5 Seconds of Summer, CALM | Album Review 💿

Aussie pop collective 5 Seconds of Summer deliver an enjoyable, sleek, and well-rounded fourth studio album with CALM.

The CALM has finally arrived! CALM, of course, is the highly anticipated fourth studio album by Aussie pop collective, 5 Seconds of Summer.  5SOS certainly changed their sound on their third album, Youngblood (2018), opting for more synths compared to guitars.  That’s where much of pop and even some rock is trending. CALM had been in the works for a while with the collective releasing singles “Easier” and “Teeth” in 2019, and releasing “No Shame” and “Old Me” in 2020.  All in all, CALM ends up being another enjoyable, sleek, and well-rounded album from 5SOS.  Arguably, this is the band’s best work yet.

“Red Desert”

✓ “Red Desert” commences CALM with incredible energy – definitely the way to kick off an album.  Here, 5 Seconds of Summer straddle pop and rock pretty well; there’s a nice balance stylistically.  Some of the biggest selling points beyond energy include the production (Matthew Pauling), expressive vocals, and strong songwriting, specifically the catchy, memorable chorus:

“Red, red desert, heal our blues
I’d dive deeper for you
What a blessing to feel your love
Twilight moments with you.”

There is no shortage of songwriters on ✓ “No Shame” – eight to be precise! Crafting the sleek backdrop from that list is Watt and Happy Perez. The theme and lyrics make “No Shame” perhaps the most interesting. 5 Seconds of Summer speak to the crazy means people go to capture attention.  There are numerous examples, with the best arriving courtesy of the shameful chorus:

“I only light up when cameras are flashin’
Never enough and no satisfaction
Got no shame
I love the way you’re screaming my name...”

Honestly, the boys have a point. All in all, “No Shame” is enjoyable and well-rounded without being life changing.

✓ “Old Me” continues to exemplify the modern pop sound. There are guitars but the synths and urban beat ‘rule the roost.’ Even so, the boys still have an edge, managing to drop a couple of swear words along the way, whether it’s the regretful “And I did some shit I never should’ve done,” or  “Had to fuck it up before I really got to know me.” Potty mouth or not, Luke Hemmings is at least regretful about past mistakes, actions, and playing a poor role as a lover. All in all, “Old Me” is another winner that is quite relatable – we’ve all did some regretful shit, Luke.

“Easier”

“I love you so much that I hate you / Right now, it’s so hard to blame you / ‘Cause you’re so damn beautiful.” ✓ “Easier” finds 5 Seconds of Summer continuing to deliver sleek pop records. “Easier” barely crosses two-and-a-half-minutes, but 5SOS makes it worthwhile.  The sound stands out, thanks again to synths and programming.  Furthermore, the listener is treated to a heaping dose of falsetto. Even when Hemmings isn’t singing in the stratosphere, his tone is on-point. The rest of the boys join Hemmings on the centerpiece, the chorus:

“Is it easier to stay? Is it easier to go?
I don’t wanna know, oh
But I know that I’m never, ever gonna change
And you know that you’re always gonna stay the same.”

“Sometimes, you’re a stranger in my bed / Don’t know if you love me or you want me dead.” Woah, woah, WOAH!  The script of the energetic ✓ “Teeth” encompasses the extremes of love.  Sometimes it’s great, while other times, as Hemmings sings so convincingly, you “Don’t know if [you’re] gonna make it out alive.” Give 5 SOS credit for dropping the familiar records early on.

“Wildflower” is a newbie following the quartet of advance singles, but like opener “Red Desert,” it continues to ‘bring the heat.’ “Wildflower” is successful because the formula remains potent – intensity, catchy songwriting (namely the chorus), and decadent ear-catching production.  Do the boys miss a beat? Nope, not one.

“Best Years” 

Following a number of quicker cuts, 5SOS slacken the pace with ballad “Best Years.”  Even with a slower tempo, “Best Years” still has a bite.  The production continues to allure, and Luke Hemmings continues to shine, singing with great expression.  Furthermore, the band’s ‘ace in the hole,’ the chorus, still remains their ‘ace in the hole.’  As lovely as “Best Years” is, ✓ “Not in the Same Way” is the more fun cut, embracing more BPMs, and bringing more attitude to the table. The songwriting is incredibly infectious, particularly the pre-chorus and chorus sections.  Again, there’s some potty mouth from Luke, which only adds to the colorful nature of this certified bop:

“We fuck, and we fight. Then you call me a psycho
I walk out the door, butyou won’t let me go
Turn right around, throwin’ rocks at your window
But I can’t forget you, and I’ll always let you.”

Wow! Of course, besides the “fuck and we fight” lyric, the crème de la crème is the titular lyric where Hemmings and company assert, “I love you; you love me / But not in the same way.” “Lover of Mine,” like “Best Years” embraces balladry, with successful results.  It lacks the lightheartedness of the quicker cuts (even when they’re dark), but one appreciates the dramatic flair assembled by the production team (Watt and Happy Perez, once more), and of course 5 Seconds of Summer.

“Thin White Lies” 

“Thin White Lies” benefits from its groove.  Of course, groove is a selling point throughout CALM.  Likewise, throw in more lovely vocals from Luke, who sounds elite throughout, particularly moments when he dips into his falsetto.  Consistent, “Thin White Lies” is unobjectionable, even if it perhaps fails to top that potent first half of CALM. The penultimate record “Lonely Heart” smartly embraces tempo, bringing back some of the energy and intensity that propelled the aforementioned gems to the next level.  As entertaining as “Lonely Heart” is, it doesn’t quite eclipse the gems, even if it rivals some of their musical cues and sensibilities. 

“I hope you think of me high / I hope you think of me highly / When you’re with someone else.” Sigh – simple but beautiful, thoughtful lyrics. While the up-tempo cuts are where CALM’s ‘bread is buttered,’ arguably the best ballad of the bunch comes by way of ✓ “High,” a truly radiant closer.  What a coda! “High” is an example of all things working at an elite level.  The production (Watt and Louis Bell) is terrific – it’s so refreshing to hear guitars as the dominant instrument.  Also refreshing, the colorful backing vocals, and of course, Luke, who I feel really steps up his game.

Final Thoughts 

Ultimately, there’s an argument to be made that CALM is the best album in the 5 Seconds of Summer discography – I certainly lean that way.  While 5SOS have clearly evolved like so many once rock-centric pop collectives, the sound works for them. CALM continues the transformation that occurred on Youngblood, while also exhibits a few traces of the band’s past. These things make new look 5SOS totally work.  I wouldn’t go so far to proclaim CALM the best pop album of 2020 so far (Dua Lipa has locked that up with the near flawless Future Nostalgia), but it’s quite satisfying overall. 

✓ Gems: “Red Desert,” “No Shame,” “Old Me,” “Easier,” “Teeth,” “Not in the Same Way” & “High”

5 Seconds of Summer • CALM • Interscope • Release: 3.27.20

Photo Credit: Interscope