The new Suzi Q?

Posted over 4 years ago
I'll post up a proper review later, so far I've only listened to the album once all the way through.
I was watching Scuzz a few months back and this video came on. A great catchy tune, a really hot lead vocalist and good strong vocals.
There's a bit of a lack of good rock chicks at the moment. Sure you've got the likes of Amy Lee and there's female lead vocals on scores of gothic bands, but there's very little in the way of pop/punk/rock rock chicks. At the moment centre stage is taken by the likes of Pink and Avril Lavigne. While good in their own way they don't really get me excited. Avril is really music for a younger audience, which does beg the question why she has to swear so much in her latest album. My kids love Avril Lavigne, but there's no way I'll let them listen to her new stuff.
Paramore is something totally different. It's good old fashioned kick ass rock that you would have no qualms about buying for the kids. Not a swear word in sight, at least none that I've noticed. Mentioning Avril is no accident by the way. While listening I was trying to work out who Paramore most closely resemble. At first the only thought I could think of was an Avril Lavigne for a more mature audience. I'm not saying mature as in age, but as in taste.
After a few more songs I realised that comparing Paramore to Avril Lavigne was very unfair on them. Your average Avril Lavigne fan probably won't like listening to the comparatively squeaky clean Paramore. Then it hit me. Why did I like this band so much? I had to go back 20 years in music to find what I liked about the band.
To best describe Paramore, they're Joan Jett and Suzi Quattro for the YouTube generation. The same mix of pop/rock energy, guitar driven tunes and rock and roll vocals. If you like good old fashioned 80's rock and roll you'll recognise much of what made the female rockers of the 70's and 80's stand out with Paramore. But it goes to the other way too. If you're already a fan of Paramore, check out where their heritage lies and dig out some Joan Jett, Suzi Quattro and Blondie.

Comments (7)

  1. poebegone says interesting. the video left me so displaced, out of realizing this was a teenager, probably blond in reality, doing a Suzy Q. like Tori Amos and Alanis Morisette before them, i just really hope these teeners take time to dig deeper into their music histories as they grow older and come out of that as more respectable and able artists.
    Permalink posted 09/21/2007
  2. Alien8n says They're described as pop punk in the states but I do feel they're close to old style rock and roll than punk. This is actually from their second album and I can confirm they've certainly looked at some of their musical heritage when writing the album. There's a cracking rockabilly style song second to last on the album, I'll post it up when I get home. What really amazed me though was that they were able to do all this without the obligatory "parental advisory" sticker having to be plastered over the cd cover. Proof that you don't have to shock to write great music :)
    Permalink posted 09/21/2007
  3. poebegone says good to know. i agree, re old style rock and roll rather than "pop punk", based on the above song. and i must say i am intrigued by the cracking rockabilly tune. "you don’t have to shock to write great music" - amen! (:
    Permalink posted 09/21/2007
  4. Alien8n says Poebegone: Here you go. Listening to this song reminds me of bands like the Cramps and The Meteors from the mid 80's. Excellent use of guitar, bass and drums for effect, then mixed with a distinctly modern twist. Hope you like it :)
    ~nJoUtqVi5pP.mp3~
    Permalink posted 09/21/2007
  5. poebegone says hey, Alien8n. thanks for posting the song. i can see the Cramps and Meteors connection alright. the Paramore members look not a day older than 19 on the video above but these "kids" sure can play and sing. thanks for the lead, i shall be watching this band. p.s. Avril Lavigne swears lots on her latest album, really? hmm. better Google that one up.
    Permalink posted 09/22/2007
  6. Alien8n says Poebegone: It's not every track on the album, but these are the ones:
    Girlfriend - "I'm the motherf*cking princess" I Can Do Better - "I'm sick of this shit" Runaway - "life can be a bitch" I Don't Have To Try - "Get ready motherf*cker cause I'm on the scene"
    Not really the lyrics that I want my 9 and 11 year old daughters repeating in the playground...
    Permalink posted 09/24/2007
  7. poebegone says how unfortunate, she writing those lyrics. the pressure is so huge after a successful debut, artists almost always think they are supposed to 'grow up' by their sophomore album, and that may have been what Avril was trying to do. i suppose, though, she did it incorrectly.
    Permalink posted 09/28/2007

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