{{Short description|2020 studio album by Hayley Williams}} {{Use American English|date=August 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = Petals for Armor | type = studio | artist = [[Hayley Williams]] | cover = Hayley Williams - Petals for Armor.png | alt = | released = {{Start date|2020|05|08}} | recorded = 2019–2020 | studio = * East Iris (Nashville) * Music Friends (Los Angeles){{efn|Except "Why We Ever", recorded at Pep Talk (Nashville), East Iris and Music Friends; and "Watch Me While I Bloom", recorded at [[Sunset Sound Recorders|Sunset Sound]] (Los Angeles) and Music Friends}} | genre = * [[Art pop]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Sacher |first=Andrew |url=https://www.brooklynvegan.com/hayley-williams-solo-debut-petals-for-armor-is-an-art-pop-triumph-review/ |title=Hayley Williams' solo debut 'Petals For Armor' is an art pop triumph – review |website=BrooklynVegan |date=May 8, 2020 |access-date=August 5, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hotpress.com/music/album-review-hayley-williams-petals-armor-22815027 |title=Album Review: Hayley Williams, Petals for Armor |first=Lucy |last=O'Toole |website=Hotpress |access-date=August 5, 2025}}</ref> * [[experimental pop]]<ref name="Pitchfork" /> * [[art rock]]<ref name="The Soundboard" /> * [[synth-pop]]<ref name="The Soundboard">{{cite web |url=https://thesoundboardreviews.com/2020/05/11/album-review-petals-for-armor-by-hayley-williams/ |title=Album Review: 'Petals For Armor' by Hayley Williams |quote=It's further reflected in the sound of the album as a whole, where indie- and synthpop play a considerable role in what could easily be a continuation from where Paramore currently are, but it's much more ramshackle and nervy on the whole. |website=The Soundboard |date=May 11, 2020 |access-date=August 5, 2025}}</ref> | length = 55:49 | label = [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]] | producer = [[Taylor York]] | prev_title = [[Petals for Armor II]] | prev_year = 2020 | next_title = [[#Petals for Armor: Self-Serenades|Petals for Armor: Self-Serenades]] | next_year = 2020 | misc = {{Singles | name = Petals for Armor | type = studio | single1 = [[Simmer (song)|Simmer]] | single1date = January 22, 2020 | single2 = Dead Horse | single2date = April 21, 2020 }} }}
'''''Petals for Armor''''' is the debut solo studio album by American singer-songwriter [[Hayley Williams]]. It was released on May 8, 2020, by [[Atlantic Records]]. The album was preceded by two extended plays, ''[[Petals for Armor I]]'' and ''[[Petals for Armor II]]'',<ref>{{cite AV media |last=Williams |first=Hayley |author-link=Hayley Williams |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTuq6_bqUEk|title=Hayley Williams – Hayley Williams and Zane Lowe "Petals for Armor I" Apple Music Interview|date=3 February 2020 |via=YouTube |access-date=August 5, 2025}}</ref> which make up the album's first ten songs.
Williams explained the inspiration behind the title of the album is due to her belief that "the best way for me to protect myself is to be vulnerable."<ref>{{Cite web|last=Daly |first=Rihan |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/hayley-williams-explains-meaning-of-petals-for-armor-2600097|title=Hayley Williams explains meaning of Petals For Armor: "The way for me to protect myself best is to be vulnerable"|website=[[NME]]|date=January 22, 2020|access-date=August 5, 2025}}</ref> The album was produced by Williams' [[Paramore]] bandmate [[Taylor York]] and was written throughout 2019 during Paramore's hiatus after touring in support of their fifth studio album, ''[[After Laughter]]'' (2017).
The album was supported by its lead single, "[[Simmer (song)|Simmer]]", which was released in January 2020, accompanied with its music video. In an interview with [[BBC Radio]], Williams confirmed that she was to embark on a tour in support of ''Petals for Armor'' following its release. The tour was originally planned to begin in mid-2020 but was postponed and subsequently canceled in light of the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].
