It’s been album release week for Australian rock band, 5 Seconds of Summer! With recent worldly events, this album release is definitely one for the books. Despite COVID-19, 5 Seconds of Summer have come up with creative and interactive ways of promoting the album and as odd as it sounds, I think this actually my favorite album release. Seeing the guys on live chats is really fun and the perfect way to make the album promotion, a bit more intimate.
As a longtime fan of 5 Seconds of Summer, I couldn’t be happier to write a review for what I consider, to be the band’s greatest album yet. With new lyrical flavor and a new found sound, CALM is an album that I can’t quite put my finger on in turns of it’s theme. Its a kaleidoscope of events and weaves together seamlessly. There’s truly not a single track on the album I feel the need to skip. (And that’s honestly amazing!) Despite me being a fan, let’s take an inside look into the various elements that created CALM.
ART DIRECTION: Tour//Album
One of my favorite parts of this album aesthetically, is the art direction of the cover and packaging. Photographer Andy Deluca, has been the band’s creative director for the past few years documenting life on the road, creating tour posters for each visited city, and collaborating with girlfriend, Sarah Eiseman to create the official cover art for the band’s forth album installment, CALM.
The reoccurring influence of 1990s grunge rock has been a prevalent theme throughout the entire sound and art direction of CALM. I can’t imagine trying to think up this many posters for each city so kudos to Andy for not only the flawless and creative execution of each poster, but for the individual detail that goes into each one. What was really awesome about these posters was that not only did were they cool, you could also purchase the corresponding poster at each tour stop. (There was a limited supply which made this an amazing collectors item to have) Nothing makes me happier than seeing a band sound good no tour, but have pretty awesome merchandise to go with it.
For the new album CALM, the artistry of the packaging would be essential to helping put a “face” to the music. The album cover is simple yet warm and continues with the 90s inspiration that you can also hear in the music. All cover art and album packaging was created by Andy Deluca and Sarah Eiseman. The special edition blue cover (far right) comes with the Target edition of the album that comes with three additional ‘live from the vault’ tracks. Below are the inner folds of the album artwork. (which, is like eye candy for a photographer like myself) Andy notes the use of Polaroids and film photography to “create something reminiscent of the mid 90s, a time before cellphones, when you were forced to stare at CD booklets when listening to albums.”
The Breakdown: Track By Track
Red Desert
Beginning with one of the coolest tracks on the album, Red Desert is sure to grab your attention straight out the gate. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a song like Red Desert before and I think what makes this album so special is that while, several of the tracks have influence from other bands, it can also feel like a song you’ve never heard before. It’s such a relief to hear a new sound especially when the majority of music on the radio can be a bit redundant. Again, that is due in part to the mastery of 5 Seconds of Summer and what they brought to the table with CALM. Red Desert is what I can only describe as a psychedelic rock song with beautifully layered vocals and slight country flair. The drums also add a really organic sound that will undoubtedly, sound incredible live. This is definitely one of those tracks that is going to sound even better performed in front of a crowd.
Fans were also given a partial clue to the track title in February 2019 when they posted several photos from a photoshoot in you guessed it, a red desert.
No Shame
Ah, what can I say about No Shame? (Other than the fact that it’s a total bop) This one almost feels like what I like to describe as a science experiment in music. Sounds like a strange way to put it but, there’s so many interesting sounds that go about creating this song and it’s just a great tune overall. i often find myself singing this song at the top of my lungs whenever it comes on in the car. The lyrics are heavily influenced by the great lengths in which those in pop culture will go to surround themselves with fame and celebrity to feel adored. The band pays homage to a couple of these moments in their music video which is also one of the most intricate videos of their career to date. I’d also like to note the guitar in No Shame has a bit of a Cure influence which again, fuels the 80s/90s rock influences sprinkled throughout the album.
Old Me
Old Me is a great reflection track and really emphasizes the growth of the band from humble beginnings in Sydney, Australia to a band with four albums under their belt and their songs on constant air play. This tracks also highlights the tribulations it took for each of them to get to the person they are today. It’s a fun track to listen to with a pretty catchy tune about it. Again, I love the organic sound of the drums with each kick of the drum and snap of the hi-hat. Drummer, Ashton Irwin is a drummer who’s talents come so effortlessly and if you’ve ever seen 5SOS live, you can see the work that he puts in to create an experience for their fans.
Easier
Easier is the first single to be released, giving fans their first taste of CALM. Easier was co-written by pop vocal artist, Charlie Puth who you can also hear on the remix of the track. There’s quite a bit of Charlie’s influence floating around the track especially in the arrangement of the vocals with the high notes. Easier has a Nine Inch Nails inspired sound with heavy bass and a sexy aura about it. Listening to the Nine Inch Nails track, Closer, you’ll hear the similarities almost immediately. And if you know anything about Closer, the sensuality of the song is theme also translated in Easier. This is the album’s more industrial sounding track out of the twelve. So much variety!
Teeth
Teeth is a twin sister to Easier, in the sense that both have similar sounds and influences. The baseline in this song is a crucial aspect of the song and it’s definitely got some grit. It’s got the same sensuality as Easier with the lyrics being a little more “bitey” than the last. Teeth for me, symbolizes enjoying the chase of a untamed romance and being wrapped up in a dangerous but thrilling relationship that you just can’t turn away from.
Wildflower
Let me say that, when I mean this song is the greatest song off this album, I mean it’s the greatest song off this album. I think Wildflower is what truly raises CALM to the next level. Bassist of 5 Seconds of Summer, Calum Hoods delivers the perfect vocals on this track and gives it a warmth that just makes me bubble with excitement for this band and the direction they’re taking their music. It’s a romantic but fun approach to telling someone they’re the most exciting thing that’s happened to them. It’s the kind of relationship that throws you into a flurry of intense passion. This may be a stretch but when I articulate the lyrics and the title Wildflower, the ideal of “blossoming” comes to mind. An intense blossoming of love towards someone that almost bubbles over. Wildflowers hold an element of bold colors and vibrancy, much like the passion of this love towards someone. When they see this person, they see an array of bright beautiful colors who’s beauty is difficult to turn away from and therefore, must be admired.
