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Calm (album)

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Calm
A picture of all 5 Seconds of Summer members laying down on a black blanket hanging out with the word "5SOS" which is the short way to say "5 Seconds of Summer" and we see the letters "C A L M" underneath.
Studio album by
5 Seconds of Summer
Released27 March 2020 (2020-03-27)
Length39:30
Label
Producer
5 Seconds of Summer chronology
Meet You There Tour Live
(2018) 		Calm
(2020)
Singles from Calm
  1. "Easier"
    Released: 23 May 2019
  2. "Teeth"
    Released: 21 August 2019
  3. "No Shame"
    Released: 5 February 2020
  4. "Old Me"
    Released: 6 March 2020[1]
  5. "Wildflower"
    Released: 25 March 2020[2][3]

Calm (stylised as C A L M, an acronym of the first letters of the band members' names, Calum, Ashton, Luke and Michael)[4][5] is the fourth studio album by Australian pop rock band 5 Seconds of Summer, released on 27 March 2020.[6] Due to a shipping error, around 10, 000 copies of the album were released early in the US, subsequently allowing the album to chart a week before it was due.[7]

Prior to the album's release, the band released a four-track "Relaxation" remix collection via the meditation app, Calm. The collection features each bandmember reimagining a different track off the album in collaboration with producer Matt Pauling: guitarist Michael Clifford on "Easier", bassist Calum Hood on "Old Me", drummer Ashton Irwin on "Red Desert", and guitarist and vocalist Luke Hemmings on "Best Years".[8]

Promotion

The album was announced on the band's social media on 5 February 2020.[9] A few days earlier, the band also confirmed that they will embark on the No Shame Tour to support the album, set to kick off in May 2020.[10]

Background and inspiration

The band were inspired by a lot of industrial music whilst working on the album, which helped them achieve a "rhythm side" on the songs, and in turn lends to the melodic writing and the melodic process. Drummer Ashton Irwin explained: "As far as sonic inspirations go, we always try to incorporate some of what everyone is actually listening to so it's a more genuine and influenced record that we can speak on." The album contains a "lighter" sound in comparison to the band's previous work. Rhythm guitarist Luke Hemmings said he felt like the last album was "pretty heavy and dark [...] Whereas this one has that side of it with the lighter side of life and moving forward rather than being stuck in one place".[11] The band's bassist Calum Hood said most of the credit is owed to vocalist Luke Hemmings, whose lyrics, Hood said, "tell the tale of a man who has matured over the years and who has really honed in on his craft". Hood, however, noted: "I think everyone had something to say with this album, in terms of their coming of age - in really reflecting on the people who we were and how things shaped us, and who we want to become in the future." He futher described the album as "pretty chaotic at times".[5]

Music and composition

Amelia Parreira of Riff magazine summarized the album, saying 5 Seconds of Summer bring forth a "new musical density and electrifying nuance on Calm, with a misleading name for a body of work that is anything but sonically mellow". The album's opening track, the "groovy, anthemic" "Red Desert" hinges on psychedelia, with the "gospel-like vocals" of Luke Hemmings. The song contains light bass vibration from bassist Calum Hood. The song's theme is about "contentment and falling in love", which Parreira noted sets the album's tone. Track 2, "No Shame" features a "retro '80s pop vibe", layered with "explosive instrumentals over meaningful lyrics and raw stories". Hemmings delivers high notes on the song. "Old Me", lyrically reflects on past mistakes, and is a high-energy "dance anthem". "Easier", released as the album's lead single, has a conversational tone, with "mellow" electro instrumentation. Second single "Teeth", is a grungy, rock-tinged song, with an energetic, catchy chorus. Wildflower", similarly to "No Shame", is reminiscent of '80s pop, consisting of a "Beach Boys-like vocal chant before a rise in bass and synth undertones set a romantic tone on the verses". "The Best Years" move at a slower pace, albeit containing a "danceable vibe". The piano-led "Lover of Mine" features intertwining guitar strumming patterns and "powerful vocal styles". "Thin White Lines" is a an "angst-ridden" dance-esque track, with "strong electric beats". The album concludes with the slow-burner "Lonely Heart" and the self-reflcetive "High", both ballads, with slightly energetic production, marking a "calm end" to the album.

Sources:[12][4]

Singles

The album's lead single, "Easier", was released via Interscope on 23 May 2019. The second single, "Teeth" was released on 21 August 2019 and was also included in the 13 Reasons Why: Season 3 (Music from the Original TV Series) soundtrack. "No Shame" was released as the third single on 5 February 2020, alongside the album announcement.[13] "Old Me", originally released on 21 February 2020 as the first promotional single from the album, was released to radio on 6 March 2020 as the album's fourth single.[14] "Wildflower" was released as the album's fifth single on 25 March 2020.[15][3]

Critical reception

Malvika Padin of Gigwise gave the album a positive review, writing: "Despite that niggling urge to skip the odd mediocre track, the desire to play beauties like 'High' on loop wins in the end and Calm stands on a pedestal of near-perfection pop". Padin noted how the album is "split into two distinct, yet cohesive, sections of music that are authentically 5SOS" and labeled the album "a look into the journey of four young boys growing up and getting pulled into the addictive power of fame".[4]

