(Warning: Some of these songs are explicit. Okay. Warned you.)
Let me start this review by telling a little story:
I'm not one who typically buys entertainment like movies or music, so when I convinced my mom to buy me The Weeknd's Trilogy album, I was pretty pumped to get it in the mail. Now, for anyone who doesn't know, The Weeknd is a R&B artist who recently gained popularity from his songs "Often" and "Can't Feel My Face"; his songs are known for being pretty racy, covering topics like sex and drugs. So as someone in a strict Catholic family, I'm still not completely sure how I managed to sneak the album into my Amazon checkout cart under the watchful eyes of my parents. When I finally got the album, I opened it to find a booklet with a list of songs complete with some artistic illustrations that, well, really explored the female body (read: topless photos). I vowed to never let my parents find the raunchy CD. So, of course, as I rode home from school in my dad's car a week later, I noticed the corner of the album sticking out from under a stack of papers in the passenger's seat. After asking my dad about it, he assured me that I just "happened to leave it in his car." So for the past couple months, I've just been waiting for my parents to confront me about it and drag me to a confessional.
Ah, the things I do for music.
If there's one phrase I could describe Trilogy as, it would be "worth your money." For around $14, you get 30 songs, which is a pretty good deal compared to most CD's. (Or you could get the MP3 for $24 -- which is weird because the cheaper CD comes with a free MP3 version of all of the songs -- or an $1000 vinyl, according to Amazon... so just stick with the CD.) Although it seem impossible to create 30 diverse and different songs for a single album, Abel Tesfaye -- the Weeknd's real name -- does it well. Many of the songs are very distinctive, and although I do have several I don't particularly like, I can't say that any of them sound too similar.
Trilogy explores the realistic side of all those cheesy romantic comedies and teenage flicks; the one-night stands that disappear early in the morning, the blurry and hazy partying, and what really happens behind the dirty glamour of drugs and alcohol. With Tesfaye's distinctly smooth and crooning voice, the album comes off as something you might listen to at a chill party or just in your room. Here are a few songs off the album that I especially like:
Let me start this review by telling a little story:
I'm not one who typically buys entertainment like movies or music, so when I convinced my mom to buy me The Weeknd's Trilogy album, I was pretty pumped to get it in the mail. Now, for anyone who doesn't know, The Weeknd is a R&B artist who recently gained popularity from his songs "Often" and "Can't Feel My Face"; his songs are known for being pretty racy, covering topics like sex and drugs. So as someone in a strict Catholic family, I'm still not completely sure how I managed to sneak the album into my Amazon checkout cart under the watchful eyes of my parents. When I finally got the album, I opened it to find a booklet with a list of songs complete with some artistic illustrations that, well, really explored the female body (read: topless photos). I vowed to never let my parents find the raunchy CD. So, of course, as I rode home from school in my dad's car a week later, I noticed the corner of the album sticking out from under a stack of papers in the passenger's seat. After asking my dad about it, he assured me that I just "happened to leave it in his car." So for the past couple months, I've just been waiting for my parents to confront me about it and drag me to a confessional.
Ah, the things I do for music.
If there's one phrase I could describe Trilogy as, it would be "worth your money." For around $14, you get 30 songs, which is a pretty good deal compared to most CD's. (Or you could get the MP3 for $24 -- which is weird because the cheaper CD comes with a free MP3 version of all of the songs -- or an $1000 vinyl, according to Amazon... so just stick with the CD.) Although it seem impossible to create 30 diverse and different songs for a single album, Abel Tesfaye -- the Weeknd's real name -- does it well. Many of the songs are very distinctive, and although I do have several I don't particularly like, I can't say that any of them sound too similar.
Trilogy explores the realistic side of all those cheesy romantic comedies and teenage flicks; the one-night stands that disappear early in the morning, the blurry and hazy partying, and what really happens behind the dirty glamour of drugs and alcohol. With Tesfaye's distinctly smooth and crooning voice, the album comes off as something you might listen to at a chill party or just in your room. Here are a few songs off the album that I especially like:
| You can follow me if you want to/ Go downtown with the drugs in your body/ Take that step -- you're the life of the party/ Know that step -- you're the life of the party. |
1. Life of the Party
With Tesfaye's luring voice over a looming guitar riff, this song really makes you feel like you're entering a forbidden world. Its dark overtones gives "Life of the Party" a distinctly sleazy feel, as the singer lures a girl into the party life, telling her that she's "the life of the party." Although many parents complain that this type of music encourages dangerous behavior, I actually think Tesfaye is almost parodying this lifestyle. The lyrics come across as mocking satire, and with the ominous feel to the piece, "Life of the Party" ends up sounding more like a warning than anything else.
With Tesfaye's luring voice over a looming guitar riff, this song really makes you feel like you're entering a forbidden world. Its dark overtones gives "Life of the Party" a distinctly sleazy feel, as the singer lures a girl into the party life, telling her that she's "the life of the party." Although many parents complain that this type of music encourages dangerous behavior, I actually think Tesfaye is almost parodying this lifestyle. The lyrics come across as mocking satire, and with the ominous feel to the piece, "Life of the Party" ends up sounding more like a warning than anything else.
| Drinking Alizé with our cereal for breakfast/ Girls calling cabs at dawn quarter to seven/ Sky's getting cold, we're flying from the north/ |
2. The Morning
I've had this song (fittingly) as my morning alarm for the past couple months, and although I've gotten kind of sick of it because of it, there's no denying that this song is just really pleasant to listen to. Totally different than "Life of the Party," "The Morning" is a calm, reflective song in which Tesfaye muses about the women in his life who always seem to leave in the morning. It's relaxing, it's got a nice guitar in the background, and the melody is soothing. What more do you want?
I've had this song (fittingly) as my morning alarm for the past couple months, and although I've gotten kind of sick of it because of it, there's no denying that this song is just really pleasant to listen to. Totally different than "Life of the Party," "The Morning" is a calm, reflective song in which Tesfaye muses about the women in his life who always seem to leave in the morning. It's relaxing, it's got a nice guitar in the background, and the melody is soothing. What more do you want?
| Ain't no one goin' stop us/ And I'ma give you girl, what you fiend/ I'm the drug in your veins/ Just fight through the pain |
3. What You Need
Yeah, okay, there's a lot a sex in this song (surprise, surprise!) ... BUT it goes deeper than that! There's an interesting metaphor in "What You Need" between Tesfaye's love and drugs -- although, his lover may "want" another man, she "needs" him like an addict would "need" heroin or crack. So while the song might initially sound like a simple love song, it has another meaning: Tesfaye knows that he's dangerous and bad for his lover, but he can't help pulling her back in time after time. What a player.
Yeah, okay, there's a lot a sex in this song (surprise, surprise!) ... BUT it goes deeper than that! There's an interesting metaphor in "What You Need" between Tesfaye's love and drugs -- although, his lover may "want" another man, she "needs" him like an addict would "need" heroin or crack. So while the song might initially sound like a simple love song, it has another meaning: Tesfaye knows that he's dangerous and bad for his lover, but he can't help pulling her back in time after time. What a player.
So here ya go! A quick little overview of the Weeknd's album Trilogy. Overall, I'd definitely recommend it. Go pick up the album if you're interested in racy lyrics, R&B/rap, and just some good music.