CALM by 5 Seconds of Summer // 5 Year Anniversary Album Review
5 Seconds of Summer's fourth album, CALM, serves as an important reflection of the band's evolution from where they started and where they're going as both artistically and personally. CALM was the follow-up to their biggest album to date, Youngblood, which first introduced this more mature and developed alternative rock sound for the band. It is the foundation that all of the music they released after is built upon, both collectively as a band and as solo artists. Much of it is made up of a blend of influences, pairing it with both emotional depth and layered instrumentation.
The album's title is derived from an acronym of the member's first initials, Calum, Ashton, Luke and Michael. "And it's also a nod to our fans that coined us that name in our early days," lead singer Luke Hemmings said in an interview with New York Post. "They've been using that acronym for a long time. It kind of just sums up we're a little bit older and a little bit wiser".
CALM is made up of two distinct narrative sections. One side reflects the band's past, as they delve into the challenges and experiences that shaped who they are. The other side looks onward into shaping the future of the band's sound and where they take it from here. That duality is expressed through the bold, guitar-driven tracks that are representative of their confidence as artists and performers, balanced with slower, more introspective moments that navigate love and life in a very vulnerable way.
Luke Hemmings often exclusively takes on the lead vocals throughout the majority of the album, which is a continuation of the direction the band generally took on Youngblood as well. In their earlier music, each member had more individual solo vocal moments throughout the album, many even in the same song, but their collaborative style has evolved since then and CALM is a reflection of that. Collectively, each member of 5SOS sounds better than ever before on this album. Instrumentally, each performance is so strong and cohesive, with some of the most layered and dynamic melodies they've made yet. Together, they have crafted a sound that is both polished and deeply personal, which fully showcases just how far each of them have come since the beginning. CALM also follows many of the same lyrical themes that Youngblood does as well, in many ways it is an even more cohesive and refined approach to what they did on that record two years prior.
The album's singles best display the band's evolution, beginning with the lead single "Easier", which was released about ten months prior to the rest of the album and what Luke described in an interview with Apple Music as the "stepping stone" for what the rest of CALM went on to be. Inspired by dark new wave groups like Depeche Mode and Tears for Fears, as well as industrial influences like Nine Inch Nails, 5SOS went in a much darker and heavier direction than they ever have before with their music. It still maintains this very distinct pop feel to it at the same time, somewhat reminiscent to the title track from their third album "Youngblood", but in a way that was so much different than anything they've made prior. They collaborated with a great group of songwriters and producers like Andrew Watt, Charlie Puth, Ryan Tedder, and Louis Bell, who really helped shape this distinct sound for the song.
"I'd freshly kind of become sober from alcohol and, before that, I was just going out a lot, being at bars and listening to loud music my whole life to run away from stuff that I didn’t wanna think about," drummer Ashton Irwin explained on an Instagram livestream in 2021. "'Easier' was really representative of that darkness...it had a heaviness, a weight to it that the band really needed to mature our public image."
They delved even deeper to this edgy and dark alternative sound on the follow up single, "Teeth". It's a bass-heavy track that has so much intensity and grit, as they once again open up about the trials and turbulations of a toxic relationship. "Fight so dirty, but you love so sweet," Luke sings in the chorus, "Talk so pretty, but your heart got teeth, late night devil, put your hands on me and never, never, never ever let go". It captures some of the darker undertones of the record in a really powerful way.
"Calum and I have a lot of fun in this song," Ashton said in a commentary of the album, "We always reference The Clash, 'London Calling' is one of the greatest drum/bass songs ever, and Calum and I tried to replicate a feel like that in 'Teeth'. This song is a hard-hitting rock anthem."
Both "Easier" and "Teeth" introduce the sonic landscape of the record perfectly. The power behind the two of those tracks was only further heightened by the incredible alternate versions they released, titled "Live From The Vault", which feature even bolder and more intense instrumentation than the standard version. Those are absolutely two of their best performances of all time and I would love for them to one day release more mixes like that in the future.
The album's third single, "No Shame", takes a satirical, yet strikingly honest look at the addictive power of fame, as well as sharp commentary of modern celebrity and internet culture. In a 2021 Instagram livestream, Ashton said, "It's about people who do anything they fucking can just to become famous, which is a massive topic in our society." They highlight the length people go to in order to stay in the spotlight, as they get lost in the attention and fame - a position they don't deny putting themselves in at some points either.
"I only light up when cameras are flashin', never enough and no satisfaction," Luke sings in the chorus, "Got no shame, I love the way you're screaming my name, diggin' my grave to get a reaction, changin' my face and callin' it fashion, got no shame, I love the way you're screaming my name". The song is an equally ironic and poignant take on the culture. "The concept's been done a million times. You know, becoming so one-dimensional and addicted to the way the world works right now, celebrity and all that evil gross stuff," Ashton continued. "Remaining pure to yourself is so important, and getting swept up in the business and the way everything works can be really dangerous 'cause your ego can become overgrown and we all know that's a trap."
