Revisiting the boiling angst of Paramore's 'All We Know Is Falling'

Angst. Harmonics. What more could you want from a Paramore album?

Angst. Harmonics. What more could you want from a Paramore album?

With the release of “Simmer” Hayley Williams appears to have murdered any chances of a Paramore reunion tour in the next several centuries.

If you haven’t heard the new solo effort from Williams (or seen the video) you can check it out here.

This week, we thought we’d revisit the album that started it all, just in case Paramore never takes the stage again. The main question here is whether the lyrics of “All We Know Is Falling” actively worked against the general health of the world’s populace. The tool for helping us answer this question?

Introducing, the Angst-O-Meter™. Let’s get to it.

1. All We Know

“This wasn’t what you wanted, was it?”

Angst. Harmonics. What more could you want from a Paramore album opener? This may sneakily be a Top 5 Paramore song.

Angst-O-Meter™ score: 4/5

*Angst score not to be confused with how much we enjoy the song or the song’s quality

2. Pressure

Let’s say we’ve decided to finally do the Paramore songs tournament. You’ve been tasked with creating the bracket. You’re going over the potential No. 1 seeds with your peers. “Pressure” is, at the very least, in the discussion. (For me, “Hallelujah” and “Pressure” are songs that define Paramore.)

They bring the thunder in this song. The thunder has been brought. But too pretty to break any angst grading scales.

Angst-O-Meter™ score: 3.5/5

3. Emergency

We’ve made it to Track 3. The gas pedal is still firmly on the floor.

Also, somehow this is the only “Paramore” music video I think I’ve ever watched? And I’ve somehow seen it like 50 times? It’s the one with the dress.

Also, dynamite emo chorus: “I’ve seen love die way too many times when it deserved to be alive.” This is, of course, somehow both the most- and least-relatable content ever consumed by 14-year-olds.

Angst-O-Meter™ score: 5/5

*(If this isn’t a 5, what is? It’s literally called “Emergency” on an album called All We Know Is Falling)

4. Brighter

Not my favorite, but that doesn’t mean it is without angst.

Angst-O-Meter™ score: 3.5/5

5. Here We Go Again

This album: rocks hard, introduced the world at large to Hayley Williams and features some of the angstiest lyrics I remember having in my iTunes library.

My sister believes that attending a Taking Back Sunday concert as an adult is the best way to inject that pure, Walter White-caliber angst directly back into your bloodstream. I may piggyback on that and say that if you’re on a budget (or TBS isn’t touring), revisiting “All We Know Is Falling” is a worthy consolation prize.

I enjoy “Here We Go Again” for just about every reason I enjoy the album as a whole, even if it is the rawest on the record.

Angst-O-Meter™ score: 4/5

6. Never Let This Go

Underrated. (Criminally?)

Angsty! (Criminally?)

Angst-O-Meter™ score: 4/5

7. Whoa

Not angsty. But it’s my favorite Paramore song. I’m not saying it’s the best Paramore song, it’s just my favorite.

This song fricking rules. It might not belong the album, but who’s complaining?

Angst-O-Meter™ score: 2/5

8. Conspiracy

“That makes me sound like a jerk, I know,” Tina Fey writes in her book Bossypants. “But remember the beginning of the story where I was the underdog? No? Me neither.”

Angst-O-Meter™ score: 5 out of mother fucking 5

9. Franklin

I can’t explain why this song reminds of a Boxcar Racer song. But I only kind of like it.

Not without angst, but not in your face about it.

Angst-O-Meter™ score: 2.5/5

10. My Heart

“Give me something the kids will cry for!”

-Fake record executive in that one MC Lars song

Angst-O-Meter™ score: 5 out of 5, baby! Yeah!

OK. That’s all. Thankful. Thanks Paramore.

I hope you all come out the other end of revisiting this thing with a new appreciation for the durability of your teen self.

-stream or download our ‘All We Know Is Falling’ episode below-