Australian pop-rock band 5 Seconds Of Summer have just released their 4th studio album titled 'CALM' which was purposefully done as the first names of each member spell it out. Calum Hood, Ashton Irwin, Luke Hemmings, and Michael Clifford. This is an album the fans have been waiting for, coming off of 2018's album 'Youngblood", a headline tour, and a co-headlining tour with The Chainsmokers, we were due for some new music. As always, the band demonstrates their growth as musicians. Luke's vocals getting more and more powerful with each record. This album follows the band through love and heartbreak. The emotion in the songs are perfectly represented, you really get an understanding of how the boys were feeling at the time the songs were written. Let's break down each song one by one and really dive into the minds of 5SOS.
Red Desert
First played at the Australia Firefight benefit show, this was the first taste we had of the album (not including the 2 previously released singles at the time). The group harmonies opening up the song gives the album a perfect introduction. The drums being the most prominent part of the song, fans of the song "Meet You There" will thoroughly enjoy this one. This is one of the many songs I can already imagine being played live and when you can imagine how a song will look production-wise, then I'd say it's a good one!
No Shame
Here we have the third single the band released before the album release. With a very catchy chorus that always will make you want to dance and just an overall really fun vibe, this is one song that will probably be stuck in your head for weeks. I know it was for me! With a more rocky influence, No Shame is different from the boys' other stuff, but not so different where you still know it's a 5SOS song.
Old Me
The 4th single from the album, the song gives you a nostalgic feeling. Dwelling on how they made mistakes in the past both in life and relationship-wise, they learn to accept the mistakes they made and how they've grown from them. This is another song I can imagine live. One of the more emotional songs on the album, this is a song that I can see being used at the end of the year recaps to show people how the person has changed. The chorus starts with a drumbeat that will get you pumped up, it's a song you can listen to on repeat and not get bored of it!
Easier
This was the first single the band released before we had an album release date or title. Released during the break between the Meet You There tour and The Chainsmokers tour, this was our first taste at what the new 5SOS era was going to entail. A catchy bassline and even catchier pre-chorus, this was 5SOS demonstrating they can make "heavier" music that isn't their normal poppy sound! Luke's vocals really help show the range he has and how his voice can fit a more rock style.
Teeth
This was the second single the band released. With a bass intro that you can recognize within the first 30 seconds and a chorus that really tells the listener that this isn't the same 5SOS from before. This is their first heaviest song. This song live absolutely goes hard. This is a song for the people who never really were into 5SOS could listen to and enjoy it! This is one of my personal favorites on the album as its just so fun whether you are dancing alone in your room, blasting it through your car radio or seeing it live! This song will never not be fun and will always be something to get you hyped up.
Wildflower
Here we have the fifth and final single released just two days before the album drop. Fans will take a liking to this song as the entire thing is sung by bassist Calum Hood. Wildflower is CALM's version of Youngblood's "Babylon." This is a song perfect for a summer drive or just a perfect summertime song. This was the song fans were most excited about, and I can proudly say they won't be disappointed!
Best Years
Here we have the song which made me fall to my bedroom floor and cry when I first heard it. This song is so cute! Luke promising that he will give the subject of the song (more than likely his girlfriend, Sierra Deaton) the best years they've had and promises an amazing relationship. You can hear the emotion in Luke's voice for the entire duration of the song and any song that can make me cry will always get a top spot on my list.
Not In The Same Way
A song about a toxic/unhealthy relationship. This song is basically the story of a relationship turned sour. The boys telling this person that they love them and the other person reciprocating but doesn't love them in the way same way. As they struggle throughout the relationship the song mentions all the problems they had and how they tried to fix them but to no avail. Definitely going to be a relatable song for lots of people, I can imagine how good shouting 'Not in the same way' during a show with thousands of other people in unison will feel like an out of body experience.
Lover Of Mine
My personal favorite on the album. Written by Luke and his girlfriend on their living room couch. This is my favorite because you can really hear the emotion in Luke's voice and you can hear how in love he is with Sierra. Once the drums kick in and the song gets more intense, it sounds like a song you would hear in a movie, which is the kind of song I live for. If I can imagine a movie or a single scene in my head when listening to a song then I know the artist has done an amazing job telling a story.
Thin White Lines
I don't think this song gets the recognition it deserves if I'm being honest. It's very good and the intro with the guitar reminds me of the overall vibe of the band's previous album and driving down by the beach in the summer. Just like other songs on this album, shouting out 'thin white lines' during a show will be such a fun experience! I think everyone needs to give this song a chance because it's not bad, it might not be everyone's vibe, but nonetheless, I think it has the potential to be one of those songs where people don't like it at first but then it grows on them.
Lonely Heart
There is without a doubt in my mind that this is the BEST song on CALM. I was in so much shock when I first listened to it because it starts out so slow and acoustic and then the chorus picks up and its a total surprise! Definitely a song you'll be able to dance to and the harmonies between all 4 of the boys are going to sound beautiful live. This is exactly the style of music I hope 5SOS continue to make. Also, Ashton's drums during this song add so much more to it I can't even put it into words.
High
If you thought we were going to get an entire album and not have one sad song then you were mistaken. Ending the album with a sad acoustic song is the perfect closer for this album. I would call this the second part of Not In The Same Way. Where that song was about a toxic relationship, High is more like the regret of not being in a relationship anymore and its another song that the fans will probably relate to.
Overall, this is 5 Seconds of Summer's best album to date. It's so different compared to their other albums and there wasn't one song where I needed to skip because I wasn't feeling it. If you showed this album to someone who doesn't know 5SOS or doesn't like them, they will even like it! 5 Seconds of Summer are one the best bands around right now, and CALM proves how much hard work they put into this album. So please, go give CALM a listen. I promise you won't regret it and you will find a song you like as it has something for everyone!
