Howdy, hope y'all are doing well! I'm about to listen to the album in real time, and will write a line or two for each song. Don't expect a piece of literature, cause I don't have vast information about other genres, or music history, like @thoth or some other members do haha! I'll give the verdicts in two versions: one as a casual listener, the hani who listens other artists and genres too, the verdict of hani who isn't biased. The other will be the verdict as a long time Weeknd fan

Aight, here we go. First of all, I love the fact that there are no features.

• Alone Again

What a head scratching track. I don't know what to say, neither as a weeknd fan, neither as a listener. I have mixed feelings about it, actually I don't know what it makes me feel. Some lyrics are good, he's trying to let me know he's in pain. Some other lyrics are nothing in particular. Then a second half with a beat switch, synths, drums, and a generic trap beat. I find it weird what they did to his voice, over processing.

The 1:26-1:46 instrumental reminds me of a Kiss Land song, I can't pinpoint which right now.

Maybe it's building up for something. I don't know. Maybe it will grow on me. But it's a rough start.

verdict: as a casual listener... 3/10

verdict: as a weeknd fan........ 5/10 (at most)

• Too Late

This one starts a bit softer on the ears. I like the vibe on the chorus, I think it's fitting to be played in the car on an evening ride, if I shut my brain to not hear the lyrics as lyrics, but just as melody (the lyrics are not a strong point here, sorry).
With the drums, and the synths and a Giorgio Moroder-esque sound which starts as background, but becomes more evident in the last 30-or-so seconds of the song. Mixed feeling about the vocal effect in the chorus though.

I see the chorus being used in commercial/trailer for the new season of a criminal/action series.

PS. On these first listens, on both this and the opener, the chorus is the only memorable part.

verdict: as a casual listener... 4/10

verdict: as a weeknd fan........ 6/10 (at most)

• Hardest To Love

This feels like those pop songs of 2003, that you'll burn on a CD to play on your walkman which doesn't fit in your pocket. (and there's nothing wrong with it, some songs of the era had their beauty) There's another album track which fits this description, I don't remember which, but I'll reach it.
Here too the strongest point is the chorus. and oh, no heavy vocal effects here. neat.

A very, very soft song for The Weeknd to be in. His sound did change in ten years.

Not a bad song. He does belt his vocals a bit every now and then. Also a subtle transition to track 4. (a bit spooky too? haha)

verdict: as a casual listener... 5/10 (it's an ok track, but not my cup of tea)

verdict: as a weeknd fan........ Light 7/10

• Scared To Live

I remember this track. Ever since that SNL performance came out, I was holding on, -to not listen any new track that would come before the album, so I can listen the album and enjoy them more,- I remember saying to myself, "ok, I'll cheat a tiny bit, and play only the beginning". And just as I heard the first two lines, Abel's vocals gave me a small rush of goosebumps, so I instantly closed the youtube tab, cause I thought "GODDAMN, Abel doing a f***ing ballad! About damn time! :D"
;
So the first notes fit well for both purposes, for the transition, and also for the independent track, like, if you reach to play only this track on its own, the intro is smooth and sweet. The lyrics aren't something that would rival a song written by say, Lennon-McCartney, but Abel's voice is the extra instrument which I can shut my brain, and enjoy the sound. A really nice track. Would put it in a slow dance/slow f*** playlist.

Recently, for the first time in more than 10 years, I rewatched "Beauty and The Beast", which in my opinion has to be probably the best Disney movie ever, but anyways, what I want to say is, you know the dancing scene? This track is so fitting. Actually, see for yourself (ps, if the first video is not muted, do it manually))

I liked the extra instrumental elements on the second verse. I like how he belts out his vocals. I like the Elton John interpolation/sample, like salt to a dish, a small element, but it makes it tastier.

verdict: as a casual listener... 7/10 (only cause I think the lyrics could have been better)

verdict: as a weeknd fan........ 8/10

-Snowchile (fuck off Jimi Hendrix's ghost, and let me type the title properly!)

