By Ruth Kramer ’18, News Editor

Four words. Sounds Good, Feels Good. That’s the only way to describe 5 Seconds of Summer’s new album. Yes, Calum Hood, Michael Clifford, Luke Hemmings, and Ashton Irwin are at it again with Sounds Good, Feels Good. The 17-track deluxe album is a major change for these pop-punk rockers from Australia. These four boys went from writing teenage lyrics such as “kiss me, kiss me, kiss me” to meaningful metaphors such as being “lost in the swirling sea of your sorry eyes.” It has only been two years, but these boys have become dramatically more grown-up.

Sounds Good, Feels Good is one of those rare albums where I can’t help but love every single song. No note, harmony, or guitar strum is out of place. The album ranges broadly from cheesy yet uplifting songs such as “Hey Everybody” and “Money” to more mature songs such as “Outer Space/Carry On” and “Invisible”. This album literally has it all. So, rather than leave you all on the edge of your seats wondering what each song is about and why each melody is pure perfection, here is a little breakdown of Sounds Good, Feels Good:

1. “Money”: The first track on the album is a cute, semi-corny song about going out and having a good time. You can feel the carefree attitudes that just make you want to dance. Before the song even starts, there’s a small intro with the four boys talking about trivial things such as cupcakes, only further exhibiting their fun-loving attitudes.
2. “She’s Kinda Hot”: The catchy beat and mixture of fun and meaningful lyrics instantly made it a hit on the radios. This was the first single 5 Seconds of Summer single released; it was as if they were making their announcement that they had grown up and allowed themselves to truly write what they felt. Lyrics like “when you’ve got bigger plans that no one else understands, you’ve got a shot though” only empower listeners to go out and chase their dreams, no matter what they may be.
3. “Hey Everybody!”: The exclamation point says it all. This pumped-up melody is about not being confined to pecuniary limits, but instead going out and living the life you’ve always dreamed about.
4. “Permanent Vacation”: In “Permanent Vacation”, 5 Seconds of Summer make a bold declaration that they are “the voice of the new generation.” Though this was self-proclaimed, I believe it was spot on. These four Australians are making music for those who can’t find the words, not just themselves.
5. “Jet Black Heart”:This is the point in Sounds Good, Feels Good when things started to get deeper and more meaningful. “Jet Black Heart” is basically a punker version of Kelly Clarkson’s “Dark Side” and quite honestly, it has more to do with the hopefulness for the future than the darkness one feels.
6. “Catch Fire”:As soon as I heard “Catch Fire”, I knew it was one of my favorites. 5 Second of Summer’s self-titled first album was much more about being in love, dating, and all the happy parts of relationships. “Catch Fire” builds upon those themes and is about fighting for love and enjoying it when you have it because it’s such a special thing.
7. “Safety Pin” (Deluxe Album): A simple song that has a nice beat and good lyrics about being in a relationship where one helps the other. The idea of safety pinning “the pieces of our broken hearts” also could be saying that together, we work better, together we are stronger, together we are complete.
8. “Waste the Night”:This song literally moves me every time I listen to it (literally and figuratively). I thought this was going to be some sappy song about spending all your time with someone you love, but it’s about not wanting to make mistakes or waste time with the person that matters to you most. Every time the chorus comes on, I just lean back and forth, bobbing my head like an idiot because the beat and drums are so strong and moving.
9. “Vapor”:The classic “I-love-you-so-why-do-you-keep-lying-to-me” song that every band has. Usually, these are cheesy songs that everyone’s heard before and dislikes because it’s so cliché, but, “Vapor” is an exception. It doesn’t just concentrate on the lover fighting and lying in the relationship, but it shows the flip side—how the person who is trying so hard to keep the love alive feels. 5 Seconds of Summer manages to somehow explain that they will take “what you got” even though “it’s not a lot” with a beautiful mixture of lyrics about their love, but also themselves.
10. “Castaway”:The frustrated post-breakup song. Why did you leave me? Why am I so lonely? Why am I still stranded in love? This beat is very strong, with more guitar and drums than usual, and the vocals sound harder and more forceful because of the pain that is supposed to be felt by the person singing this song of lost love.
11. “The Girl Who Cried Wolf (Deluxe Album)”:This song always sends shivers down my spine because of how the lyrics and instruments compliment each other. The softness of the drums and guitar are perfect for lyrics that increasingly become more pressing to the situation at hand. “The Girl Who Cried Wolf” is truly a beautiful song about not wanting to leave the person you love, even if they push you out.
12. “Broken Home (Deluxe Album)”: 5 Seconds of Summer gives a difficult subject light and understanding with slow melodies and lyrics. This song gives off a very strong “Stay Together for the Kids” vibe (which was written by pop-punk band, Blink-182). This is possibly because of the heavy influences Blink-182 and All Time Low (among others) have in 5SOS’s writing.
13. “Fly Away”: And just like that the boys are back to their slightly cheesy, travelling-the-world vibe. This song could also have some significance for the band because of the lyrics “I see the best of times in front of me” which could be hinting at 5 Seconds of Summer’s excitement to keep living their dreams.
14. “Invisible”: Although this song is a little sad, it is without a doubt, a musical masterpiece. If you’ve ever felt, even for a second, that “no one sees” you, then you’ll understand this song. Despite the fact that this song does have slower, gloomier lyrics than the rest of the album, there is a hopeful undertone to the song. The end of the song is marked by a beautiful string solo, which amplifies the sadness of the song, but also the possibilities that can rise out of being “Invisible”.
15. “Airplanes”: The solid beat and strong drums give this song all the energy it needs. “Airplanes” is all about going out and proving that you are worth something and that you are amazing. The lyrics “I’ve got something to prove, nothing to lose” are especially important to 5 Seconds of Summer because they had to prove to the world that they were not a boyband, but they were a real musicians that could write not only fun songs, but also meaningful ones too.
16. “San Francisco”:This song just takes me to a happy place like a beach or a small town in the summer. It just has the beat of a happy summertime love song that just fills you with nostalgia for when you “had it right”.
17. “Outer Space/Carry On”: If you are going to listen to only one song on the entire album, let it be this one. I’ve never heard a song that had so much fun, meaning, and emotion to it in my entire life. It is not only a song about wanting to be with the one you love, but how much hope that gives you. The middle has an ocean-sound transition into the second half (Carry On) which ends this album on the most hopeful and optimistic note a fan could ask for.

Now that you have a rundown on what you simply can’t miss, go out and listen to this incredible album written by four incredible musicians. This album not only sounds good, but it feels even better.