Paramore Conspiracy Theories

Argue: Paramore's Best Lineup

Hey guys, this is the first post in this series of opinion posts, where I give my opinion in something, and you give yours in the comments.

Today's topic is Paramore's lineup, Paramore have had 9 different lineups:

Hayley, Josh, Zac, Jeremy, Jason

Hayley, Josh, Zac, Jason

Hayley, Josh, Zac, Jason, John

Hayley, Josh, Jeremy, Zac, Hunter

Hayley, Josh, Jeremy, Zac

Hayley, Josh, Jermy, Zac, Taylor

Hayley, Jeremy, Taylor

Hayley, Taylor

Hayley, Taylor, Zac

That's a lot of lineups to compare to each other, but on YouTube you can always find a whole host of comments saying Paramore was better when they had certain people in the band, or that the band will be nothing without certain people. 

Now personally I think it'd be very hard for me to choose their best lineup (including touring members)

I really just don't know how I'd choose, I'd certainly have to think about it for a long time

Did any of you think I'd say anything other than Self-Titled? It's my favorite album for God'so sake.

Of course in my opinion the most creative, successful, happy, interacted with fans the most, won a Grammy, headlined almost every major festival in the world, first number one album, only album with 2 multi-platinum singles, sold over 100,000 copies first week, certified platinum in 3 years, Ain't It Fun was certified platinum 3 months after it was released as a single, Ain't It Fun was called the song of the summer in 2014, Ain't It Fun was the band's first and only top 10 single on the Billboard 200. 

I could say more, there's a lot to say in terms of success, but I'll leave it at all that.

This era in my opinion was highlighted by the fact that it had the perfect combination of performing musicians. Everyone was so committed and invested in every live performance that it made every live performance iconic. Even down to production and lighting crew, and producers, everything was perfectly accented. 

Jon Howard, Justin York, and Aaron Gillespie are the guys you can only dream of touring with. Each one a talented, passionate musician, giving their all to every performance. Nothing puts a smile on my face like seeing videos of Aaron mouthing the words to songs, head banging, and interacting with the band members. Aaron is a legendary drummer with 25+ years of experience, and all the technique in the world. Even reviewers who watched live performances wrote about the energy and zeal these 3 men brought when backing up Paramore. The backing musicians were so good, and so energetic that they got written about in reviews, something that hadn't happened previously (and happened recently but because the reviewer thought the AL era's musicans were boring).

I don't think AL is a bad era or lineup, I think it's bullshit though that now Hayley Williams is paying a guy to just stand there and shake a tambourine every once in a while, that seems like a waste of her hard earned money.

Of course then there's the band themselves; Hayley Williams achieved her lowest and highest notes in this era and was easily able to move up and down her vocal register, it's no wonder this era is considered her best vocally. Jeremy Davis is one hell of a musician, he dropped some of his most innovative bass work on this album now that he wasn't relegated to being a quiet back up for the guitars. Speaking of guitars, this album finally wasn't filled with minute long guitar solos every song, just where it was needed, and when guitar work was needed Taylor York played effortlessly and flawlessly.  

In my opinion Self-Titled was the best lineup, but I wanna know what you guys think was the best lineup of the 9 that I listed