By Grace Koennecke, Columns Editor and Copy Editor

[Atlantic Recording Group LLC; 2023]

Rating: 6/10

Key tracks: “You First (Re: Remi Wolf)”, “Running Out Of Time (Re: Zane Lowe)”, “Sanity (demo)”

It hasn’t even been a year since Paramore dropped their sixth studio album This Is Why, but the trio is already back with a reimagined version of the record, titled Re: This Is Why. Featuring an array of artists such as Remi Wolf, The Linda Lindas, Bartees Strange and Julien Baker, the album is eclectic and memorable even with a multitude of flaws.

This album is definitely a step back for the band at times, as it’s disappointing to see little collaboration between icons Hayley Williams, Taylor York and Zac Farro and these breakout stars on certain tracks like “Running Out Of Time (Re: Panda Bear)” and “C’est Comme Ça (Re: Wet Leg)”. However, the standout tracks that make for these allow the record to be redeemed.

Read more: Album Review: Paramore – This Is Why

Arguably the best track off Re: This Is Why is Remi Wolf’s interpretation of “You First”, which the band received praise for because of its return to their emo-punk roots. Yet, Wolf shocks listeners by making the dark and gloomy, Twilight-esque track into an upbeat chant, all while integrating her own original lyrics to the song. Even though Williams does not sing on the track with Wolf, the singer’s version is honestly better than the original because of how creative and playful it is, evident as she plays with word choice and imagery.

Speaking of playful, an unexpected yet exciting collaboration on this album comes with Zane Lowe’s version of “Running Out Of Time”. An EDM-heavy track, Lowe uses his DJ-ing skills to turn its alt-rock sound into a 1970s-inspired disco fever dream. With Williams’ vocals ringing out to listeners throughout, it’s a wild and colorful moment in a record all about experimentation. While the original song by Paramore is never fully played, you can still keep on your toes with the infectious, robotic beats Lowe uses to amplify it.

Other honorable mentions obviously have to go to “The News (Re: The Linda Lindas)” and “Figure 8 (Re: Bartees Strange)”, as both completely reconfigure the songs into new sounds fans would not have seen originally from Paramore. The first track is quite impressive coming from a band whose ages span from 13 to 19 years-old, especially as they use the original song’s catchy bass lines and siren wails to match alongside their screaming harmonies. 

Meanwhile, Bartees Strange makes “Figure 8” much more dystopian than it already is, remixing Williams’ vocals to a lower octave range to make her sound like a menacing villain. It also includes a stripped-down acoustic version of the chorus at the very end of the track, which helps diminish the heaviness of the song. Overall, it’s another EDM-influenced sound, but one that is flawless for its production quality.

Interestingly, Paramore chose to include a demo of an unreleased song called “Sanity,” which Williams said was created during their After Laughter era. With this in mind, this track clearly sounds like it could’ve fit perfectly on their previous record, as its clap-pat intro, Farro’s 1980s drum beats, and Williams’ use of synths produce a track all about losing one’s mind due to a declining mental state. For someone who is a major After Laughter fan, this track brought me instant nostalgia, allowing me to transport back in time to 2017 all over again.

All in all, Re: This Is Why has some major downfalls, especially with no signs of Paramore to be found on most of the tracks, but its significant list of collaborators makes the record’s standouts worth the listen. Hopefully, Paramore is now inspired to explore more with their sound, especially now being exposed to the likes of other artists.

Listen more: