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Flowers for Vases / Descansos (2021)

Where the lyrics of Flowers for Vases / Descansos take you, and where it was really made.

Announced only one day before release, the album was recorded entirely at Williams's home in Nashville, with her playing every instrument herself.

Key places

Recorded at home in Nashville (2021)

Recording site Nashville — Due to the COVID-19 lockdowns, the album was recorded entirely in Williams's home in Nashville, Tennessee. The point is placed at the city center because the exact house is not identified. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• Flowers for Vases / Descansos: second studio album by Hayley Williams
• Released through Atlantic Records on February 5, 2021
• Stripped-down folk album, departing from the rock and pop sounds of her past work
• Williams is the sole writer and performer on the album
• Her most personal work, touching on heartbreak, grief, and depression

Background

• Genesis during the COVID-19 pandemic, which began shortly before the release of her first solo record Petals for Armor
• The pandemic led to cancellation of the corresponding tour
• Williams called the album a prequel or detour between Petals for Armor I and Petals for Armor II
• First album without collaboration from Paramore bandmates, who were supportive during its making
• The title came from a grocery list entry, and descansos is a Spanish word for a roadside memorial
• The descansos part of the title was inspired by the book Women Who Run with the Wolves

Recording

• Recorded entirely at Williams's home in Nashville, Tennessee, due to the COVID-19 lockdowns
• Williams plays all instruments heard on the album, including vocals, guitar, bass guitar, piano, and drums
• Ambient recordings from VHS tapes of her first Halloween appear on Good Grief and the title track
• Daniel James engineered and produced the album; Carlos de la Garza also served as engineer

Cover

• The cover depicts Williams in a pool of water with strong red lighting
• The image was taken in a jacuzzi and photographed by creative director Lindsey Byrnes
• Taylor York is credited with lighting assistance

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Formation

• Hayley Nichole Williams, born December 27, 1988 in Meridian, Mississippi; moved to Franklin, Tennessee after her parents' divorce in 2002.
• Discovered in 2003 by managers Dave Steunebrink and Richard Williams; signed to Atlantic Records by Jason Flom.
• Insisted on forming a band rather than becoming a solo pop artist, leading to the formation of Paramore.

Members

• Williams is the lead vocalist and founding member of Paramore, with Josh Farro, Zac Farro, and Jeremy Davis as original members.
• Current lineup consists of Williams, Zac Farro, and Taylor York; Williams is the only member to appear on all six studio albums.

Career

• Paramore has released six studio albums, including All We Know Is Falling (2005) and This Is Why (2023).
• Won the 2015 Grammy Award for Best Rock Song with Taylor York for "Ain't It Fun".
• Released solo albums Petals for Armor (2020), Flowers for Vases / Descansos (2021), and Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party (2025), the last earning three Grammy nominations.
• Collaborated with B.o.B, Zedd, Chvrches, American Football, Turnstile, Moses Sumney, and David Byrne.
• Founded the hair dye company Good Dye Young in 2016.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• The album received a positive reception from critics
• Metacritic gave generally favorable reviews, a weighted average of 79 out of 100 from 15 critic scores
• The New York Times praised the album as finely polished, noting that every vocal phrase, guitar tone, piano note and studio effect was thought through by Williams and her engineer and producer, Daniel James
• Rolling Stone gave the album three and a half stars and called it delicate
• Rolling Stone said Williams has codified what a top-to-bottom quarantine album can sound like
• Rolling Stone also warned that the stripped-down production throughout could make the album seem one-noted next to Petals for Armor

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• Williams only formally announced the album the day before release, through an Instagram story, making it a surprise album
• The album marked a milestone in the singer's career, as she had never before written all the lyrics and played all the instruments on a project
• Williams said the album is her own equivalent of Taylor Swift's album Folklore
• The Discogs release notes list the album as recorded at home

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · pt.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org · www.discogs.com

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