[REVIEW] The Weeknd- “My Dear Melancholy,”
This is one of those records you listen to at 2am in your car, driving on the freeway, and crying with the windows down.
Momma get the coke ready, with a table, 30 racks cut from ebony. The old Weeknd is back all thanks to Selena Gomez. This album sounds like a mixture of the old and new, like Starboy and Trilogy had a baby. Perfect for post spring break depression. I’m so glad he brought out the 707s.
Here’s the tracklist with producers:
- Call Out My Name (prod. Frank Dukes)
- Try Me (prod. Mike WiLL Made-It, Marz, Frank Dukes & Daheala)
- Wasted Times (prod. (Frank Dukes; co-produced by Skrillex)
- I Was Never There (prod. Gesaffelstein & Frank Dukes)
- Hurt You (prod. Gesaffelstein, Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo; co-produced by Cirkut)
- Privilege (prod. Frank Dukes & Daheala)
Call Out My Name 5/5
Well sh*t I forgot how good the Weeknd sounds. We are all so lucky his heart broke, otherwise he would have continued his pop sounding route. This track is smooth. The production comes in heavy out of nowhere and hits hard. Abel plays around with vocal distortion in this track, as well as others in this album. Overall what a great way to start off the album.
Try Me 4/5
The production is amazing. This track has older vibes to it, with the Abel singing out into echoes. The actual lyrical content is alright, but that’s overshadowed by the powerful production that stretched out into the end. 707s & Heartbreak.
Wasted Times 4/5
This track is the opposite of Try Me, as in the production is okay- almost muffled, but Abel’s voice fits perfectly. It turns from smooth to distorted halfway through, but I’m not event complaining since he still sounds good. The lyrics are alright though. They makes Abel sounds insecure, which really doesn’t fit his old persona.
I Was Never There 5/5
Gesaffelstein brings out gorgeous production. This track could easily be found it Abel’s older works. The lyrics encapsulate heartbreak perfectly for breakups, as it explains how history is deleted, as if you never existed. This song is good for background music as it doesn’t distract from current tasks. The vocals on the second half of this song are addicting. I have been coming back just to listen to that part over again.
Hurt You 4/5
This track sounds more like new Abel, but lyrically it’s something the old Abel would say. I can see this track being on Starboy, and being one of the better ones. Abel’s chorus is fantastic. Gesaffelstein does not let us down with the production, back to back!
Privilege 5/5
This track feels like something I’ve listened known before, almost nostalgic. Reminds me of his older tracks Till Dawn, and Tears in the Rain. Of the 6 songs, this has the best production, which perfectly weaves Abel’s voice into the beat. It creates the best atmosphere for the theme of the album. My personal favorite.
Score
5/5 Overall this EP definitely has Trilogy vibes without the rawness. Instead, the production is clean like how it was in Starboy, but it’s also slower and atmospheric like Trilogy. I think this is a good evolution for Abel as it allows him to try out his new sound, yet retains the same vibe that we’ve come to love
