Essential for any rock fan. (The Paramour Sessions - Papa Roach)

Member Name: seano1993

Product:	The Paramour Sessions - Papa Roach
Date:	07/09/09 (16 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great songs

Disadvantages: Last three songs let the album down.

I had first heard Papa Roach when I heard their biggest hit "Last Resort",which was out a few years ago. I hadn't really heard anything from them recently (their rarely on the radio anyway) so when I saw "The Paramour Sessions" on sale in my local CD shop I thought I'd give them a listen...

The CD starts with two of the best songs on this album, "...To Be Loved" and "Alive". Both are real headbangers with heavy guitar throughout which can make it hard to hear the singer Jacob Shaddixy whose lyrics are actually suprisingly good. In "Alive" the guitar in the pre-chorus is absolutely insane. "..to be Loved" is impossible not to sing (or scream)along to as the chorus is so catchy.

Crash is similar to the first two but not as good. The guitar is less inspired in this very angry song and I don't like the effects halfway through. This song is a grower though and the chorus gradually gets stuck into your head and before long you will screaming "Crash" at the top of your voice.

The fourth song "World Around You" continues the theme of screaming, angry choruses with heavy guitar and is another gem on the album. Its followed by "Forever", which is completely different to the first four songs.
Just as you are starting to get sick of the all the screaming metal Papa Roach hit you with this. It starts slow with much more refrained guitars through the verses until they hit you with another chorus that will stick into your head for weeks: "Because days come and go, but my feelings for you are forever!".

"I Devise My Own Demise" is next and its verses are really pumped up but I'm not crazy about the chorus which I personally found a bit generic and it doesn't really stand out enough. "Time is Running Out" is probably one of the more radio-friendly songs on the album with a very poppy chorus but its still Papa roach-enough to get the blood pumping.

"What Do You Do? is another one of the less metal-y songs and is oddly mellow despite the hard drumming and heavy chorus. The next song "My Heart is a Fist" starts off slowly , with haunting lyrics until the drums start to get faster and you can feel the song building up but when the guitar comes in its actually quite disappointing. I was expecting something better but that is only because of the album's excellent standards I feel let down. But you're instantly brought back with the excellent "No More Secrets" featuring some intelligent word-play from Mr. Shaddixy.

The next song is "Reckless" which was released as a single and you can see why with its catchy chorus and its more rock than metal with this song.Its followed by another contendor for song of the album "The Fire". Its starts off slow but soon captivates the listener with a few delightful twists. Then onto one of the more sorrowful songs on the album, "Roses On My Grave". The song is dedicated to Jacob Shaddixy's step-grandfather who died in 2006 and tthe source where the band got its name "Papa Roach". The song is very un-Papa Roach and it isn't great.
Last two songs are SOS (a bonus track) which is below-par to the overall album and a live recording of "Scars" one of their earlier hits.

This is an album I would recommend to any metal, rock or even pop fan as its impossible to not be amazed by the impressive guitar work on display and infectious choruses.

Summary: Recommended to any Rock, Metal or even just general music fan.