==Background== Following extensive touring in support of [[Paramore]]'s fifth studio album ''[[After Laughter]]'' (2017), Williams expressed her feelings about the group's future moving forward explaining that they were not breaking up, however needed time away from writing and touring.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/hayley-williams-paramore-future/|title=Hayley Williams addresses Paramore's future in emotional interview|first=Alternative Press|last=Magazine|website=[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]]|date=March 20, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/hayley-williams-petals-for-armor-simmer/|title=Paramore had to "get quiet for a minute" for Hayley Williams' exploration|first=Koltan|last=Greenwood|website=[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]]|date=January 23, 2020}}</ref> In an interview with [[BBC Radio]], in January 2020, Williams explained her process behind developing the album.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/hayley-williams-simmer-video-solo-paramore-8548702/|title=Hayley Williams' First Solo Single Is Here: Watch the Paramore Frontwoman's Horror Flick 'Simmer' Video|magazine=Billboard}}</ref>
{{blockquote|“I'm so ready and so incredibly humbled to get to share this project... Making it was a scary, empowering experience. Some of my proudest moments as a lyricist happened while writing ‘PETALS FOR ARMOR.’ And I was able to get my hands a little dirtier than usual when it came to instrumentation. I'm in a band with my favorite musicians so I never really feel the need to step into a role as a player when it comes to Paramore records. This project, however, benefited from a little bit of musical naïveté and rawness and so I experimented quite a bit more. I made this with some of the closest people to me. Their respective talents really shine bright throughout the record. I like to think we all make each other better and the result is something that sounds and FEELS exactly as I'd hoped it would. Now that it's time to put it all out there, I can finally exhale. I'm excited to let people in to experience a different side of myself that I’ve only very recently become familiar with.”}}
== Composition == Williams stated that the album initially began as a casual endeavor to "write a bunch of R&B songs for fun", before it developed into a fully realized project.<ref name=":0" /> ''Petals for Armor'' is largely a [[soft pop]] and [[Contemporary R&B|R&B]]-influenced album,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cuzick |first=Brooke |date=May 8, 2020 |title=Album review: Hayley Williams’ solo debut ‘Petals for Armor’ is a masterful act of introspection |url=https://dailybruin.com/2020/05/08/album-review-hayley-williams-solo-debut-petals-for-armor-is-a-masterful-act-of-introspection |access-date=May 22, 2025 |work=[[Daily Bruin]] |quote=the mainly R&B- and soft-pop-influenced record}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Zoladz |first=Lindsay |date=May 8, 2020 |title=Hayley Williams Lays Down New Roots on Her First Solo Album |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/08/arts/music/hayley-williams-petals-for-armor-review.html |access-date=May 22, 2025 |work=[[The New York Times]] |quote=an exploration of past traumas and future hopes in tracks that veer from pop to R&B and beyond}}</ref> exploring R&B, funk, and pop.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2021 |title=Flowers for Vases / Descansos |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/flowers-for-vases-descansos/1551664124 |access-date=May 22, 2025 |work=[[Apple Music]]}}</ref> ''[[Rolling Stone Australia]]'' described it as containing remnants "of the disco-funk grooves" from Paramore's then-latest studio album, ''After Laughter''.<ref>{{Cite news |date=June 18, 2020 |title=The 50 Best Albums of 2020 So Far |url=https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/50-best-albums-2020-so-far-12780/hayley-williams-petals-for-armor-12815/ |access-date=May 22, 2025 |work=[[Rolling Stone Australia]]}}</ref> However, Caryn Ganz of ''[[The New York Times]]'' described it as far removed from that project's "crunchy guitars" and "bouncy [[New wave music|new wave]]", replacing it with "intricate and ominous layers, neck-snapping funk, dizzying industrial electro, glitter-pop reveries".<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Ganz |first=Caryn |date=March 4, 2020 |title=How Hayley Williams Saved Herself (and, BTW, Paramore) |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/04/arts/music/hayley-williams-paramore.html |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221221023928/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/04/arts/music/hayley-williams-paramore.html |archive-date=December 21, 2022 |access-date=May 22, 2025 |work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>
Lucy O'Toole of ''[[Hot Press]]'' said that despite sharing some elements with Paramore's [[pop-punk]] sound, ''Petals for Armor'' largely defies genre classification, "instead carving out a unique, somewhat eccentric [[Art pop|art-pop]] sound" that draws from R&B.<ref name=":1" /> ''Pitchfork''<nowiki/>'s Jenn Pelly described it as consisting of "introspective art-pop songs".<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Pelly |first=Jenn |date=May 8, 2020 |title=Hayley Williams Breaks Down Every Song on Her Deeply Personal Solo Album, Petals for Armor |url=https://pitchfork.com/features/song-by-song/hayley-williams-petals-for-armor-interview/ |access-date=May 22, 2025 |work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]}}</ref> Both O'Toole and Pelly agreed that Williams borrows inspiration from [[Björk]] and [[Radiohead]],<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=O'Toole |first=Lucy |date=May 11, 2020 |title=Album Review: Hayley Williams, Petals for Armor |url=https://www.hotpress.com/music/album-review-hayley-williams-petals-armor-22815027 |access-date=May 22, 2025 |work=[[Hot Press]]}}</ref><ref name=":2" /> while Pelly observed that she is equally indebted to "the ’80s pop-R&B of [[Janet Jackson]]".<ref name=":2" /> Sam Walker-Smart of ''[[Clash (magazine)|Clash]]'' observed that the final third of ''Petals for Armor'' is "poppier" than the rest of the album, with some tracks such as "Pure Love" and "Taken" embracing R&B, and the latter accompanied by a "slight [[bossa nova]] rhythm".<ref name="Clash" /> According to Jolie Lash of ''[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]'', the album "never quite returns" to any other genre by the time Williams embodies 1980s-influenced R&B on "Pure Love",<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lash |first=Jolie |date=May 21, 2020 |title=The 30 Best Albums of 2020 (So Far) |url=https://www.spin.com/2020/05/the-30-best-albums-of-2020-so-far/3/ |access-date=May 22, 2025 |work=[[Spin (magazine)|Spin]]}}</ref> and Lindsay Zoladz of ''The New York Times'' described the third part of the album as "sultry, R&B-tinged".<ref name=":3" />
==Promotion and release== ===Singles=== In December 2019, Williams announced on her birthday that she would be releasing a "taste" of new solo music in January 2020. Williams revealed the song title on social media on January 20, 2020, after posting various teasers over the course of January which featured a "dark aesthetic", with one including a person running through the woods.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/hayley-williams-petal-for-armor-simmer-release-date/|title=Hayley Williams reveals Petals For Armor song title with latest teaser|work=[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]]|last=Campbell|first=Rachel|date=January 20, 2020|access-date=January 23, 2020}}</ref> On January 22, 2020, Hayley Williams released the [[lead single]] "[[Simmer (song)|Simmer]]", the song was written by Williams, Paramore touring musician Joseph Howard, and guitarist [[Taylor York]].
