The Weeknd. AP
The Weeknd
Beauty Behind The Madness
Rating: 4/5
Right from the opening klaxon this third album from The Weeknd (real name Abel Tesfaye) signals its intention to blow you away.
Commonly referred to as hipster R&B or indie R&B, The Weeknd's sound borrows from artists such as Michael Jackson and Prince but he's also known for adventurous sampling choices and straying from mainstream R&B.
His songs tend to revolve around sex, sex and more sex and the language is not for the faint-hearted.
However, the songs are otherwise all class. Earned It, also from the 50 Shades of Grey soundtrack, is a slow-strutting, sultry waltz of a number, while the more uptempo Can't Feel My Face channels Jacko.
The 80s electropop of In The Night sounds like a modern day Easy Lover while The Hills is dark and brooding.
But closing track Angel takes the cake, rounding out the madness with a slice of heavenly beauty - guest vocals from Maty Noyes are the high point of an album that also features the talents of Ed Sheeran and Lana Del Rey.
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