Review of 5 Seconds of Summer's "Teeth"

Written by: Abigail Hunter

Edited by: Madeline McVey

5 Seconds of Summer has always been just another generic boy band to me. I would listen to their music, sure, but I didn't hold them to any standard other than having cute members that appealed to 14-year-old girls and producing catchy tunes.

However, their most recently released single, "Teeth" has stirred a new appreciation for the band within me. The first time I listened to it, I couldn't put my finger on exactly what that "it" factor I heard was. But now that I've listened to it 10 or 20 times, I've determined that 5SOS has created something weird, creepy, and altogether much catchier than it has any right to be.

With generally moody lyrics like, “fight so dirty, but your love so sweet,” one could imagine any sort of song to accompany them. But what 5SOS has done with this track is bond their brooding, dark lyrics with an even darker beat that leads the listener down a foreboding path and begs them to keep listening. I truly felt dared not to dance; the syncopated drums and gritty guitar (provided by featuring artist Tom Morello of Rage Against the Machine, mind you) holding all of my attention.

I play this song walking to class and feel powerful. I play it in the car after dark and discover a perfect addition to a playlist for a Halloween party. I am starting to think that this song has some kind of spell-work locked into it, because it has served as an edgy pick-me-up for me for days now - despite me trying my hardest not to like it more than ironically. I may need to reevaluate this band.

Link to "Teeth" music video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JWeJHN5P-E8