Track listing

Track listing and credits adapted from Apple Music metadata.[16] Additional credits adapted from Tidal.[17][18][19]

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Red Desert"
Matthew Pauling3:49
2."No Shame"
3:10
3."Old Me"
  • Watt
  • Bell
  • Dre Moon
3:04
4."Easier"
  • Puth
  • Bell
  • Watt
2:37
5."Teeth"
  • Watt
  • Bell
3:24
6."Wildflower"
Gorres3:40
7."Best Years"
  • Hemmings
  • Tedder
  • Tamposi
  • Wotman
  • Perez
3:10
8."Not in the Same Way"
  • Watt
  • Blanco
3:40
9."Lover of Mine"
  • Irwin
  • Hemmings
  • Sierra Deaton
  • Tamposi
  • Wotman
  • Perez[21]
  • Watt
  • Perez
3:26
10."Thin White Lies"
  • Hood
  • Hemmings
  • Irwin
  • Clifford
  • Tamposi
  • Wotman
  • Perez
  • Carter Lang
  • Watt
  • Perez
3:02
11."Lonely Heart"
  • Hood
  • Hemmings
  • Irwin
  • Clifford
  • Pauling
Pauling3:24
12."High"
  • Hood
  • Irwin
  • Hemmings
  • Clifford
  • Tamposi
  • Wotman
  • Bell
  • Watt
  • Bell
2:58
Total length:39:30
PLUS1 bonus track[22]
No.TitleLength
13."Kill My Time"3:55
Total length:43:25
Deluxe edition bonus tracks[23]
No.TitleLength
13."Easier" (Live from the Vault)3:26
14."Teeth" (Live from the Vault)3:35
15."No Shame" (Live from the Vault)3:22
Total length:49:53

Charts

Chart (2020) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[24] 62

References

  1. ^ "5 Seconds to Summer - Old Me (Radio Date: 06-03-2020)". Archived from the original on 3 March 2020. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  2. ^ "5 Seconds of Summer Release New Single "Wildflower"". Broadway World. 25 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  3. ^ a b "5 Seconds of Summer's Calum Hood drops single "Wildflower" lyric video ahead of CALM album release". Meaww. 24 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  4. ^ a b c Padin, Malvika (26 March 2020). "Album Review: 5 Seconds Of Summer - CALM". Gigwise. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  5. ^ a b Dresdale, Andrea (30 March 2020). "With new album 'C A L M,' 5 Seconds of Summer says they "weren't afraid of pushing the boundaries"". ABC News Radio. Retrieved 31 March 2020. {{cite web}}: no-break space character in |title= at position 87 (help)
  6. ^ Quiles, Alyssa (5 February 2020). "5 Seconds of Summer Drop Calm Album Details with Single "No Shame"". Alternative Press. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  7. ^ 5 Seconds of Summer (verified account) [@5SOS] (30 March 2020). "5 Seconds of Summer announcement" (Tweet). Retrieved 30 March 2020 – via Twitter.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ Aniftos, Rania (27 March 2020). "Stay 'CALM,' 5 Seconds of Summer's New Album Has Arrived". Billboard. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  9. ^ Shaffer, Claire (5 February 2020). "5 Seconds of Summer Announce New Album Calm, Drop "No Shame"". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  10. ^ Mims, Taylor (31 January 2020). "5 Seconds of Summer Have 'No Shame' Tour Set for North America: See the Dates". Billboard. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  11. ^ "5 Seconds of Summer inspired by industrial music on new album CALM". Herald & Review. 23 March 2020. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  12. ^ Parreria, Amelia (27 March 2020). "Album review: 5 Seconds of Summer bring high energy to 'CALM'". Riff magazine. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
  13. ^ Weatherby, Taylor (5 February 2020). "5 Seconds of Summer Reveal New Song "No Shame", Announce Calm Album: See When It's Coming". Billboard. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  14. ^ "Singles to Radio". The Music Network. Retrieved 24 February 2020.
  15. ^ "5 Seconds of Summer on Twitter: Wildflower out now". 24 March 2020. Retrieved 24 March 2020 – via Twitter.
  16. ^ "Calm by 5 Seconds of Summer on Apple Music". Apple Music. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  17. ^ "No Shame / 5 Seconds of Summer – Tidal". Tidal. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  18. ^ "Easier / 5 Seconds of Summer – Tidal". Tidal. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  19. ^ "Teeth / 5 Seconds of Summer – Tidal". Tidal. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  20. ^ "Wildflower / 5 Seconds of Summer - ACE Repertory Work ID: 906872673". ASCAP. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  21. ^ "Lover of Mine / 5 Seconds of Summer - ACE Repertory Work ID: 907012535". ASCAP. Retrieved 22 March 2020.
  22. ^ "Signed C A L M PLUS1 CD + Digital PLUS1 album". 5secondsofsummershop.com.
  23. ^ "CALM Deluxe CD". 5 Seconds of Summer Official Store. Universal Music. Retrieved 5 March 2020.
  24. ^ "5 Seconds of Summer Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved 31 March 2020.
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