In contrast, "Old Me" is a vulnerable reflection of the band's past and all of the people that helped define their journey - especially as a love letter to their past selves. It's an acknowledgement of their mistakes, but also of their growth and how far they've come individually over the years. Also adding if they could do it all again, they would, is such a beautiful sentiment for this song and a reminder to not look back with regret. The lyric "had to fuck it up before I really got to know me" really serves as the thesis of this track.
"This song, I think, really encapsulates that feeling of understanding who you were in the past, and realizing the things and the moments that happened to you in your life that helped change and define who you are now," guitarist Michael Clifford said in a commentary of the album.
The fifth and final single from this album, released alongside the rest of CALM, is such a vibrant burst of joyful energy. It serves as the perfect contrast to some of the darker undertones that made up much of the singles to that point, representing the lighter side of the album. In an interview with Apple Music, Luke said they wanted to make "...a big, positive, euphoric anthem and not be lame".
"We were a bit hesitant to put this song on the album, just because it was so different, so unique, we'd never really written in that specific style before," bassist Calum Hood said in the album's commentary. "This one is just about abundance with a special someone, the highs and the lows and, no matter what it is, you're there for it." I love that Calum takes the lead on the vocals for this song as well, its such a great performance from him.
"If I were to quit music today, I'd be like 'Man, 'Wildflower' was one of the best pop songs I was ever involved in.'" Ashton said in a 2021 Instagram livestream. "I just love this song and I think it's just a beautiful mix of those classic, old school harmonies put into a super compact pop contemporary song that suits 2020."
"Red Desert" is the incredible opening track for CALM, one that is among the best in their discography. It's driven by Ashton's powerful drumming, with an energy and intensity that keeps building throughout. It sets the tone so beautifully for the rest of the journey that CALM takes the listener on from that point. This was also one of the first songs they wrote for the album. It is quite different than anything else they've ever made before and also differs from what the rest of the album ended up sounding like too. At the same time, it introduces so much of the dynamic energy that runs throughout the album as well. "Red Desert" is also a vocal showcase, with grand and anthemic harmonies performed by all four members. These layered vocals were recorded together live in the studio, which stylistically sound very reminiscent of Queen.
"It's about spiritual enlightenment, we've never written about that, about having a muse, chasing the creative trial that we're all on or leaving all of your self-conscious doubts behind and evolving as a human and becoming bigger than you ever thought you could be and proud of yourself and owning what you are," Ashton said in a 2020 interview with Ash London Live. It is a bold artistic statement that captures the ethos behind so much of what 5 Seconds of Summer represents artistically.
From there, CALM takes the listener on an immersive and diverse sonic journey. While the five singles back-to-back in the track list are all standout moments, some of the album's deeper cuts are just as notable and provide even more complexity and emotional depth to the record's narrative.
A song like "Not In The Same Way" is such a strong moment on CALM, one that has always been a personal favorite as well. It's a song about the spiral of a toxic relationship - a theme that connects back to the lead singles "Easier" and "Teeth". The chaotic, desperate energy of the song reflects the turbulent emotions it was inspired by, with its irresistibly catchy hooks and unique lyrical framing that is as frantic as it is raw.
"Drink all night, never sleep, you say, 'go,' I won't leave," Luke sings in the chorus, "I love you, you love me, but not in the same way". In an interview with Apple Music he talked about the way this song quickly took shape in the studio, "This song came together in 30 minutes, except for the bridge. It was one of the most exciting in the room to write; it was almost like we couldn't keep up with how quickly it was going. It's a chaotic love story of the early days in a relationship and trying to figure out your counterpart."
"Thin White Lies" delves into topics surrounding rediscovering yourself after a period of feeling disconnected from who you once were. The inner turmoil explored through the lyric "I don't really like me anymore, someone tell me who I was before," poignantly reflects the level of vulnerability they go to with this song. It serves as a really powerful reflection of who they were when they were younger, before life started to feel complicated, as well as the viewpoint of life before fame vs. after.
"I love the groove in the chorus. We were going for a Cure thing on the guitar in the verses. My favorite lyric in it is 'I don't think I like me anymore.' It's so honest, when you get to a point that you feel like a stranger to yourself - I like how this song captures that moment," Luke said in an interview with Apple Music. That lyric really is so striking and fully encapsulates just how emotional this song is, which can be sort of masked behind the atmospheric instrumental.
"Lonely Heart" has the same anthemic quality that the opening song "Red Desert" has, which further creates a cohesive narrative connection throughout CALM. "Can I have a second chance? Can I have another dance? Can I start another life with you?" Luke sings in the second verse, "When I wake up in a haze and I haven't slept in days, you're a thousand miles away". The emotion in his voice as he sings those words really brings these increasing feelings of heartbreak and solitude to life. The expansive sonic landscape is one of the album's standout moments that really elevates the emotional lyricism.
