Clancy, Twenty One Pilots’ fifth studio album, continues a nine-year concept storyline with experimental beats, serene tones, and a variety of connected mental health themes.
The opening track, “Overcompensate,” is musically excellent and sets the tone for the record. “Overcompensate” is experimental but centers on drums, bass, and synth. The first line, “Welcome back to Trench,” shows that the band is returning to their older style of music that was somewhat absent from their most recent record.
The song switches beats halfway through following an interlude from the aforementioned record, Trench. Singer Tyler Joseph’s vocals feature many layers, rewarding repeat listens, while drummer Josh Dun’s work is more prominent than ever. Dun writes in complex grooves while serving the rest of the instrumental.
Another key track is “Vignette,” an alternative rock song with orchestral components. As on other tracks, Dun’s drumming is a highlight, maintaining a central beat while having a complex groove throughout.
Meanwhile, Joseph varies between smooth rap with some singing and a catchy groove to falsettos and chest singing. The song addresses how addiction can tear someone’s life apart and change their perception of the world. The vignette is a metaphor for how addiction can cloud someone’s judgment.
The lyrics include the lines “Clinging to promises, / Fighting off the vignette.”
The penultimate track, “At the Risk of Feeling Dumb,” varies between alt-pop in the verse and hard rock in the chorus. The song’s message is to always check on your friends who may be struggling, even if you might feel dumb when they reject your help.
“So please keep it in mind, / Check on your friends, / Every once in a while,” Joseph sings.
The final song, “Paladin Strait,” uses the idea of crossing a river as a visual element from the concept storyline as well as a metaphor for the song’s message. Joseph says that he would fight through all of his hardships in life as long as someone, in this case seemingly his best friend and bandmate Dun, was waiting for him on the other side.
“I would swim the Paladin Strait, / Without any floatation, / Just a glimpse of visual aid, / Of you on the other shoreline,” he sings.
Overall, Clancy is an amazing album with raw messaging and punchy instrumentals. What it lacks in cohesiveness due to its variations among alt-pop, punk rock, and emo-pop, it definitely makes up for with its stunning uniqueness and memorable themes.
Though the album sets out to resolve the long-running concept storyline around “Dema,” it does not have a conclusive ending, meaning that more music from the duo is likely on the way.
