Rating: 7.5/10
Even before the release of their self-titled debut album, 5 Seconds of Summer had already achieved worldwide fame through several EP releases, as well as a stint in touring with One Direction. Though it was easy to brush them off as yet another boyband, they wanted to make a statement that they were no such thing (not that I have a problem with boybands of course. I’m a 1D girl for life). They played their own instruments, wrote their own songs, and gravitated towards a pop-punk sound, as opposed to a bubblegum pop musical direction.
Still, it’s evident that they’ve changed quite a bit in their musical style since the release of this record, and they’ve grown a lot in terms of their songwriting. Nonetheless, this is a very enjoyable record, and a strong debut from the boys.
In this post I’ll be ranking all of the songs from 5 Seconds of Summer’s debut LP (I’m doing the deluxe version, just like I did for all the 1D albums) from worst to best. Hope you enjoy reading this!
15. Mrs All American (Track 11)
Okay, this isn’t even a bad song (there’s enjoyment to be had out of every song on this album) but I’m not crazy on the melody, and the lyrics don’t really live up to the excitement promised by the title of the song. Plus, I’m personally offended that they got rid of English Love Affair and replaced it with this song for the North American version of the album (I understand why, of course, but still). That song is undoubtedly superior.
14. Voodoo Doll (Track 15)
Yeah sorry, but I don’t really vibe with this song. It’s enjoyable, but the melody and the concept don’t really hook me. It’s definitely one of the more upbeat and fast-paced songs on the album, but the hook doesn’t really do it for me.
13. Everything I Didn’t Say (Track 6)
The “oh oh oh oh” chanting isn’t really my thing, and I don’t really love how the percussion was used during that section. When percussion is done right I actually really enjoy it (think of Ever Since New York by Harry Styles) but I think the way it was done here makes the song sound way to folky, and it just doesn’t really suit the vibe of the album in my opinion. The lyrics don’t suck, but they also don’t feel that unique to me. Sorry boys.
12. Never Be (Track 14)
This is a quintessential “let’s seize the day” song, and it’s not awful, but it’s pretty meh to me. Just like in Everything I Didn’t Say, they do this “oh oh oh oh” chanting section with heavy drumming, and it just brings the song into a weird folky territory that doesn’t match the rest of the song. The bridge is pretty great though. And I just realized that Ashton sings the bridge. Well there you go. It all makes sense now. His voice is so good, and I wish it could be used more (but I understand he’s the drummer and it’s hard for drummers to have big singing parts and stay on beat).
11. Long Way Home (Track 9)
“Take me back to the middle of nowhere, back to the place only you and I share. Remember all the memories? The fireflies and make-believe.” The more I listen to this song, the more it grows on me. I feel like by the time I’ve gotten this album memorized, this song may end up being a favorite, but as of right now it’s not quite there. The chorus isn’t really my favorite, but I really like the verses. The boys sound great, and it’s just a sweet song. I like the song concept; taking extra time to get to your destination because you want to spend more time with the person you’re driving with. Also, I like the bridge a lot. The thing is, it’s just a little bland to me.
10. Social Casualty (Track 13)
Here’s where we start getting to the songs that I actually like pretty well. I was originally going to have this a lot lower, but upon listening to it again, it’s kind of a bop. It kind of reminds me of a Fall Out Boy song. I’m not absolutely in love with it or anything, but it’s pretty good. Staying true to their punk-rock aspirations, this song is about not fitting in with most people you come across. I really like the chorus, Michael’s voice sounds great (I really like Michael’s voice). So does Luke’s though, but that’s to be expected.
9. Beside You (Track 7)
Okay, this used to be one of my least favorites on the album, but it’s really grown on me. It’s a pretty sad song, and I think the vocal performance does a good job of emotionally affecting the listener. The pre-chorus and chorus are the best parts of the song. I’m not crazy about the verses, but they’re not too bad. I also think a music video for this song would’ve looked cool (but we didn’t get one unfortunately).
8. Kiss Me Kiss Me (Track 4)
Not gonna lie, the “Here’s to teenage memories” line is a bit cringey to me, but I can look past it. This is a fun song, and I really like vocals in the chorus. Lyrically, it’s not a unique concept, but it’s handled perfectly fine. Sonically, it’s a blast, and I always enjoy it when I listen to it.
7. End Up Here (Track 8)
This is one of the more upbeat songs on the album. I can picture everyone jumping and screaming along to the chorus at a 5SOS concert. This song is about a feeling of amazement and confusion for being with someone who’s “out of your league”. It manages to be self-deprecating without being too dramatic. Also, when they trade out the drums for handclaps in the last chorus… IT SLAPS. (Also wanna say, shoutout to the Bon Jovi/Kurt Cobain references in the chorus.)
