A RIOT! Breaks Out On The Best Of '07 List

OK, so I have no idea why the iTunes widget isn't registering anything, but it is mistaken to think I haven't had any activity lately. Whatever.

Over the weekend I picked up Riot!, the breakthrough album from Paramore. I've already mentioned my love for Paramore (and Hayley Williams) on this very blog, and ever since I've been eager to hear the full album.

Every review of Paramore and Riot! tends to center around frontwoman Hayley Williams. It's true the the 18-year-old is a phenomenal talent (and pretty damned attractive too). Her lyrics are a near-perfect balance between girlish boy-inspired musings and the ravings of a pissed-off beeyotch not to be messed with. Comparisons to Gwen Stefani and Avril Lavigne are totally justified, as are comparisons to Kelly Clarkson's recent work. But let's get one thing straight; Paramore is more than just Hayley Williams and her pipes. The instrumentals on Riot! are as tight as any band in the pop/punk genre. Drummer Zac Farro is no Travis Barker, but he helps keep things moving and headbobbingly fun. Likewise, brother Josh shreds one hell of a hook on tracks like first single "Misery Business" and "Hallelujah", but when matched with Fueled By Ramen labelmates Fall Out Boy and Panic! At the Disco, nothing terribly trailblazing is happening.

But at the same time, Paramore doesn't try to pretend that they are. Everyone in the band seems well aware of the fact that Williams is groundbreaking enough; in a year where female artists produced primarily bubblegum dreck ("Girlfriend" and "The Sweet Escape" come to mind), Paramore and their balls-to-the-wall brand of rock is proof of what both FBR and pop/punk in general are capable of. The live tracks on the reissue make it perfectly clear that despite the remarkable production work, Paramore knows how to play live, and aren't afraid to crank it up to 11 for a live audience. Look for Paramore to be around for awhile, and you can expect Riot! to show up on more than a couple of best-of lists this year.

Ruling on the Field: 9/10
Highlight Reel:
Paramore - Hallelujah
Paramore - Misery Business (acoustic)

Which brings me to Viva La Mainstream!'s Best of 2007 list. It was a really good year for the rock world, which makes the job of coming up with the Best Album and Best Song lists incredibly tough. The following list is just a small taste of what the Album list could look like, and there's still a month left to go (this is in no particular order):

Paramore, Riot!
Foo Fighters, Echoes, Silence, Patience and Grace
Jimmy Eat World, Chase This Light
Linkin Park, Minutes to Midnight
Kanye West, Graduation
Bright Eyes, Cassadaga
Nine Inch Nails, Year Zero
Soundtrack, Across the Universe
Fall Out Boy, Infinity On High
Bruce Springsteen, Magic

And that leaves out potential dark horses like Boys Like Girls, OneRepublic, and less obvious picks like Dashboard, Finger Eleven, Timbaland...the list goes on. Look for more on my Best Of as we get closer to 2008. As always, your suggestions are welcome.