Scaled and Icy
by Twenty One Pilots
  • Record Label: Atlantic
  • Release Date: May 21, 2021
User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 314 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 263 out of 314
  2. Mixed: 29 out of 314
  3. Negative: 22 out of 314
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  1. Kemg703
    Jun 2, 2021
    5
    A different direction for top for sure, definitely going to be mixed reactions to it. As a long time fan after a few listens, some songs grew on me but overall its a bit disappointing when compared to previous albums. I probably wouldn't have given it so many listens had it not been the band it was.

    Best song is good day or mulberry St for me. Worst song by a mile is Saturday I'm actually    A different direction for top for sure, definitely going to be mixed reactions to it. As a long time fan after a few listens, some songs grew on me but overall its a bit disappointing when compared to previous albums. I probably wouldn't have given it so many listens had it not been the band it was.

    Best song is good day or mulberry St for me. Worst song by a mile is Saturday I'm actually even shocked they put that out.    … Expand
  2. SpoopyEduardo
    Jun 7, 2021
    8
    The new sound may be jarring to some which is understandable but they are not bad songs. The lore behind the album and purpose of it makes it all the better. The way the album takes a quick turn on the last 2 songs is beautifully made a poetic. I love twenty one pilots one of their best work
  3. Dunsweet21
    Jun 12, 2021
    10
    Os meninos realmente conseguiram mudar sua sonoridade nesse magnífico álbum.
  4. Okrrr
    Jun 14, 2021
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. GOOD album not the best of the band, And this very underrated deserves more recognition for the lyrics… Expand
  5. kennice
    Aug 1, 2021
    10
    A little different from the rest of the albums but I thoroughly enjoy listening to it. great work. yet another masterpiece
  6. EcoWindd
    Jul 3, 2021
    10
    Though it may not reach the heights of Trench, Scaled And Icy is still one of the best rock albums of the 2000s and definitely deserves a spot in that category, every song on this record is good, and taking into account the limitations of the COVID-19 pandemic, I have to say that Tyler Joseph really outdid himself on this. Trench is better, but Scaled And Icy is still extremely well made.
  7. caszztro
    Jul 6, 2021
    9
    As a clikkie, I am definitely not disappointed. It is not their best album, but this has some of their best songs ever. Amazing album
  8. Edgar_XD
    Jul 22, 2021
    8
    Ok, hay que dejar en claro que esto es un producto intermedio
    Y creo que en eso cumple su funcion, no es ni en broma lo mejor que han echo pero se nota calidad de composicion al rededor del album en canciones como No Chances, Bounce Man, Formidable y The Outside
    Espero con ansias el siguiente album que sera mucho mas solido y elaborado, mientras ranto Scaled And Icy deja un buen sabor de    Ok, hay que dejar en claro que esto es un producto intermedio
    Y creo que en eso cumple su funcion, no es ni en broma lo mejor que han echo pero se nota calidad de composicion al rededor del album en canciones como No Chances, Bounce Man, Formidable y The Outside
    Espero con ansias el siguiente album que sera mucho mas solido y elaborado, mientras ranto Scaled And Icy deja un buen sabor de boca como un album de paso    … Expand
  9. petejo88
    Aug 2, 2021
    10
    I want to point out how juvenile and unprofessional No Ripcord's review is. being an utter ass in music is not gonna grant you any attention
  10. OdeToMusic
    Aug 13, 2021
    9
    Obviously it's not Trench, but it's a masterpiece in terms of musicality. They managed to sound like Elton and Gorillaz in the same album. I loved it.
    Fav track: No chances
    Least fav track: Bounce man
  11. TOOLfan
    Oct 15, 2021
    3
    Bad music!
    Bad text!
    Bad vocals!
    Uncomparable to previous albums.
    I really hate it!
  12. vesselloc
    Oct 22, 2021
    10
    incrível, superam as minhas expectativas com essa inovação deles, parabéns twenty one pilots
  13. timetraveler136
    Feb 23, 2023
    9
    This is one of my favorite top albums. I wasn't a fan of Trench so I was pleasantly surprised that this album is as good as it is. Still no Blurryface but comes pretty close.

    My favorites: Redecorate, Formidable and The Outside.
  14. Fezco
    Nov 5, 2021
    10
    Este fue un álbum muy diferente, aún asi, no le quita sus vibras anteriores, sin duda, es un álbum muy bueno, y espero a que ganen algún premio por este álbum, muy bueno.
  15. sodovich
    Dec 25, 2021
    9
    A beautiful and expressive experience, as personal as ever, makes me wanna cry in masterpieces like Redecorate. Simply amazing.
  16. Ka1dowskiX
    Feb 7, 2022
    7
    The album is a shift in TOP style which may seem a downgrade when skipping the entire lore part. The songs simply feel nice, but lack the "soul" of Twenty One Pilots. Some of the songs, like No Chances and Redecorate are top-tier and convey the essence of the band. When adding the lore, the album gains a lot, but it has to be emphasised that a small part of TOP listeners will actuallyThe album is a shift in TOP style which may seem a downgrade when skipping the entire lore part. The songs simply feel nice, but lack the "soul" of Twenty One Pilots. Some of the songs, like No Chances and Redecorate are top-tier and convey the essence of the band. When adding the lore, the album gains a lot, but it has to be emphasised that a small part of TOP listeners will actually explore the songs' deeper meaning.… Expand
  17. garfield7081
    Mar 26, 2022
    7
    took its time to grow on me, but still a disappointing addition to twenty one pilot's discography. top's previous albums had variety and took risks that could harm their mainstream reputation, making two of rock's finest albums in recent memory. however, this album takes close to no risks at all, (almost) every song sounds like safe radio "pool-party-esque" music. as i said previously,took its time to grow on me, but still a disappointing addition to twenty one pilot's discography. top's previous albums had variety and took risks that could harm their mainstream reputation, making two of rock's finest albums in recent memory. however, this album takes close to no risks at all, (almost) every song sounds like safe radio "pool-party-esque" music. as i said previously, this album did grow on me, but i wouldn't feel comfortable giving it anything higher than a 7 at the very most.

