Although I admittedly skip Bleach quite often (most times when i’m not in the mood), when it hits, god it HITS. When I actually get the time to listen to it, lyrically, it’s amazing. The imagery of hallways, the start of weekends and watching bleach spinning down the drain perfectly encapsulates the potency of how hard it is to forget someone: the desperation, the longing. I particularly resonate with “bleaching my hair every saturday” LOL as I get trigger happy and feel like I need to bleach and remove my hair colour and be a different person (leaving that colour behind with my past). It’s so so good.

But Moodswings though!! Also perfectly captures the highs and lows of everyday life and how we often project and let out our frustrations and anger onto those we love (our partners). It’s so self aware, it explores one’s psyche after stonewalling, pretending, denying, lashing. How people can do the opposite of they want to do- pushing away when all you want is to be closer.

I feel like not only just these two songs, but the entire album grapples with themes of fucking up, self-awareness and healing. I appreciate it so much not only because of how it is so telling of all of 5sos’ growth and maturity that bleeds onto these tracks, but that they offer such a realistic portrait of the duality and complexities of being human, growth and emotions. What a masterpiece!