5 Seconds of Summer

2017 Year-End Roundup

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Alright, so the big album-related lists from 2017 are out of the way (Best Albums & “Worst” Albums), so let’s jump into some more year-end lists! Let’s start with best songs. We’re gonna blow through the majority of these and then talk about the list-toppers a bit more in detail. Keep in mind this is all my personal opinion and you’re free to disagree! Let me know your favorite songs of 2017 down in the comments below.

Best Songs of 2017

  1. “All the Land Glimmered” by Julie Byrne
  2. “No Halo” by Sorority Noise
  3. “Main Attraction” by Sincerely, Me
  4. “Hiccups” by WATERS
  5. “Get By” by Real Friends
  6. “All” by Joseph
  7. “Better Off” by 7 Minutes in Heaven
  8. “Cannot Do This Alone” by Colony House
  9. “New York” by LEDGES
  10. “Take What You Want (feat. 5 Seconds of Summer)” by ONE OK ROCK
  11. “Feel Good” by Neon Trees
  12. “Apartment” by Seaway
  13. “The Last of the Real Ones” by Fall Out Boy
  14. “Paradise” by Broadside
  15. “Okay” by As It Is
  16. “Certainty” by Seasonal
  17. “What’s Wrong” by PVRIS
  18. “Sold” by Heavy Things
  19. “Caroline” by A Will Away
  20. “Everything You Want Me to Be” by Coldfront
  21. “Young for the Summer” by DALES
  22. “Celebrate the Reckless” by Magic Giant
  23. “The Fog” by LAYNE
  24. “Kids” by The Gospel Youth
  25. “Feelings” by Hayley Kiyoko
  26. “Don’t Take the Money” by Bleachers
  27. “Last Young Renegade” by All Time Low
  28. “The Breakup” by LANY
  29. “Slow Burn” by State Champs
  30. “Lookers” by The Menzingers
  31. “Fire” by The Dangerous Summer
  32. “In the Middle of It All” by Citizen
  33. “Sign of the Times” by Harry Styles
  34. “Tiger Teeth” by Walk the Moon
  35. “Daylily” by Movements
  36. “Hiding With Boys” by Creeper
  37. “Liability” by Lorde
  38. “Beautiful Things” by Grayscale
  39. “Black Butterflies & Déjà Vu” by The Maine
  40. “Fake Happy” by Paramore

That’s it! My top choice is “Fake Happy” by Paramore because I found myself constantly coming back to this song and loving it more and more every time. The lyrics are amazingly well-written and give such an awesome commentary, and the melodies in this song are absolutely stellar. “Black Butterflies & Déjà Vu” is my second pick because this song is so emotionally-charged and “gives me all the feels,” if you will. The instrumental is fantastic and the guitar melody is always stuck in my head on repeat. “Beautiful Things” by Grayscale is next on the list due to its heartfelt lyrics and spectacular vocal performance, along with that catchy hook! “Liability” by Lorde is a song that I can personally relate to and is such a moving piano ballad, which is quite out-of-the-ordinary for Lorde. “Hiding With Boys” is an epic rock tune outlined by smoky nostalgia and heart-rending lyrics that makes me feel some type of way. “Daylily” by Movements also makes me … feel something … and is such a poignant song between its raspy, impassioned vocals and raw instrumentals. I’ve been waiting for a studio version of “Tiger Teeth” by Walk the Moon for AGES and we finally got it! It definitely lives up to and even surpasses the live recordings of this atmospheric, emotional tune. “Sign of the Times” by Harry Styles isn’t what most fans expected from him, but my God, this monumental power ballad the best thing we could’ve ever dreamed of getting from this former boy band member. All of my top picks have something in common: they all made me feel. I don’t mean to get sappy, but that’s why I love music, it makes me feel things.

Best EPs of 2017

  1. Fade by Cold Climb It
  2. Likes Me Like That by Over Atlantic
  3. Aesthetically Pleasing by Sincerely, Me
  4. Do You Feel the Same Way Now? by Forbidden Envy
  5. Best When In Motion by Life Lessons
  6. Bloom by Seasonal
  7. Symmetry by 7 Minutes in Heaven
  8. Hard by The Neighbourhood
  9. Without You by pineview
  10. Wednesday by LAYNE

Click the links to read what we have to say about these EPs!