The album's second single, "Dead Horse" was released on April 21, 2020.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Shaffer |first=Claire |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/hayley-williams-petals-for-armor-ii-dead-horse-987729/ |title=Hayley Williams Releases Second 'Petals for Armor' EP, New Single 'Dead Horse' |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=April 21, 2020 |access-date=August 5, 2025 |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |last=Kohn |first=Daniel |url=https://www.spin.com/2020/04/hayley-williams-shares-dead-horse-from-upcoming-album/ |title=Hayley Williams Shares 'Dead Horse' From Upcoming Album |magazine=Spin |date=April 21, 2020 |access-date=August 5, 2025 |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Rose |first=Anna |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/hayley-williams-releases-new-single-dead-horse-2651179 |title=Hayley Williams releases new single 'Dead Horse' |website=NME |date=April 22, 2020 |access-date=August 5, 2025}}</ref> "'Dead Horse' offers strength back to a younger, weaker version of myself," Williams continues. "I feel like all of this needed to be said in order to embody the kind of woman I hope to be."<ref name="sg">{{cite web |url=https://www.stereogum.com/2081823/hayley-williams-dead-horse-petals-for-armor-ii-ep/music/|title=Hayley Williams - "Dead Horse"|website=Stereogum|date=21 April 2020|access-date=August 5, 2025}}</ref> The music video was released on May 8. It was directed by [[Zac Farro]].<ref>{{cite instagram |last=Williams |first=Hayley |author-link=Hayley Williams |user=hayleywilliams |postid=B_nyLG_hBZ2 |title=Petals for Armor on Instagram: "🌺🔨 ⚰️ |date=May 8, 2020}}{{dead link|date=August 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url-access=limited |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/facebook/202941843073000/3390502017650284 |archive-date=2022-04-30|url=https://www.facebook.com/hayleywilliams/photos/a.554108634622984/3390502017650284/?type=3&theater |title=Hayley Williams on Facebook |publisher=[[Facebook]]}}{{cbignore}}{{User-generated source|certain=yes|date=March 2022}}</ref>
===Promotional singles===
====Singles for ''Petals for Armor I''==== {{Main|Petals for Armor I}}
"[[Leave It Alone (Hayley Williams song)|Leave It Alone]]" was released on January 30, 2020, by [[Atlantic Records]] for [[Music download|digital download]] and to [[streaming media|streaming]] platforms and serves as the second single for Williams' debut solo EP, ''[[Petals for Armor I]]''. The song was written by Williams and Joseph Howard and was produced by [[Taylor York]]. The music video for "Leave It Alone" was directed by [[Warren Fu]] and serves as a sequel to its predecessor "[[Simmer (song)|Simmer]]".<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3WJjuG1yNQ|title=Hayley Williams - Leave It Alone [Official Music Video]|date=30 January 2020 |via=[[YouTube]]}}</ref> It premiered on the same day as the single's release.<ref name="auto1"/> Another music video, "Leave It Alone Interlude", premiered on February 3, 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zaU2wMJZiW0|title=Hayley Williams - Leave It Alone Interlude [Official Music Video]|date=3 February 2020 |via=YouTube}}</ref>
"Cinnamon" was released on February 6, 2020, as a third single from her ''[[Petals for Armor I]]'' project along with the EP's release. The music video for "Cinnamon" was directed by [[Warren Fu]] and serves as a sequel to its predecessor "Leave It Alone".<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/paramore-hayley-williams-cinnamon-video-948730/|title=Hayley Williams Releases 'Cinnamon,' 'Sudden Desire' and 'Creepin' off 'Petals for Armor 1' EP|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=6 February 2020}}</ref>
====Singles for ''Petals for Armor II''==== {{Main|Petals for Armor II}}
"Roses/Lotus/Violet/Iris" was released on March 19, 2020, with an official lyric video.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/hayley-williams-shares-love-for-nature-on-new-song-roses-lotus-violet-iris-2630615|title = Hayley Williams shares love for nature on new Boygenius collaboration 'Roses/Lotus/Violet/Iris'|website = [[NME]]|date = 19 March 2020}}</ref> The song features indie rock band [[Boygenius]], which consists of [[Julien Baker]], [[Phoebe Bridgers]], and [[Lucy Dacus]], on background vocals. A music video for the song was written and set to be directed by actress [[Kristen Stewart]], though plans fell through due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=McCarthy |first1=Lauren |title=Hayley Williams Goes Solo, But She Is Never Alone |url=https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/hayley-williams-petals-for-armor |access-date=21 September 2024 |work=[[Nylon Magazine]] |date=21 April 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240523005726/https://www.nylon.com/entertainment/hayley-williams-petals-for-armor |archive-date=23 May 2024 |url-status=live}}</ref> Williams said about the single in her [[Twitter]] account:<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/hayley-williams-boygenius-roses-lotus-violet-iris-969755/|title = Hayley Williams Drops 'Roses/Lotus/Violet/Iris' Featuring Boygenius|magazine = [[Rolling Stone]]|date = 19 March 2020}}</ref> {{blockquote|“In honor of my personal journey through femininity, with its endless facets; and in honor of the feminine wonder that connects literally everyone and everything.”}} Williams also released the songs "Over Yet", "My Friend" and "Why We Ever".<ref name="sg"/>
===Cancelled tour=== {{Infobox concert | concert_tour_name = Petals for Armor Tour | location = {{Flatlist| * Europe * United Kingdom * North America}} | type = World | image = Hayley-williams-pfa-tour-poster.png | caption = Promotional tour poster with dates | image_size = | border = yes | landscape = | image_caption = | artist = [[Hayley Williams]] | album = ''Petals for Armor'' | start_date = May 13, 2020 | end_date = June 29, 2020 | number_of_legs = 2 | number_of_shows = 22 expected (Tour cancelled due to [[COVID-19 pandemic]]) | last_tour = | this_tour = '''Petals for Armor Tour'''<br /> (2020; cancelled) | support_act = {{Flatlist| *[[The Ninth Wave (band)|The Ninth Wave]] * [[Arlo Parks]]}} | next_tour = [[Ego Death at a Bachelorette Party#Tour|Hayley Williams at a Bachelorette Party]]<br />(2026) }}
Planned to take place alongside the release of album, on March 5, 2020, Williams announced the European and North American legs of the Petals for Armor Tour, set to start in May 13 in [[Amsterdam]], Netherlands and conclude on June 29, 2020, in [[Nashville]], United States.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bassmagazine.com/artists/hayley-williams-announces-petals-for-armor-tour-with-joey-howard-on-bass|title=Hayley Williams Announces "Petals For Armor Tour" With Joey Howard on Bass|author=Bass Magazine|publisher=Bass Magazine|date=March 5, 2020|access-date=November 16, 2022}}</ref> The pre-sale started on March 13, 2020. It was announced that the support acts would be English R&B artist [[Arlo Parks]] on the North American leg and Scottish band [[The Ninth Wave (band)|the Ninth Wave]] in Europe and the UK. However, in August 2020, Williams announced that the tour was already cancelled due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]] and that there were "no immediate plans to schedule new dates".<ref name="Billboard">{{Cite web|url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/hayley-williams-cancels-petals-for-armor-tour-dates/|title=Paramore's Hayley Williams Cancels Solo Tour Amid Coronavirus Pandemic|author=Anna Chan|publisher=Billboard Magazine|date=August 6, 2020|access-date=November 16, 2022}}</ref>
Via an [[Instagram story]] posted by Williams on her 36th birthday on December 27, 2024, the artist announced plans to play the cancelled solo shows in 2025, five years after their original timeframe.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Kreps |first1=Daniel |title=Hayley Williams Hints That First-Ever Solo Tour Might Finally Happen in 2025 |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/hayley-williams-hints-first-ever-solo-tour-2025-1235220194/ |access-date=3 January 2025 |magazine=[[Rolling Stone]] |date=28 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250102105135/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/hayley-williams-hints-first-ever-solo-tour-2025-1235220194/ |archive-date=2 January 2025 |url-status=live}}</ref>
==== List of planned shows ==== {| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |+List of planned concerts, including date, city, country, and venue<ref>{{cite tweet |title=intimate shows. been craving the closeness a long time. love to @theninthewave_ for joining me overseas and to @arloparks for coming with me stateside. 