The Weeknd

[R-Dot-Yung]

Weeknd Thread.

Echoes of Silence just came out...going to listen to it through and post back impressions. So far he sounds like Michael Jackson on this first track

[peter]

Goddamn, three mixtapes of such quality with a year for fucking FREE?? I hope he'll start charging for his music or starts touring, so he can continue this. Very impressive, almost on par with HoB.

[konstantin]

what's the diff between a mixtape and an album? feel like this year totally mixed the concepts up. guessing if you're releasing a mixtape it's free and nobody has to pay for the samples.

i really liked House of Balloons for a while.

[R-Dot-Yung]

what's the diff between a mixtape and an album? feel like this year totally mixed the concepts up. guessing if you're releasing a mixtape it's free and nobody has to pay for the samples.

i really liked House of Balloons for a while.

Yeah. I dunno where the money comes from to support this project but it's got money behind it.

My first impressions are that this one was my least favorite of the three.

[witte]

i really liked House of Balloons for a while.

Yeah, played it a lot last summer. Made me calm.

[Kid Charlemagne]

Mixtapes are released for free because they usually contain unlicensed samples, took me a while to actually figure that out. But yeah, this is awesome. I have no idea where he gets money to continue to do this, but I suspect next year will be big for Abel and hopefully some dates. I suppose Drake is giving him some money since I know those two are close.

[Presideo]

I've been enjoying Echoes of Silence a lot lately, though the first mixtape is still the best.

I also think they use the term mixtape to distinguish that the releases are free. I'm guessing they're using these free "mixtapes" to drum up support for a studio album that they can profit from.

[carpenoctem]

Pitchfork just reported that they're bundling up all three of them and releasing them together with outtakes, so that could drum up some profit for sure. I'll probably get it, that's pretty good value for one release.

[KrakenWakes]

If anyone has issues with track 4, there's a fucking colon in the title that was a pain in the ass in windows 7 to get rid of. I had to use cmd prompt and some sneaky moving folders around to get rid of the file and folder it was extracted to. Change that colon before extracting.

[BlueCalx]

Re-upped because a tour has just been announced. Dates below, courtesy of Pitchfork.


04-15 Indio, CA - Coachella
04-22 Indio, CA - Coachella
04-25 Brooklyn, NY - Music Hall of Williamsburg
04-26 Washington, DC - 9:30 Club
04-27 Boston, MA - Royale
04-28 New York, NY - Bowery Ballroom
04-29 Philadelphia, PA - TLA
05-03 Chicago, IL - Lincoln Hall
05-06 Los Angeles, CA - Fonda Theatre
05-08 San Francisco, CA - The Fillmore
05-10 Portland, OR - Roseland Theater
05-11 Seattle, WA - Showbox at the Market
05-12 Vancouver, British Columbia - Commodore Ballrom
06-02 Barcelona, Spain - Primavera Sound Festival
06-09 Porto, Portugal - Optimus Primavera Sound
08-03 Chicago, IL - Lollapalooza

I'll be seeing you at the Commodore Ballroom.

[october_midnight]

Hell yeah Commodore...baller status.

[october_midnight]

Vancouver show sold out in 4 minutes! Thank fuck I got a pair.

[thefragile_jake]

Can't wait to get my copy of Trilogy next week!

[Rabbit]

this just dropped yesterday. nice vid, great song. comes with a bit of controversy considering the drums are a direct sample from Portishead's Machine Gun and it was taken even though they weren't pleased.

oh well, great song. can't wait for this new album.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lYO77zNhWl4

[Self.Destructive.Pattern]

Jeremy Rose? Anyone? Anyone?

He is now under the name "Zodiac" and was not only the Co-founder of "The Weekend" (before the E was dropped by Abel), but he also produced everything for the first 3 songs from "The Weeknd": "What You Need", "Loft Music", and "The Morning". He was never credited, nor compensated for his talent and work. You can hear every influence from Rose in not only "What You Need", but also the other songs mentioned above with his dark/moody vibe. Despite from some great music, Abel Tesfaye really is a big douche and never credited Rose for anything he did.

Article from Rose... there are many others:
http://www.spinner.com/2012/03/23/the-weeknd-producer-no-credit/ (http://www.spinner.com/2012/03/23/the-weeknd-producer-no-credit/)

Here is a track from Rose's (Zodiac) latest Ep and it is wonderful.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITrhu0EprDQ


Despite some controversy.. I still love their music.

[Presideo]

http://pitchfork.com/news/51565-the-weeknd-says-theres-no-portishead-sample-on-belong-to-the-world-according-to-geoff-barrow/

They're also under fire for sampling Portishead's "Machine Gun" without permission - sounds very similar to me.

Still, nice song...

[Rabbit]

Jeremy Rose? Anyone? Anyone?

He is now under the name "Zodiac" and was not only the Co-founder of "The Weekend" (before the E was dropped by Abel), but he also produced everything for the first 3 songs from "The Weeknd": "What You Need", "Loft Music", and "The Morning". He was never credited, nor compensated for his talent and work. You can hear every influence from Rose in not only "What You Need", but also the other songs mentioned above with his dark/moody vibe. Despite from some great music, Abel Tesfaye really is a big douche and never credited Rose for anything he did.

Article from Rose... there are many others:
http://www.spinner.com/2012/03/23/the-weeknd-producer-no-credit/ (http://www.spinner.com/2012/03/23/the-weeknd-producer-no-credit/)

Here is a track from Rose's (Zodiac) latest Ep and it is wonderful.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ITrhu0EprDQ


Despite some controversy.. I still love their music.

this shit needs to stop. He is credited on the re-release Trilogy (an actual official release of the songs) and subsequently paid for his INITIAL contribution.

