Analysis by Geoff Burns
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past few years, you might be familiar with the tremendous popularity in Columbus, Ohio’s very own pop duo Twenty One Pilots. You may have discovered your love for the duo after witnessing vocalist Tyler Joseph climb the stage beam without a harness at last year’s Alternative Press Music Awards after being scared shitless for his life. Or you might have discovered your love for the band when you saw them open their live set with their song “Ode To Sleep” at a local show as both musicians frantically shook their heads while wearing full body skeleton costumes. But for most people, you may have discovered your love for the duo from Joseph’s passionate, thought provoking lyrics that just make you wish you could swan dive straight into the vocalist’s mind.
While the band’s previous album, Vessel, was released in 2013, the time is officially almost here for their follow up and sophomore record, Blurryface. The highly anticipated album will be blasting through every cult-following fan, as well as many newcomers, for the rest of the year starting May 19. Here are a few reasons why we think the release will do so well:
- Vessel peaked at number 58 on the Billboard Music Charts in April 2013 for one week, but remained in the Top 100 for a total of seven weeks, according to Billboard. The duo has already released three singles from Blurryface, that are currently on Billboard’s Hot 100 including “Fairly Local” at number 84, “Tear In My Heart” at number 82 and “Stressed Out” at number 87. Not only do these numbers seem promising for the rest of the album, each song has millions of views on YouTube.
- Enter Blurryace. The character represents insecurity. We were introduced to, what seems to be, Joseph’s alter-ego in the music video for “Fairly Local’ and we actually heard Joseph say “My name is Blurryface, and I care what you think,” in the duo’s third single “Stressed Out.” Each of the videos also present Joseph and drummer Josh Dun in the colors red and black. Not only is this an important tactic in attracting people to their music, but it also represents a bigger meaning into the actual music. The colors represent another element into the album’s creative outlet.
- twenty one pilots cult-following. Even though the band has garnered thousands of more fans since their release with Vessel, the duo still has enough die hard fans to make the album sell well.
In a world where music is streamed for free and 1,500 streams is equaled to one album download, according to Billboard, the album will still do well, and will make people want to attend the album’s tour in September and October.
It’s safe to say that Blurryface will be an album that will not only do extremely well, but will be remembered for a long time. The band has an original sound and it seems to be working out for them so far. You can read a review of the album in our latest May issue for free here.