Best Debut Albums of 2017

  1. Totem by Welman
  2. AM/PM by The White Noise
  3. Lovely Domestic Bliss by Guide Dog
  4. Prosper by Gold Route
  5. Love Jail by Julia Louise
  6. Tasha Sits Close to the Piano by Jaws of Love.
  7. Homecoming by LEDGES
  8. Busybody Lazybones by Woolbright
  9. Landmark by Hippo Campus
  10. Red, Green, or Inbetween by WSTR
  11. Fail You Again by Can’t Swim
  12. Float Around by Coldfront
  13. Overexposed by Sleep On It
  14. Coast Modern by Coast Modern
  15. Always Lose by The Gospel Youth
  16. The Heights by Knox Hamilton
  17. Dreamcar by Dreamcar
  18. Cigarettes After Sex by Cigarettes After Sex
  19. Greatest Hits by Remo Drive
  20. Here Again by A Will Away
  21. In the Wind by Magic Giant
  22. Eternity, In Your Arms by Creeper
  23. LANY by LANY
  24. Feel Something by Movements
  25. Harry Styles by Harry Styles

Click the links to read what we have to say about each of these albums!

Most Underrated/Overlooked Albums of 2017

  1. Apprise. Assemble. Arise. by Concealed in Clouds
  2. Enjoy the Great Outdoors by Spencer Radcliffe & Everyone Else
  3. Odyssey by The Accidentals
  4. Swear I’m Good At This by Diet Cig
  5. Fever Dream by Everything Everything
  6. Sincerely by Dude York
  7. Telephone by Jessica Hernandez & the Deltas
  8. Waiting on the Sun by Jule Vera
  9. Bear Your Mind by Free Throw
  10. come out, you’re hiding by flor
  11. Connect the Dots by MisterWives
  12. Make the Best of It by Have Mercy
  13. For Posterity by Dryjacket
  14. Overexposed by Sleep On It (ironic title)
  15. Vultures by Dead Leaves
  16. Orc by Oh Sees
  17. Chew by Muskets
  18. Hurts So Good by The Polarity
  19. The Same View With a New Light by WATERMEDOWN
  20. Easy by The Weeks
  21. Homecoming by LEDGES
  22. The Love You Let Too Close by Thousand Below
  23. The Good Life by Makeout
  24. Stranger in the Alps by Phoebe Bridgers
  25. Tasha Sits Close to the Piano by Jaws of Love.
  26. Waiting for Morning to Come by Being As An Ocean
  27. Totem by Welman
  28. Not Even Happiness by Julie Byrne
  29. Always Hope by Forever Starts Today
  30. Float Around by Coldfront
  31. Camp Cope by Camp Cope
  32. Busybody Lazybones by Woolbright
  33. Metaphysical by The Technicolors
  34. Landmark by Hippo Campus
  35. Content by Joywave
  36. The Heights by Knox Hamilton
  37. Goner by Heavy Things
  38. Dreamcar by Dreamcar
  39. Volcano by Temples
  40. In the Wind by Magic Giant
  41. Awkward Phase by Eternal Boy
  42. Coast Modern by Coast Modern
  43. Here Again by A Will Away
  44. Back to Beautiful by Picturesque
  45. Diverge by Hawking
  46. Something More! by WATERS
  47. All These Countless Nights by Deaf Havana
  48. Synesthesia by Courage My Love
  49. Origami by Vinyl Theatre
  50. After the Party by The Menzingers

Click the links to read what we have to say about each of these albums!

Those are all the lists we have for 2017! Let us know your thoughts down in the comments below. Thanks for reading!

What Can We Expect on 5SOS’s New Album?