Enough already.It's so annoying that people still peddle this shit around when a simple wiki search would reveal the proper (updated) information on Rose. Really really annoying.

[Self.Destructive.Pattern]

this shit needs to stop. He is credited on the re-release Trilogy (an actual official release of the songs) and subsequently paid for his INITIAL contribution.

Enough already.It's so annoying that people still peddle this shit around when a simple wiki search would reveal the proper (updated) information on Rose. Really really annoying.

Yea... it only took over 4 years and countless fans that jumped on the wagon because "Drake" posted the songs on his blog or whatever. Funny that the song posted above really is Machine Gun by Portishead in a nutshell. It comes down to the fact that Abel will always get the credit and people have no fucking clue who Jeremy Rose is... to each their own.

What's more annoying is the fact that the real story lingers in the shadows while Abel (still after the credit which is pretty much fucking hidden) gets allll the credit.

[Rabbit]

Yea... it only took over 4 years and countless fans that jumped on the wagon because "Drake" posted the songs on his blog or whatever. Funny that the song posted above really is Machine Gun by Portishead in a nutshell. It comes down to the fact that Abel will always get the credit and people have no fucking clue who Jeremy Rose is... to each their own.

What's more annoying is the fact that the real story lingers in the shadows while Abel (still after the credit which is pretty much fucking hidden) gets allll the credit.

Ok, lets make something clear here: Those three tracks he "produced" aren't even the best Weeknd tracks. Besides maybe "The Morning" the other two are minimalistic r&b productions you can find anywhere. There was nothing really AMAZING about what he contributed. Sure, did he have an initial influence on Abels direction? Yah, but that's probably all he had.

After his "contributions" the Weeknd tracks got darker and more complex. Rose has talent, even though i don't see anything particularly good about his EP he may come out of this with some exposure. But the internets has given him way too much credit.

Machine Gun has a great drum pattern, again nothing insane or unheard of before, check out Blue Monday. The soundscapes thrown over it a long with Abels vocals are what makes the track. Don't fool yourself. I for one don't mind if the entire album turns out to be a homage to Portishead with the the Weeknds dark atmosphere synth pads and lyrics/vocals over it. It will be fucking great.

[october_midnight]

All in all, I don't think there's an artist in the past few years that I was SO in to....and got bored of as quickly as The Weeknd.

[Rabbit]

All in all, I don't think there's an artist in the past few years that I was SO in to....and got bored of as quickly as The Weeknd.
well.. he only put out 1 offering so far. plus, it's in the lineage of hip hop/r&b, which lets be honest, never stays "fresh" too long does it?

[The Reason Being]

So far I prefer Kiss Land to that other song. That second half is awesome.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eN84vAqO9NY

[thefragile_jake]

We have leakage!

Edit:
Hrmm. I wasn't as impressed on my first listen, Wanderlust is certainly a standout but you can tell Abel continued to push in a certain direction from where Thursday and Echoes of Silence were at but I don't think the songs on Kiss Land are as well thought out and written as the material on the latter. The production is top notch and there's a lot of interesting sounds going on but nothing sticks with you and grabs a hold on to your ears like previous releases.

[accelestar]

Belong to the World is pretty good too. I'm still going through the album, but yeah, it doesn't immediately grab me like the mixtapes did. It's not bad by any means though.

[Iran_Ed]

Does anyone else think Trent's All Time Low sounds similar Life of The Party, or is it only me?

[thefragile_jake]

Does anyone else think Trent's All Time Low sounds similar Life of The Party, or is it only me?

Actually Life of the Party reminds me of Reptile...

[Presideo]

I'm really enjoying the new album. Lyrically, Kiss Land is far less dystopian than the mixtapes, which all sounded like the soundtrack to a Bret Easton Ellis novel. There are more conventional love songs that fit the mold of classic R&B, though it's still not radio-friendly by any means. The first half is hard to get into during the first listen, but the pace picks up by the time 'Belong to the World' starts. The production is solid throughout - there's a very epic and cinematic feel to pretty much everything. And of course, Abel is still a great singer...if only he could vary his vocal melodies a little more.

Favs: Belong to the World, Wanderlust, Kiss Land

[Reznor2112]

Im going to lose my man card but I don't care...

My fiancé and I saw Fifty Shades of Grey on v-day...which we actually both really enjoyed. Yep...I really enjoyed it. And I think the soundtrack is a pretty fantastic mix for the film. So I discovered The Weekend with the single "Earned It" from the soundtrack.

Since then Ive been loving this dude. Kiss Land is a fantastic album. I love how his music is very cinematic.

[kel]

ariana grande is nasal and boring, but that song he does with her is the tits.

[Sarah K]

Ahhhh. My roommate listens to his stuff all of the time. So I was vaguely familiar with the new album. I then downloaded it yesterday, and I can't stop listening to it. The production is craaaazy.

I'm gonna start going through his older stuff tomorrow.

[bobbie solo]

have seen Abel twice in the last month. Once as he closed out ACL Sunday 10/11 and tonight at the Prudential Center. Dude has come to dominate the world with this new Max Martin backed record. Funny to see the progression in this thread.

As far as his stage setup & lighting....let's say yet another artist owes a huge debt to Trent & Moment Factory's ideas from 2007-08 through 2013. Funny how many artists have been ripping them off since for their groundbreaking visuals.

He was great both times I saw him. I feel lucky to see a pop/R&B artist at the height of his vocal abilities since I rarely catch this kinda stuff live. Dude's voice is so, so perfect at this point.

Interesting backstory on the making of this record....


