Twenty One Pilots (or TØP, as they are abbreviated) is an alternative hip-hop/rock duo hailing from Columbus, Ohio, consisting of lead singer Tyler Joseph and drummer Josh Dun. The duo spent a number of years touring independently, releasing a self-titled album in 2009, and then their follow-up album “Regional At Best” in 2011 before being signed to the record label Fueled by Ramen in 2012 and releasing their major-label debut “Vessel” in 2013. The group finally saw mainstream success in 2015 with the release of their album “Blurryface,” which not only became their first album to top the Billboard 200, but also featured two of the biggest singles of 2016 in “Ride” and “Stressed Out,” which peaked at #5 and #2, respectively, on the Billboard Hot 100, and ended 2016 at #20 and #5, respectively, on the Year-End Hot 100. They didn’t let up beyond that in 2016, as they released the hit song “Heathens,” which was featured on the “Suicide Squad” soundtrack, peaked at #2 on the Hot 100, and made the Year-End Hot 100 two years in a row (it clocked in at #21 on 2016’s Year-End list, and #58 on 2017’s Year-End list).
Now, while I can commend the group for receiving such mainstream success in recent years, especially given that it feels like rock music is starting to chart less and less in the 2010s, I can honestly say I was never really all that into TØP’s music. It’s not that I’ve ever had any malice against the group or anything to that degree, but after attempting to listen to “Ride” and “Stressed Out” a few times, I just never really got all that hooked. I did like “Heathens,” if only for its incredible earworm of a hook, but none of their music really stopped me in my tracks. Still, this album has been making some big waves and getting some great reviews, and I know the group is really popular, so I figured that it wouldn’t be the worst idea in the world to give it a look and see if I could ascertain the appeal of the duo and the new album. So, let’s do that now, shall we:
Jumpsuit: Kicking things off, this song talks about Clancy who is trying to escape from the fictional, walled-off city of DEMA, with the “jumpsuit” being a reference to what he is wearing: a yellow jumpsuit that the bishops running the city don’t notice because they can’t see the color yellow. This…sounds amazing already. And right from the jump, the song is fascinating in how it mixes between heavy, guitar-driven riffs, and lighter moments with more delicate vocals from Tyler. I like how it mixes so well between the two styles, managing to feel throbbing and emotional all at the same time, and I think it’s a very emphatic, great starter to the album.
Levitate: Keeping in with the album’s themes of mental health (and the city of DEMA), this rather short, two-and-a-half-minute cut feels like something of an outro to the last song in how it leads in so perfectly. The electronic beat is very immediate and catchy, and I like the very ethereal, woozy instrumentals as well. Tyler raps a bit more on this song, and his very fast-paced, rapid-fire flows are technically impressive and all-around strong, and I think his performance as a whole is slightly subdued (thanks to his lighter inflection on his voice) and very emotional. I really love what’s going on here, great track!
Morph: TØP contemplates the idea of life after death on this track, a song that features some slightly more eerie but still punchy electronic instrumentals. The catchy beat also makes me feel like this song has good single potential to it. Tyler’s flow on his verse is also very strong, but what really makes the song great is the hook: not only is it one of the stickiest, best hooks on the album, but Tyler’s vocals sound gorgeous as he switches things up between his head voice and lower register. This is another very emotional track, and I really dig it a lot! It’s light and airy, but immediate and catchy, and it’s a lot of fun!
My Blood: A more heart-wrenching song, this is the most contentious in regards to its lyrical meanings, as many believe it’s coming from the perspective of Tyler’s brother Zack, as Zack comforts Tyler and talks about growing with him. Once again, I love the personal lyrical themes, and I also really like the slower-paced, somewhat minimal feel of the instrumentals here, with the continuously-tapping ride cymbal in the intro and the more simple bassline when the song really kicks into gear. I don’t think the hook is quite as catchy as some of the others, but Tyler sounds great on the song, and it’s certainly an energetic cut. Not one of my favorites on the album, but I do dig it.
Chlorine: A track about how music cleanses one (like chlorine would) and how one just can’t get enough of something poisonous (like, say, chlorine), this is another song that has a very dark, moody vibe to it. Tyler’s vocals are somewhat more sinister, the instrumentals are woozy and intoxicating, and the slow-paced feel of the song is easy to vibe to. The hook is also one of the album’s best, and even as one of the album’s longest songs (at nearly five and a half minutes), it’s easily one of the best, most sticky songs here. It has more than enough interesting sonic twists and turns to keep it interesting across the entire duration.
Smithereens: A sweeter cut, this one sees Tyler talking about his wife, Jenna, and how he would fight to protect her. Really nice stuff, Tyler, good man. And I like the slower feel of the song, along with the very smooth synth-pianos juxtaposing the more pounding, powerful drum beat. I also once again like the way that Tyler mixes between his lower and higher registers while singing, and while I don’t think the song has an extremely captivating hook, it’s still got a good vibe to it that makes it enjoyable, even if it’s far from being one of the album’s best.
Neon Gravestones: Here, the duo talks about the glorification and romanticization of suicide, and alludes to it through celebrities getting their name on big boards with neon lights. And they make this really captivating with some more moody, light production that gives the song a lot of emotional edge. Tyler’s performance is also extremely emotional, especially at the points where it sounds like he’s being broken down to tears. It’s a song that nearly brought me to tears, too; the gentle piano riffs gave this song the sad feel it needed, and Tyler’s vocals are show-stealing here. I love this song!
