in the spirit of bleach, this is my reminder to myself to finally call the hairdresser tomorrow because i'm itching to change my hair colour again. dgmw i love being ginger, but i feel like it's time for the next evolution.
For some super weird reason I did not know about the existence of this album until very recently and only listened to Bad Omens as prep for the concert (and Complete Mess and Me, Myself & I because I just couldn't resist since). I've heard people say this is their favourite 5SOS album, so I'm very much looking forward to experiencing this
1. COMPLETE MESS (*)
I have listened to this for the first time a few days ago when I watched a best of 5sos vocals compilation and they had a clip of Michael‘s solo in there and when I tell you my jaw fucking dropped. That might be my favourite thing ever. These couple of seconds and the visuals of the music video on top of it, fucking kill me right this second because it doesn’t get better than this. Ever. I think it‘s clear how I feel about this song.
2. Easy for You to Say
Now that I‘m listening to it I‘m pretty sure I heard it before, but maybe like in the background playing somewhere? Gorgeous vocals though, amazing harmonies, I like it. Almost has a little bit of a country vibe to it in some places?
3. Bad Omens*
This was another song that I listened to on repeat for like 2 weeks as preparation for the concert and probably one of the ones that grew on me the quickest. Loved hearing it live. My favourite line is probably the „I should’ve known right then and there you were a runaway“ one, it gave me chills the first time I heard it and still does. And surprise surprise, M‘s love for 5SOS bridges strikes once again.
4. Me, Myself & I(*)
Couldn’t resist and watched the music video before this listen-through, so I know it too. I can‘t for the life of me pick a favourite part. The entire thing is just fucking vibes in the best way, Ash is doing a brilliant job as always, Luke‘s voice is angelic as per usual, they’re slaying the harmonies, the video is really cool too, I‘m just obsessed.
5. Take My Hand
Oh, we‘re doing emotional and nostalgic and existential crisis but make it fun(?), I see. And another song-title-in-the-background moment. Once again, fan of the bridge in this. Fits well with the vibes of the previous tracks.
6. CAROUSEL
So, love the imagery, it‘s giving dream sequence of a childhood memory in some way. I like how it‘s somehow energetic but not in an exhausting in-your-face way but lighter I‘d call it.
7. Older
I know that the feature is Luke‘s wife, but what I didn’t realise for the longest time is that she sings one of my favourite songs ever (Little Do You Know). But what a cute fucking song, what the hell, what are you hitting me straight in the feelings for? I almost love the verses more than the chorus, but the whole this is just ethereally beautiful. Holy shit their voices were made to be heard together. I need a minute before we continue. (I did take a minute. And a glass of wine.)
8. HAZE
Yes to the upbeat energy. Yes to maybe slightly unconventional love songs. I’ll admit it didn’t catch me fully on the first listen, but by the second one I‘m hooked. Ashton‘s part is a standout for me once again, I just looove his voice.
9. You Don't Go to Parties
Oh fuck me it‘s a banger straight away, god damn it. Cal is killing me with that voice, and then Ash comes in to finish me off? I‘m dead, I‘ve gone to heaven, there’s no other explanation. Instantly one of my favourites.
10. BLENDER
What the fuck how is this album real, this is amazing too. I think I heard the „I‘d die for you“ part somewhere before? Probably a best vocals video? But oh my god, I love it. I‘ll be honest, just from the title I was a little unsure of the metaphor, but it works. I haven‘t listened to it with headphones before, so idk if they’re playing with like binaural stuff (I think it‘s called?) and the sounds moving and those kinds of things, but I immediately thought that that would probably sound really cool.
11. Caramel
Very nice chill vibes. Something about it reminded me of another song and it took me a good minute to figure out which one (it way Harry Styles‘ Satellite btw). I think there hasn’t been that many songs where the title isn’t taken from the chorus, that’s a fun change. And wow, the quiet little guitar bit at the very end? Put it on repeat and I’ll fall asleep listening to this for the rest of my life.
12. Best Friends
Yes babyyy, I like it. Always a fan of love songs that aren’t just about romantic love. And the way I fucking gasped when I heard Michael‘s part. I love everything about his verse. The images, his voice, the mood, everything. „Life is like a poem written on a bathroom wall“? The entire fucking- everything? I‘m genuinely struggling for words
13. Bleach
Oh, I really like what they did with the associations and metaphors and stuff. It‘s too late for coherent sentences, so maybe I‘ll rewrite this in the morning, but essentially, this is really clever and sounds amazing, what‘s not to love?
14. Red Line
How do they make such a dark topic sound so light and carefree almost? Asking for a friend. Post-chorus is probably my favourite part of the song, it's pretty catchy
15. Moodswings
Somehow I feel like this is the most distinct I've even been able to tell their voices apart when it's more than just one of them singing at the same time. They sound fucking amazing together, not that that's news. And by now I sense the theme of "hey, so let's make this heavy topic sound super fun and like it's no big deal™"
16. Flatline
Okay, this is a fun one, I like it. For whatever fucking reason this make me think of Puck from A Midsummer Night's Dream? Definitely one that took no time at all to make itself comfortable in my brain.
17. Emotions
An entire Mikey track? Don't mind if I fucking do. He really is the king of those super fucking hard hitting emotional songs. I feel seen, and I don't know if his gorgeous vocals make it hurt more or less. Either way, this is easily one of my favourite songs of the album, if not overall.
18. Bloodhound
I love when everyone gets their own part! Special mention for the bridge, once again, because Fuck Me. Not a single thing I don't love.
19. TEARS!
Okay, here we have it, the last time (for now) that I get to hear a 5SOS song for the first time. I'm weirdly emotional about it actually. This feels kinda ethereal or trance like to me? Very clearly an Ash song, not only because the singing but also because you can really feel how the drums are almost like the heartbeat of the whole song. (no shit, that's how music works, but it was particularly noticable to me here).
So what do I say, I do think my thoughts on this album will develop some more over time and become more detailed and nuanced and stuff, but I really enjoyed it. It feels way lighter and more playful maybe (?) than CALM, less bold than EAS! but it slots in very well in their general trajectory. Some standout ones here for sure.
And because I completely forgot about their existence until @edge-oftheworld pointed it out to me (thank you!), we'll tack on two more in between eras songs on here because I don't know where else to put them:
2011
I'm a sucker for nostalgia in pretty much all its forms and this hits the sweet spot for me because not just the words but also the sound and the mood just scream reminiscing to me. And for good measure, it's another song with a bridge I want to write love letters to.
Lighter
I've heard this one before too, but I can't say when or where. You can clearly hear both the David Guetta and the Galantis aspects, but it all works pretty well. It's maybe not their best song ever, but I'll definitely listen to it now and then.
I got my 5SOS5 vinyl today, and while it's sad that it doesn't have the bonus tracks, listening to it has given me a new appreciation for Older and Best friends.
Now entering the unpopular (?) opinion section of the post: I honestly feel like Flatline and Moodswings should have been on the main album, and therefore should switch places with Take my hand and Bleach.
All in all, though, I think it's a solid album either way, and I'm glad it's now in my collection 💜
