REVIEW: twenty one pilots//Blurryface - Only Two Faces are Shown, Many are Delivered

3.5/5 Stars

Waves to Watch: Stressed Out, The Judge

Genre: Schizoid Pop
Goes Great With: Echosmith, Smallpools, Vinyl Theatre


The most fascinating of albums are the ones with a concept, a story to tell in the static cracks between songs. Often a character is introduced and given a narrrative to deliver from track to track, as if the album is simply a novel meant to be made of paper. Oddly enough, twenty one pilots have created a concept within their second major label release, Blurryface (Fueled By Ramen), but there is no evident story to be found. Singer and multi-instrumentalist Tyler Joseph thinks his, and drummer Josh Dun's, latest creation not to be a complete story, but a trip to another dimension. With the introduction of "Blurryface", he is everything Joseph is insecure about.

Columbus, Ohio's own hometown heroes are back again with their odd, nearly genre-less tunes at the helm. After 2013's hit, Vessel, and a few stints of worldwide touring, the duo found themselves contriving something within a farther, darker reach. With the rookie single, "Fairly Local", lacking any visible trace of piano, many were hesitant to accept the new direction. To much relief, the warped track was just a dark introduction of Blurryface, and the sole, bouncy love song, "Tear in My Heart" soon followed to ease the worries.

Joseph's other best friend, the ukulele, still finds it niche on the sing-a-long "The Judge", where dark lyrics like "I know my soul's freezing/Hell's high for good reason" hide behind the buoyant strumming. "We Don't Believe What's On TV" and "Message Man" are both reminiscent of Vessel, as Joseph delivers another on the former, "I don't care what's in your hair/ I just wanna know what's on your mind".

Yet, twenty one pilots are not in a stagnant tug of war with their past sounds. Joseph has found a new sense of captivation in reggae, where "Lane Boy" and Ride" seem to live. The latter is in distress ("I've been thinking too much"), with an all too familiar theme of "help me" as seen on the already forgotten "Polarize". Along with "Doubt", both talk of fear, the former striving for being a "better brother, better son."

Still, Joseph and Dun know how to recall past themes and lines from their roots, bringing back the famed "Street Poetry's" "Death inspires me like a dog inspires a rabbit" on the haywire intro, "Heavydirtysoul". And out of pure respect for the fans' fascination, 2012's "Goner" has been given a new, pounding face, all the while reassuring that Joseph has beat - not eliminated -  the insecurities at last ("I've got two faces, Blurry's the one I'm not").

"Hometown", an apparent ode to the clique in the Ohio capital, begins to wind the album down, with "Not Today" sadly in its shadow, desolately wasting its potential of being a standout.

"Stressed Out" is the album's breadwinner, a relatable tune ("I was told when I was older all my fears would shrink/But now I'm insecure and I care what people think") and a realization that making music is the duo's career now. Here, Blurryface is almost human, embodied by the black paint on Joseph's hands and neck, droning, "My name's Blurryface, and I care what you think."

twenty one pilots do care what you think, which is something to keep in mind as they embark on a U.S. fall tour, including an arena gig in their beloved hometown. With exposed theatrics and backflips to spare, the duo is sure to pull out even more stunts as the crowds only get bigger. Blurryface, adds to the already impressive discography, meaning that twenty one pilots is only ready for more disjointed, twitching, and kinetic fun.

Blurryface is available everywhere now on Fueled By Ramen

//Angelia//