Jon Caramanica profiled the once-reclusive The Weeknd for the New York Times (http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/02/magazine/can-the-weeknd-turn-himself-into-the-biggest-pop-star-in-the-world.html?_r=0), an unlikely fate for a guy who once released music anonymously online, but a completely natural fate for a singer who has collaborated with Ariana Grande and performed with Taylor Swift (http://www.idolator.com/7600147/taylor-swift-the-weeknd-1989-concert-video).And while the story fills in some of the details of Abel Tesfaye’s foggy backstory, some of the most interesting revelations deal with his new collaborations with Max Martin. It all started when he linked up with the Swedish super-producer on Grande’s “Love Me Harder,” (http://www.idolator.com/7568875/ariana-grande-the-weeknd-love-me-harder-video-watch) which led Tesfaye to tell his label to get him more work with Martin.
“If I’m gonna be the biggest in the world,’’ he told Republic’s urban A&R head, “I need a handful of songs like that.”
But like nearly everything regarding The Weeknd’s path, Tesfaye would only work with Martin on his own terms. According to the piece, Martin’s team “typically solicits little creative input from the talent,” but Tesfaye right away rewrote the “Love Me Harder” verse given to him, and Martin liked the rewrite. And when Tesfaye hunkered down with Martin last fall, he swiftly rejected all of the material Martin’s crew had prewritten for him. So they started working on completely new songs together, and the first result was “In The Night,” which will appear on Beauty Behind The Madness (http://www.idolator.com/7599857/the-weeknd-new-album-beauty-behind-the-madness-release-date). Like the album’s lead single “Can’t Feel My Face,” (http://www.idolator.com/7594194/the-weeknd-max-martin-cant-feel-my-face) it’s said to tap into Tesfaye’s Michael Jackson fixation.
While the feature doesn’t specify whether more Martin-assisted tracks will appear on the album, which is out August 28, it certainly implies Martin had more than a two-song role and was one of the guiding forces of the project.

posted a bunch of clips to my IG...add me..."bronxtalebliss"

setlist for the arena tour:




Real Life
Losers (http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html?song=Losers)
Acquainted (http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html?song=Acquainted)
Often (http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html?song=Often)
High For This (http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html?song=High+For+This)
The Party & The After Party (http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html?song=The+Party+%26+The+After+Party)
King Of The Fall / Crew Love / Or Nah / Professional (http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html?song=King+Of+The+Fall+/+Crew+Love+/+Or+Nah+/+Professional)
The Morning (http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html?song=The+Morning)
House of Balloons/Glass Table Girls (http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html?song=House+of+Balloons/Glass+Table+Girls)
Tell Your Friends (http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html?song=Tell+Your+Friends)
The Birds, Part 1 (http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html?song=The+Birds,+Part+1)
Shameless (http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html?song=Shameless)
Earned It (http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html?song=Earned+It)
Dark Times (http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html?song=Dark+Times)
As You Ar (http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html?song=As+You+Are)e
Angel (http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html?song=Angel)
D.D. / In The Night (http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html?song=D.D.+/+In+The+Night)
Can't Feel My Face (http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html?song=Can%27t+Feel+My+Face)
Prisoner (http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html?song=Prisoner)
The Hills (http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html?song=The+Hills)
Encore- Wicked Games (http://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html?song=Wicked+Games)

[Sarah K]

I'll be seeing him next Thursday at Barclays. Very excited!

[richardp]

Man, I really fucking hope he goes out on a second leg next year and FINALLY comes to Kansas City. That sequence of DD-->In The Night --> Can't Feel My Face must be a total blast during his set.

[Amaro]

"Acquainted" is an epic lust song.

[Sarah K]

I could listen to this stretch of songs over and over:

Tell Your Friends
Often
The Hills
Acquainted

[Sarah K]

Went to the show last night... Can't even express how fucking awesome that was.

Here are my random, disjointed thoughts.

Considering where he was a few years ago, to now being one of the biggest pop stars in the world, is quite a rise.

He's also *so* young.

The live band just adds everything. It is only a three piece, but they are great.

The stage show is unlike anything that I've seen... And I hit up Tension twice. I thought it was going to be many years before I saw anything that topped the Tension experience. Nope.

His voice is just so pitch perfect that it is crazy. It also just seems completely effortless for him. Like he just opens his fucking mouth, and those incredible sounds just flow right out.

He's really becoming quite the showman.

I really hope that he doesn't self destruct.

[bobbie solo]

This song is really good other than the fact that it's Future's song, and that Future is "rapping" on it. Weeknd & the beat are dope as usual though.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_9tX4eHztY

[eversonpoe]

His voice is just so pitch perfect that it is crazy. It also just seems completely effortless for him. Like he just opens his fucking mouth, and those incredible sounds just flow right out.

that's why i really don't understand his use of auto-tune. people who can sing should not go anywhere near that shit. i'm glad it's much less prevalent on his newest album (which is sexy as hell).

[richardp]

that's why i really don't understand his use of auto-tune. people who can sing should not go anywhere near that shit. i'm glad it's much less prevalent on his newest album (which is sexy as hell).

I don't think it's so much used out of necessity as it is just because that particular sound is now kinda sinonymous with that genre.

[eversonpoe]

I don't think it's so much used out of necessity as it is just because that particular sound is now kinda sinonymous with that genre.

which sucks, haha. regardless of singing ability, i hate the artifacting (?) that auto-tune causes, even when it's subtle. it's such an irritating sound.

[Sarah K]

I just assume that the vast, vast majority of artists use it in some capacity. I think it is used more often than not.