• Snowchild

Ah s***. This is one of the tracks I liked a lot instantly. I like these laid back sounding songs where he tells us about his past. Every "era" seems to have a song in this vein. "King Of The Fall"... "Tell Your Friends"... "Reminder" (?) and every time he does it I f***ing love it. This for me is right there, on top with KOTF. It's SO well done!
Love the throwback to the mixtapes era "Cali was the mission but, now a nigga leaving"

I love this kind of braggadocious Weeknd. Love what he choose to do with the chorus, singing it a bit softer. It only adds to the vibe. Music for riding in a convertible in a crimson red sunset in LA.

verdict: as a casual listener... 6/10

verdict: as a weeknd fan........ Strong 7/10

• Escape From LA

Oh s*** oh s*** oh s***. Another love at first listen! The intro instrumental is so good, and it's the kind of Weeknd songs I've been fiending! So moody and f***ed up. I can replay it infinitely, only the intro instrumental, like Michael Scott in that Office episode where he's playing that sad James Blunt song, the 30sec free preview, and he keeps pressing "replay".

Dwight: Why don’t you just buy the whole song?
Michael: I don’t have to buy it. I just want to taste it. I just… I just want a little taste of it.

that preview is enough for a heartbroken Michael; and I can tell ya, in a parallel universe where Michael is repping XO, he'll be replaying 30 sec preview from this track -- any 30 sec segment. The song is so good, so calm, so sad.

Like, Abel knows that this song won't sell and won't be played twice every hour in every radio like Republic wishes to, but Abel says to you "it's ok, my day one, this is for you and me. enjoy! xo"
It reminds me of "Try Me" for the mood it creates and I can't put it in words how much I as a Weeknd fan love "Try Me". "Escape From LA" might even top "Try Me"!

I love the structure of this song. I like how as the second half of verse 2 becomes a bridge, I like what they did with the production. Also, in the choruses on the background there seem to be vocals of a girl crying? I'm getting The Birds Part 2/Coming Down vibes!
And as if Abel could make me love this song more, he seals it with a beat switch / outro (call the last two minutes how you want). Abel has some of the best and most special vocals as a singer. He can sing the most obscene/rated R things and make it sound smooth. As he says in that Kiss Land interview

But I can say “Pussy-ass nigga” in the most elegant and sexiest way ever, and it’s accepted

;

Anyways, returning to the beat switch part.

"She pulled up to the studio..."

Imagine this part in a concert.
No, really, close your eyes and imagine.

This part and what follows, of course. The whole crowd singing it in unison, with lighters held up high, and waving left to right.

verdict: as a casual listener... 8/10

verdict: as a weeknd fan........ 100'000/10

• Heartless

Another song where there are moderate vocal effects, which initially seemed weird to me, unusual... I was uncertain, but it didn't take many repkays for me to f***ing love it.

Almost 4 years after the last LP, the very first bar of his very first comeback song is

"Never need a b**** I'm what a b**** need"

What a f***ing opening line.
What a song/way to start the new era.

(Kinda reminds me of Linkin Park, with the first track of their first album being "Papercut")

This has got to be one of the best Weeknd songs ever. I love the pulsating beat. The energy it brings throughout the whole song. Hell, by the first presentation of the drums, like a knee-jerk reflex I'm bumping my head to the rhythm of the drums at 0:28 to 0:33 like "boom... boom ... boom-boom-booom... boom", all the while making a stank face. First listen, 40th listen, same exact reaction.

When listening to the album I thought I would skip this track, since I know what it has to offer, and I thought I've had enough of it, but no, the energy is raw, and it's difficult to not appreciate it. I like what they did with the slow bridge, slow jams are one of Abel's strongest links in his artistic chain.

Already spoke about how much I like his well done braggadocious songs.

