Blurryface
by Twenty One Pilots
User Score
8.4

Universal acclaim- based on 620 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 533 out of 620
  2. Mixed: 42 out of 620
  3. Negative: 45 out of 620
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  1. StealthyHipo200
    Aug 25, 2018
    6
    Some good songs on this album but overall bogged down by it's weak lyrics and moody aesthetic. A bit of a disappointment after their last strong outing with "Vessel"
  2. BrainAndS0ul
    Feb 11, 2018
    5
    A solid pop-record, but can't go in any comparision with Vessel and Twenty One Pilots. Playing in different genres while not mastering any of them is a good idea while you're an indie-band and a terrible idea, when you're nominated for a Grammy. Reggae vibes of Ride and almost RnB patterns of Lane Boy and Heavydirtysoul just don't fit together
  3. MLMontiel
    Feb 13, 2016
    6
    Vessel was better I was expecting more. I don't get the hype for this album. It has a great couple of songs (Tear in My Heart, Heavydirtysoul, and Polarize). I can't really list it any higher.
  4. sscott0829tw
    Feb 4, 2020
    5
    While songs like Message man, Ride, Tear in my heart are awesome and amazing catchy tracks on this album. Some lame produced track like Lane boy, Polarize and The Judge held this album back.
  5. ThroneOfLunacy
    Jan 13, 2016
    5
    Coming from a huge fan of Vessel, this album is, at best... Very disappointing.
    Starting with Heavydirtysoul, you can tell they were kind of going for the same sound of the opener on Vessel, Ode to Sleep. With both of these songs there is a very poppy, catchy chorus with a darker, heavier sounding transition during the verses. However, Heavydirtysoul combines a Prodigy-esque verse with a    Coming from a huge fan of Vessel, this album is, at best... Very disappointing.
    Starting with Heavydirtysoul, you can tell they were kind of going for the same sound of the opener on Vessel, Ode to Sleep. With both of these songs there is a very poppy, catchy chorus with a darker, heavier sounding transition during the verses. However, Heavydirtysoul combines a Prodigy-esque verse with a nonsensical, repetitive chorus that quickly wears on the nerves.
    It goes through the motions a few times before opening into the first single from the album, Stressed Out, which is by far one of the best songs on the album, and my second favorite. At first when I heard this song I didn't like it either, but this song shows some of their strongest songwriting on the album, and is very reminiscent of the material on Vessel.
    Ride is a reggae/dub song that isn't too bad, although the processed vocals on this track just detract from the atmosphere of the track. The singer sounds like he's crooning through a speaker with slight water damage for most of the song, hold the chorus and a bridge toward the end, with another very annoying repeating lyrical cadence. There seems to be a trend on the album where the singer uses as few words possible during choruses, and stretches words out with strange pronunciation and eccentric vocal choices. This heavily detracts from the overall semi-serious tones they're going for with the themes on this album.
    Fairly Local opens up with what sounds like a small town local bragging about it like it gives them street cred, followed by a very annoying "ooh-ooh-ooh" cadence and short bursts of lyrics from the singer, leading to a very disorienting listen, and one that doesn't have much traction.
    Tear In My Heart is another song on the album that I don't mind too much, but it is again, at most, decent. While I did like the pop sensibilities on Vessel, they were sprinkled throughout with moderation and taste for the overall product, and songs like Tear In My Heart go to show that they're going for a more straightforward approach with their influences, which can be good, but just isn't here. And even this song slows down quite considerably after the first minute, trading witty lyrics and clear vocals for intertwined, short bursts of words and repetition again.
    Lane Boy is another reggae/dub ode over some terribly processed vocals from the singer. This has the most interesting beat on the album I think, but the rather bland bass line and, again, the vocal processing, just don't allow me to enjoy it as much as I want to.
    The Judge is very surprising on first listen, just because it's so drastically different from everything else on the album, but in a good way. It opens in a way that may remind you of House of Gold, but quickly opens into a very catchy chorus, followed by some of my favorite verses that the singer raps on this album. It switches from sounding slightly menacing to very upbeat and happy between the verse and chorus, but achieves this more successfully than any other song on the album, and some of the lines he raps in this song will definitely remind you of Vessel, although this song doesn't seem like it belongs on Vessel (which is a good thing, again.) Definitely my favorite on the album.
