The Critics Corner | Albums

Blurred Lines Australian newcomers bring a brilliant blend of pop, punk and rock with first full-length album
Robin Thicke
Hayley Holmes Album name: 5 Seconds of Summer (US Deluxe Edition)
Label: Capitol/UMG
Release date: July 22, 2014
My rating: 4.9 out of 5

Review written by: Luanne Lim
The era of the British music scene may have just reached an end. A new wave of music is coming… and this time, it’s coming from the Land Down Under!!!

Although they made their debut into American arenas as the opening act for British pop superstars One Direction, Australian band 5 Seconds of Summer, or 5SOS, have achieved more than five seconds of fame within the past year. From headlining their own US tour, to accompanying One Direction on their tour, 5SOS places yet another achievement under their belt – their debut, full-length album.

Many editions of their self-titled debut album have been released all around the world, each featuring various bonus tracks. The US deluxe edition features sixteen tracks written by the band members themselves. Within sixteen songs, 5SOS, comprised of Michael Clifford, Luke Hemmings, Calum Hood and Ashton Irwin, have not only entered the music world with a bang, they’ve shown that they are in it for the long run.

Kicking off the album is first single and radio hit “She Looks So Perfect.” Released prior on early EPs and LPs, “She Looks So Perfect” has an infectious beat and lyrics to match. Going with more of a pop vibe, the song is definite windows down, car jamming material.

Following “She Looks So Perfect” is “Don’t Stop.” Though not as lyrically varied as the previous track, “Don’t Stop” is equally as catchy. What I personally like about this track is how it showcases the talents of the entire band. The vocals are almost equally shared by the band members, and their harmonies are on-point.

Yet another upbeat, head banging track, “Good Girls” calls out all quiet, smart girls, claiming that “good girls are bad girls that haven’t been caught.” Whether the statement is true or false, I can’t prove, however, the track makes you really think about those quiet girls.

“Kiss Me Kiss Me” and “18” follow the footprints of the first three tracks in their pop-rock trips. 5SOS dabbles into power-pop in tracks “Everything I Didn’t Say,” “Beside You,” “Long Way Home” and “Never Be.” Full of regret, remorse and motivational words, the songs are a nice detour from the previous pop-rock songs, showing a different, slightly deeper side to 5SOS.

The detour ends with more light lyrics backed with great guitar riffs and head bobbing beats in tracks “End Up Here,” “Heartbreak Girl, “Lost Boy” and “Voodoo Doll.” The sound in these songs are reminiscent to those of preceding bands Blink-182 and All Time Low, both of which seem to be big influences on the young Australian pop-rockers.

There is a unique flair to the song “English Love Affair.” A throwback to the 80s pop-rock dance scene, “English Love Affair” has an interesting tune and beat, making it stand out among some of the other songs on the album. To me, the song sounds like it could be a part of a dramatic TV show or movie, and with a title like “English Love Affair,” why not?

When first listening to “Social Casualty,” my mind immediately connected it to the sound of rock band Sum 41. More specifically, I thought of Sum 41’s “Fatlip.” Possessing the same kind of hardcore guitar shredding intro, “Social Casualty” has the same rebellious message as its predecessor: don’t give in to society’s ideals. Be an individual.

The standout song of the entire album would have to be “Amnesia.” The lyrics and acoustic instrumentals add emotion to the song. “Amnesia” is the one, true ballad off of the album. Not containing any produced beat or amplified guitar riff, “Amnesia” is a song that is stripped down – just lyrics and a guitar – showing that simplicity can be a powerful element in music.

Throughout their self-titled album, 5 Seconds of Summer jump from various degrees of “rock.” From pop-rock to pop-punk rock, the Australian foursome showcase their versatility and talent within the sixteen tracks of their self-titled debut album. For a young band, 5SOS has a firm grasp on songwriting as shown in the album’s lyrics and instrumentals. A perfect blend of pop-rock and punk, 5 Seconds of Summer has successfully placed the band on the road to success.
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