Staff Writer Caitlín McNamee examines the organic sound, refreshing authenticity, and artistic collaboration that form the heart of 5 Seconds of Summer’s triumphant 6th studio album: ‘Everyone’s A Star!’
Formed in 2011 in Sydney, Australia, 5 Seconds of Summer is a band composed of high school friends Luke Hemmings (rhythm guitar, lead vocals), Michael Clifford (lead guitar), Calum Hood (bass) and Ashton Irwin (drums). ‘Everyone’s A Star!’ is their 6th full length album and their first under Republic Records. It’s half nostalgic and half unexpected–retaining the magnetism of ‘Sounds Good, Feels Good’ and ‘Youngblood’ all while experimenting with a new sound.
One of the most notable aspects of this album is, uniquely, the structure. The energetic, heavily rhythmic instrumentals of the first half of the album (‘Everyone’s A Star!’, ‘NOT OK!’, ‘Telephone Busy’) are exciting but don’t overshadow the introspective tone of the second third. It’s an encouragement to indulge chronologically, and it’s immensely narrative. ‘Everyone’s A Star!’ tells a story of a band coming down from the high of success into a sobering reality. ‘NOT OK!’ dials both vulnerability and energy up to 100. The final song, ‘Jawbreaker’, smoothly rounds the album out: the energetic backbeat behind the relaxed vocals epitomises the range of the album. It’s a curious love song; a writing collaboration between Hemmings and his wife, Sierra, which solidifies 5 Seconds of Summer’s progression, not just as artists, but as individuals.
Stand-out tracks include ‘Boyband’, a tongue-in-cheek response to the ‘controversy’ that’s followed them their whole career: ‘irritated metal-heads’ asserting that they don’t deserve their self-imposed ‘pop-punk’ label. Satiric, but vulnerable: ‘Boyband’ includes poignant lyrics like “I only feel alive when you’re looking at me” and cleverly examines the impossible demands of stardom (“Make that monkey dance”). ‘Istillfeelthesame’ demonstrates the aforementioned individual artistic maturity that the members of the band achieved during their solo careers: it highlights Clifford’s astonishing vocal ability, reminiscent of early 2000’s My Chemical Romance, and his prowess on guitar. ‘Evolve’ is the older, more complex sibling to their 2014 song ‘18’–an ode to both naivety and growth. Despite this growth, ‘The Rocks’ borrows from their oldest, 2010’s sound: though still experimental, it’s the most faithful track to their sonic roots.
Musically, ‘Everyone’s A Star!’ is very impressive: the band borrows basslines and synthesizer riffs from the latter half of the 80s (sort of Stone Roses-y in their grungier moments), especially in ‘istillfeelthesame’ and ‘No. 1 Obsession’. It’s arguably the best arrangement of any album of 2025: the compelling element is specifically the immediacy of the album. ‘Everyone’s A Star’ has its finger on the pulse of the ennui of our time: we’re sick of staying inside, on our phones. Fashionably ironic and very danceable, the album provokes the listener to go out. In this, 5SOS succeeds where others fail. While a riff in ‘No. 1 Obsession’ has a peculiar similarity to Benson Boone’s viral ‘Mystical Magical’, the song achieves the fun, post-covid sound that Boone didn’t quite nail. Unlike some popular songs, the band doesn’t neglect lyricism for the energy of their songs: the interesting wordplay on ‘No. 1 Obsession foils ‘Boyband’ –while the latter pokes fun at obsessive fans and their conditional admiration (‘love me when I’m skinny and we never ever age’), ‘No. 1 Obsession’ concedes that they crave the attention that they ridicule (‘I’m dying for a little bit of your affection I’d do anything to be the only one that you think of’).
While 5 Seconds of Summer have accepted that their music is primarily pop, the difference between 5 Seconds of Summer and their pop peers is incredibly evident. “You can’t find a new big rock band”, complained Kiss’ Gene Simmons earlier this year. But while 5SOS aren’t ‘rock’, they recall why bands are so popular; the album has an organic feel that comes from the musical ability of the band. Unlike other ‘pop’ stars of today, every member of 5 Seconds of Summer can play as well as sing, and there’s something very refreshing about an album that can be mostly played entirely live. Their technical musical ability shines through their work, as well as the magnetic force of their band chemistry. Their friendship, history and humour are evident: they’ve outlasted their peers–notably One Direction, whom they opened for in 2013–and this album is by no means their last.
‘Everyone’s A Star!’ is playful and exciting, retaining emotional depth with impressive musicality. Having written and played their own music for over 14 years, their ever-developing technical skills are eloquent in this album. Their lyricism has also evolved, with ironic songs such as ‘NOT OK!’ and the insightful introspection of ‘I’m Scared I’ll Never Sleep Again’.
‘Everyone’s A Star!’ is a valuable addition to their discography. In a pop music world flushed with ‘industry plants’: groups formed by management companies with electronic, disingenuous production, 5 Seconds of Summer provides an escape through authenticity. Sonically heavier than their old sound (‘She Looks So Perfect’ and ‘Don’t Stop’), the individuality of each of the members is evident. However, their old sound shines through on occasion- ‘The Rocks’ feels as if it could be from their 2014 self-titled debut album, but maintains the matured individuality of their post-solo work.
Ultimately, the album is incredibly self-assured, wry and sincere in equal measure. Each piece is either bold, exciting and humorous, or poignant and thought provoking (sometimes both! See ‘Sick of Myself’). Their individual growth following their solo albums is incredibly evident and the closeness of their friendship is clear through their vulnerability. ‘Everyone’s A Star!’ is perhaps their most honest full-group album: it’s authentic, which is rare for pop groups. It’s clear that the group intended to re-work their sound while retaining the attraction of their earlier work. The influence from their solo albums is evident in their collaborative process: every single song is credited to at least two of the members, making the album’s heart the magic of artistic concert. Their growth as a band, and as individuals, is palpable in ‘Everyone’s A Star!’, an album that stands out among its peers for it’s refreshing vitality–above all, for its authenticity.
