After Laughter

As someone suffering with major depression it is so nice to finally hear something that I can relate to. The music is so light and tropical? The lyrics really remind me of Morrissey, Talking Heads, and other kind of edgy yet fun New Wave artists of the 80s and early 90s. I swear there are even some lyrics where she refers to some of their lyrics (Dreaming by Blondie). Anyway, I love it. It's nice to hear that someone else has the exact same types of thoughts that I have about life right now as a late twenty something.

First off, this vinyl was so visually appealing (I have the white marble version) and it is hard for me to keep my hands off of it, because the marble looks just that good- very real and beautiful, like an actual marble counter that I wanted to slide my hands across. This is one of my favourite album designs since the (almost completely) translucent Vessel vinyl by twentyonepilots (an excellent group also signed to FUELEDBYRAMEN liked Paramore). Okay, so for the actual review of the product? The folder style album holder is very well constructed, feels durable, and gives plenty of eye candy. And once I got to the music, it was clear that this album was worth every. single. penny. Now, I have to admit: when the first song began, I thought I had somehow put on the wrong album, because their sound has changed significantly, but if there were ever a time when change was a good thing, this would be that time, hands down. I loved their old sound and I still do, but what they managed to do on this album is phenomenal and if you aren't paying attention, you almost miss it. Paramore managed to outdo themselves after albums like Riot! and Paramore. While this is not the kind of rock I was expecting, it is exactly Paramore's style and resonates with me on such a deep level. The music has a Rock SynthPop vibe, a depressed, pessimistic rocker meets Hawaiian Getaway feel and the juxtaposition between light-hearted tones and vibing jams & deep, haunting lyrics creates tremendous pieces of music. In fact, the uplifting tone of the music, itself, betraying the tone and message of the songs is a device they use that can easily be overlooked. It allows that, while on the outside someone may play the part of the happy-go-lucky kid for you guys (the plucky music), in reality, they are tired and they are sad (the lyrics revealing the true nature of the song). Hayley says it best, herself, “I'm so fake happy.” This choice to have upbeat, cheerful music that does not match the mood of the songs reflects the mood and “message” of the album, at least that's how I interpreted it. Hard Times, Fake Happy, Told You So, and Rose Coloured Boy are my top favourite four songs from this album, but the entire album is full of bangers and jams that will make you throw your arms up and dance while simultaneously throwing you into an existential depression. A+ content. I feel like this album is definitely on par with the best of their past discography and resonates deeply with a lot of people. I bought this album after hearing a 6 second video that had just 5 seconds of audio from Hard Times in it, and I immediately bought the album without listening to the whole song OR listening to any of the rest of the album, because when I heard that THAT sound was Paramore and that THOSE lyrics were backed by that sound, I wanted to experience it all in one sitting from a vinyl record, regardless of if the album was good or not. My friend said it was a risky gamble at best and a foolish purchase at worst, especially since it was vinyl. "They love to say they told me so," but it's not gambling if it's a sure thing, and in my long experience with Hayley and Paramore, they are ALWAYS a sure thing.

Upbeat depression. Life is great.

This album released in a perfect time, I needed fresh, cool music with a meaning and this is it, LOVE IT couldn't be more happier :)

I used to listen to Paramore's older stuff when I was younger, and had a bit more teenage angst. As I grew up, I drifted away from punk/pop-punk music, and didn't really find myself playing their albums as often as I used to. However, when this came out, I figured I'd at least give it a listen. I'm extremely glad I did.After Laughter is definitely a different direction for the band, and the album is heavily influenced by 80's pop. I don't love every song on the album, but some of them really shine. As a collective musical ensemble, the album is incredibly cohesive and flows really nicely. The juxtaposition of upbeat instrumentals and depressing lyrics makes for an album that seems a little more "grown up". This album demonstrates a lot of the versatility of the band, and while I wasn't expecting to love this album, I ended up buying it on CD and listening to it frequently. Definitely recommend.

