Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun, who form Twenty One Pilots, end a 10-year narrative masterfully with the release of ‘Clancy’
As difficult as it may seem and may be, closing cycles are always fundamental parts, whether in our personal or professional lives. For just over 10 years, Twenty One Pilots tells a complex narrative, through the records, and ended with Clancy (2024), seventh studio album by the duo formed by Tyler Joseph (vocals, bass, piano) and Josh Dun (drums, trumpet), this Friday, 24th.
The story began to gain strength and shape with Blurryface (2015), name given to a character who represents the singer’s insecurities. In Trench (2018), the band expanded the plot: Blurryface would be one of the nine Bishops from an authoritarian city called Dema, where they have several prisoners. The name of the disk is the region where the Bandits, representation of fans and family who fight against dictators. Here it was already clear: the story was a reflection of the members’ minds, in an attempt to bring to their music their impressions of the complexity of the fight against depression.
The predecessor of Clancy would follow the mythology. In the titled Scaled and Icy (2021), Tyler made an album focused more on pop because, in the narrative, the vocalist was captured by the Bishops to make more generic songs. The new album, named after his character, follows the artists’ fight against Dema.
All the insistence on the theme is part of what strengthened the duo’s connection with their fans. More than an allegory, it is about identification – a far from simple formula on which they once again bet with the launch of Clancy.
Welcome back to Trench
With 13 tracks in total, the album can be divided into two parts. The first reflects on the rhythm upbeat the positivity of the lyrics. With accelerated beats (with the exception of “Backslide”), the tracks portray a lot about time and worrying reflections, both in youth and adulthood.
In the first song of Clancytitled “Overcompensate”, the duo already defines the tone of the new work, closer to the success of Trenchfurther away from the divisive Scaled and Icy. The peculiar sound refers to songs like “Jumpsuit” It is “Chlorine.”
The following tracks, “Next Semester” It is “Backslide”, also singles, have a “face of Twenty One Pilots,” while the majority of the tracklist shows a lot of influence from 1980s music, such as Information Society It is Pet Shop Boys, with heavy use of synthesizers. Other highlights are “Midwest Indigo,” “Vignette” It is “Navigating.”
Some of the lyrics refer to a Tyler Joseph younger, afraid and afraid of the future, full of uncertainty. This style of composition can fall into a risk zone and come across as cheesy self-help, but Twenty One Pilots manages to get very close to the listener by bringing identifiable and human situations.
The ‘second half’ of Clancy
After five great songs, the “first part” of Clancy closes with “Vignette,” which, as the name suggests, serves as a vignette to change the tone of the songs, in a way. The next two, “The Craving (Jenna’s Version)” It is “Lavish,” are the weakest on the album.
The choice of Tyler Joseph singing with some defects ends up getting in the way of delivering the beautiful and emotional poetry of “The Craving (Jenna’s Version).” At times, this reflects difficulties in reaching higher notes.
Already “Lavish” refers to a cheerful television advertisement from the 1970s – and as in the complaints, there is a lot of superficiality. Again, the lyrics are the interesting part, with criticisms about the music industry and how artists often need to change their essence to fit into a pattern.
In the final part, Twenty One Pilots returns with the songs at a high level, especially with the pop rock of “Navigating”, which, the writer risks, has a great chance of becoming the main anthem of Clancy. It is worth highlighting the message of overcoming a moment of loneliness. “Snapback” It is “At the Risk of Feeling Dumb” also do not disappoint.
Clancy is out now. https://t.co/3HiEyjHivppic.twitter.com/1H0gXcq4no
— twenty one pilots (@twentyonepilots) May 24, 2024
The end of an era
Typically, the duo’s studio albums end very strongly, with impactful and reflective songs. With Clancy is no different. The 12th track, “Oldies Station” is one of the most emotional the band has ever done, and talks in a very beautiful way about grief and the complexity of getting older.
For fans of Easter eggsthe good news: despite the narrative with the Bishops not be explicitly mentioned throughout the album, “Paladin Strait” tries to finish the story with style, citing regions of the world from Dema and the plot with its inhabitants. In the letter, Tyler Joseph manages to tell the final part of the plot masterfully, and the conclusion should not disappoint fans.
With Clancy, Twenty One Pilots shows that they are one of the most versatile and solid bands currently, with lyrics that are concerned with talking about serious and important subjects, with a unique sound that is very difficult to replicate exactly.
Source: Rollingstone
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
