Paramore released their sixth studio album, This is Why, to critical acclaim in February, but it didn’t necessarily recreate the pop success of past singles like “Hard Times,” or “Ain’t it Fun.” Re: This is Why, released Oct. 6, gives those same songs another moment in the spotlight, inviting a wide range of artists to reinterpret them in enjoyable and often surprising ways.
While Hayley Williams’ vocals get sampled throughout the album, artists’ approaches to the songs varied, from full-on DJ remixes to broken down covers. The album opener, indie rock band Foals’ take on the title track, introduces us to the album’s concept — adding new depth, but attempting to stay true to the original. Foals notably adjusts the track’s structure to keep the groove going in unexpected ways.
Some artists interpreted the songs in relatively straightforward ways, like Claud’s acoustic version of “Crave” and Zane Lowe’s dance mix of “Running Out of Time.” Others took more risky leaps, like Remi Wolf, who scrapped the gritty guitar riff of “You First” and turned it into an almost unrecognizable dance-pop anthem — a risk which ultimately paid off.
Some tracks feel as though they’ve been strategically assigned their artist to better accentuate aspects of Paramore’s appeal. Punk rockers The Linda Lindas take the already hard-driving track, “The News,” and give the chorus added energy with their layered vocals. Romy’s stripped-down version of “Liar,” an already laid-back song, emphasizes Paramore’s strong songwriting. Modern pop-punk staple Wet Leg’s take on “C’est Comme Ça” doesn’t alter much, but their casually masterful vocal performance of Hayley Williams’ sardonic lyrics makes it hard to believe they didn’t write the song themselves.
Paramore presents the revisited tracks in the same order as the original, with a new demo track at the end. This may be why despite the hodgepodge of artists and styles, Re: This is Why remarkably still maintains a sense of flow throughout. Hearing how artists change the songs ends up being part of the fun. For instance, on “Crave,” Bartees Strange masterfully turns a line from the pre-chorus into a recurring vocal lick throughout the song.
While the eclectic mix may turn away some listeners, fans of the original This is Why get a whole new experience. Re: This is Why stands as a testament to Paramore’s diverse influences and strengths, providing a buffet of tracks with notable artists, at least a couple of which should appeal to listeners.
4 reasons why out of 5