Paramore has been one of my favorite bands since high school. I would ride to school listening to “Misery Business,” and relating to everything on Riot! I also found it entirely bold and daring of Williams who was only 16 when the band got it’s start wore bright orange hair. Williams songwriting spoke to me as an angsty teenager who felt misunderstood, undermined, and never ever good enough, it helped me cope through all those feelings and become a writer myself, and later a teenage author at only 15.Released on May 12, 2017 as follow-up to their 2013 self-titled album comes a huge change for the band both sonically and lyrically.The album contains dark lyrics over fun and poppy melodies Williams has been very open about her struggles with depression: “It means that look on a person’s face when they laugh really hard and then there’s this moment when they come back to reality.”Drummer Zac Farro rejoined the band in 2017. After Laughter debuted at number six on the US Billboard Hot 200.Song by Song ReviewHard Times: A playful eighties vibe contrast hard hitting lyrics showcasing growing up and Williams’ personal struggle with depression.Rose-Colored Boy: A song about feeling pressure to look at the world with blind optimism when you actually feel very hopeless about the world and your part in it. There is so much social pressure to be “happy” that we can actually feel shame when we aren’t.Told You So: With a central theme is built around the common phrase, “Hate to say I told you so” which is typically said in a condescending disapproving manner. A track about struggles faced when people watching your every move waiting for you to make a mistake.Forgiveness: Throughout “Forgiveness” Hayley talks about forgiveness and redemption between her and the other band members and troublesome moments with her partner at the time.Fake Happy: A song showcasing how much we as humans can hide underneath our smiles. Despite being bright and bubbly at our best, there are some moments that you can’t fake the happiness.26: About not losing hope and staying a dreamer, the musicality is acoustic and very authentically transparent.Pool: 80’s new wave synth pop musicality creates a cool but dark love song about the highs and lows of loving someoneGrudges: A song about Zac Farro’s return to the band in 2017 after he left in 2010.Caught in the Middle: Williams confronts the concept of getting older. Combined with a contrasting light and danceable beat, Paramore shares the harsh feeling of seeing the years piling up. This song can also be seen as a fight with depression. Sometimes, the simple act of moving forward in life is a tedious task.No Friend: An outro track to “Idle Worship” containing spoken word poetry from Aaron Weiss from MeWithoutYou.Tell Me How: The final track about being at a crossroads in life. It’s a slow moving laiden track showing optimism toward the band’s future.Paramore shows us that whether you are looking at the world with ‘Brand New Eyes’ or allowing the ‘Riot!’ within to speak up boldly. ‘After Laughter’ showcases a brand new maturity toward the realities and struggles of being a thirty-something adult in today’s world. And I am enamored by all that the band puts out both sonically and lyrically.

I have never owned a paramour album before but have heard the previous self-titled album in it's entirety and other releases here and there over the years. i'm two years short of fifty, love rush, van halen and corduroy in particular and missed the boat when it came to the 'emo' scene typified by such like as blink 182, my chemical romance etc etc. one day I was on you tube and the video for 'hard times' was an option. I watched it, loved it and bought this album because of it and have no regrets about buying it. if you are the in the same age range as me and remember the eighties us/uk 'pop' landscape as being one of over-produced keyboard centred naffness then you might find, as I did, that this album is the most balanced album the eighties never produced. think early eighties, not late eighties as it makes me think it fits right in that period. if you have heard the self-titled album hints of this direction are on it especially on 'ain't it fun?' this album is about maturity, you can't stay 'emo' forever. more please. 10/10.

This is release that I have had to listen to several times. My first encounter with Paramore was their live riot release. Because of that release, i thought, yeah let's have a go with them. To my embarrassment I made the cardinal sin of sins. I thought I would get more full on alt/rock. Paramore are so much more than that pigeonhole.I said I had listened to After Laughter several times, that was not because I disliked the album. Far from it. I wanted to savour each track. This album is such a mix,it could make your head spin.If I may, I will give you a flavour of some of the tracks. You have some wonderful crafted ballads, there is some Americana, some country, there is a touch of funky soul and electro pop. There are some more surprises, just waiting for you to enjoy.For a band to have such a repertoire is quite simply awesome. This is a band that is a shinning beacon for music in all its myriad forms.

For me, this is Paramore's best album to date (along with their self titled album). I adore the use of 80s and 90s influences you can clearly hear in songs like 'Hard Times', 'Rose-Colored Boy' and 'Forgiveness'. I think it's a really cleverly structured album- side A ending at '26' and being a lot more "poppy" and upbeat than side B, starting at 'Pool'. From there, the songs begin to sound a bit heavier and like old Paramore. 'Grudges' takes on a 90s teenage rock band vibe (you can imagine playing this song over and over on a long road trip with friends).The TRUE love for this album for me comes from the lyrics, however. Hayley Williams is a lot more cynical about herself, extremely self-deprecating... maybe a personified character version of her depression and anxiety and fears. I love this 'flawed protagonist' we're greeted by; similar to Matty Healy on the latest The 1975 album, and similar to Halsey on both her albums to date.Open your mind instead of focusing on the old Paramore and I promise you'll love this album.

This is my favourite album of all time. I already have 2 CD's (one for the house and one that can stay permanently in my car, I love it that much) so when I got a record player for Christmas there was no doubt I would be getting this album in my vinyl collection. When I saw there was a white marble record I had to get it. It's gorgeous in person, the first coloured disc in my collection.

‘Catharsis is never usually this joyous, but sometimes smiling through the pain works better than crying’ (NME review). Every single track on After Laughter is a gem but personal favourites include 26, Grudges, Hard Times, Rose Coloured Boy, Told You So, Fake Happy, Pool, Caught in the Middle and Tell Me How. Hayley Williams’ vocals sound gorgeous particularly on the quieter tracks 26 and Tell Me How. Worth checking out the lyrics to the penultimate track ‘No Friend’ as this reads like a short story covering Paramore’s turbulent history. A wonderfully textured album that just gets better with each play. Love, love love this album!