And then it's, like, the coolest thing you've ever f***ing heard.

Brian and Lizzie dive into the cultural impact and musical complexity of Twenty One Pilots' 2015 masterpiece, Blurryface. They explore the album's guerrilla marketing leak, its consortium of A-list producers, and its lasting influence on the pop landscape.

Was Blurryface the biggest record to emerge from the 2010s emo scene? Brian and Lizzie investigate the monumental impact of Twenty One Pilots' 2015 genre-defying album. They discuss the duo's Ohio roots, their place in Fueled by Ramen's emo history, and the album's unique production, which brought together producers from hip hop, pop, and indie rock. The hosts explore the strategic album leak, the creation of the 'Blurryface' character to personify insecurity and mental health struggles, and how the record smuggled alternative art into the mainstream. Featuring in-depth analysis of landmark tracks like the billion-stream hit "Stressed Out," the reggae-infused "Ride," and the fan-favorite "Tear In My Heart," this episode debates whether the album's pop punk adjacency and massive success cement its place as one of the best emo albums of all time.

"This is very much a radio sounding record, although the music and the songwriting is not super radio friendly."

"By wrapping a high concept album about depression and insecurity in glossy pop production, Twenty One Pilots smuggled alternative art into the mainstream."

"I wasn't raised in the hood, but I know a thing or two about pain and darkness. And it's like, I don't think that you need to say that in a rap song."

Artist Website: https://www.twentyonepilots.com/

Artist Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/twentyonepilots/

Artist Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3YQKmKGau1PzlV9sRsech5

Artist Tour Page: https://www.twentyonepilots.com/tour

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It was never just a phase. We connect the Myspace era to today's waves.

"We've always had the same kind of values in why we're doing this. That alignment, I think, helps the steadiness and longevity... The music comes first. Music is about itself. It's not, at least primarily a means to make a living."

Dustin Kensrue of Thrice on the shared values that have kept the band's lineup intact for 25 years. He discusses their unique writing process using Asana and 400+ voice memos, and how re-recording a classic album influenced their new sound.

For over two decades, Thrice has been a constant—a pillar of the post-hardcore scene that has not only evolved with each album but has kept its original four members intact. We’re joined by frontman Dustin Kensrue to discuss how they’ve managed one of the most incredible feats in rock music: staying together. Dustin details the band's practical creative process, revealing how they use project management tools like Asana to organize hundreds of voice memos into the powerful songs fans know and love. He also explains how revisiting their classic album *The Artist in the Ambulance* allowed them to reconnect with old instincts in a fresh way, directly influencing their new material. This is a conversation about legacy, integrity, and what it takes to put the music first, always.

"We've always had the same kind of values in why we're doing this. And that alignment, I think, helps the steadiness and longevity... The music comes first."

"I have no idea how we would write a song to work on TikTok... it's just not on our minds. There's enough juice flowing... the hardest thing is narrowing down what ideas we wanna chase because there's so many."

"Doing both of those [re-recordings] was a process of kind of reintegrating a lot of old instincts and ways of thinking... those instincts can be reappropriated by us in a fresh way, that feels authentic and organic and not forced."

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Support the Show:

• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts/Spotify
• Share this episode with a friend who needs to hear it
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It was never just a phase. We connect the Myspace era to today's waves.

"I think we're one of the first bands that wasn't afraid of being called emo. We didn't try to tell people not to call us emo. We were actually trying to be an emo band."

We're live at Warped Tour Orlando with Buddy from Senses Fail! He dives into why the band always embraced being called emo and their early days on Drive-Thru Records, while also detailing their three unique sets for the Emo's Not Dead cruise.

Live from Warped Tour Orlando, we sit down with the legendary Buddy Nielsen of Senses Fail. Buddy reflects on the band's unique place in emo history, sharing why they were one of the few bands to proudly embrace the 'emo' title from the very beginning. He discusses their roots on the iconic pop punk label Drive-Thru Records and how influences like Finch and Jimmy Eat World shaped their sound. Looking ahead, Buddy gives us an exclusive preview of their ambitious plans for the Emo's Not Dead cruise, which includes three distinct sets: a jazz band called Martini Kiss, a set of their greatest hits, and a hardcore performance. Tune in for a deep dive into the legacy and future of one of the scene's most important bands.

HIGHLIGHTS:

"I think we're one of the first bands that wasn't afraid of being called emo. We didn't try to tell people not to call us emo. We were actually trying to be an emo band."

"All emo is real emo. Even the industry plan emos... There's a discussion to be had about what is good. But I think everybody should be allowed to throw their name in the hat."

"If you influenced an emo band, you might be emo, whether you like it or not. Jimmy Eat World, emo, huge influence on on me personally."

Guest/Band Links:

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/467o5z7PYxbXFAGA0mvhAQ

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sensesfail/

Official Website: https://www.sensesfail.com/

Tour Page: https://sensesfail.com/pages/tour

JOIN THE CLUB!

Youtube: https://emosocial.club/youtube

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Facebook: https://emosocial.club/facebook

Twitter: https://emosocial.club/twitter

Support the Show:

• Leave a review on Apple Podcasts/Spotify
• Share this episode with a friend who needs to hear it
• Support us and watch exclusive episodes: https://emosocialclub.tv

It was never just a phase. We connect the Myspace era to today's waves.