The Hype: Just what I needed since I’ve been battling so much anxiety, this track talks about having hope while going through very hard times. This song also has a more emotional vibe to it, though with a faster pace and a more energetic drum beat. Still, those elements work to make the track really catchy and attention-grabbing, and I think Tyler’s lyricism was especially strong when he said “you don’t get thick skin without getting hurt.” His vocals are light but smooth, meshing well with the catchy bassline and emphatic instrumentals, and once again, the song takes a lot of really interesting twists and turns with its sounds. All in all, it’s a really compelling cut!
Nico and the Niners: One of the bigger singles for the album, this track continues the story of DEMA, and the city's people, known as “banditos.” Though, without the story of DEMA, the song still serves as a bit of a “rallying cry” for those battling with depression. I was really excited going into this one since it seemed to receive a lot of positive reception early on (oh, and the name “Nico and the Niners” is already really catchy), and I definitely wasn’t disappointed: I think the beat is really catchy, the hazy instrumentals are sweet, and the hook is one of the album’s catchiest. I see why this song’s gotten the hype that it has, it’s pretty amazing!
Cut My Lip: While this cut continues to intertwine with the DEMA story, on its own it's essentially about navigating through life and all of its unpredictabilities and pushing through despite the bruises and scars it leaves. The track takes on a surprisingly bright, airy feel with a light, plucky piano riff and a much slower drum beat. Interesting juxtaposition against some of the lyrics here, might I add. And I love the song for that, it sounds really great, as do Tyler’s very pretty, lovely vocals. It’s very different from much of what else is on the album, but it’s nonetheless a really great track!
Bandito: Here, we learn a bit more about the banditos, who accept Clancy as one of them and help him understand the perils and fears he will have to battle in his adventure for freedom. And once again, this one takes a bit of a lighter feel, with Tyler’s vocals having a few more autotune filters on them. They're interesting, as they keep him sounding very emotional, while also adding a touch more somberness. I like the piano-driven instrumentals as well, and Tyler’s rather desperate-sounding spoken-word verse later in the song also adds to the emotional edge. It’s a mellow track, and it’s got a great vibe to it. I really love it!
Pet Cheetah: In classic writer’s style, Tyler wrote a song about writer’s block…to help himself get past writer’s block. Guys, I’ve honestly done this before, it’s a genius strategy, shoutouts to Tyler on that. And in regards to production, this track takes on a more dark, eerie, and glitchy feel. The song as a whole is more fast-paced, the instrumentals are interestingly glitchy and attention-grabbing, and Tyler’s very charismatic vocals are a little more sinister, especially on his rap verses. It’s a song that thrives off of its quirkiness, and it’s all the more successful for that. This album’s really ending off strong.
Legend: Another more personal cut, Tyler talks here about his grandfather, Robert, who died during the recording of this album after a battle with Alzheimer’s disease. The track is much shorter (it’s just under three minutes) and it’s got a surprisingly more funky feel to it. It’s got some very bright, silky synthesizers to it and a slightly-more swingy drum beat, and it’s a bit of a change-up from most “dedication” songs (most of them are very somber and stripped-back, but this one’s far more bouncy). It’s still very successful in that. Not only do the instrumentals sound great, but Tyler’s higher-register vocals are very charismatic, especially on the hook, which is very immediate and ear-wormy. Another really great cut, very different from what you’d expect, and all the better for it!
Leave the City: It all comes down to this: our main character is leaving the city of DEMA, vowing to stay alive through it all. Though, in the larger context of the album, Tyler essentially says that mental health is something that’s not always straightforward and easy to fix and that he’s gonna keep on fighting and stay alive through it all. Once again, thank you for the motivation, Tyler, I appreciate it. And the song starts off very beautifully, with some very woozy production led by a very gorgeous piano melody. The somewhat more slanted drum beat that comes in later is also very fascinating, and I think that Tyler’s very dramatic, sad vocals are fantastic as well. He really sells this and brings the story of DEMA to a more somber end: Clancy has left the city and is staying alive, but it’s not so easy for everyone else there. It’s really fascinating, and it’s a gorgeous end to the album!
Overall, I’m pretty ashamed that I waited this damn long to listen to this album because I absolutely love it. I used to be one of those people that never quite understood all the hype behind TØP, but honestly, this is an absolutely infectious, fun, and emphatic blend of rock and hip-hop that’s not only fascinating to think about, but it’s just damn fun to listen to. The instrumentation is weird and glitchy but exciting, Tyler Joseph’s vocals are very pretty (as are his rap flows), and I love a lot of what the album is going for lyrically. Blending together this overarching story of DEMA with themes of mental health is really fascinating, and I like how it doesn’t feel heavy-handed, it’s a very unique way of going about it that really works. The music works as a piece of storytelling, and on its own as just music to enjoy. I apologize again for not getting to this sooner, not because I wanted to please anyone, but because the music is that damn good. If you’ve made the mistake I made and haven’t listened to this yet, go do that now! It’s worth it!
Favorite tracks: Jumpsuit, Levitate, Morph, Chlorine, Neon Gravestones, The Hype, Nico and the Niners, Cut My Lip, Bandito, Pet Cheetah, Legend, Leave the City
Least favorite tracks: Smithereens (only if I really had to pick one)
Rating: Excellent
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