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Australian pop rock band 5 Seconds of Summer is fueling up for their third full-length album, the follow-up to 2015’s stellar Sounds Good, Feels Good. (Click here to read our full review of Sounds Good, Feels Good.) The boys have been teasing the process on social media for months now, claiming to be writing from time to time, but lately, the results are starting to seem more tangible. So what can we expect on this new long-player?

5SOS have cemented themselves as an upbeat pop rock band with some darker moments as well. The monumental hit “She Looks So Perfect” undoubtedly put the four-piece on the map with its international success and summertime charm, and the heartfelt “Amnesia” proved their more emotional side. Before that worldwide fame, 5SOS originally started out uploading humble covers to YouTube, everything from Mike Posner and Ed Sheeran to All Time Low and A Day to Remember. The unit had a rock edge to them but a pop sensibility and boy band image that made them easily accessible to a large mainstream audience, capturing fans on both ends of the spectrum. Due to their mainly female fanbase and energetic, poppy songwriting, 5SOS was faced with the issue of breaking out of that boy band label. They play their own instruments, write their own songs, and their work is dominated by distorted guitars and crisp drumming, all things that set them apart from the typical boy band mold.

Their self-titled debut album was unleashed in 2014 on the cusp of the boys transitioning from their teenage years into early adulthood, so 2015’s Sounds Good, Feels Good exhibited remarkable growth and maturation in both lyrical content and musicianship, even if releasing just one year after its predecessor. However, many critics judged the band for relying too heavily on their influences, like Green Day, blink-182, and All Time Low, among others. A number of their songs have actually been co-written with their icons, like Alex Gaskarth, Deryck Whibley, Roy Stride, and the Madden brothers, and John Feldmann has produced all of their projects to date. In their entire discography of ~70 songs, only 2 have no credited input from the boys: “Amnesia” and “Girls Talk Boys.” After releasing the latter for the 2016 Ghostbusters movie, their listeners were curious to see what direction the group would be heading in for their third LP. “Girls Talk Boys” was groovy, funky, and irresistibly catchy, but it didn’t exactly sound like a 5SOS song. It was not a bad track by any means, but it certainly put the band at a crossroads for where they could carry their upcoming style. Of course, “Girls Talk Boys” could have just been a departure from their usual timbre to fit the bill of the movie soundtrack considering the Ghostbusters theme song is known for its funky groove.

Yesterday, we finally got a hint at what may be to come. Michael Clifford posted this photo on Instagram which views the band with Carl Falk and Rami Yacoub. The caption reads: “creating magic with these dudes has been an incredible experience. so grateful to them for taking us on and helping us create something amazing ❤️.” So what can we infer from this interaction? 5SOS has worked with outside writers before, but never to this caliber. Carl Falk and Rami Yacoub are the songwriters to thank for some of the biggest hits of the 2010s, like One Direction’s colossal singles “What Makes You Beautiful,” “One Thing,” “Kiss You,” and “Live While We’re Young,” Nicki Minaj’s “Pound the Alarm” and “Starships,” and also songs from massive acts like Jason Derulo, Demi Lovato, Ariana Grande, Avicii, Carly Rae Jepsen, Ellie Goulding, Tiesto, The Vamps, and Madonna. Rami Yacoub has also worked with Backstreet Boys, Celine Dion, P!nk, *NSYNC, Enrique Iglesias, DNCE, Cher Lloyd, The Wanted, and Bon Jovi, and co-produced the landmark “… Baby One More Time” for Britney Spears. What does this mean for 5SOS?