💐 tix go on sale next friday, 3/13 @ 10am local. http://petalsforarmor.com |first=Hayley |last=Williams |author-link=Hayley Williams |user=yelyahwilliams |number=1235587974110285825 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210808193654/https://twitter.com/yelyahwilliams/status/1235587974110285825 |archive-date=August 8, 2021 |url-status=dead}}</ref> |- ! scope="col" style="width:12em;" | Date ! scope="col" style="width:10em;" | City ! scope="col" style="width:10em;" | Country ! scope="col" style="width:16em;" | Venue ! scope="col" style="width:300px" | Cancellation reason(s) |- ! colspan="5" |'''Europe & UK leg''' |- |May 13, 2020 |[[Amsterdam]] |Netherlands |[[Melkweg|Melkweg Max]] | rowspan="5" | [[COVID-19 pandemic]]<ref name="Billboard" /> |- |May 15, 2020 |[[Brighton]] | rowspan="2" |United Kingdom |[[The Great Escape Festival|The Great Escape]] |- |May 16, 2020 |[[London]] |[[The Fridge (nightclub)|Electric Brixton]] |- |May 18, 2020 |[[Paris]] |France |[[La Cigale]] |- |May 19, 2020 |[[Cologne]] |Germany |[[Live Music Hall]] |- ! colspan="5" |'''North America leg''' |- |May 28, 2020 |[[Seattle]] | rowspan="12" |United States |[[Moore Theatre]] | rowspan="17" |COVID-19 pandemic |- |May 30, 2020 |[[San Francisco]] |[[Masonic Auditorium]] |- |June 1, 2020 |[[Los Angeles]] |[[The Wiltern]] |- |June 3, 2020 |[[Denver]] |[[Paramount Theatre (Oakland, California)|Paramount Theatre]] |- |June 5, 2020 |[[Dallas]] |The Hifi |- |June 6, 2020 |[[Houston]] | rowspan="2" |[[House of Blues]] |- |June 8, 2020 |[[Orlando, Florida|Orlando]] |- |June 10, 2020 |[[Atlanta]] |[[Tabernacle (concert hall)|Tabernacle]] |- |June 15, 2020 |[[Charlotte, North Carolina|Charlotte]] | rowspan="3" |[[The Fillmore]] |- |June 17, 2020 |[[Silver Spring, Maryland|Silver Spring]] |- |June 18, 2020 |[[Philadelphia]] |- |June 20, 2020 |[[Boston]] |House of Blues |- |June 22, 2020 |[[Toronto]] |Canada |[[Rebel (entertainment complex)|Rebel]] |- |June 24, 2020 |[[Brooklyn]] | rowspan="4" |United States |[[Brooklyn Steel]] |- |June 26, 2020 |[[Chicago]] |House of Blues |- |June 27, 2020 |[[Detroit]] |The Fillmore |- |June 29, 2020 |[[Nashville, Tennessee|Nashville]] |[[Brooklyn Bowl]] |}
== Critical reception == {{Music ratings | ADM = 8.1/10<ref name="ADM">{{cite web|url=http://anydecentmusic.com/review/11391/Hayley-Williams-Petals-For-Armor.aspx|title=Petals for Armor by Hayley Williams reviews|publisher=AnyDecentMusic?|access-date=May 12, 2020}}</ref> | MC = 83/100<ref name="MC">{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/petals-for-armor/hayley-williams|title=Reviews for Petals for Armor by Hayley Williams|publisher=[[Metacritic]]|access-date=August 14, 2020}}</ref> | rev1 = [[AllMusic]] | rev1score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="AllMusic">{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/petals-for-armor-mw0003356388|title=Petals for Armor – Hayley Williams|publisher=[[AllMusic]]|last=Collar|first=Matt|access-date=November 15, 2025}}</ref> | rev2 = ''[[Clash (magazine)|Clash]]'' | rev2score = 8/10<ref name="Clash">{{Cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/hayley-williams-petals-for-armor|title=Hayley Williams – Petals for Armor|work=[[Clash (magazine)|Clash]]|last=Walker-Smart|first=Sam|date=May 7, 2020|access-date=May 8, 2020}}</ref> | rev3 = ''[[Consequence of Sound]]'' | rev3score = B+<ref name="CoS">{{Cite web|url=https://consequence.net/2020/05/album-review-hayley-williams-petals-for-armor/|title=Hayley Williams' Petals for Armor Discovers the Strength in Vulnerability: Review|work=[[Consequence of Sound]]|last=Dzubay|first=Laura|date=May 8, 2020|access-date=May 13, 2020}}</ref> | rev4 = ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' | rev4score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref name="Telegraph">{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/weeks-best-new-albums-khelani-mark-lanegan-hayley-williams/|title=This week's best new albums: Kehlani, Mark Lanegan, Hayley Williams|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|last=McCormick|first=Neil|date=May 9, 2020|access-date=May 13, 2020}}</ref> | rev5 = ''[[The Observer]]'' | rev5score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref name="The Observer">{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2020/may/09/hayley-williams-petals-for-armor-review-one-of-the-years-biggest-revelations|title=Hayley Williams: Petals for Armor review – one of the year's biggest revelations|work=[[The Observer]]|last=Empire|first=Kitty|date=May 9, 2020|access-date=May 10, 2020}}</ref> | rev6 = ''[[The Independent]]'' | rev6score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="The Independent">{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/hayley-williams-petals-for-armor-album-review-paramore-simmer-track-list-a9503376.