[screwdriver]

which sucks, haha. regardless of singing ability, i hate the artifacting (?) that auto-tune causes, even when it's subtle. it's such an irritating sound.


I just assume that the vast, vast majority of artists use it in some capacity. I think it is used more often than not.



“Whatever you now find weird, ugly, uncomfortable and nasty about a new medium will surely become its signature. CD distortion, the jitteriness of digital video, the crap sound of 8-bit - all of these will be cherished and emulated as soon as they can be avoided. It’s the sound of failure: so much modern art is the sound of things going out of control, of a medium pushing to its limits and breaking apart. The distorted guitar sound is the sound of something too loud for the medium supposed to carry it. The blues singer with the cracked voice is the sound of an emotional cry too powerful for the throat that releases it. The excitement of grainy film, of bleached-out black and white, is the excitement of witnessing events too momentous for the medium assigned to record them.”

- Brian Eno

[Sarah K]

Album title/cover revealed today! Pretty quick turnaround.

[bobbie solo]

new single Star Boy produced by Daft Punk is bananas. PM me for a d/l link, b/c everything on youtube I can find atm is fake.

Uncovered this little gem though. Seems like it was quietly released a few weeks ago. Def. back to his more experimental earlier ish.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ot1Dy58FWWU

And did we ever discuss this gem from last year? My favorite song on their album for sure. Here's the VIP mix which is even more dancey.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0bzFcgcMb90

Catching him next Saturday in Queens at some new bullshit festival "The Meadows". And he'll be on SNL that same night.

[Amaro]

This album is quite the letdown. And not just coming from ...Madness.

Weak. Maybe 5 good or decent songs? Otherwise it's like...sing the song title over a weak retro backdrop chorus and other forgettable shit. Goddamn yawns and tears.

At least I know deadmau5' album will perform a fatality on the year.

[Sarah K]

Agreed. I am on my second listen right now. A few songs are good. But not much sticks out. :(

Though yeah, compared to the last album... Gonna be hard to live up to that.

[implanted_microchip]

I don't know what you guys are talking about. This is like Trilogy and BBTM had a poppy, sexy baby and shoved itself into my skull. I love it. Best production on any of his records so far, perfect blend of his darker style with a digestible package that slips a lot past the beats, really enjoyable as hell to listen to. This is way, way better than I was expecting it to be.

Rockin' feels like MJ and Prince had a kid. This whole record is dripping with 80's retro style and flair and I adore that kind of music, so to hear it taken to this high-level, professional-as-hell mixing and writing is amazing. The flow between songs is genuinely fantastic -- Rockin' into Secrets? That's amazing.

[Kodiak33]

I can't get Starboy out of my head. Those Daft Punk drums in the chorus get me. Sidewalks is also great...haven't listened to much else yet.

[implanted_microchip]

Oh, and, fuck -- Stargirl's only problem is that it's not twice as long.

Kendrick on Sidewalks delivers hard and the overall song is wonderful; Six Feet Under has a bass that makes my guts rattle; Love to Lay's percussion is lovely, it reveals a sensitive side to Abel often not there in his more bravado-based singles, the production on it slaps and his vocals are as smooth as ever here; Nothing Without You quotes Kanye's FML and is fucking gorgeous. Die For You is beautiful.

This feels like an album that anyone can find something to latch onto and way more of an "album listen" than Madness ever was. The best of Madness was amazing but it seemed really messy and hard to treat as the kind of thing you'd go through all in one sitting; Starboy seems to lend itself to being played as one full thing despite having tons of single-worthy songs that will kill on their own.

I love this record. Like, really love it. I think it's some of his best yet. I have got to see this shit done live.

[Rubeninphoenix]

Oh, and, fuck -- Stargirl's only problem is that it's not twice as long. THIS times a million. Lana's voice just has this ethereal, haunting quality that makes me wish it were 4-5 minutes long rather than ~2. So glad I got presales for the show next year.

[Sarah K]

Giving it another listen while at work and less distracted.

I can't express how much I hate False Alarm.

[implanted_microchip]

I'd be 100% open to an Abel/Lana collab album and I have never been a fan of collab albums.

@Sarah K (http://www.echoingthesound.org/community/member.php?u=3236) I really hope you end up enjoying it more; I'm really all about it at the moment. I like False Alarm a lot, but feel like all the reasons I do are also valid reasons a fan of his work might not. This album sounds to me like everything he's ever been good at or capable of taken to their max and blended better than ever.

[richardp]

It's not a bad album, at all. Much like every other album coming out lately in Hip Hop/R&B, it's just too long. Too many songs that are good, but could be better suited tacked on as Bonus Tracks at the end of the "Deluxe" Edition or something.

But with that said, I still quite enjoy it. "Secrets" is far and away my favorite track.

[Sarah K]

LIKE
-Starboy
-Party Monster
-Reminder
-True Colors*
-Stargirl*
-Sidewalks*
-Six Feet Under*
-All I Know
-Die for You

MEH (I won't skip them, but I won't intentionally seek them out)
-Rockin'
-Love to Lay
-Attention
-Ordinary Life
-Nothing Without You

DISLIKE
-False Alarm
-Secrets
-A Lonely Night
-Feel It Coming

*This block of four songs is the strongest part of the album, for me.

[Presideo]

This album feels like something the music industry wanted him to make, as opposed to something he genuinely wanted to make. Half of the tracks on here would be better served on a Carly Rae Jepsen album (or an 80’s Lionel Ritchie album destined for the bargain bin at a used record store.) Lots of four minute songs with nice hooks, but no real personality. A lot of artists can pull off an album like this with ease, which is something that couldn’t be said about his earlier work.

