It is not an unfamiliar character, but one that, coupled with great lyrics and outstanding production, shines as the Weeknd finally brings his vision into fruition with an album that is addictive as it is heartbreaking. The Weeknd sets us up for an album driven by a villainous, yet self-aware character bound to the life of superstardom through drugs, sex, money and music. The lights projecting from the album’s background. The blood coating his teeth and dripping from his chin. The Weeknd, as he did for “Starboy” reinvents his image and steps into a role for “After Hours.” Yet, even with a similar focus on “Starboy,” The Weeknd brings us his most satisfying focus yet on “After Hours,” and much of the credit goes to the self-loathing villain role he plays throughout the project. Just ask Danny Brown, getting into character, and taking it seriously, works. With 80s-infused synth riffs, bouncy basslines and vivacious vocal performances, The Weeknd delivers a project that is refreshing as the pop sensation brings his artistic vision into focus. Yet, his latest release “After Hours” is undoubtedly The Weeknd’s most polished, focused and sonically-revitalizing album to date. Since the “Trilogy” mixtapes, The Weeknd has been on an unprecedented run, and enjoyed many chart-topping projects like his 2015 project “Beauty Behind the Madness” or the 2016 rebrand of “Starboy.” Both albums saw mainstream success and topped charts all over the world, with plenty of hits like the Kids Choice Award-winning “ Can’t Feel My Face.” The Weeknd made his rich vocals shine as he captures the essence of Toronto through cold, ethereal production with heartbreak and drug-infused lyrics as he does on “ The Morning.”
#WEEKND GIFTED LYRICS SERIES#
In the last decade, The Weeknd evolved from an underground sensation with the release of his 2011 “Trilogy” series which included the “House of Balloons,” “Thursday” and “Echoes of Silence” mixtapes. Aside from a feature on Travis Scott’s “WAKE UP” and a cameo in Adam Sandler’s oscar-nominated “Uncut Gems,” we haven’t really seen or heard much from the R&B phenom from the north. Since the release of his 2018 EP “My Dear Melancholy,” The Weeknd has been somewhat absent from the music world and the public eye.
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