    best song: mulberry street

    worst song: no chances    … Expand
  18. KrillerBomb
    Mar 27, 2022
    10
    For sure their most feel-good album and there's absolutely nothing wrong with that, especially in these trying times. Favorite's are "Shy Away", "Redecorate" and "Never Take It."
  19. Crypticghost
    Apr 11, 2022
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. A really good album I find it very underrated from the fans obviously not as good as trench or blurryface but the first single shy away Ticks every box a great retro song that gives you the chills Saturday and choker being the next singles are great no changes is a great flashback to fairly local similar sound with great falsettos redecorate is so underrated a brilliant final song to the album… Expand
  20. Nickkk2003
    Apr 21, 2022
    7
    The singles are the best on the album, especially Shy Away. And so the album is weaker than the previous ones. I hope they bring back the old sound with the next album.
  21. frostydog23
    May 8, 2022
    8
    Although not as great as their other albums, Scaled and Icy is worth a listen. The hidden lore is a great touch
  22. WestoReviews
    Jun 19, 2022
    3
    I've been a fan of TOP for a while and my favorite record is Trench, I was very excited for the release of Scaled And Icy. But i was very disappointed on my first listen, it was a very boring album in my eyes and I enjoyed no songs on it, after about 3 months I really wanted to try the album again to see if I was just not hearing things right. I came back and I liked the songs, No Chances,I've been a fan of TOP for a while and my favorite record is Trench, I was very excited for the release of Scaled And Icy. But i was very disappointed on my first listen, it was a very boring album in my eyes and I enjoyed no songs on it, after about 3 months I really wanted to try the album again to see if I was just not hearing things right. I came back and I liked the songs, No Chances, and Good Day, but that was it. Overall sounds like the epitome of millennial-pop… Expand
  23. thegamingfoo
    Jul 10, 2022
    6
    The album is good but compared to the others it is bad. it just feels more like a first album compared to their real first album.
  24. zophfia
    Jul 31, 2022
    10
    My first reaction listening to this album was “wtf am I listening to?” “Is that really a tøp album?”. I took me a time to get used to it, cause it wasn’t something I was expecting from Tyler and Josh. I believe everybody has specific songs that make you feel absolutely delighted. I have a few songs that makes me feel like that, and some of them are from this album. Redecorate is one of myMy first reaction listening to this album was “wtf am I listening to?” “Is that really a tøp album?”. I took me a time to get used to it, cause it wasn’t something I was expecting from Tyler and Josh. I believe everybody has specific songs that make you feel absolutely delighted. I have a few songs that makes me feel like that, and some of them are from this album. Redecorate is one of my favorites songs of all times. I feel like I’m transcending every time I listen to that chorus. Such a happy album, it gives you a feeling I can’t properly explain. Twenty One Pilots don’t stay in a comfort zone, they are innovation, and this album proves that. Can’t wait to see what else they have for us (especially after The Outside music video)… Expand
  25. Jolien
    Aug 20, 2022
    10
    My favourite album of them! Singalong songs, brilliant following up of the song on the album. No need to shuffle nor skip!
  26. Kitsuda
    Sep 24, 2022
    10
    I truly enjoyed that 80's style music is gives off, I listen to it almost everyday. The music style is truly a unique one, almost 80's like yet not and has a "pop" to it at the same time.
  27. dayeinthesun
    Jul 10, 2023
    9
    This album was a very fun listen. Although, I didn't understand the lore on my first listen, I think the lore later adds to my enjoyment. I think this is one of the stronger albums put out in the pandemic, the writing was illustrious and the production kept me on my toes. I'm thoroughly impressed that Tyler wrote the majority of the songs on this project on his own. Especially consideringThis album was a very fun listen. Although, I didn't understand the lore on my first listen, I think the lore later adds to my enjoyment. I think this is one of the stronger albums put out in the pandemic, the writing was illustrious and the production kept me on my toes. I'm thoroughly impressed that Tyler wrote the majority of the songs on this project on his own. Especially considering the wordplay that he incorporates. I do feel that there were heavy 70's influences in the songs, which is very different from their well-known album, Blurryface. So, while I enjoyed this project, it did take some getting used to.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

21
#21 Most Discussed Album of 2021

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
70

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 9
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 9
  3. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. Rolling Stone
    Jun 2, 2021
    50
    Like a Maroon 5 with some vulnerability beneath the pop sheen. [Jun 2021, p.77]
  2. No Ripcord
    May 24, 2021
    40
    Given how much effort twenty one pilots give into their presentation, it's genuinely surprising how uninteresting Scaled and Icy sounds on the surface. ... The music itself sounds so limiting and faceless.
    Read full review
  3. Glide Magazine
    May 24, 2021
    80
    It is hard to predict how faithful Twenty-one pilots fans will react. Regardless, given the time spent by Joseph and Dun on this record, this record is a triumph that marks a maturity that now eclipses their previous albums.
    Read full review
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