Beauty Behind the Madness was good pop music for the masses that stayed true to his original style. His two hit singles were about a damaged stripper and his love for cocaine; he was feeding the radio, but with a sly wink and a nod to his fanbase along the way. Starboy, on the other hand, seems dead-set on capitalizing on last years commercial success in the most cookie-cutter way possible.

[eversonpoe]

Half of the tracks on here would be better served on a Carly Rae Jepsen album (or an 80’s Lionel Ritchie album destined for the bargain bin at a used record store.)

that shade! i LOVE carly so i guess i'll like this album a lot ;p

[Presideo]

that shade! i LOVE carly so i guess i'll like this album a lot ;p

I like her, too - E•MO•TION was one of my favorite albums of '15! However, I expect The Weeknd to make better/different music than Jepsen b-side material.

Seriously, Starboy tracks like Rockin, Secrets, True Colors, Love To Lay, A Lonely Night, Attention, Nothing Without You, Die For You, and I Feel It Coming could all easily fit on E•MO•TION's Side B EP (Secrets, Die For You, and I Feel It Coming might even be good enough to make the actual album)

[implanted_microchip]

His two hit singles were about a damaged stripper and his love for cocaine; he was feeding the radio, but with a sly wink and a nod to his fanbase along the way. Starboy, on the other hand, seems dead-set on capitalizing on last years commercial success in the most cookie-cutter way possible.

I mean, hey, here you've got him singing about cumming while he dies and referencing David Caradine, talking about mixing liquor with Adderall and bragging about getting a teen choice award for a song where someone's face goes numb off a bag of blow -- there's still plenty of his darker, non-radio-friendly lines here, some of them among his best over the years.

This album seems a whole lot more like his own vision than Madness did. Madness felt like him trying hard to be the biggest guy in the world, and now that he's done that, he's finding a way of blurring the lines between his older, darker stuff and the poppier side of the equation. The guy is dancing around covered in blood to Daft Punk at this point.

It's just funny to me that a lot of people that dislike this seem to take issue with it for the reasons I didn't like Madness as an album. Odd stuff.

[Amaro]

Quality, Diggin'
Starboy
Party Monster (props)
Reminder
True Colors
Stargirl
Sidewalks
Attention
Nothing Without You
All I Know
I Feel It Coming

Good Riddance, Gone and Forgotten
False Alarm
Rockin'
Secrets
Six Feet Under
Love To Lay
A Lonely Night
Ordinary Life
Die For You

This album has too much "Earned It" and "In The Night" essence laced throughout, which were far and wide the shittiest part of ...Madness. It's hard to explain, but there's a severe lacking of what makes TW highly listenable for me.

Like...I GET YOU TOUCHIN' ON YOUR BODY. Dude, how you make that sound the way you do... It still kills, because the sound is mad epic. (That whole fucking song though.)

Starboy could've been sized down majorly and it wouldn't be such an upset, though all of the good shit still wouldn't make for a great record for me.

Since Carly has come up here (haha), for the record I fucking love her/her music.

[implanted_microchip]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZjAg6fK-BQ

[bobbie solo]

Like that song so much more with a video attached. Like seeing a less self-serious Abel once in a while too.

[Amaro]

Kiss Land is underrated.

[Amaro]

NEW ALBUM SET TO DROP TONIGHT.

http://thatgrapejuice.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/the-weeknd-my-dear-melancholy-thatgrapejuice-600x600.png

Edit: EP*

[implanted_microchip]

I'm excited. That name and artwork have me hoping hard that this is darker in sound than the last couple albums, but I'm surprised and happy to be getting anything. This guy is easily one of the hardest-working in his genre and his ability to constantly put out new material is something else.

[Amaro]

Here it is on a YouTube playlist (https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLE92yHOUL-hW2zOoJZZPhGnsSYpkMaOds), as sourced from Pitchfork.

[implanted_microchip]

I think it’s great. Lots of Trilogy vibes and proof that the poppier Weeknd hasn’t eaten the darker moodier side alive. It being an EP makes it feel like each track is a lot more important whereas Starboy was definitely way too long for its own good. I’m loving the current culture of EPs being popular again.

[Amaro]

The EP has warmed up to me nicely here on day 2.

But "I Was Never There" was a sure winner yesterday for my mood. That chord change/song break is so, so dank.

I'm on the edge of something breaking
I feel my mind is slowly fadin'
If I keep going, I won't make it

I get body chills in that section.

It's definitely nice to break out of the Starboy feeling. An EP was a smooth next move.

Edit: Yeah, I’ma buy this shit. It all works bestest as a whole. “Privilege” is my new favorite. Wow...wow... Abel’s killed it, gorgeously.

[Jon]

yessir

https://media.giphy.com/media/ZHXz9MZbJI1YA/giphy.gif

[Reznor2112]

AFTER HOURS is out now.

Not bad. Definitely some similarities to early Abel but with a blanket of 80's. I still prefer the sound of Trilogy & Kiss Land. I was stoked when I heard the single After Hours and given My Dear Melancholy was basically an extension of Trilogy in sound...

That being said, the album is good. Not bad at all, just different than expected. Lot of easter eggs throughout.

[Amaro]

I pretty much can love anything Abel's voice is on... I'd take a penis size reduction if it meant being able to sing like him.

This shit is hot right now. I loved Dear, Melancholy, didn't get grabbed by Starboy as a whole... But this one is really dang good.

Lord Abel.

[richardp]

Lot of easter eggs throughout.

Care to list some of them?

