Fresh from celebrating their tenth anniversary last year, the Australian quartet, Five Seconds of Summer, have released their fifth studio album, aptly titled 5SOS5.
The fifth installment in the 5SOS timeline comes two years after their previous record, Calm. The recording sessions for this record began shortly after the prior’s completion, especially since the group could not travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
While unable to tour, the group planned a retreat to Joshua Tree, CA, to record their fifth record. Feeling uninspired and not ready to write, temptations to cancel the trip loomed in their minds.
5SOS did end up going to California, albeit for the sole purpose of hanging out. Upon arrival, however, they jammed around with the instruments and 5SOS5 was born.
The result is the band’s most introspective record, both musically and lyrically, to date. The lyrics reference personal growth as well as group camaraderie and friendship, something appropriate given the band’s milestone.
The album’s lead single and opening song, “Complete Mess,” utilizes different musical styles compared to the band’s earlier work. It bears an atmospheric quality, providing a sense of vastness and almost psychedelic.
“Bad Omens” is the album’s third track, which sounds noticeably more somber than the previous two. Lyrically, it talks about ignoring bad omens and rocky pasts in favor of following your heart for the person you love. The vocals on this song are beautiful and the instrumentation is very emotional.
“Take My Hand (Joshua Tree Version)” is another solemn track in the vein of “Bad Omens.” Although more stripped down than the former, it starts with the same atmospheric quality as “Complete Mess” and builds slowly but surely as the song progresses.
“CAROUSEL” is a song which addresses growth and the passage of time. It likens time to a carousel spinning, with Luke Hemmings singing, “I’d pay again just to keep from stopping it now.” This lyrical theme contrasts with other songs reflecting on the past. While other artists sing about wanting to turn back the clock and do it all over again, 5SOS accepts where they are at and looks forward to their future as a band.
“Older” is another interesting song due to the co-lead vocals from Hemmings’ fiancée, Sierra Deaton. The lyrics are beautiful, telling a story of two people who do not want to age without the other in their life. The vocals steal the show, as they perfectly blend into the atmospheric instrumentation and create a spacy vocal performance.
The album’s fourth single, “BLENDER” is another great track. The lyrics are interesting, featuring the protagonist debating his love for a woman after her hurtful words. He describes this uncertainty as an “emotional blender,” which is a unique take. Musically, the track is as poppy as you can get, with punchy rhythms and a high note reminiscent of Adam Levine.
Ultimately, 5SOS5 features a growing band not only accepting but thriving at this point in their lives and careers. The songs vary in mood, either being happy or mellow, but the band’s camaraderie and brotherhood is evident throughout, making the album seem like a cohesive unit despite all the varying styles.
Lyrically, the album is one of the band’s strongest to date, as it features a diverse number of themes such as friendship, growth, happiness and love. While the lengthy runtime may deter some fans (with five bonus tracks placing it just over an hour), it is a decent album and a great celebration of the band’s tenth anniversary. Out of 10 stars, this album warrants 7.
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