    Doubt opens up to a pretty promising beat, but quickly becomes a repetitive mess. Not too much to say here.
    Polarize is, well, a pretty polarizing listen. Not sure if it's intentional or not but it's pretty difficult to follow. However this is one of the better songs on the album.
    We Don't Believe What's on TV opens with a ukulele riff that is very reminiscent of House of Gold before launching into a very upbeat song backed by a country-esque drum beat in the back. This song is great, and has some of my favorite lyrics on the album. Probably my second favorite.
    Message man opens up decently, but as soon as the vocals come in I can't listen anymore. It gets even worse during the chorus when they slow down the tempo and put in reggae guitar and slow raps, before getting back into the intro (which I guess is the chorus, too). Decent, but really not great.
    Hometown isn't horrible but isn't good. There isn't much to say here, besides that it's the least memorable track on the album.
    Not Today opens up again with disjointed raps and nonsencial lyrics, but gets a bit better as it goes on. The chorus is okay, the bridge is okay, but that's about it.
    Goner, the album closer, is a terribly mellow and kind of sad song. Not really what I was expecting to end this album of mostly upbeat music at all, and it really feels out of place, especially here at the end of the CD. If this wasn't the closer I think it would fit more.
    This album isn't terrible, but it really isn't that good either. If I was forced to listen to this album without being able to skip songs it would probably getting a 3, but there are a few redeeming songs on this album that do make it worth while, especially for fans of their older stuff.    … Expand
  6. colen
    Feb 4, 2016
    6
    Blurryface is less than the sum of its parts. Genre mixing is encouraged as long the experience remains cohesive - it is not here evidently. A confused mess that could have been great with a more focus
  7. imaginetruIy
    Jun 15, 2019
    5
    The album starts off beautifully, with impeccable productions that give wonderful experiences in a headset, the melodies are largely incredible and engaging, but the album topped off on a different route from track 6, becomes a mess, the production is lukewarm, the songs are not very pleasing and out of nowhere a country in the middle, track 12 "Hometown" brought me a little hope, that theThe album starts off beautifully, with impeccable productions that give wonderful experiences in a headset, the melodies are largely incredible and engaging, but the album topped off on a different route from track 6, becomes a mess, the production is lukewarm, the songs are not very pleasing and out of nowhere a country in the middle, track 12 "Hometown" brought me a little hope, that the album would return to its initial quality but back to square one in the next track and ends beautifully with an explosive ending, but it was not enough to fill the catastrophe that happened in the middle of what could be one of the best rock / alternative albums.… Expand
  8. dromanenko23
    Oct 4, 2019
    6
    twenty one pilots' angst at its worst, except this time, it's presented without the usual uniqueness that their previous albums had. While there are a few good songs on this record, for the most part, it's just bland, poorly written, angst-y pop, mixed in with some rap, folk, and reggae.
  9. kermie_the_frog
    Mar 7, 2020
    5
    Seriously weak record... The lyrics are shallow, the production is bad, the genre blending is extremely bland. How did everyone like this so much!?? The only thing it has going for it is the occasionally catchy chorus and dark aesthetic.
  10. idroJ2-2
    Nov 16, 2022
    6
    The most famous work of the band also contains memorable pieces with a good production.

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
80

Generally favorable reviews - based on 5 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 4 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. Austin Chronicle
    Oct 2, 2015
    67
    Not the clever cut of 2013's Vessel, but still airborne.
    Read full review
  2. Kerrang!
    May 20, 2015
    80
    Twenty One Pilots prove you don't always need guitars to have a good time. [16 May 2015, p.54]
  3. Alternative Press
    May 20, 2015
    90
    Twenty One Pilots ramped up everything, from new influences to the number of producers (four) to the metric ton of uncertainties and fears multiplying in frontman/songwriter Tyler Joseph’s cranium. And it’s wonderful.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »