Blurryface by Twenty One Pilots Review

This is the duo's fourth studio album

Before this I have never truly written a review on an album, and with one as complex as this let me start off by saying how relieving it is that this album as a whole came out great. After fully listening and taking the time to feel what they present, you come away from it with that washed over light feeling you get after watching a really good, satisfying movie. Twenty One Pilots love to try new things, and whether it is pushed more by lead singer Tyler Joseph or drummer Josh Dun, they succeed where many others fail. If you are a fan of the duo, you will no doubt be pleased with what they have released. Their genre has always been one of their own. Some have called them pop, while at Bestbuy you can find the CD categorized under rock, but truly they are Alternative more than anything. Their first single release off the album worried me. Titled "Fairly Local", it sounded a lot darker and grittier than many of their prior tracks, and I was not quite sure where the whole thing was heading. Then they released a second track, "Tear In My Heart", a much more upbeat and distinctly "pop" sounding song. I liked it much more than the former, but the thing bugging me was the overall simplicity of the songs lyrically and musically. And then it happened, they released "Stressed Out", the third single off of Blurryface and I was convinced everything was going to fall into place. The track was great and more definitive of who they are as a band. Lyrically deep, fun, emotional, and nostalgic all the while maintaining a great sound. The rest of the album truly exhibits that, with the song "Ride" being the undisputed best song on the CD for me. It is so catchy and put together so well that it's favoring comes naturally. Within "Ride" and a couple other tracks they wade new waters by trying out some Reggae style sounds but they are toned down and work well within that alternative range. The album is varied in terms of style, but it still works. Songs like "Goner" show the poetic side, while "The Judge" brings out the ever popular ukulele. It was also welcoming to see Tyler flex the boundaries of his voice as well, trying new things in that aspect as well. Through the deep lyrics and emotional themes, it still comes out to be very fun. It never quite reaches the heights of Vessel, but it does not need to. Blurryface is something entirely different and I am more than okay with that. 4.5/5

By Edwin Velez

You can by Blurryface on iTunes

---