From such an impressive catalog, Carl Falk and Rami could have just helped 5SOS write the biggest song(s) of their career for all we know. 5SOS could be moving in a more pop direction from the looks of it, but Falk claims his favorite instrument is the guitar and he tries to “always have guitar on [his] songs, almost like a trademark.” Maybe 5SOS and Falk are a match made in heaven. 5SOS will more than likely not give up their instruments any time soon, and with a guitar-savvy songwriter, this next album could have some of their best and most successful material to date. (Sounds Good, Feels Good did not warrant the mainstream attention that its antecedent received, so the record label may possibly be compensating for that by pairing the boys with Falk and Rami.) From all this information, fans can probably expect some songs similar to their debut and numerous cuts from their sophomore effort: buoyant pop rock with catchy melodies and radio-ready hooks. The boys will more than likely stick to their strings, so there’s not much to fret. (No pun intended.) We can trust 5SOS to deliver another outstanding album, possibly even their best to date. For those of us who appreciate the band’s rockier side, it may seem like the end of the world to see them working with such pop-oriented songwriters, but I’m fairly positive we won’t see them giving up their rock vantage at this point in their career, if ever. Of course, we have not seen what other songwriters have contributed to the project and the destined style the band has in mind, so much of this is quite early to call. Nonetheless, the future looks extremely bright for the Australian four-piece and we can assuredly remain optimistic and excited for this upcoming full-length, and keep in mind that this is all plainly speculation.

What are your thoughts and contemplation on the approaching release? Let us know in the comments below, or tweet at us on Twitter @AltColumnist!

20 Most Underrated 5SOS Songs (5 Seconds of Summer)

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5 Seconds of Summer has officially released nearly a hundred songs and written many more. They’ve had super hits with multi-platinum sales, albums flying off the shelves, and fans eagerly awaiting to catch a glimpse of them everywhere they go. Yet there are a handful of songs that are painfully overlooked and simply forgotten about. Here are our top 20 most underrated songs from these Australian superstars. (Stick around for honorable mentions and unreleased songs at the end!)

Edit: Since 5SOS has released their latest album Youngblood, we thought we should add a few more songs, in no particular order: “Midnight,” “Best Friend,” “Woke Up In Japan,” “When You Walk Away,” and “Meet You There.”

20. “Never Be” from 5 Seconds of Summer  (2014)

Like many of the songs on this list, “Never Be” was included as a bonus track, specifically from their explosively popular debut album, which sold almost 2 million copies worldwide, if not more. “Never Be” is a syrupy sweet mid-tempo love song, but is typically unknown to most casual listeners. So break out the lighters and start swaying to this heartthrob track.

19. “Daylight” from Amnesia – EP  (2014)

“Daylight” is not exceedingly underrated, but it still certainly does not receive the credit it deserves. It is a solid pop rock tune, shifting from upbeat, chugging verses to a halftime-feeling chorus with smooth guitar riffs and clean vocals. The lyrics have that classic 5SOS touch of realistic yet sometimes goofy details that give the song more depth and life, making it feel like a true situation through continuous metaphors and similes.

18. “Green Light” from 5 Seconds of Summer  (2014)

This is how you make a piece about physical affection! By focusing on the most important thing: consent! For some straight white teenage boys, 5SOS really understands the significance of consent. “Green Light” is another solid, fun pop rock track with thorny riffs and catchy lyrics. It was tacked on as a bonus track of their self-titled album and is another sadly neglected tune. Give it the green light next time it comes up on your playlist and really soak it in!

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17. “English Love Affair” from 5 Seconds of Summer  (2014)

Another bonus track from their debut? Yeah, but this is no doubt one of their best songs! “English Love Affair” is an energetic tale of debauchery, and it is undeniably catchy and overall fun. (You know it’s good when drummer Ashton Irwin gets a vocal solo.) The mysterious tone, vocal harmonies, and pulsing drum beat tie the song together and “English Love Affair” proves to be one of the best bonus tracks in their discography. Or just simply one of the best tracks!

16. “Close As Strangers” from 5 Seconds of Summer  (2014)

Yeah, there’s a trend going on here: bonus tracks are so freakin’ good. “Close As Strangers” is another heartfelt tune but is also a little depressing. It details the relationship struggles of constantly touring with the band, painting the situation of two lovers being away for too long and things slowly falling apart. The acoustic guitar and piano add an emotional atmosphere on top of the lyrical content, and “Close As Strangers” certainly doesn’t receive its due recognition.