[Jon]

Care to list some of them?

http://www.mtv.com.au/bella-hadid/news/the-weeknd-has-left-some-easter-eggs-about-his-breakup-with-bella-hadid-in-new-track-after-hours

Also, Daniel Lopatin/OPN has writing/producing credits on 3 songs.

[Self.Destructive.Pattern]

After Hours is soooo good. In Your Eyes is addicting as hell to listen to, along with him revisiting old lyrics from the earlier days makes it feel more cohesive.

Apparently there is a deluxe edition coming out with 5 new tracks.

[Jon]

After Hours is soooo good. In Your Eyes is addicting as hell to listen to, along with him revisiting old lyrics from the earlier days makes it feel more cohesive.

Apparently there is a deluxe edition coming out with 5 new tracks.

Available now, may take a few hours for other platforms:

https://music.apple.com/us/album/after-hours-deluxe/1503714215

Blinding Lights (feat. Chromatics) (Chromatics Remix)
Save Your Tears (OPN Remix)
Heartless (feat. Lil Uzi Vert) (Vapor Wave Remix)
After Hours (The Blaze Remix)
Scared To Live (SNL Live)

[Self.Destructive.Pattern]

Available now, may take a few hours for other platforms:

https://music.apple.com/us/album/after-hours-deluxe/1503714215

Blinding Lights (feat. Chromatics) (Chromatics Remix)
Save Your Tears (OPN Remix)
Heartless (feat. Lil Uzi Vert) (Vapor Wave Remix)
After Hours (The Blaze Remix)
Scared To Live (SNL Live)

Woahh, Chromatics remix?? Thanks for the post :D

[richardp]

These remixes are REALLY good. They work really well within the confines of the album's aesthetic, so they're a total welcome addition, rather than just being random remixes tacked on at the end.

[Jon]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqRZDebPIGs

[Self.Destructive.Pattern]

This collab is fucking stellar. Easily the best remix out of the bunch.


https://youtu.be/PHaeIertarY

[Jon]

Bah, didn't realize they were releasing the deluxe edition on CD, vinyl, and cassette as well... oh look, it's signed... oh look, it's the same price as the regular edition:

$12 CD, $16 CS, $40 2LP (https://shop.theweeknd.com/)

Those limited shirt designs are garbage. Could have gone simplistic, two-tone, blood spatter...

[Self.Destructive.Pattern]

Bah, didn't realize they were releasing the deluxe edition on CD, vinyl, and cassette as well... oh look, it's signed... oh look, it's the same price as the regular edition:

$12 CD, $16 CS, $40 2LP (https://shop.theweeknd.com/)

Those limited shirt designs are garbage. Could have gone simplistic, two-tone, blood spatter...

The shirt designs are so bad. I wanted to like a few, but they look like something I would have worn when I was 12. Still blows my mind that Cassettes are now more expensive than a CD; I get why, but man we have come a long way.

[Jon]

The shirt designs are so bad. I wanted to like a few, but they look like something I would have worn when I was 12. Still blows my mind that Cassettes are now more expensive than a CD; I get why, but man we have come a long way.

I get it, it's supposed to be like Las Vegas tourist merch from the time. The problem is, it looks like something I'd expect to see in North Carolina or Florida, the opposite coast.

[bobbie solo]

Agree that merch is hideous. Got this shirt a few years back which I love. Was shocked at how much I liked it considering merch from hip hop/pop artists are generally trash. Thought it was pretty sweet considering they actually cancelled this festival a few hours before he was gonna perform bc of insane thunderstorms, so these ended up being kinda rare items they only put up on their site to sell for 48 hours.

https://ssl.ulximg.com/public/userfiles/2018/07/unnamed%20(3).jpg

https://ssl.ulximg.com/public/userfiles/2018/07/unnamed%20(2).jpg

[thefragile_jake]

Probably my favorite album of his front to back since the Trilogy days.

"Hardest to Love" is so damn good. Love the almost Aphex Twin-ish jungle beat production.

[Jon]

Major Lazer remix of "Blinding Lights" is available on streaming and download services. ProStudioMasters for sure has the lossless:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-j2TWopSWQ

[ickyvicky]

With Kenny G at last night's AMA Awards

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-weeknd-in-your-eyes-kenny-g-2020-amas-1093716/

[bobbie solo]

Guess I'll be watching the Super Bowl for about 20 minutes this year too.

[ickyvicky]

https://youtu.be/XXYlFuWEuKI

[Graz]

Halftime performance was pretty dope! House of Balloons mix was a nice surprise, wasn’t expecting any Trilogy material whatsoever. Glad he got the nod this year.

[richardp]

That was probably the best halftime show since Prince last did it. Really REALLY good performance.

[thefragile_jake]

Really, really, really enjoyed that performance a lot!

[bobbie solo]

Abel kicked so much ass with this performance. First time I've given a shit about the Super Bowl since Prince or Foo Fighters performed...whichever was last.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9rhadTURsrw&ab_channel=NFL

- He put $7 million of his own money into the show, and didn't actually get paid for doing the halftime show. Oh & special guests? He was like "I dropped 7 large on this shit, no one else is gonna be up there except me."

- if that was pre-recorded & lip synced (as the Super Bowl performances tend to be), he did a damn good job of staying on point with that, and adding in some crowd participation stuff & ad-libs to make it appear more live.

- I love how the whole theme of this album cycle with the bandages & plastic surgery is so confusing for normies/non-fans. Abel said that keeping with this theme for the performance was a big reason why there were no guests.

- Another dumb friend said the performance sucked bc he didn't dance and just walked around alot. The Weeknd doesn't dance!! He has the voice of an angel, that's all we need.

and now the internet:

https://twitter.com/ConorRyan_93/status/1358590985723392000

CLA74iHA7gd

[chuckrh]

He needs to take lip syncing lessons from Paul Stanley

[ickyvicky]

I really enjoyed his performance last night.

