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Hi guys!
Well, isn't the world a mess? It's been a very strange few weeks - and I'm sure all of you around the world will be experiencing this apocalyptic situation in lots of different ways. I hope everyone is safe and well, and staying home! It's only one facet of peoples' experience, but I know that many peoples' mental health is taking a hit during this time, and I can only hope and pray that everyone is able to find ways to destress and manage.
I wanted to share this post, because as I'm sure you're all aware, I am a little bit (read: way too) obsessed with 5 Seconds of Summer. Their new album CALM came out a few weeks ago, and I just about died waiting for it to release so I thought I'd write down my first-listen thoughts on each song! These really are my initial reactions so please excuse my terrible writing and fandom speak. Disclaimer: this post includes an extremely liberal usage of caps locks, screaming Luke Hemmings, and a pretty average Memoona meltdown. I've linked each song so you can listen with me and read my reactions at the same time! What fun! Enjoy.
1. Red Desert
WOW! What an incredible, statement-making opening. The acapella at the start is epic. This definitely feels like a beginning - the first performance of a show; an anthem. The prechorus is my favourite I think. Just the build-up and tension and release! This is completely different to anything they've ever done before. I think it's a great introduction to the direction they're taking as artists.
2. No Shame
WHAT A SOUND! I can see why this is the song that the band feels most personifies the whole album. It's them, but as a long-term fan, you can hear the change - evolution! This song is probably the one most stuck in my head at all times (it came out as a promotional single). I mean, it's their signature style: emotion struck with dark themes, with a BANGING chorus. I can only imagine how much this will SLAP live. The music video was also a brilliant, clever take on the entertainment industry, I thoroughly enjoyed it (even though I was screen capping Luke every shot he was in - that boy is dreamy).
3. Old Me
An ode to their younger selves! God, I have to admit, the music video made me cry a bit. I love that they are proud of their younger selves, acknowledge that they made mistakes and that they've learnt from them. I think that's a great message to send. The song itself is a cool, modern sound which will appeal to loads of audiences I'm sure. It's definitely one to get groovy to. Honourable mention to Luke's falsetto.
4. Easier
Feels like it's been absolutely ages since this was released and I remember it SLAYED us all! The drop to the verse is literally criminal - SO good. Just goddamn sexy I can't say anything else. A lot of us did not survive the music video. Insert another Luke falsetto mention. It's just got such a good beat and bass line - I can't WAIT for this live.
5. Teeth
ALSO VERY SEXY WOW. The bass line is SICK, Calum you talented genius. The lyrics really work, but it's the chorus that always gets me. NEVER NEVER NEVER EVER LET GO. That was me yelling the lines out for my family to hear. The music video for Teeth was very trippy, I recommend!
6. Wildflower
WHAT A SEXY intro to the song! This feels like summer. OH MY GOSH THE CHORUS. It's one of those - one of those that will never get old, it'll always make me smile. It's the perfect feel-good bop. CALUM HOOD'S VOICE PEOPLE. Drums are cool! I think if the album had a title track, it would've been this - just like Youngblood, it does signify the whole album. I guess the band said No Shame because it had those darker undertones that this doesn't, but this song is magic. Dreamy. On my playlist forever now.
7. Best Years
Oh God, there's always a couple that are real heartbreakers. I actually listened to the acoustic version Luke posted on Instagram before the album dropped and my heart just went. The LYRICS. It's beautiful - I can see why it's Luke's favourite song of the album. This chorus guys. Too much. It's got a bit of soul in it I swear. 'I wanna hold your hand while we're growing up' BREAKS ME. It feels a bit like something you might play at a wedding. LUKE in this. No words.
Very very different to anything they've ever done! It's got some mature themes; a bit like old me, it's modern and it's breaking boundaries for them as a band. The chorus is BOUNCY! Love it. Probably the song I least connect to but I still vibe to it.
Okay, I know Sierra Deaton wrote this with them so it's gonna be awesome. W-O-W. It's a haunting heartbreaker. The guitar is so so good. 'I'll never give you away' - WOW! The chorus is beautiful, what a dynamic change, it brought me to tears! Deep and dark, brilliant. Mandatory Luke mention - his voice, guys.
10. Thin White Lies
Oooh, this is smooth and slow! With a BOP chorus. This reminds me of Babylon a bit! 'I don't think I like me anymore' - WHOOSH. I swear the writing on this album has been terrific. For me, it's a bit like Not In The Same Way as in I don't connect to it as much as the others but I still love it.
11. Lonely Heart
It got me as soon Luke started singing. Yep, I'm a goner. 'Native of mine, you're just my kind' - this really feels like recognising and understanding someone; definitely touched something in me. WHOAH it's unexpected and it's so DAMN GOOD and catchy and beautiful and dancey. I instantly want to sing along. This song has got the RANGE - heartbreaking minimal verse, beautiful harmonies and lyrics, a SICK drop to the chorus, falsetto, BANGING chorus, packs a punch, INCREDIBLE bridge. This song has me a bit speechless...I can't believe how far this band has come, this song is next LEVEL.
12. High
Aargh, I knew the last song in their albums is always sad but I didn't see it coming. Such a beautiful, light start. It's a PERFECT ending. It's pretty low-key, their last song on each album is like this - lyrics focused, bringing everything to a close, and giving us all the feeling that more will come! Da da da da da da da da I'm such a fan. WHAT AN ENDING, what a NOTE to end on.
I've been waiting for this album for a long time, and my God did my band deliver. This was incredible. Luke's vocals seem to get better and better with each album - it's a bit scary how good he is. This is such a perfect account of them as artists right now. They've done us proud, they've made an album that will carry on building on the global success of Youngblood - they've worked so damn hard on this and it tells. They've somehow managed to maintain their signature style even though they've moved to a different direction. The QUALITY of music has come such a long way. If you listen to Sounds Good Feels Good, sure, it is one of my favourite albums ever, but as they've grown they've learnt more and more, and CALM feels like a big stepping stone. This album definitely takes you on a journey. Rest assured, much like Youngblood, I will be listening on repeat for a long time.
If someone asked me what my favourite 5SOS album is, I honestly wouldn't know what to say. I love their old stuff - Sounds Good Feels Good especially, because it holds a lot of meaning for me. But so does Youngblood. Youngblood I think really spoke to me when it came out because it was the first album where the band starting moving into a different direction, just as I was when I was leaving home to go to uni. So it feels a bit more monumental than CALM does, but that's no disrespect to how powerful a piece of work CALM is. I've loved every minute. My favourite songs of the album are Wildflower, No Shame, Best Years and Lover of Mine.
Well, I don't know if you enjoyed that - but I certainly did! Leave me a comment if you've listened to any of CALM and let me know what you thought of it!
Lots of love, and see you very soon for ~recipe~ time,
SS
xx
- The CH