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220525/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/hayley-williams-petals-for-armor-album-review-paramore-simmer-track-list-a9503376.html |archive-date=2022-05-25 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Hayley Williams review, Petals for Armor: Distorted, disorienting funk that charts singer's evolution towards peace|work=[[The Independent]]|last=Pollard|first=Alexandra|date=May 8, 2020|access-date=May 8, 2020}}</ref> | rev7 = ''[[NME]]'' | rev7score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="NME">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/hayley-williams-petals-for-armor-review-2661702|title=Hayley Williams – 'Petals For Armor' review: Paramore star goes it alone with fiercely vulnerable alt-pop|work=[[NME]]|last=Hunt|first=El|date=May 8, 2020|access-date=May 8, 2020}}</ref> | rev8 = ''[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]'' | rev8score = 7.2/10<ref name="Pitchfork">{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/hayley-williams-petals-for-armor/|title=Hayley Williams : Petals For Armor Album Review|work=[[Pitchfork (website)|Pitchfork]]|last=Gordon|first=Arielle|date=May 12, 2020|access-date=May 13, 2020}}</ref> | rev9 = ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' | rev9score = {{rating|4|5}}<ref name="Rolling Stone">{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/hayley-williams-petals-for-armor-996140/|title=Hayley Williams Explores Rage and Revelation on 'Petals For Armor'|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|last=Shaffer|first=Claire|date=May 8, 2020|access-date=May 8, 2020}}</ref> | rev10 = ''[[The Times]]'' | rev10score = {{rating|3|5}}<ref name="Times">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/music/article/hayley-williams-petals-for-armor-review-the-former-teenage-icon-tackles-her-demons-full-on-kqm6vqw8g|title=Hayley Williams: Petals for Armor review — the former teenage icon tackles her demons full on|work=[[The Times]]|last=Hodgkinson|first=Will|date=May 8, 2020|access-date=May 8, 2020}}</ref> }}
''Petals for Armor'' was met with critical acclaim.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Prance |first=Sam |date=January 25, 2021 |title=Paramore's Hayley Williams teases new project Flowers for Vases |url=https://www.capitalfm.com/artists/hayley-williams-flowers-for-vases-album/ |access-date=May 21, 2025 |work=[[Capital (radio network)|Capital]] |quote=The record was Hayley's first project as a soloist and it was met with widespread acclaim from fans and critics alike.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Seah |first=Daniel |date=August 3, 2020 |title=Watch: Hayley Williams shares an unplugged performance of Simmer |url=https://guitar.com/news/music-news/hayley-williams-shares-acoustic-simmer/ |access-date=May 21, 2025 |work=[[Guitar.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Lucano |first=Ed |date=February 17, 2021 |title=Hayley Williams Discusses Loss and Heartbreak in "FLOWERS for VASES / descansos" |url=https://thefordhamram.com/culture/hayley-williams-discusses-loss-and-heartbreak-in-flowers-for-vases-descansos/ |access-date=May 22, 2025 |work=[[The Fordham Ram]]}}</ref> At [[Metacritic]], which assigns a [[Standard score|normalized]] rating out of 100 to reviews from professional publications, the album received an [[Weighted arithmetic mean|average]] score of 83, based on 22 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".<ref name="MC"/> Aggregator AnyDecentMusic? gave it 8.1 out of 10, based on their assessment of the critical consensus.<ref name="ADM"/>
===Year-end lists=== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |+ Year-end rankings of ''Petals for Armor'' |- ! scope="col"| Publication ! scope="col"| Accolade ! scope="col"| Rank ! scope="col"| {{abbr|Ref.|Reference}} |- ! scope="row" | ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'' | Top 50 Best Albums of 2020 | style="text-align:center;" |41 | style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/list/9494859/best-albums-2020-top-50/|title=The 50 Best Albums of 2020: Staff Picks|magazine=[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]|date=December 7, 2020|access-date=December 10, 2020}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | ''[[Consequence of Sound]]'' | Top 50 Albums of 2020 | style="text-align:center;" |21 | style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{Cite web|date=December 1, 2020|title=Top 50 Albums of 2020|url=https://consequence.net/2020/12/top-50-albums-of-2020/|access-date=December 10, 2020|website=[[Consequence of Sound]]}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' | Top 15 Albums of 2020 | style="text-align:center;" | 15 | style="text-align:center;" | <ref>{{cite web|url=https://ew.com/music/best-albums-of-2020/|title=The 15 best albums of 2020|website=Entertainment Weekend|date=December 4, 2020|access-date=December 10, 2020}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | ''[[The Line of Best Fit]]'' | Top 50 Albums of 2020 | style="text-align:center;" |36 | style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/features/articles/best-albums-2020-ranked|title=The