Hayley Williams // Petals For Armor

Label: Atlantic

Ain't it fun, being on your own? Hayley Williams — lead vocalist, songwriter, and keyboardist of Paramore — certainly seems as if she can manage on her solo debut, Petals For Armor.  Showing maturity, sophistication, vulnerability, and versatility as an artist, Williams and producer Taylor York (guitarist on loan from Paramore ) craft an irresistible batch of pop songs that make the album's 55-minute runtime whizz by. While the hooky choruses and relatable lyrics of the Latin-infused "Dead Horse," shimmering new-wave pep talk of "Over Yet," and defiantly groovy "Watch Me While I Bloom" are certainly chart-ready, the creative merit and range displayed here warrants a broader audience. The participation of indie darlings Phoebe Bridgers, Lucy Dacus, and Julien Baker on the moody "Roses/Lotus/Violet/Iris" should be enough to at least turn a few heads in the art-pop crowd. Who knows — if you let your guard down and your ears wander long enough, you may like it. As Williams sings, "The opposite of fear is love" — so don't be afraid to warm up one this year's best pop albums. — Matt Swanseger

4.5 out of 5 stars