The absolute highlight of this song is the bridge though. ASHTON KILLS IT AS ALWAYS. Of course, the lyrics of the bridge are straight lies (they really tried to say that Ashton is a 6, huh? IF HE’S A 6 THEN WHAT AM I?) but whatever. I want to put this song up higher for the bridge alone, but I feel like it’s not fair to the other songs to put this one at the top of the list just because I’m an absolute sucker for Ashton Irwin and everything he does. Anywayyyyy, moving on.
6. Heartbreak Girl (Track 10)
Aaaand we’ve reached my favorites from the album! Look, I know the lyrics of this song are a bit cringey, but looking past that, it’s a pretty good song. The boys sound great, and they all do a good job of conveying the frustration of the lyrics in their vocals. The harmonies are really nice. Overall, this song, while cheesy, is a blast to listen to and I guess sort of a guilty pleasure. (Also, side note: I’m pretty sure Calum has said that he hates this song, to which I have to say… what has made your heart so cold, Cal?)
5. 18 (Track 5)
This is a comedic song, which is a vibe I really like for 5SOS. It doesn’t take itself too seriously, which I think was kind of necessary, because otherwise this song would be very annoying. This song is about wanting to be older so that you can be with an older girl. The verses sound good, but the chorus is definitely the best part of this song. The harmonies, the melody, the guitar, the drumming. It’s absolutely infectious. Not to mention, the bridge is fricking awesome. Luke snapped.
4. Good Girls (Track 3)
Look, I’m not proud of it, but I can’t help the way I feel; the singles are the best songs on this album. They really did take the best four songs on the record and then made them into singles, so good on them for that. This is just an undeniably fun song, and it’s pretty impossible to listen to it and not smile and dance along to the chorus. The boys sound great, and overall, Good Girls is an absolute banger. “She said to me, “Forget what you thought, ’cause good girls are bad girls that haven’t been caught. So just turn around and forget what you saw, ’cause good girls are bad girls that haven’t been caught.'”
3. Don’t Stop (Track 2)
Every time I see someone make fun of Don’t Stop, a part of my soul dies. I just don’t understand how people can deny that this song is a BOP AND A HALF. The guys used to make fun of it a lot during the Sounds Good Feels Good era, but I’m pretty sure Luke and Cal have repented since then and admitted that it’s a bop, so I can forgive them. (Not gonna lie, though, the “Get away from me you giant Don’t Stop” joke was amazing.)
For anyone reading this who also keeps up with my Monthly Music series, you may remember that I discovered this song back in November and thoroughly enjoyed it. I guess this was the first 5SOS song that I properly listened to (not just hearing it on the radio when I was younger), so maybe that’s why it holds a special place in my heart. But anyway, the hook of this song is absolutely irresistible, the drumming is awesome, and this song just makes you want to move around. The bridge is perfection (Michael killed it), and Ashton’s part towards the end is I C O N I C.
2. She Looks So Perfect (Track 1)
“If you don’t swim, you’ll drown, but don’t move honey. You look so perfect standing there in my American Apparel underwear, and I know now that I’m so down. Your lipstick stain is a work of art, I got your name tattooed in an arrow heart.” I’m just gonna say, as far as pop anthems go, it doesn’t get much better than She Looks So Perfect. For a while this was the defining song of 5 Seconds of Summer (their What Makes You Beautiful). It was their debut single, and it’s pretty fricking great. It’s infectious, it’s fun, and it has just a bit more edge than what you would expect from this type of song. I understand that the band is probably bored of it (after all, they’ve been playing it for 6 years) but I’m probably never going to get sick of this song. It’s just such a feel-good anthem, and it’s delightful. Also, I don’t wanna say that it’s raunchy, because it’s relatively tame in the grand scheme of music, but it’s not as wholesome as you would assume when looking at the song title. This song is iconic, you’ve probably heard it before if you’re between the ages of 13 and 24, and it’s practically impossible not to scream along to the ‘heeeeyyyy-hey-hey’ chant at the beginning. “I made a mixtape straight out of ’94, I got your ripped skinny jeans lying on the floor, and I know now that I’m so down.”
1. Amnesia (Track 12)
“It hurts to know you’re happy, yeah, it hurts that you moved on. It’s hard to hear your name when I haven’t seen you in so long. It’s like we never happened, was it just a lie? If what we had was real, how could you be fine, ’cause I’m not fine at all.“ When I listened to this song for the first time, I more or less was put in a trance. I was incredibly surprised by how beautiful and heartfelt this song is. It really strikes an emotional chord with me. The lyrics are pretty gut-wrenching, because this song is basically about having to see your ex move on, while you’re not even close to being able to move on, and it leads you to question if what the two of you shared meant anything to begin with. The boys did an amazing job singing on this track, and it really sounds as if they’re feeling what they’re singing. This is BY FAR the best song on the album, and I don’t really know what to say, but it just really gets me in my feels. It’s impossible to listen to Amnesia and not feel yourself being moved by the pain and beauty of the song. “I wish that I could wake up with amnesia and forget about the stupid little things. Like the way it felt to fall asleep next to you, and the memories I never can escape, ’cause I’m not fine at all.”
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