Hayley Williams Is Candid And Raw In Latest Record (Album Review)
Hayley Williams has dropped her third solo album titled ‘Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party‘. The independent release spans 19 songs with a playtime of just over an hour. Within this, a variety of genres and styles are toyed with. Sometimes this is executed effortlessly with beautiful lyricism. Other times, I feel as though it has become a little repetitive.
Williams gained notoriety for co-founding and leading the alternative rock band Paramore. The Mississippi-born musician has delivered iconic performances on tracks such as ‘Decode‘ and ‘All I Wanted‘. In 2019, she announced her first solo project titled ‘Petals For Armor‘, which was released the following year to much acclaim. Here is what I thought about her newest effort.
Moody Vocals
The opening track, ‘Ice In My OJ‘, wasn’t what I was expecting from the face of Paramore. However, I did enjoy the strong bassline, which set the tone for the LP nicely. There’s a moody element in the way Williams delivers the vocals that helps to give the track character.
There are aspects of this album that I would’ve preferred had they been more stripped back and raw. The emotion that this artist explores is complex, and she is very articulate. I think there are times where the music accompanying doesn’t do this justice. ‘Glum‘ has this vibe for me. The chorus is clear and fresh when compared to the overproduced vocal style of its verses. Alternatively, the track that follows, ‘Kill Me‘, does a brilliant job with a heavy sound that almost feels like it’s dragging. I also enjoyed ‘Whim‘, which is a vibrant and bright track. It almost felt like an element of country was thrown into this pop song.
One of the highlights of the record for me was certainly ‘Mirtazapine‘. The intro instantly captured me with the back and forth guitar play. Furthermore, the dirty guitar tone and heavier sound are more Paramore-esque than the rest of the album. I really enjoyed the lyricism and how blunt this track is with the message it gives.
Varied Influences
As the LP progresses, I noticed a pattern woven into some of the songs. Both ‘Whim‘ and ‘Love Me Different‘ reminded me of other major female artists. The bright and clean vocals feel reminiscent of Sabrina Carpenter, whilst the slight sprinkle of country-pop shares a likeness to early Taylor Swift. Some of these associations could be linked to how Williams has been perceived throughout her career. Her sound has certainly evolved from the likes of ‘Misery Business‘ released with Paramore back in 2007. It’s refreshing to see her find her solo footing in sounds that are starkly different from pop punk and alternative rock.
I’m unsure about the track ‘Brotherly Hate‘. The backing harmony on the chorus is interesting, and there is definitely something I like about the track that I can’t pinpoint. However, I found the knocking sound a bit tedious, and the distorted vocals feel forced.
The follow-up, ‘Negative Self Talk,’ has some nice drum work. The production reminds me of the likes of the ‘Tom’s Diner‘ remix by DNA or The Verve. Above all, there’s a sadness in the strings which pairs well with the emotion within the lyricism. Furthermore, cool drum work is also present on the title track. It transcends the influences I’d expect of this singer. Moreover, this specific song has an epic chorus.
‘Hard‘ instantly took my mind to Billie Eilish. There’s a darkness in the bassline, and the vocals are quite low to blend in with the production. Yet, the track bursts into the chorus, which throws in acoustic guitars as well as a huge soundscape. The juxtaposition of the different parts in this song made it stand out massively to me.
Distinctness
‘Discovery Channel‘ pays homage to the iconic Bloodhound Gang track, ‘The Bad Touch‘. Although I feel as though this song pulls from other nineties rock bands, too. The acoustic guitar and soft vocals reminded me of Nine Inch Nails’ ‘Hurt‘. It’s one of my favourites on the LP for its distinctness, as well as the sombre atmosphere. All of this combined has made this song stick out to me the most from the record.
Closing the album with ‘Parachute‘ and ‘Good Ol’ Days‘ was a good choice. Whilst the other seventeen songs were released together, though not as an album, these particular two followed later. It seems as though both tracks hint towards bandmate Taylor York. Pulling from her real life clearly transpires into creative tracks. This is a highlight of the record, which is filled with very real and raw emotion.
Final Thoughts
My overall takeaway from this album is that there are some merits; however, I wouldn’t go out of my way to listen to it all. A handful of tracks did make me think of the kind of music that circulated on social media five years ago. There isn’t anything inherently wrong with this. I just feel as though the angle Williams was intending to take wasn’t executed to its best ability. The strongest area for me by far was the lyricism. I love how upfront, blunt, and frank it is at times. There’s also plenty of strong choruses, experimentation within the genre, and undeniable passion.
Rating: 6/10
Hayley Williams is on Instagram. You can stream her new album ‘Ego Death At A Bachelorette Party‘ below and read more album reviews here. Additionally, you can buy the album.
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