Without having much exposure to The Weeknd outside of “Earned It,” “Can’t Feel My Face” and his cameo in the 2019 film, “Uncut Gems,” I was cautiously optimistic going into his newest release: “After Hours.”
His floaty voice from what I’ve heard prior elicited feelings of respect, but not outright admiration from me.
As I stated in my review of “I.” by Cigarettes After Sex, there is nothing wrong with this vocal style but it is just not typically for me.
The opening track of “After Hours,” “Alone Again,” followed suit and the album seemed to be on the route of not completely meshing with me.
Thank goodness I was completely wrong.
Once the wonderful instrumentals and synthesizers entered the album, it finally clicked with me.
The Weeknd’s unique instrumentals perfectly complement his voice rather than overpower it in his music, unlike other mainstream, contemporary popular artists.
Even if you don’t listen to this genre of music, like myself, it is near impossible to dispute his talent as a singer.
This album is at its most effective when the instrumentals and The Weeknd’s voice can concurrently peak, especially when the lyrics hit without sounding unnecessarily moody.
I need to give this album absolute props not just for being a truly great and soulful album, but also for actively engaging me enough to go through The Weeknd’s discography almost immediately after finishing it.
This is one of the hardest things for a modern artist to do since it is much harder for me to get into a working artist that is in their prime than it is to get into a renowned dead artist that has their whole discography readily available.
In conclusion, you better have a plate of mash when you listen to “After Hours” because The Weeknd certainly brings the bangers.
Three Standout Tracks: “Hardest to Love,” “Scared to Live” and “Blinding Lights.”
Rating: 9/10