I can't help but be in awe of this band, whose members start at the age of 16 and are already signed by Fueled by Ramen and releasing their second chart toping album. Either you hate this album or you love it, & I fall into the latter category. Even with the departure of Hunter Lamb, this band is one of the youngest, most talented pop-punk bands this year.
Riot starts off with a very catchy song called ‘For a Pessimist, I’m Pretty Optimistic’. This song makes your heart beat faster and makes you want to jump and sing along. This feeling continues through the next song ‘That’s What You Get’, you don’t lose this feeling until about the 5th track, ‘When it rains’. This cd continues with generic teen angst. ‘Miracle’ is destined for hundreds of breakup mixtapes with lyrics ‘I’m gonna start over tonight, beginning with you and I. I just need this pain to end right here’. ‘Crushcrushcrush’ & ‘Fences’ should have been left on the editing table (or loaned to Panic! for their next cd). Despite the unoriginal feel of the last half of the cd, I give this cd 3 stars for the getting me out of my seat and making me want to dance with their first 4 soon-to-be hits. I’m still impressed with Paramore, however I have to say this cd doesn’t meet the high expectations I held for this band after their first release ‘All We Know Is Falling, & their release of the ‘Misery Business’ single.
3 out of 5 [AC]