[RowanSomething]

I'm really fucking with that arrangement of The Hills. Sounds almost goth metal on that chorus. And that version of the bassline... wow. Hope we get a full version of that on an (eventual) tour.

Great show.

[richardp]

It truly has been a lot of fun this morning seeing everyone who only casually know The Weeknd's music be so negatively taken aback by the performance last night.

[eachpassingphase]

It truly has been a lot of fun this morning seeing everyone who only casually know The Weeknd's music be so negatively taken aback by the performance last night.

Yeah, it pissed off my entire family lol. They were so confused.

[bobbie solo]

Yeah, it pissed off my entire family lol. They were so confused.

what did they say?

[eachpassingphase]

what did they say?

They were mostly just upset because they felt like it wasn’t fun and lighthearted like other Super Bowl performances. They didn’t know why his backup dancers had their faces covered. They felt like it was a bummer rather than fun and uplifting.

And I’m just like...yeah. Well. Have you ever listened to even a single song by The Weeknd? Half his discography is just about how much he hates himself and loves cocaine lmao.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[ickyvicky]

My mom said the same thing. She said he has great melodies, but found the show to be slow. She found it more to be a musical than a Super Bowl performance.

[sweeterthan]

oh no i agree with these people! i must be old! i was personally looking forward to the performance but also felt like it was a bummer. i told my kids it was gonna be fun and tuned out all the lights and turned up the sound. it sounded good but yes the covered faces were jarring. i have a weird trigger about that coz of my facial injuries from a car accident. i wanted to get over it but the reappeared for the finale and instead of bandages this time, they looked like underwear.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[richardp]

Dawn FM is out and it's so fucking great. Jim Carrey's narration over the whole album is surprisingly refreshing and works really well. My only complaint with the album is the Lil Wayne verse just because I think Lil Wayne sucks.

[buckets of lube]

I'm not a fan of the Tyler verse either. Rest of that song is not bad though, with Abel using his King of the Fall flow again.

Gasoline is a massive banger!

[poinoup]

Album of the year so far! :D

This is a beauty front to back. When Gasoline's vocals hit, I knew I was in for a treat.

[richardp]

Gasoline really is a true banger. Sacrifice hits real good too.

[poinoup]

I need a Depeche Mode cover of Gasoline.

[allegate]

I saw that all of the albums are on Apple Music in Atmos. Not really a big difference but I think you'd only hear it if you were more than a casual fan of the albums. I definitely only notice differences in those albums I've listened to hundreds of times.

[Self.Destructive.Pattern]

This has to be listened to with headphones... so much little stuff going on in the background of several songs. I didn't expect Phatom Regret to hit me as hard as it did... Brought tears to my eyes. When you listen to this album, you really feel like you're in for the ride and Jim translates that so well throughout the little breaks.

Also a nice little touch with the bird sounds at the beginning and end of the album; what a ride.

[kel]

ariana grande is nasal and boring, but that song he does with her is the tits.
this did not age well. i love ariana and haven't cared for his shit at all. sounds like i should give this one a spin, though.

[ickyvicky]

So they're saying the girl he's singing about is Angelina Jolie?

[bobbie solo]

def love the entire album, but maaaaan those first 5songs back to back is just killer. Mega Jams.

I agree Lil Wayne sucks, but I did chuckle initially at that "no hub-cap" line. Took me a second, and then I conceded.

[bobbie solo]

two official remixes got released. One is excellent:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43QiQfhFToY&ab_channel=TheWeekndVEVO

And one is solid:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lu7lJ5okjyo&ab_channel=TheWeekndVEVO

[bobbie solo]

anyone watch last night's Coachella split set w/Swedish House Mafia? It was REALLY really good.




Video Introduction (contains elements of "Sacrifice")
(with Swedish House Mafia (https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/swedish-house-mafia-13d5f9c1.html))
Sacrifice (https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html?songid=3be5c4d0)
(with Swedish House Mafia (https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/swedish-house-mafia-13d5f9c1.html)) (live debut, SHM Remix version)
How Do I Make You Love Me? (https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html?songid=23e5c4cb)
(with Swedish House Mafia (https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/swedish-house-mafia-13d5f9c1.html)) (live debut)
Can't Feel My Face (https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html?songid=53c18305)
Blinding Lights (https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html?songid=33faa465)
verse/chorus from Kanye West- Hurricane (https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html?songid=7be782e0)
The Hills (https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html?songid=bc06502)
Party Monster (https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html?songid=7bcb3af8)
Heartless (https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html?songid=43faaf83)
verse/chorus from Future- Low Life (partial)
verses/chorus from Ty Dolla $ign- Or Nah (https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html?songid=43cc837b)
Often (https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html?songid=7bc2e2cc)
verse/chorus from Drake- Crew Love (https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html?songid=23dce813)
Starboy (https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html?songid=2bca2412)
Out of Time (https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html?songid=33e5c4d5) (live debut)
I Feel It Coming (https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html?songid=43cbffef)
Save Your Tears (https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html?songid=43fbcbcf) (Slowed version)
Interlude: Blinding Lights (Chromatics Remix)
Moth to a Flame (https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html?songid=3be5a4dc) (live debut)
(with Swedish House Mafia (https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/swedish-house-mafia-13d5f9c1.html))


SHM did their thing for like 45 minutes or so I'd say. Played all their hits, talked awkwardly on the mic as always...filled with cliches. Ended with "Don't You Worry Child", then it went straight into The Weeknd's portion. They stayed on stage for their first two songs with him, and then came back for the last song, which is their other song they collaborated on last year.. I actually figured we would get way more of the new album. Instead he focused on the stuff he's done with SHM recently, and the vast majority of the rest of the set was spent just dropping massive hit after massive hit. He even went to the real raunchy stuff, like "Or Nah". That was a surprise. He had GREAT energy. Was all over the place, and spent most of the set on the catwalk in the middle of the crowd. Great light show, voice was in top form. I imagine we'll get even more material from Dawn FM, but last night got me excited for the stadium tour. I SHOULD be at the Metlife Stadium show in July. Hopefully they do their song together "You Right" this summer.

