Paramore Fights Back With Third Album

     Paramore, a five-member alternative rock band hailing from Tennessee, was at the highest point in its career in late 2007 after the release of its sophomore album, "Riot!"  But behind the scenes, the quintet was facing a devastating break up.  Rumors for years about lead singer Hayley Williams and guitarist Josh Farro dating had been hushed by the band, but the two revealed to AP Magazine that they had in fact dated until late 2007.  When they broke up, tensions rose between everyone, including drummer and brother to the guitarist Zac Farro and bassist Jeremy Davis.  After cancelling the end of a European tour in early 2008, Paramore came back in 2009 with a new album, a new sound, and a new band member, Taylor York.  On Sept. 22, 2009, Paramore's third album, "Brand New Eyes," was released.
     "Brand New Eyes," originally the title of a song the band cut from the track listing, begins with the track "Careful," a song with a message.  "You can't be too careful anymore/when all that is waiting for you/won't come any closer/you've got to reach out a little more."  The song capture's the album's essence and vibe from the very beginning, Williams' strength and resilience to the tension between the band members.
     The first single off the record, "Ignorance," was released in July 2009 and is the second track on "Brand New Eyes."  The song was written from Williams' perspective, how she felt like an outside of the band, isolated from the world that used to be Paramore.  "You treat me just like another stranger/well it's nice to meet you sir/I guess I'll go/I best be on my way out."  Williams talks of the tension between everyone, how the band was splitting down the middle, how she felt like they were falling apart.  The edgy beats and hard vocals by Williams relieve more tension that any amount of conversation ever will.  For anyone who doubted Paramore's musical talent and ability to resolve issues hasn't listened to "Ignorance."
     The album continues with a number of other catchy songs, all pointing to the inner struggles, all hashing out the pain of all of the members.  Williams croons a haunting, yet begging tune in "Playing God," almost pleading for everyone to see what was happening to them.  "If God's the game that you're playing/well we must get more acquainted/because it has to be so lonely/to be the only one who's holy." Songs of shots of self realization and a bright light at the end of the tunnel ("Turn It Off") and bits of disappointment ("Feeling Sorry") fill the track listings.  A ballad, "The Only Exception," was released as the third single from "Brand New Eyes."  A sweet song, filled with the realization that love exists and the person who allowed Williams to make an exception.
     The second single released off the album, "Brick By Boring Brick," is a story of a little girl who is stuck in a fairy tale world.  The familiar guitar starts the song off, the drums setting a head bopping beat for the imagination of a child.  "She lives in a fairy tale/someone too far for us to find/Forgotten the taste and smell/a whole world that she's left behind."  Gone is the edginess of "Ignorance," what's left is the determination to drag this girl out of a fantasy world and into reality.
     Williams and co-writer York didn't leave out the more blunt observations of what the band could have missed if it had broken up.  "Looking Up" shows how the band won't give up on each other yet through feet stomping beats and words of wonder.  "God knows the world doesn't need another band/but what a waste it would have been."  "Where The Lines Overlap" has the same concept, maybe in a less catchy version of "Looking Up."  The idea is still there, proclaiming "no one is as lucky as us."
     The album closes with a haunting song, showing all the gold in Williams' vocal chords.  In "All I Wanted," all of the pain and tension and contempt Williams was feeling as an outsider is released through an amazing vocal performance that no one was expecting.
     "Brand New Eyes," while written for fans of the band, I feel is more written for the band themselves. It's messages are clear, the variety from song to song is obvious, and the talent of Paramore is unmatched.  For those who doubt that they are here to stay hasn't heard this album yet.  They're not going anywhere.

All Time Low Post Studio Update

All Time Low has posted the first video update of the follow up album to 2009's "Nothing Personal."  The video catches the band recording new songs for the album, still untitled.

Click here to watch All Time Low work on their fifth album.

Metro Station Calls It Quits

A web site for Towson University in Maryland broke the news that power-pop, alternative band Metro Station has officially broken up.  The band was supposed to play for the school's "Tigerfest" yesterday and reps for the school's Campus Activities Board received news the band had called it quits and would not be attending.

