Review Summary: twenty one pilots' debut manages to remain their most emotional, powerful, and best album yet
twenty one pilots; a band characterized by their popularity on pop radio and an, at times, annoying fan base – scratch that – “clique.” However, before the band was overridden with skeleton clique members claiming that the music was only precious to them because of their supernatural ability to dive deep into the mind of Tyler Joseph himself, the band came from very humble beginnings; a small band from Columbus, Ohio. Before the popularity boom of
Vessels and
Blurryface, even before Josh Dun was thought of being the drummer of the band, there was
twenty one pilots. twenty one pilot’s debut showed maturity beyond all else, shining light upon troubling topics through contemplative lyrics laid on top of beats merging pop, alternative, and rock.
Composing some of the bands most powerful songs, the band’s creativity is at peak, mixing elements of alternative with hints of piano, electronics, and bass. From the opening piano in “Implicit Demand for Proof” to the closing atmospheric electronics of “Isle of Flightless Birds,” twenty one pilots show off their ability to masterfully create songs with both great hooks, catchiness, as well as adding a twist of their own to the mix. Throughout the duration of the album, the ever-present appearance of the keys creates an almost classical, laid back feeling, even amidst the chaos represented at times throughout the album. With the piano as the basis, electronics flood the scene, providing melodic synths, stimulating both the pop and alternative side of the album. Floating on both highs and lows, the electronics constantly change the mood of the album, fluctuating between bright and happy in “Johnny Boy” to dark and gloomy in “Friend, Please.” Accompanying such are fluid drum beats that guide each song through the depths of their instrumentation. Never straying too far from simplicity, the grooves often provide a basis for [i]twenty one pilots[i]’ pace in each of its individual assets. Sweeping through the rock-like pounds of “Air Catcher” to the piano and orchestra-driven “Before You Start Your Day,” the band’s musicianship shows a diversity that slowly diminished later on in future releases.
Despite the multiple tonalities found within, there remains one constant; Tyler Joseph’s songwriting. Whether rapping or singing, Tyler tackles troubling topics revolving around depression, loneliness, and spirituality. From verbalizing the admittance of hiding behind a fake face of being fine in “Fall Away” to expressing the blatantly obvious reference to God and driving into forgiveness in “Taxi Cab,” twenty one pilots express a great deal of honesty on their debut, delving into their own hearts, minds, and souls and pouring them out into the songs, much like the album cover itself depicts.
Combining each individual facet into one, twenty one pilot’s debut still remains their rawest, most emotionally driven release to this date. Yes, their sound become much more refined later on with higher production values, but the organic feel behind the music really emphasizes the humble beginnings the band was built upon. Despite the acclaim for their future records, what we have here is by far their best album, driven by pure emotion and dedication, resulting in the band’s magnum opus, filled with dark lyrics accompanied with a somewhat surprisingly encouraging undertone. Sometimes returning to the past provides healing for the future.
