Aussie pop band 5 Seconds of Summer returns in compelling fashion on their third album, Youngblood with a sleek, modern pop sound.

“You look so perfect standing there / In my American Apparel underwear.” Sigh, following a two-and-a-half-year hiatus, Australian pop collective 5 Seconds of Summer has returned.   The band got off to a quick spot with their debut EP and their full-length self-titled debut album, which featured the beloved hit single, “She Looks So Perfect”.  The band also experienced success with their sophomore album Sounds Good Feels Good, but also seemed to see their popularity wane a bit.  Maybe it was the Rolling Stone cover/feature.  Regardless, the boys are back and noticeably ‘less rock-sounding,’ opting for more modern-pop vibes.  Listeners first got a taste of this with the superb “Girls Talk Boys” from the Ghostbusters soundtrack.  They carry over that success onto their third album, Youngblood.

“Youngblood”

Highlight “Youngblood” fittingly kicks off the album.  This is an energetic, slickly produced pop cut.  As far as sound is concerned, there are guitars, but far more synths in play compared to the past.  The sound fits 5SOS incredibly well. Furthermore, vocally, on the chorus, there’s still edge cutting through the production sheen. As far as the vocal performance on the verses, it’s a bit more restrained.  But for those who like to hear a dash of profanity, a damn is mustered up on the first verse (“Takes one to know one, yeah, you beat me at my own damn game”).  Those boys always seem to bust out a swear word or two, sigh.

Initially “Want You Back” commences with ambient production work, signaling the stylistic transformation for 5 Seconds of Summer.  Lead vocalist Luke Hemmings sings smoothly, matching the cool, calm, and collected production of the first verse, and, for good measure, serving up a casual f-bomb. Following the mellower, smooth first verse, the chorus is driven by a more commanding groove, which continues for the remainder of the song.  Likewise, Hemmings becomes more aggressive vocally.  The chorus is the centerpiece of “Want You Back.” While nothing brand-new or revolutionary, 5SOS clearly articulates their point. After initially feeling meh about “Want You Back,” it plays out better within the context of Youngblood. Selling points include the groove, the falsetto, and an enjoyable chorus.

“Lie to Me”

“I saw you looking brand new overnight / And I caught you looking too, but you didn’t look twice.” On “Lie to Me,” Luke and Calum Hood are saddened seeing an ex with a new guy, bringing back memories.  The verses set up the memorable chorus perfectly, ultimately ending with the request, “And I know that you don’t, but if I ask you if you love me / I hope you lie, lie, lie, lie to me.”  Keeping the momentum rolling is one of the slickest cuts, “Valentine.” The excellent production isn’t surprising, considering Mike Elizondo is on the boards. Talk about far removed from the likes of “She Looks So Perfect” or “Jet Black Heart”!  More of the band gets into the vocal action, including a verse by Michael Clifford.  In addition to the production and ‘sharing the wealth’ vocally, the lyrics are fun and clever.  Once more, the chorus is “where it’s at” #Beck.

Calum and Luke handle the majority of “Talk Fast,” but the whole crew pipes in on the chorus, definitely where 5SOS’ ‘bread is buttered’ throughout Youngblood.  The band keeps on shining, keeping things fun and incredibly energetic.  Yes, it’s smoother and geared more towards the sound dominating 2018, but they band excel. “Moving Along” does just that, maintaining the quality of Youngblood.  Calum raises eyebrows on the first verse as he asks, “Is it weird that I’m drunk on my sofa? / Is it weird that I’m naked on my sofa?” Obviously… The premise of the song isn’t Hood’s purported nudity, but being melancholy over loneliness and struggling post-relationship. 

“If Walls Could Talk”

“If Walls Could Talk” certainly isn’t the first pop song to explore what the room might say about the activities going down.  Kendrick Lamar did a fantastic job of depicting this on “These Walls” in 2015. Perhaps 5SOS’ own take isn’t quite as electrifying (or explicit), but still rock solid. “Better Man” incorporates a dash of tropical-pop and the islands. Luke handles the lead successfully, but it’s cool when the whole band contributes on the chorus and a portion of the bridge.  

“More” ranks among the sleekest productions of them all, blending electro-pop, the spirit of rock, and the swagger of urban contemporary.  Once more, the focus is relationships, specifically “getting back to us / ‘Cause we used to have more.”  Unsurprisingly, the four-letter word ‘love’ is central to “Why Won’t You Love Me,” which is cliché if relatable like most of their dealings with ‘the plight of love.’ “Woke Up in Japan” is the latest song to reference the country despite the fact that it appears in name only.  Any place could’ve been chosen as 5SOS depicts loneliness, heart-pounding, and double entendre (“Heart pounding, there’s a noise complaint from room 304”).

“Empty Wallets”

Two more songs grace the standard edition of Youngblood.  On “Empty Wallets,” the boys are willing to spend it all on her because she’s that great.  “We got our whole lives, but living ain’t cheap,” sings Calum. “Ghost of You” concludes, reminiscing once more on a past relationship.  She’s not dead, but they are dead as a couple. Notably, it sounds reminiscent of the band’s older work.  For those willing to splurge a few extra bucks, the deluxe version adds three more songs: “Monster Among Men,” “Meet You There,” and “Babylon.”  The tempo-changing, high-energy pop/rock joint “Monster Among Men” is the arguably the best of the bonus tracks.

Final Thoughts 

All in all, 5 Seconds of Summer excel in their new lane on Youngblood.  The album isn’t with flaw, but the band and their respective producers have done a fine job of reintroducing the band after nearly a three-year break.  The album is a bit too heavy on love and relationships, but as emphasized earlier, it’s quite relatable.

Gems: “Youngblood,” “Lie to Me,” “Valentine,” “Talk Fast,” “Moving Along” & “More”

5 Seconds of Summer • Youngblood • Capitol • Release: 6.15.18

Photo Credit: Capitol