I recently started streaming this album, which is surprisingly good. I was intrigued with The Weeknd when I first heard him from his pre-fame EP days. His current album seems to blend some of his most commercial elements (especially in the 3 smash singles he has already had from the album) and some of the darker less commercial sound of the EPs. His voice throughout the album is amazing. His main limitation IMO is that his themes get a bit tiresome (has anyone else ever whined so much throughout their career about getting so much "pussy"?).

Has anyone else streamed or downloaded this? Thoughts and reactions?

gandorb said:

I'm a bit surprised by the more positive reaction this is getting compared to his past couple albums - I don't really see it as a great leap forward or anything (his best work is still his first three albums - House of Balloons, Thursday and Echoes of Silence). But I do like the second half, from Heartless on it's bumping. Probably since that's where a lot of the singles are at. In Your Eyes is especially nice, reminds me of early Duran Duran if they were fronted by Michael Jackson. First half is a bit same-y and too low key for my taste though - if the production isn't there then I can't help but notice his lyrics.

I've always been able to pull 7-10 tracks off a given project of his that I love and throw them in a playlist and leave it at, which is what I did for this one too. Had he started making music back in the vinyl era when albums were almost always under 45 minutes I think he would have more front to back classics.

It's a very solid album, to me the best song is Blinding Lights. There are so many great songs here.

I've played " In Your Eyes" back-to-back-to-back-to-back SO many times. It really is a perfect song.

alexzander said:

the second half resonates with me a lot more right now. somehow i can't get into the first half,
it sounds like one long drawn out piece of music that just repeats over and over somehow but
i'm sure i'll come to love that too once i tire of the second half of the lp. and if not.

i've only listened to the bonus tracks once now and i liked what i was hearing there, too

alphastreet said:

gandorb said:

I recently started streaming this album, which is surprisingly good. I was intrigued with The Weeknd when I first heard him from his pre-fame EP days. His current album seems to blend some of his most commercial elements (especially in the 3 smash singles he has already had from the album) and some of the darker less commercial sound of the EPs. His voice throughout the album is amazing. His main limitation IMO is that his themes get a bit tiresome (has anyone else ever whined so much throughout their career about getting so much "pussy"?).

Has anyone else streamed or downloaded this? Thoughts and reactions?

I like the singles and in your eyes. I can’t get into this album like the others

That last sentence is pretty much my sentiment. It seems like he's drifting into repetition and derivativeness. Its one thing to draw from the 80s energy and fuse it into your music; its another thing altogether to imitate it (and not even the great stuff). I'm going tO GiVe it another listen but I'm not that into this record on the whole besides a couple of tunes.

To top it off, the visuals that accompany this material are atrocious. Homeboy needs to step away from the toads. Its like he made a bet that he could get away with that mess of a theme running throughout his videos.

RJOrion said:

BlaqueKnight said:

alphastreet said:

gandorb said: I like the singles and in your eyes. I can’t get into this album like the others

That last sentence is pretty much my sentiment. It seems like he's drifting into repetition and derivativeness. Its one thing to draw from the 80s energy and fuse it into your music; its another thing altogether to imitate it (and not even the great stuff). I'm going tO GiVe it another listen but I'm not that into this record on the whole besides a couple of tunes.

To top it off, the visuals that accompany this material are atrocious. Homeboy needs to step away from the toads. Its like he made a bet that he could get away with that mess of a theme running throughout his videos.

You've got bad taste that's all.

RJOrion said:

this album is trash...nuff said

You don't like nothing, your taste is trash it seems.

Yes, I've wondered too why the first half feels so lacklustre compared to the second half. A few songs off and rearranging the song order would have made a big difference. Then again, maybe it was simply his "artistic vision" to let the album build up its overall level of intensity as it progresses. The modern hiphop-R&B -influenced stuff sounds just out of place on the same record with the 80s influences to me.

Having said that, "Blinding Lights" is an incredible song. Like "Get Lucky", it will be played in the radio and in the clubs for years to come.

novabrkr said:

Yes, I've wondered too why the first half feels so lacklustre compared to the second half. A few songs off and rearranging the song order would have made a big difference. Then again, maybe it was simply his "artistic vision" to let the album build up its overall level of intensity as it progresses. The modern hiphop-R&B -influenced stuff sounds just out of place on the same record with the 80s influences to me.

