Ranking Every Song From Paramore's "After Laughter"

Following the relative success of my rankings of Taylor Swift's "folklore" and Maroon 5's "Red Pill Blues", I've decided to make these posts a semi-regular occurrence. As I've followed Paramore religiously for over a decade, this one seemed like the next logical choice.

Without further adieu, let's dive into Paramore's 2017 release entitled "After Laughter", an album that saw the band adopt an entirely new sound.

12. No Friend

Three years have passed and I still don't fully understand what "No Friend" is, but I'm not convinced it's a rankable song. It sounds more like a dramatic reading of a poem drowned out by one of Paramore's jam sessions. Congrats, Aaron Weiss? In any case, please let me know if there's more I can give you.

11. Idle Worship

Perhaps suffering from being linked to "No Friend" in such an inseparable way, something about this track is just a tad unsettling. From its opening verse, Williams' vocals feel aggressive in a rather subdued, indescribable manner. There's nothing technically wrong with that, and the song is still enjoyable, but it's safe to say that my favorite doesn't look a thing like "Idle Worship".

10. Forgiveness

For whatever reason, there's a laziness about "Forgiveness" that makes it easy to overlook. I'm ashamed to say I'd fallen victim to this mental lapse before seeing Paramore perform the song live in the summer of 2018. Upon further analysis, I found the understated beauty in its pleasant guitar riffing, mixed with Williams' earnest vocals to create a slow jam perfect for any mood. Don't you go and get it twisted, this a solid track.

9. Told You So

In June 2020, lead singer Hayley Williams ranked her five favorite Paramore songs, with "Told You So" topping the list. Thus, I hope she'll forgive me for disrespecting this one a little. From the song's introduction, it certainly feels like an instant classic. However, upon dissection, you'll find a repetitive chorus/bridge, and a verse featuring some 21st century gadget that morphs Williams' voice. I know you'd like me to admit that I'm wrong and she's right. I still love this song, but feel there are eight stronger tracks on "After Laughter" nonetheless.

8. Tell Me How

We've reached the uncomfortable portion of my rankings where emotional ballads collide with undeniable bops, and I'm forced to decide where they all land. "Tell Me How" is a beautiful, deeply personal album-closer for Williams, who couldn't bring herself to perform it live for the majority of the "After Laughter Tour". I wish I could explain why it isn't in my top five. Of all the weapons Paramore fights with, tracks like this are often the most violent.

7. Grudges

Am I biased because "Grudges" exists forever in my mind as the first song I ever saw Paramore perform live? Perhaps. Nonetheless, this track has a nostalgic air about it (strange how we found ourselves exactly where we left off), and feels particularly meaningful for a band that almost called it quits on numerous occasions. Furthermore, watching drummer Zac Farro hop on the mic for the bridge certainly doesn't hurt its cause. Everything about this one is a vibe.

6. Caught In The Middle

I don't need no help, I can sabotage this list by myself. Quite frankly, I hate that I enjoy this song as much as I do. There's something completely irresistible in the juxtaposition of cheery instrumentation and depressing lyricism that continues to bump it higher up my rankings. It's quirky and disjointed, yet somehow flawless. For now, it remains quite literally "Caught In The Middle".

5. 26

With this track, we officially move into the territory of Paramore royalty. In the spirit of honesty, I nearly placed "26" atop my list, but didn't want my ballad bias to interfere with reality. Here we find a mixture of immense sadness and hopeful optimism that allows Paramore's instrumentation space to exist in a fresh, yet familiar way. Meanwhile, Williams' vocals feel extremely raw and vulnerable, and the subtle reference to "Brick By Boring Brick" is apropos. Hold onto this song if you've got it. Don't let it go for nobody.

4. Pool

In my humble opinion, this song is incredibly underrated across the fandom. Thus, I've taken a small step towards amending this injustice by ranking it as my favorite of the "album tracks". Receiving an A+ for uniqueness, "Pool" features countless instruments, wind chimes, reverb, and impeccable lyrics like "But why get used to something new? 'Cause no one breaks my heart like you". A common theme throughout "After Laughter" seems to be pretty melodies contrasted by melancholy lyrics, and this track is no exception, prefacing my discussion of the top three.

3. Rose-Colored Boy

A rose-colored tune about embracing hopelessness rather than forcing optimism, Paramore's magic touch knows no bounds in this timeless jam. Williams' sass also shines through in "Rose-Colored Boy", and there are a variety of Easter eggs for Parafamily to look for (particularly in the music video). Low-key, no pressure, this track will remain an iconic piece of the band's discography forevermore. I wish we were all rose-colored too.

2. Hard Times

Released as the lead single from "After Laughter", this track was greeted by immediate skepticism on my end. I wasn't convinced I loved Paramore's new direction as a band. Thankfully, I was indisputably incorrect. Though I didn't expect to rank "Hard Times" so generously, it is arguably the most loopable song on the entire album, perfectly embodying everything the band sought to achieve in their new era -- an era typified by 80s-infused new-wave pop. It's alright to come out from your hole in the ground, Hayley.

1. Fake Happy

This track's introduction is reminiscent of an interlude from Paramore's self-titled album. It quickly transitions into the quintessential gem of "After Laughter". An album filled with peppy attitude and painfully relatable lyrics, "Fake Happy" stands alone in terms of creative potency. Furthermore, its music video catapults the band's message to new heights, as Williams wanders through New York City amongst a sea of emotional insincerity. I bet everybody here is fake happy too...

If you're interested in additional album rankings, follow the links below:

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