OK MOVErs, say ‘I’ if you’re familiar with the catchy lyrics that go something like this… “’Cause somebody stole my car radio, and now I just sit in silence.” That’s right, we’re talkin’ Twenty One Pilots.
After the musical duo from Ohio released their third studio album, “Vessel,” in 2013, they practically became a household name. I mean, you could barely go a week without hearing something about their music or their sold-out shows, but I wasn’t complaining. Now, in 2015, they have burst back onto the music scene with their fourth studio album “Blurryface.”
This album features 14 songs, is 52 minutes in length and the genre is…well, I actually don’t know. Although iTunes has dubbed it alternative, I’m not sure that’s what I would call it. Maybe a mix between rock, alternative, hip-hop, rap, dubstep and pop?
Each track on the album has a distinct sound, and though I appreciate the effort that the band has put into the album, I just don’t really get it.
Lead singer Tyler Joseph is known for his meaningful lyrics and his clear hip-hop influences, and though both of those things are present in “Blurryface,” they are less noticeable because of how many other sounds the album is trying to pack together in each song.
I don’t hate the record, but I definitely don’t love it like I loved “Vessel,” and I feel less of a connection to this album. It’s almost as if the band is trying too hard to be different this time around.
The album gets a little messy with so much going on in each song, and it’s hard to keep up. It opens with the song “Heavydirtysoul” and within 3 minutes and 54 seconds you already hear about three different genres.
Even though most of the songs aren’t favorites of mine, there are definitely still some memorable songs on the album that deserve a mention.“Stressed Out” has a laid back beat and great lyrics. Then there’s “Tear in My Heart” that is much faster and very Twenty One Pilots-like. There’s also “The Judge,” which is a good example of how the band changed it up while still staying true to their original sound.
Although the album is not Twenty One Pilots’ best work, I can’t call it horrible, and there are a few great tracks on there that I will be listening to for the next couple of months.
It’s hard to live up to the expectations they set for themselves after releasing “Vessel,” but I think the band will still experience great success throughout the year. I know Twenty One Pilots still has it in them and will release another five-star album in the future.
_But for now, MOVE gives “Blurryface” 3 out of 5 stars_