After Laughter
by Paramore
  • Record Label: Atlantic
  • Release Date: May 12, 2017
User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 634 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 566 out of 634
  2. Mixed: 20 out of 634
  3. Negative: 48 out of 634
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  1. TheKritikonCo
    May 27, 2017
    5
    John - For me, Paramore have just taken their identity, screwed it into a ball, and thrown it into a bin. I think this album should have been a career defining moment for the band, but instead we have what feels to me like an unfinished demo. Almost every song is mid-tempo, and it turns the album into a drag. By track 6 I'm left wondering if I can take any more.Even the highs weren'tJohn - For me, Paramore have just taken their identity, screwed it into a ball, and thrown it into a bin. I think this album should have been a career defining moment for the band, but instead we have what feels to me like an unfinished demo. Almost every song is mid-tempo, and it turns the album into a drag. By track 6 I'm left wondering if I can take any more.Even the highs weren't brilliant. Hard Times and Fake Happy are definitely going to be listened to again, and I enjoyed 26 - a very pretty song. But none of those can even stand up to anything on Riot, Brand New Eyes, or Paramore. When you compare this with tracks like Still Into You, Monster, Brick By Boring Brick, and All I Wanted, well, there IS no comparison..

    And then of course, there were songs like Forgiveness, Idle Worship, and Tell Me How, which were filler at the very best, and that's putting it politely. As for No Friend... I struggled to rate it at all.There are certainly glimpses on here of what Paramore are capable of, however they were few and far between, and fleeting at best. This is the most frustrating album I have ever listened to.

    Tilly - It's no secret that Paramore has been one of my favourite bands for a fairly long time now. Brand New Eyes has remained one of my favourite albums of all time, Riot! is undeniably a 2000's classic and I genuinely loved their self-titled despite the drastic change in direction. I've enjoyed Told You So and Hard Times over the last couple of days and found myself adjusting to this new indie pop sound they've been going for and was highly anticipating After Laughter. All I can say is this has to be one of the biggest musical letdowns I have ever witnessed. Forget Fall Out Boy, forget Linkin Park, this change of direction has not worked whatsoever for Hayley (let's be honest, this is unmistakably a solo album). Yes, the singles have been okay, but more than half of the album is full of uninspired lyrics, shrieking vocals and the weakest bridges I've had the displeasure of hearing in recent months. I love Paramore, but I don't love this.

    26 was beautifully written, and Hard Times, Told You So, Fake Happy and Pool were fun but they are amongst some truly forgettable and pretty bad songs. No Friend honestly sounds like Donald Trump has hired the band to create some mind altering trance, and it is nothing short of being incredibly sinister, Forgiveness is excruciatingly boring and Rose Coloured Boy feels like it's borrowed from Fleur East's Sax, which says it all doesn't it? I'll continue to get hyped up for Paramore's new releases, as I'm sure I will for years to come, but please don't ever deliver a rushed piece of crap like this again guys.    … Expand
  2. mynameisfrenz
    Aug 31, 2017
    6
    This pop direction is too strong. As you know, Paramore start their career as a rock band. With this new album, the old fans can't reflect with it. It's too uniform, there is a lack of variety.
    Suggested songs: Hard Times (lead single of the album), Idle Worship, Told You So and Tell Me How.
  3. how_tobefamous
    Nov 5, 2017
    5
    I love Paramore, but this is not one of my favorite Paramore album. I like some of the songs, but not all of them. TBH, I'm half-half with this album.

Awards & Rankings

15
#15 Most Discussed Album of 2017
32
#32 Most Shared Album of 2017

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
82

Universal acclaim - based on 15 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 15
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 15
  3. Negative: 0 out of 15
  1. DIY Magazine
    Jul 11, 2017
    100
    An album that’s ultimately OK with not being OK, it’s for that reason alone that it may just be perfect.
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  2. No Ripcord
    Jun 19, 2017
    80
    This album is a brave, bold-faced exorcism. While the wounds may still be fresh, the healing has finally begun.
    Read full review
  3. Drowned In Sound
    May 19, 2017
    80
    Williams has managed to get out from under the pressure of having to be the perma-grinning frontwoman, and the emotional uncertainty that’s exposed is fascinating. Musically, meanwhile, this is as free as they’ve ever sounded. Again: Paramore have always been a pop band. They’ve just never been this proud of it.
    Read full review
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