Reviewed by Mark Hewerdine

'Riot' is of course an international mainstream hit and is spunky rock with more hooks than a fishing tackle wholesaler and plenty of youthful attitude. Opener, "For A Pessimist I'm Pretty Optimistic", lays out the stall effectively - melodic, unfussy guitars and a rock-solid rhythm section providing a firm base for Hayley Williams' assured and passionate vocals to take the spotlight. With nifty time signature changes and a pop-perfect chorus, "That's What You Get" is another highlight and sure to garner radio air-time. Lyrically, you'll find tales of young love, heartbreak and spiritual hunger with Williams occasionally slipping in a little youthful bile and cynicism. Piano-led, soulful ballad "We Are Broken" offers a few moments of vulnerability, and a pleasant respite from the full-throttle pop-rock assault. The gramophone intro of "Misery Business" is as close to experimentation as Paramore come. But with tunes as catchy as "Miracle" and the quick-stepping "Fences" why mess with a winning formula? Now that they've hit the bigtime here's hope for a little more variety - in pace and instrumentation - when the new album comes out.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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