, keyboards, production, engineering, programming
- Aaron Weiss – vocals, composition (guest appearance on track 11)
- Zelly Boo Meldal-Johnsen – backing vocals (track 2)
- David Davidson – violin (track 6)
- Benjamin Kaufman – violin (track 6)
- Betsy Lamb – viola (track 6)
- Claire Indie – cello (track 6)
- Daniel James – string arrangements (track 6)
- Carlos de la Garza – engineering, mixing
- Mike Schuppan – engineering, mixing
- Kevin Boettger – assistant engineering
- Dave Cooley – mastering
Artwork
- Ken Tisuthiwongse – photo art
- Scott Cleary – art direction, design
- Anne Declemente – A&R
- Steve Robertson – A&R
- Brian Ranney – packaging
- Lindsey Byrnes – band photo
Streaming[]
Trivia[]
- Legendary songwriter and musician Sir Elton John is a big fan of this album.
References[]
- ↑ http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/paramore-part-ways-with-bassist-jeremy-davis-20151215
- ↑ http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7677817/paramore-drummer-zac-farro-returns
- ↑ http://www.altpress.com/news/entry/josh_and_zac_farro_finally_tell_the_truth_about_paramore/
- ↑ http://paramore.net
- ↑ https://twitter.com/yelyahwilliams/status/689666625025388544
- ↑ https://twitter.com/yelyahwilliams/status/692926838599983104?lang=en
- ↑ http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/6980919/parahoy-cruise-2016-paramore-top-10-seen-heard-hayley-williams-new-album
- ↑ http://paramore.tumblr.com/archive/2016/6
- ↑ http://idobi.com/audio/in-frequency-interview-with-halfnoise/
- ↑ http://www.billboard.com/articles/news/7677817/paramore-drummer-zac-farro-returns
- ↑ http://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/rock/7767572/paramore-new-album-after-laughter-single-hard-times
- ↑ http://www.upsetmagazine.com/news/paramore-appear-registered-albums-worth-new-tracks/
- ↑ https://youtu.be/5GwT2Sj2Ibw
- ↑ https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/19/arts/music/paramore-hayley-williams-after-laughter-interview.html?_r=0
- ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C-Qb2qj58wQ
- ↑ http://riotfest.org/
- ↑ http://kroq.cbslocal.com/weenie-roast-y-fiesta-2017/
- ↑ http://paramore.tumblr.com/post/160235202701/karoondinha-music-arts-festival-maybe-we-dont
- ↑ http://paramore.tumblr.com/post/160240694521/hello-and-thanks-for-waiting-we-want-to-share
  |
After Laughter |
|---|---|
| Songs | Hard Times • Rose-Colored Boy • Told You So • Forgiveness • Fake Happy • 26 • Pool • Grudges • Caught in the Middle • Idle Worship • No Friend • Tell Me How |
| Members | Hayley Williams • Taylor York • Zac Farro |
