The Weeknd Shines in After Hours: New Album from Pop Star Drops

Abel Tesfaye, better known as The Weeknd, is back at it again with his new album named “After Hours.” The album features 14 songs and was released on March 20, 2020. It is his first studio album since 2016’s “Starboy,” and follows the release of his EP “My Dear Melancholy,” which was released in 2018. This is his fourth studio album, which contains almost an hour of new music for fans.
  
The Weeknd has been popular in the R&B/Pop/Soul genre since 2015 when he released “Beauty Behind the Madness,” which blew up among listeners due to his unique voice and bass-boosting beats. Now, almost five years later, he’s still set to top the Billboard Top 200 for the fourth time. Let’s get into the review for After Hours.

This album is the epitome of what fans have come to expect from The Weeknd. It features deep bass drops, high snare pitches, and ethereal vocals. The subject matter of the album seems to be about emotions and love, the usual topic of The Weeknd’s work. This album was released at an unfortunate time, as the coronavirus has taken over the United States and most of the world. However, the emotional tone and deep lyrics can help listeners relieve some stress and relax, which many people probably need right about now.
 
Three songs that really stood out to me were “Heartless,” “Faith” and “Blinding Lights.” While “Heartless” and “Blinding Lights” were released to the public months before the album was released, “Faith” is brand new to the public. All three tracks are catchy, and will leave tunes stuck in the minds of anyone who listens. Moreover, the messages in each song carry an emotional tone that highlights the reason The Weeknd has become so famed: his unmatched vocals with meaningful lyrics. 

If you have an extra hour, or need something to listen to while you work, I highly suggest listening to the album as a whole, from start to finish. After Hours takes your ears on an emotional journey, leaving you desiring more music and more of Tesfaye’s angelic voice. My rating for “After Hours” is a nine out of ten. 

-Brady Davis- Print Editor-in-Chief

​