In 2008, Paramore were pushing their very good album Riot! and I went to see them at Summerstage and they were a preening vanity act for Hayley Williams and I hated them. Hardly worth mention that their next album was easily Paramore's worse, brand new eyes. Well, "I Hate To See Your Heartache" is Paramore's best song since "For A Pessimist, I'm Pretty Optimistic" and the first half of their new album, is their best work to date. I don't know how they managed to get make their first album in four years, with half the band hitting the road, their best to date. They are playing the Highline in May and I just bought a tix off stubhub, that's how impressed I am.
As for Fall Out Boy, I was never much of a fan but I streamed their imminently to be released album Save Rock And Roll the other day and was blown away. Mary Magpie reviewed it yesterday here and wrote it part: "This is the best release of their entire career; the passion and lyrics, the musicianship and talent. Every detail is fascinating and you can feel the energy- it’s like you can tell that the band had a damn good time making the album. That’s been lacking and now that Fall Out Boy is back, they’re better than they were in the first place." I wouldn't go that far but as I mentioned I've only streamed in once.
Oddly enough I disliked the first single off both albums, Paramore's "Now" improves it context but is still the worst album on the album and FOB's "I Know What You Dd In The Dark (Light Em Up) is a major disaster. Just goes to show, right?
So now I am going to see both bands, and what this proves is a variant on Herman Edward's, former NY Jets coach, "You play the game to see who wins". You play the album to hear what's good.
Save Rock And Roll – Fall Out Boy – A-
Paramore – Paramore – A-