twenty one pilots rise to fame has been one of great interest to watch. Surprising in any way? Not particularly. This duo exploded in 2013 and 2014, due to their unique sound, endless energy, incredible humility, and commitment to their music and their fans. They combine genres and tackle topics and ideas not common for a majority of artists. Their label debut, Vessels, was an experience of its own. Jumping from heavy to soft, gritty to polished, Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun poured their heart and soul into this album. With the announcement of their second album for label Fueled By Ramen, it led to speculation about the sound and direction of the band for the future. The eyes of the world were now on the band; how would that impact the way that they wrote music?
It didn't. In any way, shape, or form.
Sure, you could say being in the spotlight changed them in some way. But at their core, they have stuck to the ideas and focus with which they have always tried to uphold in the band. And so, I present Blurryface.
If there's a song that encompasses the spirit of this album, it's the opening track "Heavydirtysoul". It kicks off with a combination of different genres, flowing from pop to hip-hop to a bit of EDM and some alternative thrown in. It spans the genres and is also not defined by any of them as well. That is exactly what this album is about. While most of the songs can be limited to one or two genres, it is hard to categorize the album as a whole. You have songs like "Stressed Out", "Fairly Local", and "Doubt" that are hip-hop oriented and "Tear In My Heart", "Ride", and "The Judge" that are alternative based. Even then, however, there are influences from other genres in all of these songs. Reggae can be found throughout the entire album, pop influences shine in moments here and there, even dance and EDM show up at points. "Lane Boy" is a combination of reggae and eventually drums and bass, as unlikely of a pairing as that is. It's ideas and aspects like this that show the creative and independent nature of the band is well alive, kicking, and not going anywhere soon.
It's an incredible experience to listen to from start to finish, not only musically but lyrically. "Stressed Out" is one of the more relatable songs I have heard in the recent past for 20-somethings. Lines like "between student loans and tree house homes, we all would take the latter" and "used to dream of outer space, but now they're laughing at our face, saying 'wake up, you need to make money'" hit home for those of us who are finishing up college and trying to figure out what to do with our lives and all the responsibilities that have begun to build up. "Tear In My Heart" combines the current state of radio and music with the idea of finding true love and being alive and unique. "We Don't Believe What's on TV" challenges the notion of what we're told in the media and what it means to pursue our dreams and be ourselves. "Fairly Local", "Polarize", and especially "Goner" wrestle with the evil we have within ourselves and becoming better people. "Goner" in particular is one of the most moving songs on the album, shifting from Tyler's almost-whispers and the piano to raw screams of "don't let me be gone" and crashing drums and guitars. "Lane Boy" tackles the music industry and the notion of a "perfect song" and the defining nature in which the people operate, while even admitting that some of the songs on here might be a bit too polished. It's a wide range of topics that are all attacked in generally unique ways
The album also varies in the moods it goes through, which is something that adds to the listening experience. You have heavier and darker songs ("Fairly Local", "Doubt", "Stressed Out"), but at the same time you have the lighthearted nature (captured in "Tear In My Heart", the piano and horns influenced "Not Today", and the ukulele driven "The Judge"). There is no stagnant aspect of this album. Nothing is the same, nothing settles for one thing that works. twenty one pilots pushed to remain unique in their sound and approach, and they very much succeeded in doing so. Cheers to overcoming the sophomore slump (even though this is technically your fourth album).
Rating: 4.5/5
Recommended: "Stressed Out", "Ride", "Lane Boy", "Doubt"
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