The release came as a bit of a surprise to me, although I don't follow The Weeknd closely on social media. I was hanging out with my girlfriend when I saw it was out, so I put in headphones and played the first song, "Call Out My Name". When the first notes played, I couldn't help but say "Oh man" out loud, and was already sold on the song within the first ten seconds. Much to my pleasure, the song unfolded from a brooding, gentle tune into a raw, emotionally-driven lament for a lover who has fallen out of love. The combination of The Weeknd's vulnerable and intense vocals and the gritty & haunting vibe of the instrumental comes together to create an instant classic - a song that will most definitely be one of my top songs for the year. The switch between the first and second verses, specifically in the vocals, is absolutely incredible. The Weeknd utilizes similar lyrics for each verse, which I'm not usually fond of; however, the second verse sounds so real and raw that it's impossible not to feel the desperation and affliction of his heart. You can hear the influence of Michael Jackson on that verse, showing off The Weeknd's range while opening up his innermost sufferings and laying them out for all to see. The line leading into the second chorus, where The Weeknd's cry of "So call out my name" is distorted and drawn out is the peak, the moment that hits the listener closest to home.
Honestly, I could have just had that song and been content. I've already listened to it 14 times in less than two weeks, and I'm sure that number is going to continue to climb. But, there are five more songs on the EP, and while none of them reach that same level, a couple do get pretty close.
My other favorites from the release were "Try Me" and "Privilege", both for different reasons. "Try Me" is one of the lighter songs of the EP, utilizing a bit of the ever prevailing trap sound to lay the ground for The Weeknd to attempt to seduce a former lover back into his arms. His falsetto comes out strong on this track, fitting with the lyrical and thematic content of the song that's still dark but in a much more sensual manner. "Privilege" falls back into the haunting territory, very atmospheric and hazy in the way it crawls along for the first verse without a beat. The hook of "I got two red pills to take the blues away" serves to show the way in which The Weeknd is attempting to deal with the pain and suffering he has been going through; whether it's a reference to The Matrix and the blue/red pill choice offered to Neo or a reference to actual drugs, it's doesn't paint a pleasant picture. The Weeknd bookended the EP with sorrow, finishing with the same tormented soul he began with.
Now, to be honest, I could have done without the other three songs on the EP. "Wasted Time" is actually pretty good, with a pretty catchy instrumental (helped in part by Sonny Moore, AKA Skrillex) and The Weeknd showing off his softer side vocally. However, the biggest turn off for me is the lyric "I hope you know this dick is still an option", which is just...so unimaginative. I think the whole song, lyrically, feels a bit too direct, too obviously pointed at his most recent ex, Selena Gomez, making it less relatable than the other songs (unless you've dated big pop-stars, then I'm sure you can relate to this). The other two songs, "I Was Never There" & "Hurt You", both feature Gesaffelstein, a French techno artist who has previously worked with other rappers such as A$AP Rocky and Kanye West. I think that the collaboration was an interesting idea, but it just didn't land as well as they might have hoped. Both tracks feel a bit more like something that would have been on Starboy, and less of the dark and moody tone found on the rest of the tracks. Specifically, "Hurt You" feels just a little too close to "I Feel It Coming", which was produced by Daft Punk. The electronic/techno instrumentals provided by Gesaffelstein don't mesh as well with The Weeknd's vocal style, leaving both of these songs to fall to the wayside.
Overall, the release was still a bit of a hit or miss feel, as was Starboy. However, when the songs hit, they hit right on track, and blew it out of the water. I'm glad The Weeknd has delved back into the darkness - it's allows his talent to shine.
Rating - 3/5
Recommended - "Call Out My Name", "Try Me", "Privilege"
Now, to be honest, I could have done without the other three songs on the EP. "Wasted Time" is actually pretty good, with a pretty catchy instrumental (helped in part by Sonny Moore, AKA Skrillex) and The Weeknd showing off his softer side vocally. However, the biggest turn off for me is the lyric "I hope you know this dick is still an option", which is just...so unimaginative. I think the whole song, lyrically, feels a bit too direct, too obviously pointed at his most recent ex, Selena Gomez, making it less relatable than the other songs (unless you've dated big pop-stars, then I'm sure you can relate to this). The other two songs, "I Was Never There" & "Hurt You", both feature Gesaffelstein, a French techno artist who has previously worked with other rappers such as A$AP Rocky and Kanye West. I think that the collaboration was an interesting idea, but it just didn't land as well as they might have hoped. Both tracks feel a bit more like something that would have been on Starboy, and less of the dark and moody tone found on the rest of the tracks. Specifically, "Hurt You" feels just a little too close to "I Feel It Coming", which was produced by Daft Punk. The electronic/techno instrumentals provided by Gesaffelstein don't mesh as well with The Weeknd's vocal style, leaving both of these songs to fall to the wayside.
Overall, the release was still a bit of a hit or miss feel, as was Starboy. However, when the songs hit, they hit right on track, and blew it out of the water. I'm glad The Weeknd has delved back into the darkness - it's allows his talent to shine.
Rating - 3/5
Recommended - "Call Out My Name", "Try Me", "Privilege"
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