Abel Tesfaye, otherwise known as The Weeknd, has released another album full of hits. After Hours tells the story of a heartbroken man reliant on a lavish lifestyle to fill the void of his past lover.
The Weeknd has his own unique style consisting of a combination of soft R&B vocals, rap melodies, and synth effects. The new album is perhaps the epitome of The Weeknd’s sound. The first two tracks, “All Alone” and “Too Late,” begin gently and quietly. The Weeknd explains his loneliness in the world and how “when the darkness comes” his love is his light. The motif of darkness and night is invoked frequently on the album, which likely influenced the title, After Hours. He seems to use this as a reference to the combination of loneliness, lust, and gluttony typically encountered during the nighttime.
As the album progresses, the emotions The Weeknd expresses are amplified, and this is reflected in the increased tempo of the songs. The song “Snowchild” contrasts with the love ballad, “Hardest To Love” that preceded it by introducing the idea that fame comes with vices like drugs and women. While he seems to touch upon the idea that he is growing tired of this way of living in “Snowchild,” his next track “Escape From LA,” explicitly confirms that he wants to leave the materialistic lifestyle commonly associated with the city.
At the halfway point of the album, the tempo picks up even more speed. “Heartless” is a typical R&B hit one would expect from The Weeknd, sounding similar to previous chart topper of 2016, “Starboy.” One of the stronger songs on After Hours, “Faith,” marks the beginning of new wave influence, which continues through the next few songs as well. This track is the peak of his emotions, and it combines three main themes of the album within the single song: although despising the vices of his past, he has returned to them due to loss of love. “Blinding Lights,” “In Your Eyes,” and “Save Your Tears” are great, upbeat songs and worth a listen. From here, the album begins to slow down again, and the final title, “Until I Bleed Out” refers to the death of his desire for both drugs and love.
From start to finish, the album offers some criticism of the hedonistic ways of his past. It’s a melancholy album with many uplifting sounds despite heavy lyrics, and the highs and lows create a complex story worth a listen.
Favorite tracks: Snowchild, Faith, Blinding Lights, and Save Your Tears
