Zac Farro’s ‘Operator’ is an absolutely brilliant solo debut

Recommended Tracks: “1,” “Simple Actions,” “All I Really Want Now”
Artists You Might Like: Stevie Wonder, The Bee Gees, Earth, Wind & Fire, Fleetwood Mac

Fans of Paramore were thrilled to learn about drummer Zac Farro‘s side project, Halfnoise. Farro began the project after his departure from Paramore in 2010, and it grew into a successful venture, with four albums and three EPs so far. He stunned fans again with the announcement of his first solo album, Operator, on June 24. Thankfully, he didn’t keep us waiting long; Operator is here, and it does not disappoint.

Operator is like a 70s easy rock record with a bite to it. It examines relatable themes like nostalgia, breakdowns in communication, love, and loss. It’s laid back and breezy, while also being punchy and laced with rich production value, and delightful little musical treats all throughout. Its trajectory takes us from a moderately high-energy space with “Operator” and “1” delivering an extremely strong top third of the album. Right in the middle, the buoyant and heartfelt single “My My,” changes things up with its soft, mellow feel. Towards the end, the energy trends downward with slow jams, “Sunday Driving” and “I Need You.” It doesn’t taper in such a way that feels boring or underwhelming; it’s more similar to the feeling of unwinding after a long day.

Title track, “Operator” starts the record off strong with a playful, bright soundscape. You can hear how much fun Farro had with the drums and percussion, and the chirpy synth used in the transitions adds a cute dimension to it. It fit so well with the charming telephone tag themed lyrics (“When I tried to call you / Got the operator / Then you called me back / It was so much later”). The pedal steel performed by Josh Gilligan layered underneath the song, especially near the end, pulled it all together beautifully.

“Second Chance” slows things down, featuring fuzzy, distorted guitars that add some unique crunch to a very smooth overall mix. The harmonization of the licks closer to the end add a lot of intrigue to the song. Farro’s voice is more exposed in the verses than longtime listeners are used to hearing, which is a nice touch because his voice is quite lovely. Daniel Kadawatha is featured on this track playing a juicy Wurlitzer that added a certain richness to this song.

“1” may be the crown jewel of Operator. It’s an ode to individuality and being your authentic self, with the catchy chorus declaring, “There’s only one, only one you.” This tune is deliciously funky right from the beginning, which kicks off with a satisfying descending riff that threads in and out of the song at perfect intervals. There’s an outro section where the saxophone and keys jump in on the riff and harmonize, and it’s the perfect ending. Paramore’s Brian Robert Jones is featured on “1” playing bass, “fuzzy” guitar, and piano, and what an explosive performance it was. He brings such a distinctive character to the song. Overall, this is such a sexy groove, and probably my favorite track on Operator.

Changing the tone, “Simple Actions” is a groovy 6/8 shuffle about examining yourself to strengthen a relationship (“In all the distance / I could have missed it / Is there anything I could’ve changed? / I keep on acting / Like nothing’s happened / Are you waiting for me to turn the page?”). Part of what makes this track so strong is the rhythm, but melodically speaking, the chord progression of the choruses where Farro sings, “I can’t let it go,” is sublime. Utilizing the pianet and clarinet was such a smart move, it creates such a rich, classic feel. It feels like enjoying a cigarette by a fireplace in a golden crushed velvet conversation pit sofa. It doesn’t get much more 70s than that.

“My My,” marks the halfway point of Operator, with a tonal shift into this vivid, warm, country-folk song. Farro wrote it about dealing with the illness of a family member, citing it as the most difficult song to make. Among the myriad of charming features on this track, the rawness and imperfection of it stand out the most. Not everything is perfectly in tune or on pitch, but that factor fuses so well to the vulnerable, tender nature of the lyrics (“And when the memories awaken / Then the heart continues breaking”). It sits really well right in the middle of the record, and closes with a resounding suspended second chord on the pedal steel guitar, creating an unresolved openness that peacefully ends the song.

We then move into “Gold Days,” which is Farro’s take on nostalgia and the too-fast passage of time. This song is so relatable for anyone who finds themselves wondering, “Where did this day/week/month/year even go??”. The “tick-tock” sound played on the keys after the first chorus immediately brought to mind “How ‘Bout Us” by Champaign. It stood out in a big way, it was very clever and on-the-nose.

With more creative, “drip-drop-y” sounds, we move into “All I Really Want Now.” This is the only song on Operator that could be classified as sad, and even then, changing to a major key in the bridge brightened things up a lot. Again, the pedal steel adds a wistful dreaminess, sitting just underneath the main mix. It doesn’t overwhelm or get lost in the rest of the music, it sits nicely, kind of guiding the song.

Next is “Sunday Driving,” which is a really interesting, almost psychedelic song. It begins with a fade-in, which isn’t used as often these days. It sports probably the darkest, heaviest composition on the record, while also containing the lightest subject matter. It’s a great example of Farro’s simplistic yet impactful lyricism. It seems he let the music speak for itself on this track. The drums are simple, peppered with robust fills here and there. The percussion mix is very dry, which effectively balances the saturation of the rest of the instruments. It’s got a lazy, laid back feel to match the simple theme of going for a drive on a quiet Sunday. Very cool groove, overall.

Operator closes with “I Need You,” a sweet, leisurely song about loss (“We didn’t say our goodbyes / We try, try and we try / My baby, my baby’s gone on / So I stare at the sky”). There’s a pretty piano riff repeated throughout the track that feels reflective and grounding, offering a refreshing pause between lines. It sounds like Farro uses a combination of an open ride cymbal and a lot of hi-hat work, which may not seem like the right move for a song like this, but it brought a washy, open feel, while still holding onto the structure of the track, driving it forward. It’s an excellent “end credits” song, closing out the album on a sweet note.

What a pleasure it has been to watch Zac Farro’s career evolve and grow over the years. Whether with Paramore, Halfnoise, or as his own entity, his creativity, flexibility and undeniable musical chops have brought us great music for more than 20 years. Operator is a shining debut for the drumming legend, and we can’t wait to see what he does next.

Operator is available to stream wherever you listen to music.