Review: The Weeknd – Trilogy

BY OLIVIA PASCALE-WONG

Originally from Canada, Abel Tesfaye is a 22-year-old R&B artist who possesses undeniable musical talent. Although classified as an R&B artist, Tesfaye, who goes by the stage name The Weeknd, is pushing R&B into a new territory. His debut album, Trilogy, is a compilation of his 3 independently produced mix tapes, in addition to three bonus tracks. House of Balloons, Thursday and Echoes of Silence; are each a masterpiece in their own right. With his exceptionally soulful vocals and haunting sound, these tapes catapulted The Weeknd to widespread critical acclaim, even landing spots on many ‘Album of the Year’ lists.

The Weeknd’s music is not for everyone. It is certainly different, and actually takes a bit of getting used to. The underlying tone of most of his music is ethereal and dreamlike, somewhere between lucid dreaming and hallucinatory. His tracks are dark and heavy, detailing his struggles with drugs, alcohol, his fixation with women, and failed relationships. With lyrics that are deep, and honest, even when expressing a sense of shame. The Weeknd’s heartfelt vocals are unquestionably his trademark. Although the tone of his music might be depressing to some, there’s no denying the beauty and the detail of The Weeknd’s tunes.

House of Balloons, Tesfaye’s first mix tape, is probably the lightest chapter of Trilogy. These are the only tracks from The Weeknd that you might play at a party and where his illicit behavior seems somewhat charming. “House” showcases elegant melodies and a rich atmospheric tone that relies on repetitious hooks. The recurring choruses of “What You Need”, “The Morning”, and “High For This” are prime examples that leave you wanting more.

Thursday is a work of art, encompassing rhythms and melodies that depart from typical R&B, Thursday consist of airy, futuristic sounds, hard electric guitar and even piano riffs. Inspired by the day of the week that brings the most dedicated partiers out to play, Thursday is an hour-long journey to a point of no return, both physically and morally. The most popular track, “The Zone”, features Drake, another one of Canada’s own, and clocks in at almost seven minutes. With its enchanting and surreal quality, once you start listening to “The Zone” you can’t seem to stop. This seductive lull is a characteristic of almost all of The Weeknd’s music.

Echoes of Silence, is an easier mix to sit through. With a clearer narrative perspective than Thursday, the album reveals The Weeknd’s twisting, manipulative persona. The production is immaculate and not too showy. The lyrical aspect is a bit tighter and more streamlined, presenting his emotions and notions in a way that it is more understandable than his previous works. It conjures up feelings of the morning after a night that never ended. “Echoes” is certainly the heaviest of the records, leaving you questioning the artists’ morality. On the track titled “DD”, Tesfaye channels Michael Jackson with an exceptionally accurate reproduction of “Dirty Diana”. The homage to MJ is so impressive that when hearing the track for the first time, my mother swore it was the King of Pop himself.

Ultimately, The Weeknd has been turning out some of the best music of this young decade in a remarkably short amount of time. He has managed to mesmerize his listeners with emotions that his fans struggle to describe in words. Creating a world that acknowledges humanity’s sinful desires, Trilogy is a piece of atmospheric art that makes your heart willingly ache. The production of each individual track and presentation of The Weeknd as an artist leaves you only wanting more from this soulful songbird. Leaving his three mix tapes practically untouched, Trilogy gives any first time listeners a genuine look into the transformation of an unknown artist into someone who is breathing new life into R&B.