5 Seconds of Summer, often referred to as 5SOS, is an Australian pop/pop punk band composed of 4 members: Luke Hemmings (lead vocalist), Michael Clifford (lead guitarist), Calum Hood (bassist), and Ashton Irwin (drummer). The band was formed in 2011 and released their self-titled debut album in June of 2014. This past fall, they toured with and opened for The Chainsmokers on their World War Joy Tour, which stopped at University Park, and I was lucky enough to get to see them live. Their most recent album, CALM, was released just last week on March 27, 2020, and I will be reviewing it in this post. Fun fact: the name of this album is an acronym, standing for each member’s name!

Red Desert: Paying homage to their original home continent, Red Desert, an actual location in Australia, discusses the band’s connection to where they came from and reminisces over them leaving to move “north”, aka the United States, to pursue their career. There’s more of an older rock sound to this song than many of the songs off their previous album, Youngblood, had, which adopted a more pop-like sound. Hemmings cited Eagles and Queen as contributing to not only this song but the rest of the album, which you can hear in the harmonies in Red Desert. 8/10.

No Shame: In this song, the band sings about how current society is infatuated, obsessed or addicted even, with fame and attention on the Internet. People can’t get enough of it and sometimes will stop at nothing until they’re at the top. It’s also a very catchy song both instrumentally and lyrically. 7.5/10.

Old Me: This song is also very catchy and refers to the band members’ past selves and who they’ve become since then through their individual and shared experiences. It’s nostalgic, reflective, and understanding of the mistakes we make when we are young, which are needed to help us grow as we become older. 7/10.

Easier: Co-written and produced by Charlie Puth, Easier marked 5SOS’s comeback since Youngblood was released and explored a new sound that was a bit reminiscent of the Youngblood era while also incorporating something new. Its lyrics discuss whether to stay in a toxic relationship or not, and Puth’s signature sound comes out in the song, especially in the chorus. 8.5/10.

Teeth: Released as part of the soundtrack for season 3 of 13 Reasons Why, Teeth‘s heavy bass line really distinguishes the song and makes it one of the more rock-sounding tracks on the album. its lyrics talk about the highs and lows of a relationship, described by Hood as “my perfect balance of finding vulnerability with aggression”. 8/10.

Wildflower: This is one of my favorite songs off the album. Its upbeat, dancey sound is a strong contrast from the one that precedes it in the tracklist, and its catchiness has me listening to it over and over again. It’s described as a “euphoric anthem” and its lyrics tell the story of a love story of devotion and passion. 9.5/10.

Best Years: This one is a slower track, a “love note” written by Hemmings, presumed to be about his girlfriend of 2 years. The raw emotion in the vocals and swelling guitar notes make this song feel powerful and full of love and promises. Hemmings’s voice promises to give his lover the best years, where he’ll take the pain and mistakes and turn them into beautiful things and a happy future. It’s not my favorite, but it’s still a great addition to the album. 8/10.

Not In The Same Way: Another catchy song, it tells of a chaotic, back-and-forth love story of young lovers trying to figure each other out through fights and make-ups. The chorus feels like a single, running thought and alludes to the string of thoughts one has when they’re questioning or fighting over their feelings. While it’s a song easy to get stuck in your head, it’s not as good as some of the other songs on the album in my opinion, as it can get a bit too repetitive and doesn’t have an especially interesting sound. 7/10.

Lover Of Mine: Also written by Hemmings about his girlfriend, this song discusses the maturity and realization of past mistakes and learning from them in a relationship that is still growing. It’s a beautiful song with not only beautiful vocals and lyrics, but gorgeous instrumentals. During the instrumental breaks, the song sounds like a whimsical dream that is still somewhat bittersweet, and it tugs at the heartstrings. 9/10.

Thin White Lies: Talking about the pain of a love and realizing who you’ve become because of that love after losing it, Thin White Lies is a brutally stripped open song, its guitar and drums enforcing the lyrics. The moment of realization (“I don’t think I like me anymore”) takes a pause in instrumentals aside from the acoustic guitar, allowing for us to have a point of revelation with the singer about the relationship he was in. 8/10.

Lonely Heart: Described as New Wave-esque, this song goes from quiet to intense to quiet to intense, a true rollercoaster of emotions. Its lyrics tell the story of someone who fell in love with another who was only supposed to stay a night, the former begging the latter to stay or leave him forever lonely and alone. It’s the quiet intensity of the song that gets me, the mix of aching longing and dedication to the person whom the song is about. It’s a beautiful mix. 8.5/10.

High: Closing off the album is another slower song. The acoustic guitar adds to the soft, heartbreaking feeling this song evokes through its lyrics and vocals. Hemmings calls it “narcissistic, but in such a sweet and unassuming way”, which encapsulates the song perfectly. The lyrics request for a past lover to “think of me high…think of me highly”, the dichotomy of the two messages important to note. This song ends the album on a bittersweet note, similar to real life, and leaves us with a beautiful ending. 9/10.

I would 100% recommend this album to anyone who likes pop, pop punk, pop rock, or is willing to mix genres because that is what 5SOS is known for. I rate this album a 9/10!