“This is not rap. This is not hip-hop, just another attempt to make the voices stop,” Twenty One Pilots lead vocalist Tyler Joseph raps passionately on “Heavydirtysoul,” the fast-paced opener of the duo’s sophomore album Blurryface.  Ironically, that is exactly what the duo’s sophomore album is: Rap infused effortlessly with alternative pop music.  However, the message is so much deeper.  This album is crammed full of personal lyrics about Joseph dealing with the dark side of himself, which he named Blurryface.

Songs like “Ride,” “Lane Boy,” and “Polarize” add reggae to the band’s long list of genres to be found in their messy musical toy box.  The single “Stressed Out” is a track that stands out with a vibe that feels more like rap than anything else, along side “Doubt” and “Fairly Local.”  Musically, the duo employs ukuleles, synthesizers, and piano on many tracks for a very unique sound, especially considering the hip hop element associated with nearly every song.  One of the few tracks on the album without any rapping is the single “Tear in My Heart,” which features more electric guitar than other tracks, along with fast paced drums and piano.  The song “Hometown” opens with Joseph singing falsetto with a backdrop of lush synth and piano.  It should be noted that when Joseph is not rapping, he is singing tremendously catchy melodies, which amazingly appear in every single track on the album.

As hinted at before, the album is treated like a canvas for Joseph to throw his personal issues onto recklessly, much like an artist throws paint.  Joseph doesn’t leave anything to the imagination when dealing with his emotions and his view of himself.  “Stressed Out” deals with the illusion that all childhood problems will disappear with age.  He discovers that adulthood comes with a new set of problems, particularly, caring more about the way others view him.  “Doubt” is also very personal and contains lyrics about insecurity, image, and anxiety.  On a different note, in the song “Lane Boy,” Joseph reveals that his group never tries to follow the routine path to fame that record labels desire for their artists.  He sings, “If it was our way, we’d have a tempo change every other time change, because our minds change on what we think is good.”

Twenty One Pilots is currently on tour, selling out venues across the country, including our very own Diamond Ballroom.  Hopefully, we will see the conclusion to Joseph’s battle with Blurryface on their next album.