UPDATE: After Hours by The Weeknd
The Weeknd proves himself as an artist willing to blend the lines between his personality and his art, marking a point of maturity and vulnerability for the young Canadian. Abel Makkonen Tesfaye, or as the world knows him, The Weeknd, sets up his audience for a wild 80’s themed descent into madness which feels almost monotonous for the first half-hour. After his “Escape From LA,” you start to notice a change in his lyrics and general composure, which deteriorates by “After Hours,” the title of the album itself. Closing off with a beat produced by MetroBoomin, The Weeknd successfully branches out while also giving the people what they want. The Weeknd lays this album out, the first half beats, the second half songs, exposing his two sides to the same bill (consequentially rolled up and.. well… yeah). While it may not be exactly free from the reigns of pop culture (half the songs were produced by Max Martin), it still drilled the same phrase in everyone’s mind: “his next album is going to be wild af.”
Suggestion: for an even wilder ride, watch Uncut Gems (2019) right before.
