Twenty One Pilots Comeback is Mid... Overcompensate, Lore Dump, & Clancy

CLANCY? TRENCH?? DEMA???
Lmk what you're feeling about 'Overcompensate', the comeback, and drop a like for me 👍

Disagree with you heavily on this one. If you're a fan of trench then you'll definitely appreciate this song. It's really good!

So, watching your video, I felt it was worth sharing (and I haven't finished your video yet) that this song was my introduction to TOP. It also absolutely enthralled me. I have been going through all of their discography and have been falling in love with their music ever since. I think this single is perfect.

Lol

I think Overcompensate does exactly what 3030 by Deltron does. It's an introduction to a world, a character, I don't think you need to have heard Trench to appreciate the song and someone getting this introduction into Clancy would be motivated to go back and listen to TØP's discography and get a feel for this world they're just tuning in on. I tuned in the middle of Black Veil Brides whole lore thing with The Story of The Wild Ones and I didn't feel alienated, the music spoke for itself and I went back to their older material to understand what was being spoken about in the music.

I do not agree. I did not care about the lore before Overcompensate and I have been listening to Top since 2017. Was not a fan of SAI but I LOVE Overcompensate because it has power and it's very base heavy. I feel like someone could like this even if they are not a Top fan. "I fly by the dangerous bend symbol" is about going for something at full speed even if there are warning signs and that is sort of relatable I guess. Althogh, I agree with you about the thing with it taking to long for the song to start, that is not everyones cup of tea.

I’m going to start out by saying that I’ve never been a fan of Twenty-One Pilots. I’ve heard their singles and never wanted to go back to them. After Jon’s review, I had the time to checkout their new single and I didn’t hate it and might actually come back to it again. Maybe I’ll even checkout their old material as well. I never felt comfortable with them being labeled as Rock Artists, because they always sounded more ALT-POP than Alt-rock. When they had their music played on rock radio, it never seemed to fit in. Maybe I’m wrong and they deserve more of my respect than worrying about where they get played or how. The get labeled. Thanks again for the review Jon.

They're not over confirming anything, Clikkies are just good at analyzing and recognizing the references...

Songs not that great it was pretty disappointing

it's okai to be wrong sometimes

Are you Anthony Fantano’s protege?

The cover seems like a call back to their album vessel, which has the image of their grandparents.

AGREED!!!! You 100% said everything that I was thinking. As someone who loves Twenty One Pilots and their songs, but never really cared about the lore too much, I was not impressed. The words aren't that great in overcompensate and I miss the songs that were so real that I could really resonate with what was being said, instead of songs about a fantasy world. I love Twenty One Pilots and I thought it was kind of cool when fans were taking the lore apart, but what made me fall in love with their songs was the emotion and lyrics and that's what I wish they could make again. I think a lot of people loved their songs for the same reason, literally their biggest hit- Stressed Out, is just that (the hard reality of growing up and missing childhood) So I'm hoping their new album, although lore heavy, will still include some songs like that. I will say one of the only things I liked about overcompensate was the words "I created this world, to feel some control" and it truly does feel like this fantasy world could be an escape for Tyler. Plus the drums that went hard in overcompensate lol

I feel like I'm crazy because you said what I'm thinking word-for-word bar-for-bar.

When a concept album... follows a concept 🤯

He must be deaf, trench and blurryface, its theyre most addicting song ive heard by them each listen is better and better, scaled doesnt matter it was shit except for no chances and redecorate

I was ready to be angry at you but finding myself agreeing. Although I disagree that Trench was their best album. Everything before trench was great, everything after that I still love, but it doesn't feel as free and different as their previous stuff. Honestly the albumbs before Blurryface are my favorites. I long for a return to those days. Scaled and Icy very nearly felt like a typical pop artist album. I only ended up liking a few of the songs from that.

The intro on overcompensate was insane. The rest dropped off. It's still very stuck in my head and catchy. But the lyrics make no sense to me as someone who doesn't have much time to dig into lore. I really hope the rest of the album holds up. ❤

Then why have I been playing it on loop for days straight and still can't get enough?