15. “Lost Boy” from 5 Seconds of Summer  (2014)

“Lost Boy” is actually one of 5SOS’s older songs, and they even performed it live multiple times throughout 2013. It finally got the respect it deserves when they released a studio recording as a bonus track on their self-titled debut. Again, it’s not super underrated, but it is unfamiliar to adventitious fans. The smooth vocal delivery and pop rock bliss makes “Lost Boy” one of the many lost tracks of their discography.

14. “Catch Fire” from Sounds Good, Feels Good  (2015)

5sossgfgAh, finally! A track from their sophomore release, Sounds Good, Feels Good! And hey, it’s not a bonus track! “Catch Fire,” cowritten with Alex Gaskarth, is a fun yet mature tune from SGFG, incorporating a wide array of instrumentation and styles. However, many people consider it as just a filler track on the album, but “Catch Fire” proves to be more than a simple piece for tomentum. It shows the band evolving and stepping out of their comfort zone.

Read our full review of Sounds Good, Feels Good here!

13. “Mrs. All-American” from 5 Seconds of Summer  (2014)

Back to the debut album? Yep. And it’s a bonus track. “Mrs. All-American” was included on the United States deluxe edition, and while it isn’t agonizingly underrated, it surely doesn’t garner proper attention. This song is another cheerfully cheesy tune with delightfully goofy lyrics and electronic elements. Kinda makes you appreciate the maturity of songs like “Catch Fire” even more, huh? “Mrs. All-American” is still decent, light earcandy and is yet at times unnoticed.

12. “Tomorrow Never Dies” from 5 Seconds of Summer  (2014)

“Tomorrow Never Dies” was released as a Target exclusive bonus track on the debut, and since Target is only in America, this song was slightly unbeknownst to, well, everyone else. “Tomorrow Never Dies” takes advantage of electronic components, creating atmosphere and special effects. It still flies under the radar, even to this day, and unrightfully so. Again, this shows 5SOS stepping out of their comfort zone, beyond the typical pop rock timbre they usually exhibit.

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11. “If You Don’t Know” from Don’t Stop – EP  (2014)

“If You Don’t Know” was included on the Don’t Stop EP in 2014 and is definitely one of the most emotional songs in their discography. With pulse-quickening guitar melodies and chanted refrains, “If You Don’t Know” is bound to punch you right in the gut with its poignant lyrical storytelling and impassioned vocal performances.

10. “Bad Dreams” (2013)

calumFinally into the Top 10 underrated tracks. An unofficially released song, “Bad Dreams” was specifically written by bassist Calum Hood, and proves to be another buoyant cheesy track. It’s undeniably one of their best unreleased songs (of which there are many,) and we constantly wonder why they didn’t include it as at least a bonus track! “Bad Dreams” is a typical 5SOS tune and is still an enjoyable tune despite not being officially distributed.

9. “Broken Pieces” from She’s Kinda Hot – EP  (2015)

Remember this EP? Well, you should. “Broken Pieces” is undoubtedly overlooked. It was the first taste of the “New Broken Scene” era that we got, and it proves that 5SOS certainly matured over the year. “Broken Pieces” is an emotional, melodious track, detailing a shattered relationship and a sense of hopefulness towards repairing it. However, since this EP was only officially released in the UK, other countries were not easily able to unearth it by conventional means, resulting in “Broken Pieces” going unnoticed.

Read our full review of the She’s Kinda Hot EP here!

8. “Social Casualty” from 5 Seconds of Summer  (2014)

Next on the list is “Social Casualty,” which samples the famous guitar riff from Fall Out Boy’s hit, “Sugar, We’re Going Down.” This track depicts social nonconformity and bohemianism among youth, and it was included as a bonus track on the self-titled album. While “Social Casualty” isn’t achingly neglected, it still doesn’t stick out to casual followers of the band. While it does wear other influences on its sleeve (also see: All Time Low’s “Me Without You,”) “Social Casualty” is still an entertaining deep cut!

7. “The Space Between a Rock and a Hard Place (Catch-22)” from Sounds Good, Feels Good  (2015)

5sossgfgProbably their longest song title, right? Nonetheless, this track is killer! “The Space Between a Rock and a Hard Place” was included on SGFG as a Target exclusive bonus track, which is why it’s mostly overlooked. (Like, seriously overlooked. I struggled to even find decent audio of it online.) But this song is some solid pop rock! The explosive, harmonious chorus complements the building verses, and I’d personally love to hear this live!