Among the many emotionally resonant moments throughout CALM, one song stands as a testament to both maturity and vulnerability: the beautiful "Best Years." Its lyrics and composition encapsulate so much growth and the beginning of a new stage of life. These are common themes that parallel qualities later at the heart of much of Luke Hemmings' solo work.
The opening lines, "You've got a million reasons to hesitate, but, darling, the future's better than yesterday," set the tone for the track. Luke's vocals convey an intimate sincerity, promising a bright future with a partner. This song is a powerful declaration of love, especially as he sings, "You did all these things for me when I was half a man for you, I wanna hold your hand while we're growing up".
In an interview with Apple Music, Luke opened up about the initial stripped-down demo, which featured just his vocals and a guitar. He wrote it primarily with Ryan Tedder, one of the band's core co-writers for this album. The final version also featured The Edge of U2 on guitar at the bridge of the song. Luke said, "The song is a beautiful love note, something I felt I needed to get off my chest. That’s the best way songwriting can be: cathartic." It is a beautifully romantic anthem of love and personal evolution, "Best Years" serves as a promise for the future and wanting to live your best years of life alongside someone.
"Lover Of Mine" similarly started with just Luke's vocal and an acoustic guitar as well. He co-wrote it with his now-wife Sierra Deaton, this track marking their first creative collaboration. She later co-wrote a few of the best songs on the band's following album, 5SSOS5, as well as several tracks Luke released as a solo artist. Much like "Best Years", "Lover Of Mine" again feels very reminiscent of the solo work Luke would go on to make in the following years.
It is truly the centerpiece of CALM, I am especially drawn to the way it beautifully showcases the shared themes of love, acceptance and vulnerability. The chorus is such a special moment of this song, "When I take a look at my life and all of my crimes, you're the only thing that I think I got right," Luke emotionally sings. "This song is an upfront lead to your lover that they will take all of you and take you as you are, the good, bad and the ugly," he said in the album's commentary. "It speaks on hope that, even after knowing each other's deepest secrets, you’ll still love and accept one another, because it would be such a shame to lose such a love in your life."
The final song on CALM is titled "High", which is one of the most subtle and introspective tracks on the album. It is understated, yet powerful, in a way that serves as the perfect conclusion. It ties together many of the conflicting emotions explored throughout the album. Its gentle, contemplative sound stands out as a moment of quiet reflection, bringing the emotional journey full circle.
"I need to stop lettin' me down", Luke sings in the pre-chorus, which serves as a candid admission of personal struggle. "I hope you think of me high, I hope you think of me highly, when you're with someone else," he sings in the chorus and again more quietly in the final lines of the song. "High" serves as a bittersweet hope for redemption, both from a lover and from himself.
Luke reflected on the song's creation in an interview with Apple Music, describing its raw lyricism, "Songwriting in itself is very selfish, and this song in particular, the lyric 'I hope you think of me high, I hope you think of me highly' is very clever and very self-involved. I love the honesty. That's why I wanted to close the album with it. I had these chords in my head; I really wanted a Beatles-esque song with quirky chords. I like how narcissistic it is, but in such a sweet and unassuming way."
Also in the album commentary, Luke expanded on the themes of the song, calling it "...a self-centered, almost narcissistic note to yourself." He added that the lyrics paint the protagonist as someone who always plays the victim, despite hurting others in the process. "It's when you're desperately holding on to hope, that even when you're apart and not in the same city, the person you love can see the good in you. They can see the beautiful way they once thought of you. It can sound like a break-up song, but it's really a note to yourself and your significant other that you can do better, and you hope that they still believe in you, even if you haven't acted like a good person, or even felt like one."
CALM can unfortunately often be overlooked amongst the rest of band's discography, partly as it was released during the very early weeks of the Covid-19 lockdowns in March 2020. Much of this music never got the chance to truly shine in the way the band thrives best - in a live setting. That seems to be a recurring sentiment throughout all of my anniversary reviews of albums released during this nearly two-year period as the world was shut down and so many artists faced similar challenges with their music. I was supposed to see them live in September of 2020 in support of this album, but for obvious reasons, that didn't happen. It feels bittersweet reflecting on this now, knowing how much this album's live potential was cut short by circumstances outside of anyone's control.
There were eventually shows in support of this album, but in the context of all of the music they have released through the years, CALM can often be overshadowed by other significant milestones for the band. Coming between their biggest record to date, Youngblood in 2018 and their 2022 album 5SOS5, which coincided with the ten-year anniversary celebration of the band, CALM falls somewhere in the middle as a hidden gem that is just as important in their journey as any of their other records are. It stands out as a quiet and profound testament to 5 Seconds of Summer's artistic and personal growth that radiates through all they create.
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