I keep on thinking that Abel’s albums after House of Balloons will live up to their predecessor, they won’t. I’m not saying Abel will never top it, it’s just not gonna happen in this trilogy. The problem isn’t Abel’s vocals or lyrics, it’s the production. Doc Mckinney & Illangelo are fine producers, I just don’t think they stepped up Abel’s sound in the last two albums. There is a shitload of producers that could do something completely different, completely original with his voice and it’s gotta be Abel’s next step.
That said, it’s still a damn decent album with lyrics that are evolving through simple honesty. Abel has one interesting story, not just because of his quick rise to fame, but how he’s taking it all in. Make sure to check out his “Dirty Diana” cover, as well as the rest of the album (shit.is.poetry). I still can’t believe I never thought up Abel covering MJ, so obvious now.
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With two mixtapes that’ve already dropped this year and one more on the way, Abel Tesfaye, aka The Weeknd, has got to be one of the most prolific artists of 2011.
In what I’m guessing is the first single to drop from his third album, Echoes of Silence, “Initiation” is another haunting look into this R&B fiend. With vocal manipulations throughout the track, this shit feels trippier than ever before.
Echoes is expected to release October 24 for Drake’s birthday. Can’t wait to hear how he raps up the year.
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I have a feeling that just about every everyone I know is gonna be praising The Weeknd’s second mixtape, Thursday, which just released. And as much as I’m not here to fight or agree with them, I do have one thing that I’ve always wondered about Abel (The Weeknd) and his rise to fame.
I remember thinking to myself a while back, why the hell hasn’t The Weeknd (Weekend at the time) blown up, yet Now that it’s happened, I’m wondering what the hell happened Abel is no longer working with the original producer of “What You Need,” Jeremy Rose. The track was their kickstart and it’s sad, for whatever reason, to hear they’re no longer working together. I’m not saying Doc Mckinney or Illangelo haven’t created their own hot mess with Abel, but “What You Need” just had so much fucking chemistry.
Be as it may, House of Balloons was pretty amazing as a whole. So far my favorite thing about Thursday is, actually, the production. So I guess I’ll just have to see where Abel takes his voice in this one and wherever his heads gone now.
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