Paramore strike through with an instrumentally similar track to that of this year’s earlier release This Is Why, but it is the lyrical change that marks The News as different. Changing up their pace upon their long-awaited return album’s second single, The News marks a harsher sound that frees up that darker side nicely. Paramore punch at the news, if the title wasn’t a giveaway there. It is hard to shore up many politically or culturally charged tracks as all that relevant down the line, but Paramore’s relative genericism here are both attempting to adapt themselves to doom-scrolling days while holding a keen, explosively personal message at its core.
That back and forth is shaky at the best of times, with The News being at best a good rendition of Paramore’s new phase. Far angrier than that of This is Why but far blander too. Relatively simple rises and falls that pair the chorus and verses with a keen display of talent but not much in the way of real and crucial depth. The usual remit of Hayley Williams’ vocal talent is present, it is just the lyrical naivety and consistency of it that becomes, if anything, dull. These are the same broad and dull messages extrapolated across every other genre, from folk to rap to pop, and it appears post-punk hardcore has been hit worst of all. Paramore’s latest track is by no means bad, it is just nothing of interest.
Williams’ message is an important one but it is hard to connect with it not just because of how broad and simplistic a musing on the social media-struck world it is, but because it gives an obvious conclusion with no means of getting there. “Turn off the news,” a nice sentiment with no room for any unique structure. Despite that, Zac Farro and Taylor York make for a solid backing with some decent mixing and playing from the pair. York’s rhythm guitar does push through that bit further and Farro’s drumming is essential to moving Paramore past their After Laughter era. But in pushing that little bit further, Williams’ lyrics are left behind, toiling away at the struggle and war not just around her but within. It is a shame that such personality is wasted on very plain lyrical stylings, although nostalgia for those that have that connection with Paramore will shore up The News as a better track than it actually is.
Considering the qualities and explosive presence of return single This is Why, it is worrying how quick a shift Paramore has made back to a very generic, radio-friendly, post-punk politics track. Utterly, utterly fine. An absolutely acceptable track, but not one that should be accepted as a pioneer of the post-punk and dance-punk subgenres. Turn off the news? Turn off The News. A jolt of reality may hit those most engaged with this new era for Paramore, and while This is Why managed to linger on the mind for a little longer than most, The News is an extremely forgettable single. What a turn of form for Paramore. No catchy groove or intensity that This is Why forms, Williams and company accept a level of simplicity that lingers on generics for latest track The News.