Let us know if this song grows on your after multiple listens thi

As an extremely casual TOP fan (i dont like anything before Trench, Trench is their best album, and I wasnt impressed at all with Scaled and Icy) Im in the boat if that I just want good music. I cant be bothered to care about all the lore and all this deep stuff, I just want the music to sound good. Thats why I think Trench is their best album; it was a perfect blend of lore and just really good music, and it was inviting if you wanted to know more about the lore but it wasnt a hundred percent necessary to enjoy the music.

What a bad take. L

Reading through the comments, I feel like I’m definitely in the minority for disliking the song. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad others are having a blast with the track! Each to their own; the song isn’t terrible by any means, and Josh kills it on the drums. However, I agree with many of your points (not the bit about Trench being their best album though, sorry). The album cover is certainly a choice ahah. Even as somebody who has been a fan since they released their first three-song EP under Fueled By Ramen, and knows the lore, the lyrics were very… so-so, in my opinion. I also find the lore to be kinda juvenile. I would’ve loved it a decade ago, but it’s simply not for me. Again, I have no delusions that my personal view of the story and the track’s substance are objective fact, so please nobody come for me haha. This is just my subjective take—and that being said, I’m not going to judge an album by its first single, so I’ve got my fingers crossed for the actual release.

I’m so happy to see Paul Meany coming back to contribute his production magic for this album. Definitely a step in the right direction. I love seeing that signature crisply produced MuteMath sound make its way back into the music of TOP.

I think the argument of people claiming that they would have been able to recreate the lyrics in this song/the album cover in elementary school is so invalid. Not liking the cover or the lyrics is fine, but they’re fr not that bad. Why is it so hard for people to lean into this excitement?

Jon could u do a video on the 5 worst mumble rappers?

I like it

I feel like because he doesn't care for the lore it takes a lot out of the experience for him

I understand and agree with a lot of things you are saying,, however I do believe you are being pessimistic.
bc:
1- The "i am clancy" video, while confirming many things in the lore that many ppl may be confused about, it also serves as a "catch-up" for newcomers and for the ppl (and they apperantly were many) who skipped the SAI era. This allows for every one to be more or less on the same page when entenring this era.
2- I have high hopes that the other~songs of the album will be less pop-ish and whatever the industry wants and more on their style. Don´t get me wrong; I rly like a lot of parts in this song and i believe it will grow a lot on me within this year, but despite that, there are some parts that just make me think "why is this like this??". As i am already able to get morph/chlorine vibes in this song, i do feel like this is just the tip of the iceberg of just how "trench" they will be with "clancy".

I'm so excited for this new era! Album is gonna be amazing!!

Omg I wondered if I was the only one to think it was too all over the place! It hit me like it was tailored, chopped together in this kind of compilation of all of Tyler's lyric styles. Granted, let's go back to the title of the song, overcompensate.
I know a lot of the lore may be heavily based on religion, but I have always seen an undertone of music and creative control, as seen in Lane Boy. To break into the "Pop top 40" it seems like your songs have to be "approved" as marketable, and what better way to make them marketable than to mess with them so they appeal to general public in some way, whether it's playing on their illusion of grandeur, or whatever, I feel like there are "boxes" to be checked when making a "Top 40" song that Tyler wants to break free from. So the bishops, while again heavily influenced CLEARLY by religion, to me always meant the marketers, telling him who he was supposed to be, how his songs were supposed to sound, how his art was supposed to be made.
This idea transcends into everything, not just religion, about empowering us to stay awake, think for ourselves, and not let society control your perception on where you "should" be or what you should do, what "normal" is.
I do think Clancy is going back to trench, initially to save, but probably gets clouded by the power he now possesses, especially if it's uncontrolled or unthrottled at first, in the efforts to save the people of Dema, but in the end, it ends up controlling him. He ends up going "undercover" a little too hard and ends up transitioning from the oppressed to the oppressor, again referring back to the title of the song. Overcompensate.
How that ties into my media control theory idk 🤷🏽‍♀️ 😂 maybe cuz he's like 3 times a dad now and may have a different perception on the idea of "knowing what's best" .... little loose but I'll roll with it. I doubt it'll get wrapped up with a neat little bow, so I depend on videos like yours to talk about the connections and touch base on the lore, because I do NOT have as much time as I'd like to do all my own stuff AND internet sleuth 😅

Well it's hard to agree with you. I think so much opinion for an introduction for an album that will come out in like 2 months is too early :D I really liked it and the earworm won't get out of my head, because I don't let it. Really hyped and can't wait for the whole album.

