The mega sales of their three previous albums has firmly positioned Paramore as one of the world's major rock acts, but their self-titled fourth release is a curious, often unappealing mix: think Kelly Clarkson gloss painted over emo rhythms, album "interludes" that juxtapose ukulele with acerbic lyrics; and Nirvana push'n'shove down the pit with hair-dye and tattoos. There's no denying that it's all delivered with equal measures of assurance and style, but Paramore might very well look back on this album and wonder, did they really write a pop song as woefully generic as Ain't It Fun and get away with it? Not that Paramore should worry; the band knows their audience demographic, and so the songs ring true (just about) with tales of barrier-breaking exploration, barely hidden resentment, romantic entanglement and other traits of teenage conflict.
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Download: Still Into You