REVIEW: 5 Seconds of Summer Stun with Evolved New Album ‘Everyone’s A Star!’
REVIEW
REVIEW
☆ BY IVONA HOMICIANU ☆
LAST NOVEMBER, 5 SECONDS OF SUMMER RETURNED WITH THEIR HIGHLY ANTICIPATED ALBUM— Everyone’s A Star! sounds and feels different, while at the same time keeping the essence that made 5 Seconds of Summer (5SOS) a household name. Although the Australian four-piece band debuted in 2011, they have constantly remained one of the most influential bands of the younger generations.
On Everyone’s A Star!, 5SOS reflect on the lasting impact of being in the spotlight since their teenage years. The consequences are often not as glamorous as they appear. The album covers subjects such as need for attention, substance abuse and emotional stunts that occur when growing up outside of a regular life.
The sound has an obsessional quality to it—a necessity to replay the track as soon as it ends. Each member gets their moment to shine and that might be one of the reasons why it sounds so wholeheartedly vulnerable. By giving everyone the chance to put their touch on the project, they gave a gritty and raw dimension to the record.
The title track “Everyone’s A Star!” sets the tone of the album—“Crazy man, he went in the booth / Didn’t get any notes wrong / That’s the story we’ll tell.” With this last line, they show how narratives are malleable. It’s a piece of information to keep in mind while listening—there is more that meets the eye. In this opening track, they sing about the pursuit of fame and how it’s portrayed as this idyllic lifestyle. They unveil that the things that make a star are mostly concealing your wellbeing under glitter and strobe lights.
Following it up with “NOT OK,” they emphasise the ugly parts of celebrity, notably falling prey to vices due to the prominent presence of substances in the industry. It talks of someone’s bad influence which is reciprocated (“You and I together / Double homicide”). It has the duality of being at the top of the world and at the same time being rock bottom. While the verses are similar to speech, we go crescendo towards the chorus which becomes alike to shouting. The distorted “Oh my god, I feel invincible” ending also mimics a breakdown.
The verses of “Telephone Busy” are recorded as if through a call. With the chorus, the vulnerability of the moment comes out fast to save what is left of a relationship (“Already messed it up, so I don’t hesitate”). The other person begins to mature while he stays the same. It deals with the codependency in a relationship that pretends to be casual. The notion of immaturity is brought up in contrast to the evolving significant other, doubling down on someone’s view with “I’ll never change.”
“Boyband” reclaims the word that has been used to diminish their artistry in the past. It is a key track about what they’re trying to tell with the album: the effects of stardom. It starts with the sound of a camera flash, then builds towards an upbeat tempo. Through the lyric “now I only feel alive when you’re looking at me,” they show fame as an addiction. Being in the public eye can affect someone’s perspective on themselves, because they now see themselves through the lens of their audience.
“No. 1 Obsession” introduces itself with drums and an addictive beat. Although it’s inconclusive if they’re addressing a particular person or an audience, the relationship is the definition of codependency. Given their ‘boyband’ status, there’s a correlation with being someone’s obsession. At the same time, they showcase the fame obsession. Now that they’ve experienced this lifestyle for so long, it all pales in comparison. They need validation to “feel alive.”
“I’m Scared I’ll Never Sleep Again” is a slower yet still drum-heavy track. While they explored obsession, this is the first time the lyrics move onto the territory of love. There is an inherent heartbreak infused in the track that differs from previous songs. It culminates into a high note which further sustains the earnest portrayal of Hemmings’ vocals.
“istillfeelthesame” says they’re not over the relationship, which seemed to mean a lot more to them than to the other person. The production is in a rush, as if they’re still trying to salvage the dynamic despite it being over. At the end, there’s the sound of an inserted cassette and the synth that was heard throughout the chorus is slowed down. They’re rewinding the memories.
The story continues with “Ghost,” a vulnerable ballad with a particular sentiment at the core—“I can’t look you in the eyes because I’m afraid it looks like me.” These two people’s similarities are no longer comforting. They’re both battling addiction and possibly enabling each other. There’s a lot of compassion for the other person, but there’s also a fear of being unhealthy for one another.
This further keeps up with the next track, “Sick of Myself.” This person is taking accountability for their issues and how the other one is what keeps them going. There’s a direct correlation with the last song: “I can’t look myself in the eyes.” The length of this one is short, and there’s a sort of repetitive beat, accompanied by a heavy bass, that drives the point in. That is observed even with the ending which repeats, “Please stay.”
“Evolve” encapsulates the inherent immaturity that was reproached to them since the beginning of the record. It has such an intriguing production that turns it into a guilty pleasure. With little additions such as “Goddamn,” before the last chorus, it’s satisfying to listen to. In terms of development, the person is now the one who doesn’t believe they’re able to change, contrary to the beginning where it was someone else’s thinking.
“The Rocks” plays on the imagery of standing on a cliff and joining someone down because they’d rather drown with someone than go through things alone. The sound is gritty and punk, jumping directly to a high tempo in the chorus and dissolving into a guitar solo.
The standard edition ends with “Jawbreaker,” a slower tune in the likes of “Ghost,” though it is completely different in subject. This conclusion is the light at the end of the tunnel. Although they don’t sustain the idea of immediate healing, this new presence in their life has brightened their days and given them a break from despair. “Jawbreaker” in this context is this impressive person that leaves them with their jaws dropped. The band sings altogether in the beginning and end of the track, showing the unity that has made them prevail throughout the years.
With Everyone’s A Star!, 5 Seconds of Summer have reinforced that they’re here to stay. They offered us a sound that feels innovative while at the same time staying in line with their discography. Although they’ve explored subjects such as heartbreak and mental turmoil in their previous records, the maturity of the perspective in this one shows true growth.
