Papa Roach Album: “Paramour Sessions [Bonus Tracks]”

Papa Roach is a band that has done nothing but evolve since their first album. Sadly, this means they've lost some fans along the way, but the upside is the music keeps improving with each album release. While I was--and still am--a big fan of "Infest," I think the band really started to shine when the lead singer stopped rapping and started singing more. Each album has been a notch-up, and "The Paramour Sessions" is no exception.

This album is much darker and sometimes even more hauntingly mellow than past releases. Though the themes haven't changed much (love, hate, heartbreak, alcohol abuse), the delivery of the songs have. The band has really stepped up and matured, and you can tell that from the lyrics and the music. They're not afraid to speed it up, and they're also not afraid to slow it down when need be. On "The Paramour Sessions," the lead singer, Jacoby Shaddix, has increased his range and power, giving each of the songs that extra kick it needs to be perfect.

Another thing about this new album is it does take a couple listens to really lose yourself in it, and that's not a bad thing. In fact, it's rare that an album can sound better with each listen, it's usually vice-versa. It's an album you'll want to listen to in order from start to finish, as it seems like one complete piece. It just sounds better hearing it all in the presented order that is given.

I love the entire album, but my standout favorites are "..to be loved," "alive ('n out of control)," "crash," "the world around you," "i devise my own demise," "my heart is a fist," "no more secrets," and "reckless." The music sounds fantastic and the lyrics do more than just simply flow with the songs--they get into your head, to the point where you find yourself repeating lines at random over and over again.

Will all Papa Roach fans enjoy the new album? Probably not. Like I said, the band keeps evolving and that means losing some people sometimes. This is not the band of the "Infest" days. I think they've become something a whole lot more impressive and devastating. It's something you'll just have to hear for yourself, and do yourself a favor and listen to it a couple of times before you make a verdict. I think in time this album will grow and more people will discover it and fall in love with it. "The Paramour Sessions" is a complete victory for the members of Papa Roach. I hope they continue to evolve and impress for many more years and many more albums. -Michael Crane

Anyone who has been listening to the radio for the past 6 years has probably heard one or more singles from each of the Papa Roach releases. Therefore, most people should know that they are constantly evolving. With 'The Paramour Sessions', Papa Roach strikes again with a new, fresh sound. The album returns the dark feel of their major label debut,'Infest', and fuses it with melodies stonger than those on the previous discs. Although some complain that the album slows down towards the middle and end of the CD, it does it flawlessly. The album starts out with a bang and seamlessly finds its way through powerfully thoughtful tracks such as "Forever", a dark ballad("My Heart is a Fist"), and even a radio friendly anthem("Time is Running Out"). 'Paramour Sessions' does have more slow songs than their previous albums, but they are placed strategically, making it nearly impossible to skip them. The first time you listen to this CD, some material may seem too radio friendly and you may not like it...However, listen to the disc as a whole a few times and you will not listen to any other CD for at least a week!

1. ...To Be Loved- The first single (of many i'm sure),up-beat, impossible to not sing along, one of my favorites on the cd.

2. Alive (N' Out of Control)- My favorite song on the cd,probably the heaviest song I've heard by them

3. Crash- Another of my favorites on the cd,heavy yet catchy

4. World Around You- Great song, makes you think...

5. Forever- The first of the slower songs, definatly a future single, cool vocals that are impossible to not attempt immitating.

6. I Devise My Own Devise- Awesome rock track, catchy and upbeat

7. Time is Running Out- At first listen, this track may make you cringe at its poppiness, but after a few spins its one of the albums highlights. screams radio play!

8. What Do You Do?- Personally, my least favorite track on the CD. It's still a well written slow track though.

9. My Heart is a Fist- Amazing, slow yet heavy and angry. Another song hard to not sing along to.

10. No More Secrets- Another stand out rock song...brings the tempo back up

11. Reckless- slower but with an attitude, with lyrics like "I'm a reckless...goddamn son of a bitch" every guy can relate

12. Fire- starts slower but turns into a rockin' track with an awesome guitar riff...

13. Roses On My Grave- An amazing close to the album. As powerful as it is catchy

14.(BONUS TRACK)SOS- available if you buy it through BESTBUY... awesome rock track-icing on the cake (too bad it comes edited)

I don't think Papa Roach is that good, but they're really not bad either. I've never been that critical of rock as long as it's entertaining to listen to and has some catchy hooks, which Paramour Sessions does. The band has long since steered away from rap and is now pretty standard hard rock. Nothing they do is really extraordinary, but they're quite capable of radio-friendly noise.

The single "...To Be Loved" is a pretty solid fast-paced jam. "The World Around You" has a nice guitar line in the verse and a hard chorus. "Forever" is one of the band's better slower songs, and is matched with an anthemic refrain. "Time Is Running Out" kind of sounds like a pop punk song, and is fun to listen to. "My Heart Is a Fist" is one of the more hardcore songs on the album, and "Roses On My Grave" is a departure with a string section, and is a nice way to end it.

This album is AWESOME....This is one of the few cd's where I can listen to every track on the album...I love every song on the album....If you don't have this album, you must get it.....If you don't like ROCK, you will, after listening to this album....This is a must have.....TWO THUMBS UP...

Papa roach does it again, another GOOd album with a lot energy.

Nos vemos ahorita!!