Metro Station, who is known for it's hit song, "Shake It" from 2006, lost two of its members, keyboardist Blake Healy in November 2009, and Anythony Improgro a month later in December.

The band's rep confirmed the break up of the two remaining members Trace Cyrus and Mason Musso, but no further news has been released by the band or its rep.

Young Veins (Ex-Panic! At The Disco) release anticipated first single

The Young Veins, a new indie rock band formed of ex-Panic! At The Disco guitarist Ryan Ross and bassist Jon Walker, have debuted their new song, "Young Veins (Die Tonight)."  The song was recorded, along with the other ten songs off the debut full-length album, "Take A Vacation," with Phantom Planet's Alex Greenwald, new frontman Ross, and bassist-turned-guitarist Walker before the band added bassist Andy Soukal, keyboardist Nick White and drummer Nick Murray.

Check out "Young Veins (Die Tonight)" here, along with "Change."  "Take A Vacation" is due to release this summer.

We The Kings Frontman Posts Solo Song

Frontman of alternative band We The Kings, Travis Clark, posted a new song, "Let's Sleep In Forever" on his blog, saying, "I've been working on some new stuff for my little Naked 'Stripped Down' Project :) here is a little glimpse, hope you likey!"

Listen to "Let's Sleep In Forever" here. 

Clark's band, We The Kings, can be seen in New Haven, CT as a guest of the AP Tour on April 30.

Local Band Signed To sonaBLAST! Records

The Pass, a quartet based in Louisville, was signed to sonaBLAST! Records, also based in Louisville.  The computerized pop sounds of The Pass were last seen at Indiana University Southeast in New Albany, IN, just 20 minutes from Louisville.

Two members, Kyle Peters and Will Roberts, hail from Jersey, while the remaining members, Brian Healey and Neal Lucas are Kentucky natives.  After meeting at the University of Louisville, the four men converged their unique styles.

The Pass released their EP album, Colors EP, on iTunes in February, already gaining nine rates of five out of five stars.  Currently they are working on their debut full-length album, due out this summer.

Fact or Fast?

    Luke O'Neil wrote an article on the site of Alternative Press on Monday, "Exclusive! In Online Music Reporting, Is It Better To Be First Or Factual?"  Is it better to be the first to report on something or the most accurate?  While this topic deals with every aspect of journalism, it was interesting to see how it pertains to music news as well.
     Rumors affect everyday life, but for bands these days, there are certainly more of them.  The biggest bands have been rumored to be on hiatus, including Fall Out Boy, The Academy Is..., The Killers, Straylight Run and, most recently, Brand New.  While the success of journalism relies on how quickly news is released to the public, it's only successful if it's true.  There is no point in reporting on something that is false.  It ends up being a whole lot of trouble for a whole lot of people.
     While there is, as Gina Chen says, an "adrenaline rush when you break a big story," it loses it's appeal if it happens to be a rumor.  While some of these bands have confirmed the truth of hiatus, Fall Out Boy and Straylight Run have both confirmed hiatus, but denied break up, the fact of the matter is most news is full of half truths.  The most important aspect of journalism is FACT.
     In a speech about good writing, Michael Gartner, president of NBC News and Pulitzer Prize winner, said "Words alone aren't enough.  Good writing needs facts.  You cannot be a good writer if you are not a good reporter.  You need facts and details."  He goes on to say that even fiction needs fact.  "Writing is just the pie crust; facts are the pie."
     Some blame the growing popularity of music blogs for readers wanting their information immediately.  This may be true, the internet has placed a lot of pressure on getting news out faster, but not necessarily accurately.  Whether it's an inexperienced blogger behind a Mac computer in a dorm room or an esteemed reporter of Rolling Stone, fact is fact is fact.  There is no substitute for fact being the most important aspect of a story.
     As John Nolan of Straylight Run said,"I think in the end, the blogs and news organization that are ethical and found to be credible will win in the end.  Eventually, people will stop going to blogs that put out a lot of hype that turns out not to be true."