I know that 'After Hours' is a shorter and more consistent album, and has better lyrical content, but I don't see it as an essential record at all. And it seems like people agree, Grammys snub outside (which was BS), that s*** isn't popping up on any critics lists this year.

I think at least with the first three songs on 'Starboy' it's a new territory for Abel, whereas 'After Hours' feels like stuff he already explored on the mixtapes and did better back then

Are you kidding me? After Hours is getting a f*** ton of critical acclaim, and is being placed very highly on numerous year end reviews.

According to this albumoftheyear.org/list/summary/2020

It's currently 20th in terms of acclaim.

He was 4th in 2011 with HOB.

And Starboy is nowhere found on the 2016 year end list.

stream Love to Lay

abel got no bad albums yall buggin

awful take aside from false alarm

What's with all the False Alarm slander? Subject matter of the song is tight and it sounds amazing. Not to mention that the music video is top tier. Actually top 5 on the album.

it's good

Not you...