PS. I f***ing love this 3 song progression.

verdict: as a casual listener... 7/10

verdict: as a weeknd fan........ 9/10

• Faith

okay what the f*** did I just listen. Wow

;

Interesting choice as a follow up track. It flows well after the T.N.T. that was "Heartless". I was worried for a moment that whatever song he'll put next will be eclipsed. But little did I know what's in store;
The first 30sec have two functions, 1)when listening to this song individually, a smooth presentation 2)when listened in the full album run, to give you the chance to relax a bit after listening the previous banger, like "it was a pretty good one, now sit back, relax, and get ready for round two"

First verse is dope as f***. Abel sings about that sinister, f***ed up, degenerate life; for some reason this song is giving me Coming Down/Initiation vibes. Electronic Abel is another Weeknd I like. Ever since that Disclosure joint, I've been wishing to see him more often on this genre.

The beat/production here is so damn good!

"I take half a Xan' and I still stay awake"

The head bump continues in arpeggio with the drums hitting and as Abel sings the last syllable of each bar (stay awake-my grave-heaven's gate-never stay)
Think I heard another mixtape throwback line.

"But if I OD,
I want you to OD right beside me"

yup, this song is as close to an Initiation/Coming Down we'll get by the worldwide famous Weeknd.
But he did more than that, he wrapped it in some of his other best/iconic qualities like smoothly riding an electronic beat, tempo switches, and not only focusing on a single theme.
'tis a song that keeps on giving.

I'm really enjoying the song so far, all the elements, everything is on poi─hold up, it changed?

"I lost my faith (I lost my faith)
I'm losing my religion every day"

It flows so good!

I like how he repeats the same 4 lines twice, I know it's often done in music, but in this case, repetition underlines his desperation.

"Faith...! I'm losing my religion every day..."

It's so emotional.

...

And another beat switch. Sounds ethereal. Like he died, had a tragic life but at least now his soul is ascending the stairway to heaven/or died, and as he's laying on his back in concrete, on his last breaths, the last minute of the song feels like the last thoughts of a troubled soul (PS. I'm not making theories for a possible weeknd lore, I don't like them, what I see in this is beyond a simple weeknd lore, it feels like the troubled soul that was presented to us in the first 200 seconds of the song, finally can rest. Not necessarily found peace/happines, but at least his troubled life ended. No more suffering for him...)

But that last minute man, it's something else. Another 60sec preview for Michael Scott to replay for hours. It's so sad, bleak, depressing, it reminds me of Pink Floyd's "The Final Cut" which to me it's one of the darkest, bleakest, "music to commit suicide to" records ever released. (I'm not suicidal haha, life is beautiful, and I'm not going anywhere that I know of, so far above ground beats the alternative!)

PS. he kept mentioning being blinded by the lights, don't tell me "Blinding Lights" is the next song in the tracklist?

verdict: as a casual listener... Light 8/10

verdict: as a weeknd fan........ 10/10

• Blinding Lights

(I knew it! haha)

A very fun song to listen. So engaging. Right from 0:15 where the beat comes in pulsating. Love the synths, which remind me of old pop songs. Drums are a rad choice too. There's something vintage and fresh about the sound of this song, it takes the 80s sound, but it doesn't sound dated. And I think it won't lose replay value in the years to come. The studio is a playground, and Abel is playing with his vocals. At times seems nice, at times a bit too much, but hell, the song is so sunny that I don't mind some small unnecessary vocal decisions.

verdict: as a casual listener... strong 8/10

verdict: as a weeknd fan........ 10/10

• In Your Eyes

By the first few seconds you already know things are 'bout to get heavy on the dance floor. Then comes one of nicest sounding vocalist in the game with those smooth-ass notes. A very, very rhythmic, very, very sunny synth-pop-disco track, to dance the stress away! Booyy is this a hot song! And it's full of life!

(In your eeyyeess)
I see there's something (burning inside you)

I swear I hear Michael Jackson on this line, no matter if it's replay № 1 or № 40! Abel NEEDS to release a cover album of Thriller in its entirety, like Juliana Hatfield (whom has already covered Olivia Newton John and The Police projects and received critical acclaim). (PS. Rod Stewart too has devoted a series of studio albums to "The Great American Songbook" -- 5 LPs, 67 tracks of cover material)

"You always... You always... I always..." he sounds so good, his voice compliments the production/instrumentals and vice versa.

