May 14th, 2015 
James Shotwell 
Artist: Twenty One Pilots
Album: Blurryface
Genre: Pop, Rock
When Twenty One Pilots burst onto the national stage in 2013 with their major label debut, I’m not sure anyone knew quite what to think of the Midwest duo who have since become akin to alternative music royalty. Though the album was far from perfect, there were more than a handful of anthemic singles that helped propel the group into the underground pop stratosphere. Venues were packed, digital downloads were sold, and for a while everyone thought that a potentially game-changing new voice had emerged.
Two years and several hundred live shows later, Twenty One Pilots have returned to the spotlight with the release of their fourth studio album, Blurryface. The record features fourteen tracks, each with a distinctly unique sound, and therein lies the first of many problems with this release. Where Vessel showcased a diverse range of influences channeled through a fairly direct alternative pop sound, Blurryface tries to be a bit of everything at once and ends up delivering a very frustrating and disjointed series of tracks that try far too hard to be different.
Let’s back up a bit — I don’t want to make you think I hated this record from the start. In fact, I had the highest of hopes for Twenty One Pilots and still do, despite what I might think of this album as a whole. “Heavydirtysoul” kicks things off on a fun and fast note, with quick drumming that gets your feet moving almost as fast as the infectious and simplistic hook causes you to sing along. This is the type of material fans expected the band to deliver, and it’s here they shine the brightest. It’s unique, but not so outside the box that casual listeners will cry foul. “Stressed Out,” the second track and first real single, follows a similar format while slowing things down just enough to allow for those depressed by the unwavering forward motion of time a nice mid-tempo track to sulk to the next time they feel like an outcast in their hometown.
When the reggae-themed “Ride” begins you can almost feel the album start to run off the rails. The song is structurally sound, with interesting instrumentation and perfectly fine lyrics, but it’s also unquestionably different than everything we’ve heard up to this point on the album. That would be fine if everything still made sense cohesively, but from this point on, the sequencing only becomes more and more jarring. “Fairly Local,” for example, follows the laid-back vibes of “Ride” with a futuristic and bombastic sound that lacks the emotional punch its over-accented lyrics wish to deliver. “Doubt” encounters a similar problem, as its synth-heavy production follows two stripped-down tracks with little to no transition between the two.
What the album lacks in flow it makes up for, to an extent, with a number of potential singles that bring to mind the best material from the rest of the band’s catalog. We already talked about “Stressed Out,” which grows on you over time, but the real quality material has gone largely unshared. “Tear In My Heart” boasts a classic pop sound with the structural sensibilities and unwavering lyrical honesty only Twenty One Pilots can deliver, while “The Judge” bounces with a stripped-down sound that is perfect for long summer car rides. The real highlight, though, is “Hometown.” It’s tucked away near the end of the record, showcasing a different side of the band that is near impossible to resist. It’s the kind of track that tells us what Twenty One Pilots may deliver in the future, and it’s more than good enough to guarantee I at least spin their next album.
Still, a collection of possible singles scattered amongst an album filled with more good ideas than good songs is not enough to hold your interest. Blurryface runs just over 53 minutes in length, and I caught myself checking how many tracks I had left after the sixth song on my very first listen. Blame it on the lack of clear focus in the music, or simply the overwhelming sonic saturation that comes with material influenced by every variation of pop music known to man, but there is too much happening on this record for any one or two elements to stick with you. In some cases that may be a good thing, like when The Dear Hunter adds orchestral elements to their already full sound, but for Twenty One Pilots it largely dilutes what could be great material.
Given the success and acclaim their live show has received, there is not a doubt in my mind that Twenty One Pilots will continue to thrive in 2015 despite creating a rather lackluster record. Blurryface could have been the next step in an evolution that has proven pop bands today can do anything they put their minds to, but instead it plays like a messy collection of interesting ideas that never quite come together the way you hope they might. I’m sure some will find plenty of material to love here, but in terms of moving things forward, Blurryface largely relies on already proven ideas for its best moments. Twenty One Pilots have delivered more satisfying material in the past, and I am hopeful they will again one day.
SCORE: 6.5/10
Review written by: James Shotwell Follow @utgjames
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While there are a lot of the parts that I can agree with you with, I feel that the different (almost entire genres at times) styles of the songs allow for a refreshing listen with EVERY song. I’m not burnt out near the end, and each song has it’s own character and doesn’t sound repetitive and experimental that comes off in a positive manner. I’d have to go with 8.0/10, 6.5 seems quite low for this album and what it’s trying to achieve.
