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38. Vessel - Twenty One Pilots (2013)

Pop

Twenty One Pilots’ major label debut Vessel seemed to come out of nowhere. The duo, comprised of Tyler Joseph and Josh Dun, had been around for years and had put out two independent records that contained hints of what would later comprise Vessel, a bold and risky effort that illustrated the duos reticence to commit to making one specific style of music. The result is a prime example of the sort of product that comes from a musical generation that’s been exposed to every genre under the sun and have had the luxury of cherrypicking bits and pieces they like from each to add to their arsenal. 

Vessel has everything, electronic, hip hop, unabashed pop, acoustic ballads, you name it. And for the duo to incorporate all of these styles so seamlessly and so early on in their careers, it was that much more impressive. The eye- and ear-catching “Holding Onto You” illustrates the range Twenty One Pilots possess, showcasing clever, compelling production that highlights Joseph’s vocal talents and songwriting abilities. The track culminates in an ultra-catchy rapped coda that asks some serious questions about the state of popular music with dagger-like accuracy. “Lean with it? Rock with it? When are we gonna stop with it? Lyrics that mean nothing, we were gifted with thought. Is it time to move our feet to an introspective beat? It ain’t the speakers that pump hearts, it’s our hearts that make the beat.” There’s an honesty to that sort of inquiry that really catches you off guard, in the best way. The group would go on to release Blurryface, another gem of an album that launched them into the stratosphere with mega-hits “Stressed Out” and “Ride”. But Vessel remains the most pure sample of the audacious creativity that makes the group great.

*image; cover art for the album Vessel by Twenty One Pilots