6. “18” from 5 Seconds of Summer  (2014)

Hey, a song from the debut album that isn’t a bonus track! Yes, “18” is so painfully underrated, it’s probably the least popular song from the self-titled record. But it’s so fun! Yes, it’s goofy and cliché and slightly immature, but it’s still a likable listen! It is one of the most rock-ish songs on the debut, and is actually another one of the boys’ older pieces which they wrote in 2013. Sometimes you just gotta turn your brain off and rock out!

5. “Gotta Get Out” from Somewhere New – EP  (2012)

While “Gotta Get Out” isn’t extremely passed over, it is certainly an impressive tune for such (at the time) young lads. Their debut EP, Somewhere New, showcased what 5SOS is all about – lively, danceable tunes, like “Unpredictable,” and heartfelt, more mellow tunes, like “Beside You.” “Gotta Get Out” finds a sweet spot in between – it’s upbeat and fun but more serious in the lyrical department. Personally, I also love the acoustic version!

4. “The Only Reason” from She Looks So Perfect – EP  (2014)

The She Looks So Perfect EP was the group’s first major label debut, offering the biggest hit in their discography to date. (“She Looks So Perfect”) But “The Only Reason” never broke through beyond the band’s close fans, which is unfortunate. This track features an amazing vocal performance from guitarist Michael Clifford and some of their “heaviest” material that year. The poignant lyrics and impassioned musicianship of “The Only Reason” truly deserve more publicity.

3. “Lost In Reality” from She’s Kinda Hot – EP  (2015)

As we enter the top 3, “Lost In Reality” rightfully warrants a spot this high on the list. (I mean, this entire EP kinda flew under the radar, you know?) “Lost In Reality” is nothing less than genuinely great pop rock bliss. The exciting guitar melodies, electronic touches, and vocal harmonies bring this piece together, bridging the gap between the full-length albums by maintaining the cut-loose rock elements of the debut and the maturity of the sophomore release.

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2. “Story of Another Us” from Sounds Good, Feels Good  (2015)

5sossgfgI’m sure you’re waiting on the edge of your seat for the number 1 song. But first, we can’t overlook “Story of Another Us” anymore than everyone else already has. WOW. This song is so amazingly stellar, it begs the question as to why it was included as a Target bonus track and not a single or something! “Story of Another Us” is practically like a much more mature and seasoned version of “Heartache on the Big Screen.” This piece is one of the most ardently emotional displays in their collection to date, flaunting stunning vocal acts from Calum Hood and Luke Hemmings. The swelling orchestral aspects exhibited in the bridge section build the passionate sincerity even more, leading into a warming acoustic lull from Calum before erupting with the final chorus. There is no doubt “Story of Another Us” is one of the lads’ most dimensional and heartrending performances in their history, and it’s a damn shame more listeners don’t know about this tune.

1. “Independence Day” from 5 Seconds of Summer  (2014)

Hm, our top 2 picks are both Target exclusive bonus tracks… “Independence Day” is by far one of the most underrated songs in the band’s discography. This tune is an upbeat, charged pop rock track, featuring outstanding vocals from Luke, Calum, and harmonies from the rest of the boys. But Jesus, listen to that guitar riff! The meteoric chorus and fiery bridge portions are major highlights of this tune, but the verses also don’t disappoint. The lyrics are fairly mature compared to the rest of the material on their debut release and are unbelievably catchy. This song would be absolutely breathtaking to hear live, from the magnificent drumming to the cumbersome guitar melodies, not to mention the phenomenal guitar solos featured in the bridge! All in all, “Independence Day” is severely overlooked, it’s almost arduous to think about the lack of credit it receives.

Well, there you have it, the most underrated songs by 5 Seconds of Summer! Tweet at us or let us know in the comments below what songs you think are overlooked!

Honorable Mentions: