Rating: 9.5/10
There were a lot of things going on in 2009. Glee premiered on television, Michael Jackson died, and Kaci Schlesser was born. Among these things, an uprising within the music industry had slowly begun to take shape. At the time, third-wave emo was one of the biggest trends in the alternative music space. With bands like My Chemical Romance and Fall Out Boy pioneering the punky, dramatic sound, it was hard not to find yourself jamming along. One of the albums that encapsulates this genre best is none other than Paramore’s Brand New Eyes. Released on September 25, 2009, the screamo opera stuck out like a sore thumb in the band’s discography. It wasn’t hard enough to be punk, but it wasn’t cheery enough to be pop. Though frequently overlooked, this obscure middle ground brought out some of the best qualities within the band. Even 16 years after its release, Brand New Eyes stands out as one of the best emo records of all time.
Careful
The album starts with the hard-hitting opener, “Careful”. It reflects upon following your own goals and aspirations. Brand New Eyes revolves around the growing conflict within the band, and “Careful” does a great job of introducing their grievances. Unfortunately, my biggest takeaway from this entire album is how weak this song is. An opening track doesn’t have to be perfect, but it does have to be strong, and that’s what this song lacks.
Ignorance
Speaking of a strong track, “Ignorance” doesn’t disappoint at all. Released as the lead single for the album, “Ignorance” tells it like it is. It follows Hayley Williams’ experience with the band and their problematic dynamic. Her experience with Josh Farro is very apparent, as Williams describes how they have changed since their previous albums. Her emotion and pain are conveyed well, especially through her vocals and the instrumental track. Later, Williams reflected fondly on the song.
“The guys and I needed this song. We really did,” she described in a 2010 Alternative Press article. “I don’t think any of those words were going to be said had they not been written to music.”
Playing God
“Playing God” shines really bright on this album. Released as the album’s final single, the song centers on an argument between two parties, describing a potentially abusive relationship. The opening line, “I can’t make my own decisions/Or make any with precision”, as well as the title of the song, contribute to William’s views on Christianity. Though Paramore isn’t a Christian band, most of its members are. “Playing God” critiques the pressure and restrictions that religious beliefs can impose, encouraging others to follow their own dreams to break the mold of normalcy. The religious lyrics caused internal conflicts within the band, particularly with the Farro brothers. From the second I first listened to this song, it quickly became one of my favorites.
Brick by Boring Brick
The fourth track on the album, “Brick by Boring Brick”, follows the story of a young girl who sees the world through her imagination. Through storytelling, it reminds listeners that hard work pays off. As the girl retreats into her idealistic fantasy, Williams encourages her to live in reality: “Well, if it’s not real, you can’t hold it in your hand… but if it’s true, you can see it in your eyes/Oh, even in the dark”. This song is one of the best on this album.
Turn It Off
“Turn It Off” serves as the sequel to “Playing God”. The song continues to reflect upon religious beliefs, describing a loss of hope and faith. Her hopelessness with humanity and religion is incredibly evident throughout the chorus: “And the worst part is before it gets any better/We’re headed for the cliff”. William’s grief and loss of faith lead her to a point of no return, engulfing her in sorrow rather than looking up. This song expresses the “rock bottom” of sadness perfectly.
The Only Exception
“The Only Exception” is, arguably, one of the most beautiful songs on the album. As the third single for Brand New Eyes, the song expresses the worries of a romantic relationship. As a child, William’s parents got divorced. This split caused her to view love differently, vowing never to feel or sing about love. This “only exception” is rumored to be her ex-husband Chad Gilbert, a founding member of the pop-punk band New Found Glory. Their love encourages her to try again and see love in a new light. As beautiful as this song is, it aged horribly. Williams split from Gilbert in 2017 due to an infidelity controversy. However, it still holds up as one of the most romantic songs I’ve ever heard.
Feeling Sorry
“Feeling Sorry” is a total underdog on this album. The track critiques people who don’t work to get what they want and expect more: “I feel no sympathy/You live inside a cave/You barely get by, while the rest of us are trying”. Honestly, there isn’t much to say– it speaks for itself. This song deserves so much more recognition. It’s motivational, loud, and honest, making it one of the most notable tracks on Brand New Eyes.
Looking Up
“Looking Up” is the eighth song on the album and is by far the most upbeat. Compared to the rest of the tracks, the song centers on the successes of Paramore and how their dreams have become reality rather than taking a pessimistic and negative angle. It’s incredibly apparent how proud Paramore is, reflecting upon their goals and aspirations with an urge to keep going: “It’s not a dream anymore/It’s worth fighting for”. The song looks back upon the hard times and struggles they’ve had since their formation in a new light, which is something that I don’t find in music very often. I always have this song stuck in my head– it’s incredibly catchy, upbeat, and always gets me in a good mood.
Where the Lines Overlap
Out of every single song, “Where the Lines Overlap” is my favorite track on Brand New Eyes. The song is, unfortunately, another homage to Gilbert, but it is so beautifully positive that I can almost ignore it. “Where the Lines Overlap” refers to the successes and failures of a long-distance relationship. While Williams and Gilbert were together, they both toured at the same time for their bands, causing a rift in their relationship. However, Williams paints it in an optimistic light that turns it right around. This song is one of the best I’ve ever heard from the band, totally ranking number one on this entire album.
Misguided Ghosts
“Misguided Ghosts” is the tenth track on this album. It’s a soft, acoustic ballad that ponders the craziness of the world. Reportedly, Williams wrote this after being severely burned out from a tour. It dissects feelings of loneliness, self-awareness, and not knowing your place in the world. Truthfully, I don’t care for this song. As meaningful as it is, I don’t see myself coming back to it as often as some of the other tracks.
All I Wanted
If you thought of an emo song, chances are you’d think of “All I Wanted”. By far, this song is the most popular on the album, and for good reason. The track shifts back to the ideas from “Where the Lines Overlap”, but instead, it paints a darker, more dramatic picture. Williams reminisces on the “honeymoon phase” of her relationship, wishing she could slow down and relive those moments once again. Her fear and vulnerability build up, eventually exploding during the final chorus. The emotion and expressiveness throughout the song are evident not just in the vocals, but in the instruments as well.
16 years later, Brand New Eyes still holds up as one of the strongest and most influential emo albums of all time. Without a doubt, everyone deserves to hear this masterpiece at least once in their life.