The Weeknd's After Hours naturally weaves together cinematic vignettes of debauched Hollywood and Las Vegas nights, following a new filmic tie to Uncut Gems and a prior decade of character building.
The Weeknd is that rarest of creatures, a pop star whose work still chomps at the boundaries. After Hours, his fourth album, balances what his fans already like about him with a new twist.
Like Starboy, there’s a hefty Eighties influence here, although for the most part, After Hours abandons the danceability of its predecessor in favour of moody introspection. This is the music you listen to when the party’s over.
By balancing the two sides of his musical personality – not to mention add some levity to that boring, bad-taste id – After Hours feels like the first Weeknd album in a while to offer up a clear, singular vision rather than something frustratingly abstract.
While the Weeknd's sound has veered off track from his early feel in the past, After Hours gives fans the closest taste to Trilogy that they will get.
Musically, After Hours hits the best balance yet of the gloomy melodrama of the Weeknd’s early EPs or his 2018 release My Dear Melancholy and the pop slickness of his 2016 LP Starboy — at once lachrymose and sleek, cold but plush, like a lavishly ornamented fallout shelter.
After Hours is a fruitful reinvention of The Weeknd.
Perhaps After Hours’ retro electronic sound does have a bleak vibe that suits the times, but only if you block out the words.
I judged this with a half assed listen judging this as "This isn't the Weeknd that I wanted..."
I came back to this to make a video doing an actual reaction to this... and this isn't the Weeknd that Abel wanted. The synth poppy elements do an amazing job at reflecting what his life has become. He does the same thing as what Kendrick did on swimming pools, but for an entire album, showcasing the flashing lights and distractions that lead him away from the true hole in his heart. He ... read more
I’ve become a big slut for synths as of recently so this makes me happy, rating to come soon.
EDIT: I am a big slut for this entire album, I feel like Abel is having sex with these synths and I’m recording it. The ambiance is *chef’s kiss*. Big big fan of this one.
Abel knocked it out of the park with "After Hours", a drug-fueled journey through the sounds of the 80's and the future joining forces (I'd like to say that it's a mix of his pop stuff with the druggy, more experimental works in the "Trilogy" days). The results on display are magnificent, with thick-ass kick drums and eargasmic synths that accentuate just how well-mixed and produced this album is. Also, Oneohtrix Point Never produced on this album. If that isn't a music ... read more
HIGHLIGHTS
Alone Again
Too Late
Scared To Live
Escape From L.A.
Heartless
Blinding Lights
In Your Eyes
Save Your Tears
After Hours
Until I Bleed Out
Favorite tracks: Faith, Scared To Love, After Hours, Repeat After Me
Least favorite tracks: Escape from LA, Snowchild, Too Late, Missed You
1 | Alone Again 4:10 | 86 |
2 | Too Late 3:59 | 83 |
3 | Hardest To Love 3:31 | 87 |
4 | Scared To Live 3:11 | 85 |
5 | Snowchild 4:07 | 81 |
6 | Escape From LA 5:55 | 82 |
7 | Heartless 3:18 | 89 |
8 | Faith 4:43 | 90 |
9 | Blinding Lights 3:20 | 94 |
10 | In Your Eyes 3:57 | 91 |
11 | Save Your Tears 3:35 | 91 |
12 | Repeat After Me (Interlude) 3:15 | 78 |
13 | After Hours 6:01 | 94 |
14 | Until I Bleed Out 3:10 | 84 |
#1 | / | Complex |
#1 | / | Yahoo Entertainment |
#2 | / | Entertainment Weekly |
#3 | / | Billboard |
#4 | / | Highsnobiety |
#4 | / | Variety: Jem Aswad |
#4 | / | Vulture |
#5 | / | Gaffa (Sweden) |
#5 | / | The Young Folks |
#6 | / | Idolator |