World War Joy

In 2018, The Chainsmokers made some changes. First, they switched up their sound—shifting from big, bubbly dance pop to electronic-tinged emo tunes—and then, their methods. Instead of dropping an entire album all at once, the duo released their second album *Sick Boy* one song at a time, bending the release schedule to match their creative process. That approach worked, so they adopted it again for *World War Joy*, their third full-length LP. Tonally, it falls somewhere between their bright-eyed debut and brooding follow-up—there are songs with Kygo (“Family”) and blink-182 (“P.S. I Hope You’re Happy”) here—and includes the synth-pop smash “Who Do You Love” with 5 Seconds of Summer. But it also serves as a reminder: Even though The Chainsmokers are known for unexpected collaborations and blissed-out party cuts, they are, at the end of the day, gifted producers with a keen sense of melody. The album’s only two tracks *without* guests, ”Push My Luck” and “Kills You Slowly,” are the most clear-eyed and immersive: conversational lyrics, romantic earworm melodies, and clever production that lets each verse breathe.

Like their 2018 sophomore set, Sick Boy, the Chainsmokers' third effort, World War Joy, was slowly unveiled over the course of a year, with album singles issued almost monthly until the LP's eventual arrival in December 2019.