Verse 2. Daaammnn, he sounds so f***ing good, I don't understand why Republic doesn't push him for yearly LPs with only this type of tracks!!

Oh and the sax. A nice surprise.

What they did with this song, this here, should be the bar, the standard of mainstream/superstar/pop Weeknd. I really like the whole formula of this song, pop perfection. Everything is on point!
Production credits says Abel, Belly, Martin, Oscar Holter
Now I'm craving for a Max Martin executive produced Weeknd LP, a hungry Martin working on the LP aiming to go multiple-diamond in sales, -- along with few other regular cats that contributed through years in Abel's best songs: for one, Belly, a must for the lyrics. I'll mention the others another time, since this is another matter.

So hey, Abel. How difficult was it to make a sunny track? Keep these coming!

This is a song! This is your new standard! High five, mr. motherfucking Starboy!

verdict: as a casual listener... 7/10 (lyrics could have been a bit better, but like with Fleetwood Mac's "Tango In The Night", the vocals & production elevates it from a 5.5-6 to an 7)

verdict: as a weeknd fan........ 7/10

(I can't ever give it more points than Blinding Lights)

• Save Your Tears

Oooh! this was the other, 2000s sounding pop song I was talking about earlier! Songs that, as I said, when done properly, have their beauty and don't sound dated; this is one of them. You could have told me this is a early 2000s track, and I wouldn't bat an eye. Actually it's done pretty good!

It has a nice vibe, the beat, the singing. It ain't bad, at all. Has some nice vocals on the second half too. Ahh, slow outro/intermission. Feels like they particularly studied this kind of 2000s songs. Done a great job. If there ever will be a trend which gains much interest, and it would be to make music as a tribute/throwback to the sound of the 2000s, then this will be one of the most well made tracks among them!

verdict: as a casual listener... 7/10

verdict: as a weeknd fan........ 8/10

• Repeat After Me (interlude)

Such a sweet "fuck you" to the girl he's singing about this track is. This chick feels the need to undermine Abel by letting him know that she doesn't have feelings anymore for him, actually she's got herself another man. So she tells Abel that she loves another. But for some (specific, unmentioned, and it's ok ) reason, Abel knows she's doing this out of spite. You tell me you're in love with him, but you're thinking of me. "So shut up babe and listen. Let's get back together :)"

Sounds so good, can't stop replaying it. It has a certain nostalgic vibe, it doesn't have to be listened only when you can 100% relate to it, Abel warned you a long time ago haha ;) the production is brilliant, Abel's vocals are the extra instrument, so even if you don't listen the lyrics, it's a pretty chill and enjoyable song.

I love how in this type of compositions and in poems,

;

(continues in the next post)

You still haven't heard the album a month after it dropped?

(originally a reply to kiddash3r)
I've properly listened it maybe 3-4x, haven't had the time lol

(continuing the interlude review)

...the writer gives you the title, "Repeat After Me", and makes sure to give the full attention to the part through repetition -"You don't love him"- like some kind of therapy. Songs usually have the track title as the most repeated lyric, but here he almost never says "repeat after me" (only once, and in the bridge part of the song).

I love so much this formula, song, and interlude-- to me, it's on par with The Birds interlude, as the best interlude in Abel's discog.

verdict: as a casual listener... Strong 7/10

verdict: as a weeknd fan........ 10/10

• After Hours

So, the title track. An intro, warning-like 10sec beat which calls for your attention. Like coffee in the morning, to shake you off from the previous, dreamy track. Then in comes Abel, and soothes the ambience.

"Cause my heart belongs to you...

While Abel distracts you with some smooth vocals like a Shakespearean character that is romantic/lover, whom would make the panties of every young lady drop down like gravity was set harder than Goku's spaceship training routine; while he's talking in a sweet tone & words about love and commitment, the beat knocking in distance, slowly creeping on you.

