Title: [amazon_link id=”B009LDXQGW” target=”_blank” container=”” container_class=”” ]Trilogy[/amazon_link]
Released: November 9, 2012
Words: Victoria Shantrell Asbury
Edit: Jay Fingers
R&B sensation The Weeknd recently released his first major label album Trilogy. For those unfamiliar with the young Canadian crooner, The Weeknd is a solo artist who came onto the scene in 2011 and blew hip-hop and R&B lovers away with his with his critically acclaimed mix-tapes House of Balloons, Thursday, and Echoes of Silence. The Weeknd brought a new sound that blended R&B, rock, synthesizers, and a whole lot of sexy moans together as the 22-year-old sang about sex, drugs, and, well, more sex and drugs.
Trilogy is a compilation of the 2011 mixtapes plus three new songs. The first disc, House of Balloons, is by far the best. Of the three, Balloons is the most cohesive and tells the story of a party (“High For This”), the after party (“The Party & The After Party”), and the aftermath (“Coming Down”). Although album two, Thursday, lacks the thematic cohesion of House of Balloons, it is still a solid collection of eerie, sexy tracks.
The last album, Echoes of Silence, is more cerebral than the first two. On Silence, The Weeknd continues to sing about sex and women, however, the album seems to take a more personal turn with tracks like “The Fall” and “Next,” where he discusses the risks associated with his newfound fame. Silences breakout track is The Weeknds cover of Michael Jacksons “Dirty Diana,” here titled “D.D.”
The new songs”Twenty Eight,” “Valerie,” and “Till Dawn (Here Comes the Sun)”included on Trilogy seem to be heavily influenced by MJ as well.
Overall, if youre new to The Weeknd, Trilogy may be an album that you’ll listen to for a few months straight. If you already have the free mixtapes, there isnt much need to buy this album other than to show a little support.
Grade: A-/B+
Favorite tracks:
High For This, What You Need, The Morning, The Party & The After Party, Thursday, Gone, Outside, The Fall
High For This
The Party & The After Party
httpa://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yI-zb_aP0So
The Fall
httpa://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvT072qXiDk