Overview

Riot! is the second studio album by American rock band Paramore, released in 2007. The record consolidated the group's energetic pop‑punk and alternative rock sound and established them on international radio and video channels. The band chose the title for its dictionary sense of "a sudden outburst of uncontrolled emotion," reflecting the album's urgent musical and lyrical approach.

Musical style and themes

The album blends punchy guitar riffs, driving rhythms and hook‑driven choruses with candid lyrics about relationships, self‑assertion and adolescent frustration. Critics and fans commonly describe its style as pop punk, emo‑pop and alternative rock—marked by Hayley Williams's expressive lead vocals and the band's tight melodic arrangements.

Recording, personnel and release

Paramore recorded Riot! with a professional production team and a lineup that included Hayley Williams (lead vocals), Josh Farro (guitar, backing vocals), Zac Farro (drums) and Jeremy Davis (bass). The album was released on the label that had supported the band since their debut, with promotion through singles, videos and touring.

Singles and promotion

  • "Misery Business" — the breakthrough single that brought Paramore broad recognition.
  • "That's What You Get" — a melodic, radio‑friendly track emphasizing relationships and consequences.
  • "Crushcrushcrush" — a driving, riff‑led song often played at live shows.

These tracks received considerable airplay and helped the band reach new audiences via music television and mainstream radio. For more on specific releases and editions, see the album page and single listings: album details, single information.

Reception and legacy

Riot! is widely regarded as the record that moved Paramore from a rising act into mainstream prominence. It attracted positive reviews for its songwriting and energy, inspired a wave of young listeners, and influenced contemporaries within the late‑2000s pop‑punk and emo scenes. The record appears frequently in retrospectives about that period of alternative rock and remains a touchstone in the band's catalogue.

Notable facts

Over time some songs from Riot! attracted discussion beyond music—addressing lyrical choices and how artists respond to changing cultural expectations. The band continued to revisit and reinterpret material from this era in later tours and releases. For background on the band and the musical context, see pages about the group and genre: Paramore, pop‑punk and emo pop, and the label that released the album: record label.