But that's music, we all can like or hate the same things for completely different reasons.

Honestly loved the song and I considered myself done with band after the last album

As someone who has absolutely loved this band and have seen them live 8 times, this song disappoints in so many ways. Almost embarrassing lyrics to listen to which sucks because the first 12 seconds of the song might be their best sound yet, then it completely falls flat. I grew up with these guys but I’m starting to think I should’ve left them behind in my teenage years. SaI was a slog, and this song does not have me excited one bit for this album. I will still see them live as they are excellent performers and their older songs are still worth seeing, but prioritizing lore over good sounding music is a really bad way to go about making music. Man do I hope the rest of the album is good, because this is their weakest opening track yet, and an awful song to be their leading single for first impressions. 4/10 for me, if I include the creatively bankrupt album art, it gets a 2/10

I was just disappointed by the lyrics…especially compared to older stuff like Vessel, but the sound was amazing like Blurryface. I just don’t like how he flows especially in the bridge.
And after a being a fan for 9 years, I was in for the whole cryptic stuff we had during the hiatus but now that it’s ALL ABOUT lore, I’m pretty annoyed

I will say, I haven’t listened to them much since Trench, but this new single is honestly pretty fucking solid! I definitely dig it.

I feel like this song will be a fucking awesome concert opener

I’m a fan who has been listening since the beginning. I never cared about the lore but tolerated it for “Blurryface” and “Trench” because they’re good albums. Stretching this shit to four albums is why I took a break from them. I can’t stand the fandom being so lore-obsessed. It’s not even an interesting enough lore to begin with. Can we just go back to normal music, guys?

Also, the lore explanation was kind of needed. The general public tuned out from them because of this shit ass lore. It got too much. People need to be reminded of what is going on. The fact that they were in a pretty good place in “Blurryface” and was destined for bigger things, only to fumble the bag is such a waste. “Trench” got a pass for being a solid album, but the enthusiasm from non-fans fizzled out. Weird for a band that just 7 years ago was considered big enough to be seated next to Beyoncé and Adele at the Grammys.

yeah ur wrong and speaking too soon, the video already has 300k likes with 3mil views dont know much else to say but your wrong and you shouldnt make anymore 21 pilots videos because your just going to hate come back to this when the album releases and realize your so wrong and stupid

Now what about Ministry?

I get the complaint that it could be seen as a Frankenstein of their styles and lyrics and lore but…I kinda love the messy structure. Feels like you’ve been hit by a truck then they do a tempo change then fucking dip. Love it!

I think the new single Overcompensate was awesome! That tempo change and Josh's drumming is amazing! If the album is even half as good as this song hyped me up, its gonna be great!

This "Clancy/Trench" album...
Might be 21 Pilots version of, (Metallica's St. Anger album?)

I enjoyed it, I personally love the switch ups but can see why some don’t. I think the fact that my intro to the song was walking through the middle of a busy city at night really hit the vibes for me and sold it to me.

It also reminds me a bit of when Nothing but Thieves dropped Welcome to the DCC last year. Not the greatest song but enjoyable and it gave me hope for their sound for the upcoming album, which I ended up enjoying. I was meh on Scaled and Icy, so hearing Overcompensate gets me excited considering how much I love Trench.

i like the song, i just wish it sounded more like the intro

I was meh on the first listen, but on the 2nd and 3rd listen I was kinda hooked :) I know the surface level of the lore but I don't pay much detailed attention to it, and the songs still entertain me as is. I don't really think the lore aspect should affect whether or not the song is enjoyable. But that's just me. Sometimes I just like songs for specific vocals/chrouses/etc, nothing much deeper than that.

I agree with you, I don't think the lyrics suit the song structure and the instruemntal. I hope that the production on the album is stellar, but they need to make an album of just regular, nonconceptual songs like Vessel

I appreciate your perspective here. I would say I’m a fan, never got too much into the lore but love their music. After SAI I was happy to hear this!

Gobsmacked….. 😅that’s a keeper

Idk how I feel about the song either, but I've seen you change your opinion before Jon. We'll just see.