Album Review: 5 Seconds Of Summer - 'Calm'
Re-inventing your sound can be a daunting task; many have tried, many have failed but everyone’s favourite Australians, 5 Seconds of Summer, have mastered that art to a T. Having come a long way from pop-punk, 5SOS have found their feet in their very own incredibly magnetic pop sound and album number 4 is no different.
On 12 songs, ‘CALM’ shows off the many ways in which they can transform sound – a movement led by bold beat-heavy opener ‘Red Desert’. Impressively, they’re not repeating patterns. Though consistently catchy and distinctively 5SOS, each song offers a little something different.
Tiny nods to their past like ‘No Shame’ (a ‘Vapor’ moment?) and ‘Teeth’ give note that they haven’t lost their edge while ‘Lover Of Mine’ and ‘Thin White Lies’ are testament to their ability of writing the most captivating melodies. 8 years on, they are still *the* band to turn to for being flooded by waves of emotion. A status underlined by their emotive and reflective lyricism – “When I take a look at my life and all of my crimes, you’re the only thing that I think I got right.”
But what completely sells the record is ‘Not In The Same Way’. Irresistibly hypnotic in its structure with seductive verses that build-up to an electrifying hook and anthemic chorus, this song is a stroke of genius.
In the end, ‘CALM’ is not calm at all, it’s a dancer. Aside from angelic closing number ‘High’, the album is covered in 10/10 tunes making it a great addition to the band’s already outstanding discography. 5 Seconds of Summer have successfully made the leap to the other side of adulthood. They have grown and matured, and their music has changed with them; this is a band that’s here to stay (not that there was ever any doubt in the matter).
Words by Laura Freyaldenhoven