Having said that, "Blinding Lights" is an incredible song. Like "Get Lucky", it will be played in the radio and in the clubs for years to come.

The best on the album, I don't like Heartless sounds like Starboy song, which I didn't like it to begin with.

slyjackson said:

slyjackson said:

BlaqueKnight said:

That last sentence is pretty much my sentiment. It seems like he's drifting into repetition and derivativeness. Its one thing to draw from the 80s energy and fuse it into your music; its another thing altogether to imitate it (and not even the great stuff). I'm going tO GiVe it another listen but I'm not that into this record on the whole besides a couple of tunes.

To top it off, the visuals that accompany this material are atrocious. Homeboy needs to step away from the toads. Its like he made a bet that he could get away with that mess of a theme running throughout his videos.

You've got bad taste that's all.

Fanboy much?

Judging someone's entire taste in muisc according to one person's album. Hahaha! How juvenile.

Gave it another listen like I said I would. I'm still only playing "In Your Eyes" and maybe "Heartless" if I'm in the mood.

Maybe this record speaks to you on a personal level because of experiences you are going through or something? I don't know.

Maybe you should take all of that fan dribble over to The Weeknd's facebook page or Twitter where it will carry more weight? Ta-ta.

alphastreet said:

RJOrion said:

BlaqueKnight said:

slyjackson said:

You've got bad taste that's all.

Fanboy much?

Judging someone's entire taste in muisc according to one person's album. Hahaha! How juvenile.

Gave it another listen like I said I would. I'm still only playing "In Your Eyes" and maybe "Heartless" if I'm in the mood.

Maybe this record speaks to you on a personal level because of experiences you are going through or something? I don't know.

Maybe you should take all of that fan dribble over to The Weeknd's facebook page or Twitter where it will carry more weight? Ta-ta.

I was curious to hear the album again after several people mentioned a preference for the 2nd half over the 1st half. I agree that some of the best songs are on the second half, but I actually am glad that the first half is somewhat less commercial and reminds me of his early EPs. I have ambivalence to The Weeknd as a person, but his vulnerability in some of the songs in the first half of the album brings me in. At least he gets that all of his womanizing and hangups make him "hard to love"'.

alexzander said:

I've played " In Your Eyes" back-to-back-to-back-to-back SO many times. It really is a perfect song.

I just checked it out after reading this, and I like it, but....are you sure that's The Weeknd singing and not A-Ha?

alphastreet said:

RJOrion said:

my son likes this album and always wants to listen to it when we're driving somewhere. So ive tried to get into it too... but after listening to it for awhile, it makes my face hurt

That’s sounds so annoying, but a great response would be to play I can’t feel my face

gandorb said:

I was curious to hear the album again after several people mentioned a preference for the 2nd half over the 1st half. I agree that some of the best songs are on the second half, but I actually am glad that the first half is somewhat less commercial and reminds me of his early EPs. I have ambivalence to The Weeknd as a person, but his vulnerability in some of the songs in the first half of the album brings me in. At least he gets that all of his womanizing and hangups make him "hard to love"'.

Agree with you.

The Weeknd:

Can't get the love for this guy. He sings AHA covers with an annoying MJ voice. Plus whining about getting too much pussy makes anyone look like a self-obsessed dick. Starboy was a good song though, I will give you that, but it was let down by his voice.

funkaholic1972 said:

The Weeknd:

Starboy was a good song though, I will give you that, but it was let down by his voice.

I loooooooooved "I feel it coming"!! One of the best songs I have EVER heard!

domainator2010 said:

funkaholic1972 said:

The Weeknd:

Starboy was a good song though, I will give you that, but it was let down by his voice.

I loooooooooved "I feel it coming"!! One of the best songs I have EVER heard!

It's a great song, but one of the best ever?

slyjackson said:

domainator2010 said:

I loooooooooved "I feel it coming"!! One of the best songs I have EVER heard!

It's a great song, but one of the best ever?

May be, bro, may just be! Why - something wrong with that?

domainator2010 said:

slyjackson said:

It's a great song, but one of the best ever?

May be, bro, may just be! Why - something wrong with that?

Yeah, it's not great, not even one his best songs.