i kinda like the wayne part and the decision to turn it into almost a duet between those two of all pairs is the kind of bonkers choice that i’m here for
For whatever reason I’ve never really listened to his full lengths. Just know the hits. Regretting that because holy shit I love this. Should I just go backwards from here?
you can’t really go wrong. After Hours is very similar to this, so if you want more of it right away, going backwards isn’t a bad call. But there’s also a really clear evolution from record to record, so going back to the start and catching up would be a good angle, too. I think a lot of people (myself included) still consider Trilogy his best work, so that might influence your decision. But they’re all good so it’s not like you’re setting yourself up for disappointment one way vs the other.
The Wayne feature is pretty rubbish. Song from title to that feature is probably the only mis-step for me on the album. I don't really like Wayne at all anyway so would've been hard for that one to land with me. Tyler's feature is good. There's so many great sounds on this, hasn't hit me as immediately as After Hours but very much willing to give it all of the listens. 'Is There Someone Else' might be an early favourite. Intrigued by his 'new trilogy' thing as saw the theories of 'after life' being advertised on this on 'every angel is terrifying'
Very cool this is part of a second trilogy, wonder when we’ll get the third part despite this just dropping.
I really wonder where the next album will go if it's connected to After Hours and this one. I'd love some spacey psychedelic shit, that seems like it would be a natural progression for both the sound and the story of this series Rap features encouraged
Not a fan of the Wayne verse, and to be honest I rarely like anything he does. Everything else on this record is great though. After a few spins, this is my order of The Weeknd records, favourite to least favourite. Love them all though - the guy hasn't made a misstep in my eyes. House Of Balloons After Hours Kiss Land Thursday Dawn FM Echoes Of Silence Beauty Behind The Madness My Dear Melancholy, Starboy
I’m just going to add another thing but I really appreciate more of these artists starting to sample all those city pop artists. I’ve been discovering a bunch of new stuff.
Really great review of the album. One of the best music related podcasts out there as well. If you have an hour check it out. Riot Act: The Weeknd - Dawn FM on Apple Podcasts
https://overcast.fm/+F-FyeIThU Switched on Pop already did a breakdown on the album Dawn FM is The Weeknd’s most narratively compelling album yet. More than just a collection of eighties-nostalgia single bait, Dawn FM is a concept album that picks up on a multi-year meta narrative. Abel Tesfaye, seemingly killed off his character at the end of his last album, After Hours. Getting caught up in the “Blinding Lights” of fame and excess, the narrator ends up overdosing in the back of an ambulance. On the final song “Until I Bleed Out” he sings “I can’t move, I’m so paralyzed.” Dawn FM picks up where After Hours left off. The album opens with pastoral winds and bird sounds, with The Weeknd driving down the road searching for a light at the end of a tunnel. His radio is turned to a fictional radio station: 103.5 Dawn FM hosted by The Weeknd’s real life neighbor, the actor Jim Carrey. Channeled through the Vaporwave inspired production of Oneohtrixpoint Never, Dawn FM is the sound of purgatory.
This didn't hit me as strongly as a lot of you but I really, really like it. Most of his stuff has that kinda drawl for me, being super enticing and exciting and something I really dig but has to set in I can't give much time to full listens until I'm not busy later but hopping around and its such a joy. Gasoline is already one of my favorite Weeknd tunes. Out of Time is also nuts. Definitely a huge fan
This is all I can think about when I hear the record. Queens of the Stone Age did this a decade ago. Record still rules though.