The first half of the album truly separates itself from the second half which is an interesting arrangement that I don’t this was done without intension. The first half is gritty, dangerous and fun. The second half of CALM takes a bit more of a serious tone ending on a bit of sad note. I think one of the greatest explanations of the articulation of an album comes from Calum Hood when describing the ending of an album as being either an answer or a question. (We’ll come back to this idea when we end the tracklist with High)
Best Years
When promoting their newest album, the band expressed hopes of Best Years becoming a song couples would use for their weddings. Guitarist Michael Clifford who recently got engaged, has even expressed possibly using the song for his own wedding. Best Years is probably the most honest love song I’ve ever heard in a while. It’s beautifully arranged and promises that they will undoubtedly give their love, the best years of this relationship. (Where are the tissues??) I’m also in love with this song for the simple fact that U2’s The Edge plays the guitar during the bridge of the song. Best Years holds a special place for me in this album because I grew up listening to U2 and the collaboration of a band I grew up loving with band that I’m growing up with is truly everything I could have ever asked for. The Edge really brings this song together and I’m convinced this is the most beautifully arranged love song there is. (Don’t believe me, listen to it in the dark with only candlelight) It’s one of those songs I picture playing in the background of a movie where two love interests begin to fall for each other without even knowing it yet.
Not In The Same Way
This track kind of reverts to the fun/dangerous aspect that is expressed in Teeth. (You might also call this a sequel to Teeth) Not In The Same Way is simple in terms of its message but is a fun one to listen to. The lyrics suggest a relationship that is a bit toxic and one that continues goes back and forth. While both parties love each other, the way they love each other is not entirely in the same form. It’s a crossroads where one of them wants something more serious but the other is still trapped in chaos. It’s a love that is unforgiving but at the same time, they love them so deeply that it’s difficult to walk away from. They refer to being “colorblind” in the lyrics which I believe symbolizes looking at something and trying to avoid what it really is in actuality, ignoring the signs in order to keep the relationship alive.
Lover of Mine
Lover of Mine was written by lead singer Luke Hemmings and girlfriend, singer-song writer, Sierra Deaton. It’s not too often that couples write songs together and it’s quite special to hear this song from the sources themselves. It’s a bit complex in its lyrical structure in the sense that there’s so many creative uses of metaphors to build the story. Best Years was also written with Sierra in mind and its interesting to see this connection between the two songs. Luke again expresses that despite his wrongdoings in the past, she has been the one thing he got right and that he is ready to commit to her and only her. Another beautifully composed track for CALM.
Thin White Lies
Luke described the influence of the guitar sound throughout the song as being an influence of the Cure, which I love. I didn’t actually catch this until reading his excerpt from Apple Music of each song. The Cure is one of my favorite bands and listening to the song again, I can definitely hear the influence! Thin White Lines is about reflecting on the fact that you’ve changed so much you don’t know who you are anymore. It’s almost like a sense of hopelessness you feel when you’re lost and don’t like who you’ve become. Thin White Lines is also about a romance that is kept alive by lies and empty ‘I love yous’ that are merely words than actions.
Lonely Heart
My favorite part of Lonely Heart are the melodies and layered vocals. It’s a beautiful yet sad song and yet, is quite upbeat. While realizing the relationship has run it’s course, it’s difficult to walk away from and Lonely Heart pleads for another chance. One of the great things about this album is that it doesn’t capitalize on solely heartbreak or the perfect relationship, there’s a balance of both which is quite a nice break from what I’ve recently been hearing from other artists. I really enjoy the honestly projected in CALM; a little bit of the good and a little bit of the bad.
High
Remember how I said we would come back to the idea of the album’s ending? As you listen to the finale track, you are left with what Calum describes as either an answer or a question. High, in my opinion, stands as a question. High is a beautiful but sad song about wondering if your former love still thinks of you highly. I think this is a honest question because it’s easy to let the mind wonder as to whether or not you left a lasting impression on your relationship. I often find myself wondering the very same thing. My favorite line of the song, “I know I’ll never meet your expectations but the picture that you paint of me looks better in your mind” I think in some fashion or another, we’ve all loved someone that we thought was the same person we created in our head when in reality, you realize it was a figment of what we wish could have been. It surprised me this was the final track on the album considering the rest of the thematic elements which is why High leaves me with a questions rather than an answer. It has me wondering, what is next? Will these memories stick around on the next album or is High, the closing of a door and the beginning of a new chapter?
CALM is simply an intricate kaleidoscope of events that I am so happy to have had the chance to experience through each of these songs. 5 Seconds of Summer is a band I’ve grown with since 2014 and having been there for the release of their first self titles album, it is truly amazing to witness how much they have grown as people and artists. Music is a beautiful thing.
What are your thoughts on CALM? Have you gave it a listen? If not, you definitely should! The guys have also released ‘from the vault’ recordings of Easier, Teeth and No Shame which is a great teaser as to what these songs might possibly sound like on their upcoming tour.
I also thought it would be fun to pull some album covers from the 1990s so you can also get a feel of how the colors of CALM can be drawn in comparison. Here are album covers from Pearl Jam, Hole, Nine Inch Nails, Alice In Chains and Loveless. (I’m including The Sgt. Pepper & The Lonely Hearts Club Band for the similarities of the Wildflower cover art) Which is pretty iconic to recreate and incredibly well executed.
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