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Tuesday, September 8, 2009

14

Paramore, "Use Somebody"


It took me a while to warm up to Kings of Leon; I initially, and on very little evidence, dismissed them as warmed-over classic rock. That may or may not be the case, but the ubiquity of their music on the playlists of the dives I frequent has overcome my suspicions and allowed for a grudging acceptance which, if it has not yet caused me to illegally download their last album, inspires at least a casual nodding and finger-tapping on the bar when one of their many samey-sounding songs comes on. (Talk about strong endorsements, huh? Regardless of how all that sounds, I do like the band.) Anyway, via Idolator, here's an acoustic cover of their "Use Somebody" by the band Paramore, a group about whom I don't even know enough to have any visceral disdain. Maura Johnston praises the tune's vocal, and she's absolutely right: Lead singer Hayley Williams takes a track that is already heavy with melancholy and adds an entire new layer of longing. Welcome to autumn, everyone; this is how the season's going to feel.

14 Comments / Post A Comment

sorry your heinous

Paramore's album is a huge guilty pleasure of mine. Pissed I can't listen to this at work (no speakers...)

davidwatts
davidwatts (#72)

"warmed-over classic rock [which] inspires at least a casual nodding and finger-tapping on the bar when one of their many samey-sounding songs comes on" is just about right for Kings. Like all profitable acts these days (ie, ones that can draw large crowds and get the attendant ticket revenue, which is the only money left in the music biz), they've done it by being predictable, enjoyable to a great swath of people with $20 - $200 in disposable income, and mostly unchallenging. The Dead and Phish both sound like The Grateful Dead, Coldplay and U2 both sound like early U2, etc.

paxcincinnatus

Predictable? Which two albums sound alike?

davidwatts
davidwatts (#72)

all of them

paxcincinnatus

http://dontevenreply.com/

buzzorhowl
buzzorhowl (#992)

God, seriously. Anyone who thinks any of the Kings Of Leon albums sound alike obviously hasn't heard any of them.

Oh, and by the way, Paramore are pretty much incredible, and I love them unreservedly.

davidwatts
davidwatts (#72)

I'm confused as to which one of us is the asshole in this scenario. Although, based on the rest of my life, I'll assume it's me.

paxcincinnatus

Now if I could just get my hands on Zooey Deschanel covering Holy Roller Novocaine . . .

lululemming
lululemming (#409)

I never thought this band would have another hit after the Dawson's Creek theme song. Good for them.

Rw
Rw (#1,458)

I wish I weren't saying this but, I'll be that guy. I really really enjoyed Kings of Leon for a few years and think the first 2, maybe 3 albums are legit good, I thought they had a sort of thoughtful and strange expansion on southern rock. Dude has a killer voice and everybody can play their asses of but... Now not so much. The new songs seem like a money grab for the Twilight gen. Much less musically and lyrically robust and everything is compressed to sound like radio ass.

Omotenium
Omotenium (#1,504)

Hm. A band I begrudgingly like covering another band I begrudgingly like.

mathnet
mathnet (#27)

I don't like the way she sings. She seems self-conscious and rehearsed and immature. And lazy and boring. On this song, at least.

DorothyMantooth

STRONGLY AGREE.

Alex Balk
Alex Balk (#4)

You are both wrong. Horribly, horribly wrong.

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