Calm

Calm is 5 Seconds of Summer's fourth studio album which was released by Interscope Records on March 27, 2020.
==Tracklisting==
#Red Desert	3:49
#No Shame	3:12
#Old Me	3:06
#Easier	2:38
#Teeth	3:25
#Wildflower	3:40
#Best Years	3:10
#Not In The Same Way	3:40
#Lover Of Mine	3:26
#Thin White Lies	3:02
#Lonely Heart	3:24
#High	2:58
==Chart Performance==
"Calm" debuted atop the Australian ARIA Albums Chart, becoming the band's fourth consecutive album to debut at number-one in their home country. It also debuted atop the UK Albums Chart, earning first week sales of 34,940 units and becoming their second number-one album in the country and first since the release of their album, "Sounds Good Feels Good."
Due to a shipping error, 15,000 copies were released early in the United States, causing "Calm" to debut a week early at #62 on the Billboard 200, before ascending to number two in its second week, marking the band's fifth top 10 album. In its second week, the album earned 133,000 album-equivalent units, including 113,000 pure album sales, making it the best-selling album of the week and one of the best-selling pure albums of 2020.
The album was kept from the number-one spot by The Weeknd's album, "After Hours" by 5,000 units. The fact that the album would have been number-one if it hadn't mistakenly been released a week early, sparked outrage among the band's fans with hashtags such as #BillboardCountThe10k trending on Twitter and the creation of a petition with more than 30,000 signatures. 
Several radio stations like Sirius XM Hits 1 and radio hosts like Elvis Duran, also voiced their support for the band either on-air or on Twitter; however, according to Billboard, their policy is to reflect album sale activity in the tracking week that the paying customer receives an album, despite the fact that they have not implemented this policy for other artists.
Had the shipping error not occurred, the album would have debuted at number one in the US, earning the band's fourth consecutive number one in the country. Despite the shipping error, the album peaked at number two in the US, earning the band their fifth top 10 album on the Billboard 200 chart. It remains the ninth best-selling pure album of 2020.
With "Calm" earning them their fourth consecutive number one in their home country, 5 Seconds of Summer became the second Australian band in history to have their first four full-length studio albums debut at number one on the ARIA albums chart.
==Critical Reception==
At Metacritic, "Calm" received an average score of 70, based on five reviews, indicating "generally favorable reviews." Album of the Year assessed the critical consensus as a 70 out of 100.
Billboard praised the album, calling it "an accomplished exploration of the group's expanding palette" and praised the band for their ability to "expertly synthesize their influences into fresh-feeling gems".
A separate Billboard critic labelled the album as having "out-of-the-box thinking" and being the "group’s most musically complex project yet." Billboard elaborated: "The album’s 12 tracks intertwine anthemic harmonies [...] with thumping beats and basslines [...] grinding electric guitar [...] and swirling production."
Malvika Padin of Gigwise gave the album a positive review, writing: "despite that niggling urge to skip the odd mediocre track, the desire to play beauties like 'High' on loop wins in the end and Calm stands on a pedestal of near-perfection pop." .Padin noted the album was "split into two distinct, yet cohesive, sections of music that are authentically 5SOS" and labeled the album as "a look into the journey of four young boys growing up and getting pulled into the addictive power of fame".
An auspOp music critic wrote "the title gives away the general feel of this album – personal and a bit more subdued" and found the album "takes a melodic approach, but is no less engaging or listenable."
Matt Collar, writing for AllMusic, called the album "the sound of a band whose influences have continued to evolve right along with them and their fans" while naming the group "a sophisticated pop outfit."
Zoya Raza-Sheikh of Clash opined that their latest effort is "by no means perfect, but the album is a testament to their growth."
Sophia Simon-Bashall from The Line of Best Fit gave the album a positive review, stating that "Australia's premier boy-band prove themselves worthy pop stars on their next step forward." Bashall continued, stating that the album is "a perfect pop record, from start to finish - there's not a single filler track, each is distinctive and shows off the band's impressive range."
Amelia Parreira of Riff magazine gave the entire album a positive review, summarizing its entirety as: "5 Seconds of Summer bring forth a new musical density and electrifying nuance on Calm, with a misleading name for a body of work that is anything but sonically mellow." Describing the album's opening track "groovy and anthemic," she stated "Red Desert" hinged on psychedelia, with "gospel-like vocals." 
Parreira noted "contentment and falling in love" set the album's tone. Parreira described the second track, "No Shame" as a "retro '80s pop vibe", layered with "explosive instrumentals over meaningful lyrics and raw stories". For the third track, Parreira labelled "Old Me" as a high-energy "dance anthem". Characterizing the album's lead single "Easier", as "vocal-dominated" and having "mellow electric undertone," Parreira elaborated: "The drums enter the frame to create a dramatic back-and-forth effect to match the conversational storyline and lyrics."
Parriera referred to "Teeth", as "beginning with vocal whispers that create a slightly soothing, yet biting effect as they climb" and the chorus as creating "splashes of bass and percussion [that] kick up the energy."
In her review of "Wildflower", Pareira described the song as being reminiscent of '80s pop, consisting of a "Beach Boys-like vocal chant before a rise in bass and synth undertones set a romantic tone on the verses". Parrreira praised "Best Years" for showing "vulnerability and reflection" with a "danceable vibe." 
She noted "Lover of Mine" featured intertwining guitar strumming patterns and "powerful vocal styles" and described "Thin White Lies" as "angst-ridden" with "strong electric beats". Pareirra concluded the review with "Lonely Heart" and "High", describing both as marking "a calm end...to a squall of emotion that 5 Seconds of Summer churn out on their fourth record."
Category:2020s albums
Category:Pop Rock
Category:Pop