Vessel

Sound schizophrenia from Twenty|One|Pilots

Twenty|One|Pilots are a totally unique band, or rather a duo, which stands on the verge of creating a new musical style. Already now, some call their art schizoid-pop, which is not meant to be an offense to the musicians or an appraisal of their mental health. Indeed, there are times when, listening to songs by Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun, you may have a suspicion that someone is alternating tapes or playing two at a time. And behind mixing up all these pop music, piano, electronic, and rapping are two men who have managed to make themselves globally known without winning TV young talent show, or label support. Having released their first records independently and acting merely as amateurs and enthusiasts, Twenty|One|Pilots were already playing in front of thousands of people. Now, who knows how rapidly this project is going to evolve after his members signed the first in their lives professional contract with a major label!

Surprise-tracks

OK, the Twenty|One|Pilots debut work issued professionally is called Vessel. The set combines remakes of songs released earlier and completely fresh material listeners have never heard before. The album kicks off swiftly, showing right off what there is to deal with. The opener Ode To Sleep is an exceptional sample of the duo’s musical style, the one that changes its mood and musical style several times, from aggressive rapping to a smashing dance chorus in the end. Holding On To You is stricter in terms of form and has all it needs to be a big hit each concert will involve. But these guys did everything to make each song to be remarkable for something of its own, to this or that degree. Perhaps that is why the set puts together the so much different House Of God, and Car Radio. The former is a sweet tune perfect for singling along to, and the latter begins with annoying speech, but right when you are about to turn it off, the song lavishes on you explosive synthesizers making your body move like crazy.

Never a dull moment with Vessel

Just like any debut by a promising band with big plans ahead, Vessel delivers a whole set of experiments and original attempts some of which, as is often the case, are not so much successful. Well, the never ending electronic theme Fake You Out, evidently inspired by old video games, might be a little irritating. Children’s choral singing in Screen may also not be a very bright idea. Yet the absolute majority of the songs on Vessel are great in their channeling the main message from Twenty|One|Pilots, and the idea is that you must be ready to expect anything from any song. The seemingly kind-hearted Guns For Hands accumulates and then splashes out its anger, and the peaceful Trees suddenly speeds up and throws a party. Indeed, how can you not think of schizophrenia? Vessel may take some time to get used to such stylistic U-turns, and, probably, this chaos will be indigestible for those conservatively tuned, who believe in strict and clear classification of genres and styles. Everybody else is definitely going to have a great time, because Vessel is an album with a very difficult and spontaneous temper, a type you can’t get a dull moment with.