Best Albums of 2020|website=[[The Line of Best Fit]]|date=December 3, 2020|access-date=December 10, 2020}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' | The 50 Best Albums of 2020 | style="text-align:center;" |31 | style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-albums-2020-1096814/|title=The 50 Best Albums of 2020|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=December 8, 2020|access-date=December 10, 2020}}</ref> |- ! scope="row" | ''[[Slant Magazine]]'' | Top 50 Albums of 2020 | style="text-align:center;" |48 | style="text-align:center;" |<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.slantmagazine.com/features/the-50-best-albums-of-2020/5/|title=The 50 Best Albums of 2020|work=[[Slant Magazine]]|date=December 9, 2020|access-date=December 10, 2020}}</ref> |- |} {{clear}}
==Track listing== {{Track listing | all_writing = [[Hayley Williams]] and Joey Howard, except where noted. | title1 = [[Simmer (song)|Simmer]] | writer1 = {{hlist|Williams|Howard|[[Taylor York]]}} | length1 = 4:26 | title2 = [[Leave It Alone (Hayley Williams song)|Leave It Alone]] | length2 = 4:05 | title3 = Cinnamon | writer3 = {{hlist|Williams|York}} | length3 = 3:31 | title4 = Creepin' | writer4 = {{hlist|Williams|Howard|Steph Marziano}} | length4 = 2:58 | title5 = Sudden Desire | length5 = 3:07 | title6 = Dead Horse | writer6 = {{hlist|Williams|[[Daniel James (music producer)|Daniel James]]}} | length6 = 3:19 | title7 = My Friend | length7 = 3:39 | title8 = Over Yet | writer8 = {{hlist|Williams|Howard|Marziano}} | length8 = 3:39 | title9 = Roses/Lotus/Violet/Iris | writer9 = {{hlist|Williams|James|York}} | length9 = 5:18 | title10 = Why We Ever | writer10 = {{hlist|Williams|Micah Tawlks}} | length10 = 4:23 | title11 = Pure Love | length11 = 3:07 | title12 = Taken | writer12 = {{hlist|Williams|Howard|Marziano}} | length12 = 2:46 | title13 = Sugar on the Rim | writer13 = {{hlist|Williams|York}} | length13 = 4:14 | title14 = Watch Me While I Bloom | writer14 = {{hlist|Williams|James|York}} | length14 = 3:44 | title15 = Crystal Clear | writer15 = {{hlist|Williams|York}} | length15 = 3:33 | total_length = 55:49 }} {{Track listing | headline = Japanese bonus track<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wmg.jp/hayley-Williams/discography/22489/|title=Hayley Williams / ヘイリー・ウィリアムス「Petals for Armor / ペタルス・フォー・アーマー」 {{!}} Warner Music Japan|work=ワーナーミュージック・ジャパン {{!}} Warner Music Japan|access-date=1 September 2020|language=ja-JP}}</ref> | total_length = 59:05 | title16 = Simmer | note16 = [[Caroline Polachek]] remix | writer16 = {{hlist|Williams|Howard|York}} | length16 = 3:16 }}
* "Crystal Clear" contains music from "Friends or Lovers" by her grandfather, Rusty Williams.
==Credits and personnel== Credits were adapted from liner notes.<ref name="Liner">{{cite AV media notes|year=2020|title="Simmer"|type=single liner notes|others=[[Hayley Williams]]|publisher=[[Atlantic Records]]|at=Back cover}}</ref> {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} '''Musicians''' * [[Hayley Williams]] – vocals; guitar (tracks: 1, 3, and 4); keyboards (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 10–13, and 15); drums (track: 3) * Aaron Steele – drums (tracks: 1–12); programming (track: 1); [[conga]]s (tracks: 2, 9, and 11); percussion (tracks: 2 and 9) * Joey Howard – bass (tracks: 1–12, and 15); keyboards (tracks: 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 9, 11, and 12); percussion (track: 2); guitar (track: 4); programming (tracks: 5 and 7) * [[Taylor York]] – additional instrumentation (all tracks) * [[Canon Blue|Daniel James]] – string arrangements (tracks: 2 and 9) * Benjamin Kaufman – violin (tracks: 2 and 9); chin cello (tracks: 2 and 9) * Steph Marziano – keyboards (tracks: 4 and 8); programming (tracks: 4 and 8) * Mike Weiss – guitar (track: 4) * [[Julien Baker]] – background vocals (track: 9) * [[Phoebe Bridgers]] – background vocals (track: 9) * [[Lucy Dacus]] – background vocals (track: 9) * [[Zac Farro]] - drums (tracks: 14 and 15) * Brian Robert Jones – bass (track: 14) * Rusty Williams – vocals (track: 15); piano (track: 15) {{col-2}}
;Producers and engineers * Taylor York – production * [[Carlos de la Garza (music producer)|Carlos de la Garza]] – mixing, engineering, additional production (tracks: 8, 11, 12, 14, and 15) * [[Dave Cooley]] – mastering * Michael Craver – mixing assistance, studio assistance * David Fitzgibbons – mixing assistance, studio assistance * Kevin Boettger – studio assistance * Michelle Freetly – studio assistance * Jake Butler – studio assistance * Steph Marziano – additional production (tracks: 4 and 8) * Daniel James – additional production (tracks: 4–6, 8, 9, and 14) * Joey Howard – additional production (track: 7) * Micah Tawlks – additional production (track: 10); engineering (track: 10)