PS. the "This time, I'll never leave" makes me think what it would have been like when Eugene Onegin, whom upon seeing Tatyana again (years after he stupidly refuses her love), he becomes obsessed with winning her affection. (Onegin writes her many letters, she doesn't respond, then eventually he meets her face to face and expresses his love)
Come to think of it, I can see Onegin saying the sweet words Abel sings from "Cause my heart belongs to you" to "without you I can't breathe" to Tatyana :)

PPS. since I really enjoyed everything about the first two minutes, and since I recently rewatched Taxi Driver, the way Abel sings + the things he says remind me of Sport and Iris in this scene, like, the words, the tone Abel and Sport use, are disarming!

The mood changes, a disco banger. (Damn, the credits are tight!)
Head bumping ensues.

Ah, and those heavenly vocals.

Oh, and the "Didn't wanna wake up 'less you were beside me"
what a beautiful line!

Then in the second repetition of the "Oh, baby" verse the production gets more layers and slightly more intensity.
Remorse on an upbeat electro instrumental.
A heartfelt banger!

From being multilayered, the production soon switches to a stripped down transformation. 1min20sec remain, it's too soon for it to be a closure, (you know, the usual 4-10sec length). Is it an intermission? For the beats to make another last dynamic comeback?

Wait, no.

The "oh baby" verse comes for the third and final time, and with every repetition the emotional intensity increases.

A heartfelt outro, which reminds me of "the calm after the storm", the outro of The Birds Part 1 <3
For a moment it gave me a flashback to his letter to fans "You will continue to get music that you fell in love with"

I also love how they left inside the song the breaths, the heavy breathing right before the Without my baby.... It adds to the romanticity of the song like salt to a dish. I'd like to be a fly on the wall from the moment this song and idea came to Abel's mind, to the moment he decided
which elements and which take he would put out as the final product. Since how long did he want to do this kind of track? Did Republic push him? Cause he can try different concepts, from the lazy, to the rushed, to the decent pop tracks which have a life/replayability of at most 3 months, but when once out of every 20-30 tracks he records, he decides to do a song in the vein of mixtapes, he always shines. I wonder what he could do if he was independent.

verdict: as a casual listener... 8/10

verdict: as a weeknd fan........ 10/10

must be the 1000th comment about the processing on the vocals for this song, what's so disturbing about it

then it's not even a 1st listen

Why do you need to make a thread for your 5th listen

Also thats top 3 on the album

(originally a reply to FlipFlop)

well, duh, I'm not gonna ruin my first listen by pausing each song every 20 seconds to write a review, I want to enjoy the new album of one of my favourite musicians, don't you think? haha

(Rest of the review, cause 4 posts weren't enough lol)

• Till I Bleed Out

Beautiful.
Beautiful. Hauntingly beautiful, this is the kind of artistic tracks I would imagine the 2011 Weeknd would do 5 or 10 years in his career if he focused in evolving his pen game. This would be the bar, the new standard of his songs 10 years in the music making, if he evolved in the direction Frank took. He would've then probably aimed to make songs that would be studied in schools. Among the greatest singer/songwriters. Like Dylan. Or Lennon-McCartney.

I already consider it a deep cut, through years he'll gain more fans, but only the select few will be blessed by this beautiful piece of art.

This is the Weeknd I like.
"hard to digest and never spoon feeding"

verdict: as a casual listener... strong 8/10

verdict: as a weeknd fan........ 10/10

"Hani's "After Hours" LP first listen review"

alone again 5/10? wtf thats at the very least a 9

Bump

My Beauty Behind The Madness LP first listen coming very soon bros

shouldnt the thread title be Hani's "After Hours" LP fifth listen review

you thonk hardest to love better than alone again and too late

Too late and alone again a 3 and a 4
Interesting perspective to see but I couldn't disagree more

Thread going to plan i see

The vocal processing on After Hours & To Late >>

Abel said that the effects on Alone Again are intentional. He didn’t want you to understand what he was saying first time around.

Effects are cool idg why everybodys bothered by them tbh theyre not even that crazy you can still hear what he says

Alone Again will grow on you

Too Late 6/10... 😐