EVERYONE’S A STAR!
Album review by Lindsay Carson
5 Seconds of Summer is back, baby! I haven’t been this excited for a 5sos album since I was 15 and deep in the throes of my One Direction era, obsessing over their Australian opening act as well. I do not want to be a teenager again, but what I would give to feel those feelings all over again. Anyway, it’s hard not to get hyped about this album when Luke, Calum, Michael, and Ashton have been busy making solo music over the past couple of years, not having released an album as a band since 2022. It seems their individual creative pursuits haven’t weakened their bond as a band though because they are back with an album unlike any they’ve released in the past.
Everyone’s a Star!
I love the talking intro and funky beat. This album is so experimental for the band, right off the bat. So much different than their past albums, but I love that. I love how they’re evolving. This song feels more mature, which makes sense since the band members' ages are between their late twenties and early thirties and they’ve been doing this since they were teens. It has a bit more pop influence than past albums but it still has that punk element they’ve always involved. This band may have been called a boyband numerous times since their debut, but they are all so musically inclined, being instrumentalists as well as singers, you can tell they really know what they’re doing when it comes to creating music. This song feels edgy, and not just mature in the evolution of their musicality, but lyrically. It has an IDGAF attitude to it that is so very punk. My thoughts are all over the place, but I’m blown away by the introduction to this album.
NOT OK
This song is aptly named because I was not okay after listening to it, in the sense that I loved it. It’s completely different from any of 5sos’s previous singles, having a new sound that fans have compared to Gorillaz and Twenty One Pilots. I’d like to add that it has the band's own flair. It starts out with a base line and I can see the pop punk influence they used to be known for still seeping through with the powerful vocals and guitars, drums, and talking bridge, but the more technically experimental production adds a more modern vibe to it. It’s extremely catchy and made me want to get up and dance, rock out, and scream along to the lyrics.
Telephone Busy
This song is sexy, full stop. Talking in rhythm in the verses? It’s so different, but I love it so much. It kind of has club beats, but still lacing those pop-punk elements with the guitars and drums. Also, the lyrics are punk. Once again having an IDGAF attitude about this nonchalant relationship and lifestyle of the protagonist with repeated lyrics like “I’ll never change.” That being chanted, then yelled, solidifies the punkness of it all.
Boyband
I love when an artist takes what is said in the media about them and flips it back on the world, turning it into art. Since they debuted as the opening act for One Direction, this band of instrumentalists has been called a boyband, even though it clearly doesn’t fit their pop-punk image. Now, they’ve reclaimed and owned that title. I keep saying it’s so punk, but that’s the attitude of this album, for sure. And you know what? Luke Hemmings, Calum Hood, Ashton Irwin, and Michael Clifford; you are my favourite boys. Just kidding, because this song touches on the parasocial nature of fans. Though it’s not mostly about the fans. The lyrics are very critical of the industry they grew up in, which is quite (word).
No.1 Obsession
This song had me headbanging by the end. That’s not something I usually do, but I couldn't help myself. The intense drumming in the beginning really gets the blood pumping, making the listener want to get up and dance or rage to this song. It seems to be a bit about the relationship between the band and their fans, wanting to be a positive part of people’s lives. Perhaps it’s meant to say “use our song as a means of escape.” Of course, it could be commenting on parasocial relationships, but it doesn’t seem to be condescending in any way. It seems to be more of a way of saying “as long as we make you happy, that’s what matters.”
I’m Scared I’ll Never Sleep
This song reminds me of English Pop Rock. It reminded me of early 1975 songs. It’s slower, with even some R&B inspiration in the production it seems. It once again has spoken parts of the verses, and I’m obsessed with “I want to kiss your ‘90s face.” I’ll admit, I haven’t been able to assign meaning to that lyric, but I love it. I think I may even have a ‘90s face. There is a woman doing backing vocals during the latter half of the song, but I couldn’t find a credit for who it was. My guess would be Luke Hemming’s wife, Sierra (last name), as she’s also a musician and this song is about a relationship.
istillfeelthesame
“TELL ME I’M YOUR HUMAN BEING!” If you need me, I’ll be screaming the lyrics to this song, thanks! This is a short song, seemingly about a breakup where the author is reminiscing over the relationship and is realizing they still feel the same way they did when they were in it and want their previous partner to feel the same too. The sudden change in melody of the outro was a bit jarring, but I like that. Though, it may just be the same melody slowed down, it changed the tone of the song entirely. 5sos aren’t the first band to do something like that, but it’s always fun when it happens. I have to wonder if it’s meant to juxtapose the title as well.
Ghost
Musically, it’s a song with synthesizer in the beginning, then some more R&B inspiration in the rest of the instrumentalism. This is another slow song, seemingly about thinking of a past relationship, following the theme of the previous song. I think. I really sat with this song and the lyrics and I believe it could have many meanings. It could just be about two people who fight the same demons. People who are struggling with similar addictions as there are lyrics about being drunk and high. It could be about a past relationship that was toxic because of their addiction issues. It could be about repeating cycles, generational trauma, and the likes. That’s the beauty of art, it can have multiple interpretations.
Sick of Myself
The musicality of this song reminds me of indie music, with some pop-rock influence as well. A self depreciating song with an upbeat melody, we love the juxtaposition. I do believe this song is about looking back at past mistakes and where they lead the narrator. They miss their ex and who they were with them, now they hate themselves. The “please stay” repeated in the end really helps solidify that.
Evolve
And this song continues to show their evolution. It’s another song that has club beats but is still punk pop. I just wanted to stand up and dance while listening to this. This song seems to be about the band wanting to make themselves better people, especially to make them people who are more able to love their partner properly. It has a report voice over that says men mature slower than women. I took it as pointing out the way gender inequality perpetuates toxic masculinity, which in turn makes men worse with their emotions. It’s a feminist song in that way, and feminism is so punk.
The Rocks
The guitar and drums in this song is closer to songs on previous albums of theirs, but you can still hear differences and sense the maturity in it. I think it comes from Luke Hemming’s vocals, there’s more of an intensity to them on this song. Though they are still beautiful, as I believe his singing talent is not praised enough. Plus, there are very beautiful harmonies on this song. It must be stated that all members of 5sos have great singing voices which isn’t a quality many bands have. Anyway, this song is emotionally heavy, as are many of their songs, and it’s interesting to really dissect. It’s important not to let the message of their songs get lost (reference to this song intended) behind the musicality, as they tend to pour a lot of emotion into them.
Jawbreaker
Ashton went hard on the drums in this song, as it’s a very drum heavy song. It has a lighter sound to others, but I think that’s a nice way to end the album. It has a lighter message as well, being about the narrator finding the love of their life. It’s a shorter song, but so very sweet.
Not only is this album unique from past 5sos albums, it’s unique from the band members solo work as well. It seems they were all able to come together and really solidify a new sound. From what I’ve seen, the Aussie men couldn’t be happier with what they created, and they have every right to be proud of it. It exudes creativity and has a sort of social satirical take on being in a band. I was surprised by how much I loved it as I haven’t been deep in the 5sos trenches in years, but we’re so back baby.
