Hayley Williams, Ego ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Another surprise release on a Monday. That makes two weeks in a row. First Tyler, the Creator, now Paramore front woman Hayley Williams. This is Hayley’s first solo album since 2021’s FLOWERS for VASES / descansos. And I guess it technically still isn’t released. She just put it up on her website for about 24 hours before removing it. But hopefully this sees a wide release soon, because it’s too good to keep bottled up.
Now, I’ve always thought Hayley’s solo material lacks the consistency, and just overall quality, of the Paramore releases. But she bucks that trend on this one. There is no wasted space on this album. Every song is catchy, every song lives up to its full potential, and every song keeps you engaged. It has 17 songs, but somehow keeps you wanting more.
Also, lyrically this is a very autobiographical album. With direct references to her career with Paramore, and some shockingly forward criticism of Southern Christianity, which she of course started out as a Christian singer in the South. She even lifts a part of an old song from one of those old Christian projects (“Jumping Inside” from Mammoth City Messengers) on the song “Ice in My OJ,” and transforms it. This album really does work as a kind of career retrospective.
Favorite song: “Mirtazapine”
