The Weeknd: Open for ‘After Hours’
The backbone of The Weeknd’s musical formula lies somewhere between futuristic and 80s tinged pop. “Tryna be a better man, but I’m heartless”. This single line from “Heartless”, sums up the theme of his latest album, After Hours. The constant push and pull for the need of love and shunning its presence are sprinkled through this latest body of work (and much of The Weeknd’s career). Nonetheless, After Hours is worth staying up for.
The Weeknd has managed to keep the very mystique than made him famous. “Alone Again”, the opening track, finds him crooning in his signature Michael Jackson-esque high falsetto. He explores an all too familiar theme in his catalog of substance abuse and a lover on standby. Somehow, it sounds just as fresh as the first time we heard it years ago.
After Hours is such a cohesive body of work that fans will either love or hate. Although there are disruptive pulses that shake up the beautiful monotony (listen to “Hardest to Love” and “Blinding Lights”), the common thread here is a man who’s somewhere suspended between love, the abusive of self, and reflection.
The fact that the album has already received nearly 400,000 equivalent sales units with little promotion is a testament to The Weeknd’s loyal fan base. Considering the current climate, other high profile artists like Alicia Keys and Lady Gaga have opted to push their albums back to let the dust settle first.
For the above reason, After Hours may not be the best self-quarantine soundtrack to lift your spirits. Nonetheless, it’s a calculated album that will surely evoke more shining moments in The Weeknd’s already bright career. The deluxe version of the album features special remixes and the SNL performance of “Scared To Live”. Plus, it offers a bit of a pick-me-up from the draining closing track, “Until I Bleed Out”. Ironically, fans will likely be right there to witness every high and profound low point well into the wee hours.