Album Review: The Weeknd - Beauty Behind the Madness
By Hannah Mullin, Contributor [Republic; 2015] Rating: 3.5/5
Key Tracks: "The Hills," "Can’t Feel My Face," "Real Life"
The Weeknd appeared out of left field in 2010 as a mysteriously intense new hip hop artist who has continued to hypnotize fans with his uniquely dark and sexy beats. Beauty Behind the Madness celebrates The Weeknd’s third album and marks a turning point for Abel Tesfaye. In BBM we see him move away from centralized hip hop and expand a unique sound that has been dubbed “dark hip hop.”
Beauty Behind the Madness is a powerful reminder of The Weeknd’s gift to deliver emotionally heavy lyrics with catchy, alluring production. “Real Life” kickstarts the album with an intense, nearly upbeat tune; meanwhile the lyrics tell of Tesfaye’s extremely destructive relationships with women. Following the trend, “Losers” is another fast, appealing track paired with ominous lyrics describing his lack of faith in love.
Most notably, “The Hills” captures The Weeknd’s story-telling skill with abrasively honest lyrics. The track exploded into the Hot 100 Top 20 with an impressive bass drop. However, the intense lyrics describe his habit of exploiting women and offer a glimpse into his dark psyche. The narrative grows into a fantastic music video that illustrates The Weeknd’s descent into hell due to his transgressions.
Unexpected features from Lana Del Rey, Ed Sheeran and Labrinth pull The Weeknd farther from rap, separating BBM from his previous two albums that included substantial features from hip hop stars Drake and Juicy J. The Weeknd and Ed Sheeran are an unexpected combination, but successfully stretch The Weeknd’s unique sound.
The album does have one significant weak spot. Popular tracks “The Hills,” “Can’t Feel My Face,” “Earned It” and “Often” are the most powerful tracks of BBM. However, these tracks were released months ago. That leaves fans with only 10 fresh tracks, none of which are as impressive as the others. Trilogy was a powerful 30-track album that, in comparison, makes Beauty Behind the Madness feel rushed.
Beauty Behind the Madness tracks Tesfaye’s personal and professional journey to fame and fortune in an addictively unique way. The album is a powerhouse of sexy, gloomy beats that express The Weeknd’s emotional demons. BBM undoubtedly places The Weeknd at the forefront of hip hop and is irrefutable proof that Abel Tesfaye, the new ‘king of pop,’ will only progress to challenge the limits of hip hop.
