The Daily Gamecock

The Weeknd pleasantly surprises with mix of new and old

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Since his last two albums, “Trilogy” in 2012 and “Kiss Land” in 2013, The Weeknd’s popularity has skyrocketed, and like any sensationalized artist, he runs the risk of losing the quality of his music in the insanity of Hollywood and the music world. His unique voice and tone makes for an R&B sound unlike many others.

So the anticipation for his new album “The Beauty Behind the Madness” came with high expectations. A few singles were dropped early on, and before long, this low-key crooner became a household name due to the multiple songs that dominated the radio. 

Besides the popular “The Hills,” “Often,” “Can’t Feel My Face,” and (of course) “Earned It (Fifty Shades of Grey),” there is plenty of good content on the album. After two solid albums, it was almost surprising that The Weeknd could continue to produce good quality tunes, but he has kept true to his style for the most part and just deepened the range of his tone. 

The style of some of his older songs was often dark and heavy, and despite the fact that a lot of the content was based on sex and drugs, it felt a lot more soulful than a lot of R&B. With this album, he successful retains his tone, but the content is often more upbeat. Songs like “Acquainted” actually bring a smile to your face, and “Angel,” the album’s closer, is an upbeat 80’s-style ballad that serves as a perfect goodbye at the end of the set list. 

In fact, The Weeknd’s voice sounds awfully similar to Michael Jackson’s in a couple songs. If you were to claim that MJ had risen from the dead and recorded “In The Night,” I would probably believe you. His classic high-pitched croon had to make an appearance at least a few times in this album, and this song showcases it. 

There are also some strong eatured artists on the album – Labrinth, Lana Del Rey and even Ed Sheeran make an appearance. Although Lana’s voice is an obvious match for The Weeknd’s, the addition of Ed Sheeran is a pleasant surprise that adds a depth that you didn’t know was missing.  

On top of The Weeknd's signature voice, he managed to retain his sophistication and add a complexity to his music that really shines through in this new album. 


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