World War Joy cover

World War Joy

The Chainsmokers · 2019

53 min · 16 tracks · electronic dance music

A vibrant mix of infectious hooks and pulsating beats, underscored by emotional lyrics and danceable rhythms.

Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    The Reaper Start here — establishes the sonic palette early
  • →
    Takeaway — This track captures the essence of longing and vulnerability, featuring poignant vocals from Lennon Stella that elevate its emotional weight.
  • →
    P.S. I Hope You’re Happy — With its introspective lyrics and catchy chorus, this song exemplifies the album's thematic exploration of relationships and personal growth.
  • →
    Who Do You Love — Featuring an engaging back-and-forth between The Chainsmokers and 5 Seconds of Summer, this track highlights the album's collaborative spirit and pop sensibility.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

42 /100
Lowland
Higher than 1% of albums we've rated

The album showcases strong hooks and collaborations but lacks cohesion due to its remix-heavy nature.

What we noticed

  • The first half of the album features upbeat tracks that maintain a consistent tempo, while the second half introduces several remixes that alter the original songs' dynamics.
  • Collaborative tracks feature different vocalists, creating a varied sound palette across the album.
Composition 25% of the score
6/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
7/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
5/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
5/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
4/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • wave-like pacing for dancing
  • remix variety for fresh experiences
  • uplifting anthems for celebrations
  • emotional resonance in upbeat tracks

Maybe skip if you

  • prefer slow, introspective music
  • dislike dance beats

Where this album fits

In the catalog
Deep Cut — Solid entry that reflects their evolving sound but isn't a standout in the catalog.
Themes
emotional connections· collaborative spirit· post-breakup reflection
Career context
Released on January 1, 2019, 'World War Joy' marked The Chainsmokers' transition into a more collaborative phase following their commercial peak with 'Memories...Do Not Open' in 2017. This album features several collaborations with artists like Bebe Rexha and Ty Dolla Sign, showcasing their growth beyond EDM into broader pop influences.
Stylistic neighbors
Zedd· Calvin Harris· David Guetta

Tracklist

  • 1 The Reaper Start here 3:04
  • 2 Family 3:21
  • 3 See the Way 2:56
  • 4 P.S. I Hope You’re Happy 3:45
  • 5 Push My Luck 3:01
  • 6 Takeaway 3:29
  • 7 Call You Mine 3:37
  • 8 Do You Mean 3:13
  • 9 Kills You Slowly 3:35
  • 10 Who Do You Love 3:46
  • 11 Closer (Tokyo remix) 4:06
  • 12 Takeaway (Sondr remix) 3:34
  • 13 Push My Luck (TWINSICK remix) 3:22
  • 14 Call You Mine (Keanu Silva remix) 2:49
  • 15 Who Do You Love (R3HAB remix) 2:32
  • 16 Family (Lune remix) 3:20

Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata