Album Review: The Weeknd – Beauty Behind The Madness
2 min read
2015 has been the year of The Weeknd, the singer has been dominating charts globally with hit after hit, and now his latest studio album Beauty Behind The Madness has taken over album charts upon its release. He’s also been breaking records: he dominated the top three positions of the Billboard Hot R&B Songs with Can’t Feel My Face, Earned It and The Hills; not to mention being the first male in 2015 to have two top ten hits simultaneously of the Hot 100. The new album has been one of the highest anticipated releases of 2015, and we’re about to hear why.
The Weeknd doesn’t usually disappoint easily: if you’re after an album that has an impressive small handful of guest artists and various tracks that fill your headphones with intriguing sounds, you’ll appreciate Beauty Behind The Madness. Album opener Real Life pumps you up, followed by Losers featuring Labrinth, which keeps you hooked; the exhausting concept on this album is how sexually graphic some of the tracks have to be, but it happens Often (song pun intended) in music today, so no big shock. Current single Can’t Feel My Face has been plaguing radio, and with good reason: it’s catchy as all hell.
Shameless is this dark ballad that really grips you from beginning to end, with the singer’s smooth and impressive vocal range shining through. Single Earned It was originally featured on the 50 Shades Of Grey soundtrack, and there’s no wonder why it was featured on the album, it has an addictive arrangement and beat. There’s some atmosphere to be heard too, As You Are has an airy chorus and a subtle verse that takes you. Ed Sheeran lends his voice to Dark Times and its the perfect collaboration, same can be said for Lana Del Rey’s appearance on Prisoner.
There’s no wonder why The Weeknd is all over the charts internationally, his singles are catchy and addictive, Beauty Behind The Madness overall can be quite appealing. The collaborations with Labrinth, Ed Sheeran and Lana Del Rey were very well implemented, the tracks suited each artist respectively and complimented their styles. There were many concepts on this album that would compel you. With each release The Weeknd’s brilliance grows: Beauty Behind The Madness sees him leave his very distinctive imprint on contemporary music.