[bobbie solo]

anyone catch the HBO special this past weekend where they filmed the LA date of last year's crazy good stadium tour? It was fantastic. Best like BIG big show I've been to in many years.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8RSTx3c_64&ab_channel=HBO


And he's got a new show coming out later this year on HBO from the creator of Euphoria. Looks exactly how one might expect a show from the creator of Euphoria would look haha. From the trailer it appears Johnny Depp's daughter will be practically naked the entire show as well.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fAaNq1txx1E&ab_channel=TheWeeknd

[bobbie solo]

pretty sure this guy is the only reason to ever pay attention to Coachella anymore (well, other than Knocked Loose, Gorillaz & Soul Glo playing this year I guess)

hip hop producer Metro Boomin' had a star studded set just now, with The Weeknd closing it out. Future & 21 Savage are untalented clowns in recorded form, never mind phoning in a "I'll rap when I feel like it" live performance over their own vocal tracks, but then Abel came out & made the set killer. Love this man.




On Time (https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/metro-boomin-2bdc30c2.html?songid=6bef3a8e)
(with John Legend (https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/john-legend-7bd6e214.html))
Superhero (Heroes & Villains) (https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/metro-boomin-2bdc30c2.html?songid=23eeac6b)
(with Future (https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/future-53d25bb1.html))
Thought It Was a Drought (https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/metro-boomin-2bdc30c2.html?songid=73ccbabd)
(with Future (https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/future-53d25bb1.html))
I Serve the Base (https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/metro-boomin-2bdc30c2.html?songid=13cfd525)
(with Future (https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/future-53d25bb1.html))
Wicked (https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/metro-boomin-2bdc30c2.html?songid=bcf4d8a)
(with Future (https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/future-53d25bb1.html))
Digital Dash (https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/metro-boomin-2bdc30c2.html?songid=2bcd6c7e)
(with Future (https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/future-53d25bb1.html))
Mask Off (https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/metro-boomin-2bdc30c2.html?songid=53c9578d)
(with Future (https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/future-53d25bb1.html))
Metro Spider (https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/metro-boomin-2bdc30c2.html?songid=63ef3a83)
I Can’t Save You (interlude) (https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/metro-boomin-2bdc30c2.html?songid=33ee6c29)
(with Don Toliver (https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/don-toliver-23c8342b.html))
Too Many Nights (https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/metro-boomin-2bdc30c2.html?songid=3bee6c28)
(with Don Toliver (https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/don-toliver-23c8342b.html))
Around Me (https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/metro-boomin-2bdc30c2.html?songid=63ef3a87)
(with Don Toliver (https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/don-toliver-23c8342b.html))
Interlude
(21 Savage & Metro Boomin (https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/21-savage-and-metro-boomin-2bceb89e.html))
Runnin (https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/metro-boomin-2bdc30c2.html?songid=43f93b5b)
(with 21 Savage (https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/21-savage-33c49c2d.html))
Bank Account (https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/metro-boomin-2bdc30c2.html?songid=3bf6ac9c)
(with 21 Savage (https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/21-savage-33c49c2d.html))
No Heart (https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/metro-boomin-2bdc30c2.html?songid=43f1cf17)
(with 21 Savage (https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/21-savage-33c49c2d.html))
10 Freaky Girls (https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/metro-boomin-2bdc30c2.html?songid=53fe63d1)
(with 21 Savage (https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/21-savage-33c49c2d.html))
Umbrella (https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/metro-boomin-2bdc30c2.html?songid=13ef357d)
(with 21 Savage (https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/21-savage-33c49c2d.html))
Knife Talk (https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/metro-boomin-2bdc30c2.html?songid=63e762c7)
(with 21 Savage (https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/21-savage-33c49c2d.html))
Faith (https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/metro-boomin-2bdc30c2.html?songid=1bfbc158)
(with The Weeknd (https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html))
Escape From LA (https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/metro-boomin-2bdc30c2.html?songid=73e646fd)
(with The Weeknd (https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html))[I don't recall this actually being performed, but maybe I missed it or it was played as an interlude or something)
Heartless (https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/metro-boomin-2bdc30c2.html?songid=43faaf83)
(with The Weeknd (https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html))
Low Life (https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/metro-boomin-2bdc30c2.html?songid=3cc8567)
(with The Weeknd (https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html) & Future)
Double Fantasy (https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/metro-boomin-2bdc30c2.html?songid=3ef356f)
(with The Weeknd (https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html))[new song]
Creepin’ (https://www.setlist.fm/stats/songs/metro-boomin-2bdc30c2.html?songid=bef356e) [Remix]
(with The Weeknd (https://www.setlist.fm/setlists/the-weeknd-5bd26bb4.html), 21 Savage & Diddy)

[october_midnight]

'As The Weeknd, I've said everything I can say.' (https://consequence.net/2023/05/the-weeknd-last-hurrah-abel-tesfaye/)

[ickyvicky]

^^ I dig that - to start something new