Following the success of their album Glory Days, Little Mix is back with their fifth studio album entitled LM5.
An experimental album
Even though LM5 is a pop album as a whole, there is a great hip-hop influence with the use of singing/spoken on Joan of Arc, Wasabi and Strip. Also, on Love a Girl Right, the girls use a classic hip-hop track called Thong Song by Sisqo.
At the same time, we have a presence of tropical pop on Think About Us and electronic music in collaboration with DJ trio Cheat Codes on Only You.
An album with social concerns
LM5 is an album that talks about specific facts in society such as, first of all, the difficulty of female emancipation , especially on Woman's World: "If you never shouted to be heard, you ain't lived in a woman's world" you didn't live in a women's world).
Then, the album also deals with the theme of self-confidence , especially on Strip: "Take off all my make-up 'cause I love what's under it" and the independence of the woman as in Joan of Arc: "I don't need a man, if I'm loving you it's cause I can " and Woman Like Me: "I always say what I'm feeling, I was born without a zip on my mouth".
The album is also about weakness: "I lost my faith, made my mistakes" on The Cure, about heartache: "I'm broken here tonight and darling, no one else can fix me, only you" no one else can fix me, only you" on Only You and friendship on Told You So: "Be honest, how are you feeling, girlfriend? […] I'll hold you" (Be honest, how do you feel my beautiful? […] I'll hug you).
LM5 is a decent album that deals with important current themes. There is a great evolution in terms of lyrics and sounds and the vocal power of each is always present which makes listening something pleasant and sometimes surprising.
However, most of the songs in the album do not stay in mind, with the exception of Think About Us, The Cure, Wasabi and Told You So, which leaves the listener looking for real hits at the height of one of the greatest girlgroup today.
7.5/10
