The Paramour Sessions

by

Papa Roach

Edit

If there's one thing I can always say about Papa Roach is that they never get boring. Each album they have released to date has shown the band maturing and trying out a new style. On their fourth major release, "The Paramour Sessions," Papa Roach carry on that tradition. With "Getting Away With Murder" producer Howard Benson returning, Papa Roach sound bound and determined to continue the momentum they regained in 2004. And it works really well.

Sounds like: Poppy Roach

The Good:

- The album was produced and released in a rather speedy manner.

- Plenty of diversity between songs.

- Improved songwriting by frontman Jacoby Shaddix.

The Bad:

- Lots of radio-ready material, not enough of the harder-edged side of the band.

- Songs such as "Crash" and "Alive (N' Out Of Control)" come across as "Getting Away With Murder" b-sides.

Hits: "...To Be Loved," "I Devise My Own Demise," "The World Around You," "Roses On My Grave" and "Time Is Running Out" -- which is, in my opinion, the best song they're written to date.

Misses: "What Do You Do," which is too cliche and predictable to be true.

Future: Papa Roach have always had a complicated career. Their first album was a success, while the second one bombed. Their last one did rather well, and since this has a similar feel to it, I'm sure it'll do rather well. However, it will definitely turn away many narrow-minded, older fans.

Personally: It's not the strongest Papa Roach album, but they're still doing damn well. I've found this album to be quite addicting and cannot get enough of "The World Around You" and "Time Is Running Out."

Best Listened To When: It's 6:00 am and you're really tired and on your way to work.

I would say this is their third best cd. Getting Away With Murder, Infest, Paramour Sessions, and Lovehatetragedy: in that order. I've never been a huge fan of them, but they are an above average hard rock band that writes some catchy tunes. For me, it has always been hit or miss with their songs. On this one, it is about 50/50 on hits and misses. Still, if half the songs are good, that is reason enough for me to buy a cd. And maybe the others will grow on me. For those of you who liked Infest and maybe haven't checked these guys out for awhile, they aren't exactly the same band. They have lost that rap-rock vibe they had, and adopted a cleaner hard rock approach, as have many other bands of the nu-metal era. Hit songs: "to be loved" and "Forever" are included on this cd.

3.5 stars.