Pedals For Armor Felt Like an Exhale
I think that several Twitter users were quick to judge Hayley Williams when the lead singer of the Paramore announced that she was perusing a solo project. Breaking off from a group dynamic can either be an opportunity of a lifetime or simply a blip within the bands journey that true fans will remember but casual listeners may forgo for the hits. I already knew that I loved Hayley’s vocals, especially after growing such a fondness for the earnest and maturity that shone through in After Laughter. However, when I heard that her band-mate Taylor York was going to be on the producing side of this album, I was nervous that it wasn’t going to be different enough from the trio’s discography.
I was pleasantly surprised. The amount of experimentation that went into this album deserves a round of applause on it’s own, from the high-level technological production to the fun jazz-rock vocals that graced every track on this record, I was never sure what would come next. Williams really leans into the rough edge that she has to her voice, but in a way that brings a sultry energy to the forefront. What really stood out to me though was the amount of raw depth that Williams brought to the lyrics in her debut.
I knew that this was going to be a rough listen, especially after knowing the context of her heart-breaking and toxic relationship with her ex husband. However, I was not prepared for her openness. Especially about the topics of infidelity and depression. As I listen to tracks like Dead Horse where Williams starts with a voice note about her mental state and then dives into lyrics like “I got what I deserved, I was the other woman first” but also “I beat it like a dead horse, I beat it like a drum, I stayed with it to long.” I cannot help but feel the palpable tension between her self-awareness, exhaustion and daydreaming.
Williams album portrays a realist understanding of being in love and dealing with heartbreak, with a deep understanding of the fact that a lot of your emotions are not directly under your control. In Pure Love, she seems to fight with herself when it comes to getting to know someone new. “If I want pure love, must stop acting so tough. If I want your love, ooh got to open up.” Williams cries, exposing how the fallout of previous trauma will most likely effect the openness toward new love in the future and trying to push through that barrier.
Love, however, is not the only theme within the tracklist. The understanding of oneself and the act of grounding seems to appear several times in Pedals For Armor. We see it in the details of the dance-able track, “Cinnamon” as Williams details the interior of her home as we seem to be lead through the first few days of living alone after a breakup. Although the theme of this song can seem lonely in the beginning, the carefree melody and the recurring chorus humming the words “I’m not lonely baby, I’m free” seem to show us that Williams is letting loose, finally exhaling in the silence after the rumbles of bad relationship.
The themes of finding oneself come back with the gut punch that is the second to last track titled “Watch Me While I Bloom.” In this guitar heavy song, Williams seems to be almost gloating about the elation that she feels about being human again after such a draining period of time. Williams vocals taunt the listener as they prove the idea that no one really knows who the vocalist is and that her rebirth is just getting started.
Pedals For Armor feels like a chance for Hayley Williams and Paramore fans alike to peek behind the curtain at her heartbreak, while reassuring listeners that these events will not mark people for life, and breaking free from the shackles of trauma is possible.
Rating: 4/5
Favorite tracks: Cinnamon, Pure Love, Watch Me While I Bloom
Stream Pedals For Armor