You got two song names wrong (tear in my heart – not tear out my heart, and the judge – not the judges), and while there is much variety in sound lyrically an incredible story is told of near defeat to incredible triumph that creates a cohesive feel through the album. There are two sides two music. The words, and the sound. This album creates a feeling through lyrics of emotional chaos that concludes with victory, and the sounds being all over the place actually mirror that emotional chaos.
I find the intentionality of every aspect of this album, all the way down to the album cover to be thought provoking at worst, and life changing at best.
This is their best album, and will compete with the best anyone can offer.
I fixed the two title errors. Thanks for pointing those out, Tyler.
Thanks for the feedback. That is an interesting stance to take on the record and its unique structure. I didn’t pick up on the story you believe exists here, even after 7+ spins, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t there. Your mini review was well thought out. Kudos.
Seems like we feel largely different ways about this record. That’s okay. Opinions are great because we each get one.
The album definitely has a lot of character. Too much, if you ask me, but if you enjoy it then I hope you make many wonderful memories while it plays. Thanks for reading.
Thanks, lion.
Any time, music is always subjective :D
I agree with Tyler, the songs are a mixture of criticizing the music industry for being what it is, songs to express what loved ones and fans can’t, and personal inner distress. There are several songs that I couldn’t really get into (Doubt, Fairly Local, Hometown), but personally, the lyrics meant a lot to me.
Please use discretion when you’re messing with the message man.
Woodward is correct in saying that there is an amazing story behind the album, and the varying sounds of the songs convey the intended emotions perfectly.
As expressed in Lane Boy: Twenty One Pilots will “go where [they] want to” with their music, even though the music industry may not want them to, and the critics *ehem* may not like their choices.
Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun make music for the fans, and I think nearly all true members of the Skeleton Clique will understand this album and love it just as much as previous ones, if not more.
Great words. I totally agree. Everything the twenty one pilots does makes my heart happy. I don’t this guy knows what it’s like to be in the skeleton clique
|-/
“The record features fourteen tracks, each with a distinctly unique sound, and therein lies the first of many problems with this release”
Being unique is a bad thing now? Mmkay, got it.
Way to extrapolate one line in a thousand-word review to the most extreme degree possible. Don’t twist words when you know that isn’t what is happening. It is possible for something to be ‘too diverse.’
You act like adding an ‘s’ to a word is a grave mistake. Errors happen, and we fix them as soon as possible. Making those mistakes does not negate the point I was trying to make.
All that said, I thank you for chiming in with your perspective. It’s nice when people do more than write a one-line explanation for why they enjoy something. I still disagree with you, but I respect your opinion and the way you presented it. Maybe we’ll agree on something else.
An 8/10 is like saying you enjoy 80% of something, which in the case of a 14-track album would equate to 11.2 songs. I did not find 11 songs on this album to be all that worthy of recommendation. If you did, that’s awesome, because the band is good and they deserve fans who believe in what they’re trying to do.
If only everyone else understood this, amiright?
I would not have commented to point out only the ‘s you added to judges, but tear in my heart being changed to tear out my heart makes me question how much time you actually gave to listening to the album. You claim 7+ listens, and on one of the most popular tracks where the title is repeated 10+ times you Rembert it as “tear out my heart” just makes me wonder whether you actually gave it the time needed for a proper review. So yes, it can negate the point you were trying to make.
That is fair, I suppose. I did listen to the record seven times through, and if you look at my iTunes you’ll see “Tear” has actually been played many more times than that. Sometimes our minds mix up titles, and this is one of those instances for me. Do you have any idea how many songs released just this year feature a title like “Tear In My Heart, “Tear Out My Heart,” “Tear Up Your Heart,” etc? It can be a little confusing.
Also, here’s some evidence for you…
It was a direct quote. Nothing was twisted. Maybe to you and some other people it’s “too diverse” (another direct quote btw) but I find it very refreshing to hear an album that doesn’t play the same sound over and over again.
I have to say, I disagree wholeheartedly with this review.
I was a huge fan of Vessel, and this feels and sounds like a natural progression that is more developed in every way. Their unique sound comes through. Bigger fan now than ever.
To anyone reading this don’t let a 6.5 discourage you from giving this one a good listen.
I practically fell asleep listening to this album. I absolutely loved Vessel, but this album just feels very plodding and unenergetic.
Dude, I think you’re being super generous. I played this for my wife today after I found it quite disappointing. By the time she got to The Judge, she asked if we could listen to something else. We’ve seen 21 Pilots in concert twice (we’re big fans), but I thought this was a bit mediocre.
Thank you for this, sir. Took over a week, but finally someone heard what I was hearing this entire time. Tell your wife she’s awesome, as are you, and enjoy your holiday weekend.