'''Artwork''' * Lindsey Byrnes – creative direction, photography * Alex Mata – design, layout {{col-end}}
==Charts== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |+Chart performance for ''Petals for Armor'' |- ! scope="col"| Chart (2020) ! scope="col"| Peak<br />position |- {{album chart|Australia|6|artist=Hayley Williams|album=Petals for Armor|rowheader=true|access-date=June 27, 2020}} |- {{album chart|Austria|51|artist=Hayley Williams|album=Petals for Armor|rowheader=true|access-date=May 21, 2020}} |- {{album chart|Flanders|117|artist=Hayley Williams|album=Petals for Armor|rowheader=true|access-date=May 15, 2020}} |- {{album chart|Wallonia|200|artist=Hayley Williams|album=Petals for Armor|rowheader=true|access-date=June 27, 2020}} |- {{album chart|Germany|24|id=411866|artist=Hayley Williams|album=Petals for Armor|rowheader=true|access-date=May 15, 2020}} |- {{album chart|Ireland3|38|date=20200515|rowheader=true|access-date=May 15, 2020}} |- {{album chart|New Zealand|24|artist=Hayley Williams|album=Petals for Armor|rowheader=true|access-date=June 27, 2020}} |- {{album chart|Portugal|21|artist=Hayley Williams|album=Petals for Armor|rowheader=true|access-date=June 7, 2020}} |- {{album chart|Scotland|1|date=20200515|rowheader=true|access-date=May 15, 2020}} |- {{album chart|UK2|4|date=20200515|rowheader=true|access-date=May 15, 2020}} |- {{album chart|Billboard200|18|artist=Hayley Williams|rowheader=true|access-date=June 27, 2020}} |}
==''Petals for Armor: Self-Serenades''== {{Infobox album | name = Petals for Armor: Self-Serenades | type = ep | artist = [[Hayley Williams]] | cover = HWilliams_PetalsSelf.jpg | alt = | released = December 18, 2020 | recorded = 2020 | studio = | genre = | length = 11:04 | label = [[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]] | producer = [[Canon Blue|Daniel James]] | prev_title = [[#top|Petals for Armor]] | prev_year = 2020 | next_title = [[Flowers for Vases / Descansos]] | next_year = 2021 | misc = }}
'''''Petals for Armor: Self-Serenades''''' is an [[extended play]] (EP) containing acoustic versions of two songs from ''Petals for Armor'', and one new song. It was released on [[Atlantic Records]] on December 18, 2020.<ref>{{cite web|last=Mortensa|first=Mala|title=Here's What's Ss Special About Hayley Williams' Upcoming Song|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/hayley-williams-petals-for-armor-self-serenades/|publisher=[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]]|date=October 27, 2020|access-date=February 24, 2021}}</ref> A studio version of "Find Me Here" appears as the twelfth track on Williams' second album, ''[[Flowers for Vases / Descansos]]''.
===Background=== The EP was entirely a home recording on a 4-track recorder. Williams played alone on the EP, with Williams on vocals and acoustic guitar. Williams cites "Find Me Here" as one of her favorite songs she wrote in 2020.<ref name="PFASSnewsong">{{cite web|last=Dowd|first=Rachael|title=Hear Hayley Williams Serenade Her Loved Ones In "Find Me Here"|url=https://www.altpress.com/news/hayley-williams-new-song-find-me-here/|publisher=[[Alternative Press (magazine)|Alternative Press]]|date=December 18, 2020|access-date=January 7, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016181430/https://www.altpress.com/news/hayley-williams-new-song-find-me-here/|archive-date=October 16, 2021|url-status=dead}}</ref>
===Track listing=== {{Track listing | title1 = [[Simmer (song)|Simmer]] | note1 = acoustic | writer1 = {{hlist|[[Hayley Williams]]|Joey Howard|[[Taylor York]]}} | length1 = 5:35 | title2 = Why We Ever | note2 = acoustic | writer2 = {{hlist|Williams|Micah Tawlks}} | length2 = 3:40 | title3 = Find Me Here | writer3 = Williams | length3 = 1:49 | total_length = 11:04 }}
===Credits and personnel=== Credits were adapted from liner notes.<ref>{{cite AV media notes|year=2020|title=Petals for Armor: Self-Serenades|type=liner notes|others=[[Hayley Williams]]|publisher=[[Atlantic Records]]|at=Booklet}}</ref>
'''Musicians''' * [[Hayley Williams]] – primary artist, vocals, acoustic guitar
'''Additional personnel''' * [[Canon Blue|Daniel James]] – production, mixing, engineering * [[Dave Cooley]] – mastering
==Notes== {{notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Hayley Williams}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:2020 debut albums]] [[Category:Hayley Williams albums]] [[Category:Albums produced by Taylor York]] [[Category:Atlantic Records albums]] [[Category:Art pop albums]] [[Category:Experimental pop albums]] [[Category:Indie pop albums by American artists]] [[Category:Synth-pop albums by American artists]]