If you grew up with 5 Seconds of Summer on your preteen playlists, prepare for a full-circle moment. The band’s newest album, Everyone’s a Star!, feels like a reintroduction with sounds that blend their early pop-punk roots with a self-aware, mature sound. 11 years after “She Looks So Perfect”, 5SOS isn’t trying to recreate their past. They’re redefining it.
A Glow-Up, Not a Throwback
The most surprising part of Everyone’s a Star! is how confidently the band leans into its identity. The album zeroes in on their former messy history, boyband label, chaotic fame experiences, and romantic rollercoasters. Instead of running from their origins, the album plays with them. “Boyband” is a single from the latest album, full of sharp lyrics that turn years of online jokes and industry expectations into a self-owned punchline.
Musically, the album blends glossy synths, rock edges, and electronic production in a way that straddles both nostalgia and reinvention. This album is more consistent with their recent works, like CALM, while also paying tribute to the band’s roots. It’s not the old 5SOS, but you can hear the heartbeat of the band they were, only now grown up, more experimental, and way more intentional.
Emotional Honesty Is the New Era
What really anchors the album is how vulnerable it is. Tracks like “NOT OK” unpack anxiety and self-doubt with a rawness that feels relatable, especially for anyone navigating their early 20s. “Ghost” and “I’m Scared I’ll Never Sleep Again” explore other emotions like fear, isolation, and burnout. There’s a sense of honesty pulsing through the album, suggesting 5 Seconds of Summer is more interested in being real over being perfect.
Even the upbeat songs have an undercurrent of introspection. The title track, “Everyone’s a Star!”, is sparkly on the surface, but lyrically sits with the pressures of constantly being perceived. “Start Over” is another highlight of the track. It’s about second chances, growth, and the courage to begin again. The gentle production paired with heartfelt vocals makes it one of the album’s most emotionally resonant tracks.
Final Takes
There’s something about Everyone’s a Star! that feels perfect for listeners in their late teens and twenties. The album sits in the tension between who you used to be and who you’re becoming. 5SOS grapples with fame, identity, and adulthood in the same way many of us are trying to figure out majors, relationships, and what the hell we’re doing with our lives.
The band isn’t pretending to have answers. Instead, they let the uncertainty breathe. And honestly? That lands harder than any polished pop song could.
Everyone’s a Star! is shimmering, self-aware, and surprisingly vulnerable. Whether you’re a long-time fan or someone who hasn’t listened to 5SOS since middle school, the album deserves a full listen. It’s mature without being pretentious and honest without being heavy-handed. 5SOS shines brightest when they stop worrying about stardom and just let themselves be human. The album has fans ecstatic for the Everyone’s a Star! World Tour in March of 2026.
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