The 10 Best Twenty One Pilots Songs

I didn’t want to be accused of being one of those people who claims that the music they listened to in high school was just better. Now, for the record, the grunge scene was in fact phenomenal, but ComposeMD always stays on the cutting edge (or something like that). This band formed in 2009, hit it big in 2015, and is still in its prime. So to prove I’m hip, here are the 10 best Twenty One Pilots songs. Keep in mind that by best, I mean the ones I really like (or some high school kid who might be my son told me to like).

 

Why These Guys?

You might be wondering why I went with Twenty One Pilots.

Hailing from Columbus, Ohio, the duo consisting of Tyler Joseph (vocalist and multi-instrumentalist) and Josh Dun (drummer) has made a name for itself by defying preconceived notions of genre. To paraphrase Rolling Stone, the two-man act has found immense success mixing angsty lyrics, hip hop rhymes, piano pop, reggae beats, hard-rock energy, and the occasional ukulele ballad, infusing it all with the hooks that can land a band comfortably in the mainstream.

And how is that relevant to me? Well, in the blogosphere, you’re told to stick to a niche, master it, and monetize it. Clearly, when you opt instead to write about the NRA, Botox, Cinco de Mayo, and this, you haven’t taken that advice. I’d like to think that one day, as it has for Twenty One Pilots, it’ll all make sense.

Okay, enough of that. On to the music.

 

The Songs

Except where mentioned, these are in no particular order.

“Implicit Demand for Proof” (2009)

I had to start with the group’s first track from its first album, recorded at a time when the band was a threesome and Dun had yet to join. From the outset, it was clear that genre was of little concern. I’m not sure whether to classify this song as a piano ballad, show tune, or rock anthem, and I’m pretty sure Joseph—who briefly studied theater at Ohio State University—doesn’t care.

 

“Car Radio” (2010)

This classic comes in three parts—hip hop ballad, electronica, and straight up rage—all in reference to a stolen car radio (though it’s possible that might be a metaphor).

 

“Hometown” (2015)

While this song might not fully showcase the band’s talent, I’ve always kind of wondered whether the chorus is secretly about Rochester, NY. Where we’re from, there’s no sun, our hometown’s in the dark—where we’re from, we’re no one, our hometown’s in the dark.

 

“Holding on to You” (2012)

In addition to again exhibiting the group’s versatility, this tune is an exploration of the beast that is mental health.

 

“Lane Boy” (2015)

A commentary on the uninspired figures that rule the music industry, this jam can be counted on to get the crowd fired up at live shows. When you’re a doctor who would rather write about the best Twenty One Pilots songs, a track about not staying in your lane is sure to resonate.

 

“Heavydirtysoul” (2016)

With this opener from the album Blurryface, the duo showed yet again that, in addition to blending all sorts of musical influences, it wasn’t going to give you just a simple love song.

 

“Heathens” (2016)

From the movie Suicide Squad, this is the rare song by the group that sounds like it has an electric guitar (though it probably doesn’t).

 

“Bandito” (2018)

The band took a deliberate approach to this one, rewarding patience with some good stuff towards the end.

 

“The Outside” (2021)

In this song from the group’s most recent album, Joseph is back to contemplating the fate of artists in the modern music industry.

 

“Stressed Out” (2015)

And finally, the one that introduced Joseph and Dun to the world. A hilarious take on post-adolescent angst, any doors that were still closed to the duo were blown wide open by this song.

 

 

As always, this compilation is up for serious debate. Chime in with your take on the best Twenty One Pilots songs in the comments below.