Paramour Sessions rambling
OK obviously this isn't going to have a lot of negativity throughout it since
you know I'm Fangirl and all, but I needed to practice my writing skills, so I
figured why not write a review. They say "write what you know" and so here you
go. My thoughts on Papa Roach's latest CD "The Paramour Sessions":
*******************************
In order to seriously review this CD, I had to shut out the world. I signed off
AIM, closed out Netscape and didn't take any phone calls. It's that serious. I
wanted to lose myself in every song and give it the full attention a
2-years-in-waiting CD deserved. I actually have listened to it prior to today.
But the first few times were hard because I just had too many distractions to
fully focus.
Going into this I already had an idea from band interviews that this record
would be different than anything we've heard on previous albums. But since
everything they've put out since 2000 has made it to my Top Ten, I knew I could
trust them to produce something I could add to the pantheon.
Starting off the CD is the single "To Be Loved." I've had mixed feelings about
the opening chant warning us to "put the pedal to the medal." But now to hear it
in context as an intro to the rest of this CD, it makes more sense. Once the
chorus kicks in, I challenge you not to chair dance. If you don't, you're a robot.
I witnessed the appeal firsthand when a Roach-ignorant crowd in Wisconsin
was singing along by song's end before the song had yet to see airplay.
The next song, "Alive", starts out with a snarling guitar slide then
blindsides you with a ferocious attack of chunky guitars and drums. After a
headbanging verse, the chorus thankfully leads you into a breakdown, giving you
a chance to catch your breath, only to have the second verse come back and
assault you again. When they play this song live, I just know I'm
going to be clinging onto the barricade for dear life praying I don't die. Oh
well. If that's how I'm gonna go, then so be it. By the way, "I'm addicted to
the misery in my head" has earned a place in my top Hottest Jacoby Vocal Moments
alongside the "Dead Cell" scream and basically all of "Harder than a Coffin
Nail". But my favorite thing about the song is the lyrics. Once again, they've
managed to give me the right song at the exact time I needed it in life.
Another favorite is "Forever." Coby's cry of "One last kiss before I go" sends
chills up my spine. But really the most moving of all the songs is "Roses on My
Grave". If you had suggested to me in 2000 that it'd be a good idea to have Coby
sing over a string arrangement, I would have played you "Thrown Away" and said
"Uh yeah. Right. Good luck with all that." But now to hear the dark romantic
lyrics soaring over the music, it makes me wonder why they never thought of it
before.
Earlier in the year I'd read that they'd been listening to Motley Crue and I
definitely hear the influence in a few songs. "What Do You Do" and "Reckless"
really recalls Dr. Feelgood-era Crue. I wonder if Kix made their playlists as
well, because the end of "My Heart is a Fist" totally sounds like "Don't Close
Your Eyes." Of course this is all meant to be a compliment, as you all know I
love me some 80s metal from time to time.
My least favorite songs on the CD are "Time is Running Out" and "No More
Secrets", mostly because I can't relate to the lyrics. Actually I'll just flat
admit that right now I have no idea what Jacoby is talking about in "No More
Secrets." Having said that, I used to feel the same way about the first line of
"Sometimes" on the last record. But after awhile I finally understood the meaning
and now feel he couldn't have expressed the thought any more clearly. So I figure
those tunes will just need some time to sink in.
The creative risks they took amount to many pleasant surprises in this record.
They've displayed more musicianship than before, incorporating acoustic guitar, piano,
percussion and backing vocals that add dimension to the music. Jacoby really
pushed himself vocally more than ever, and probably surprised even himself with how
far he could take them. This record really impressed me and I'm proud of them for taking
so many chances that clearly paid off.
