Guest Blogger: Jillian M2

"You don't know what's in store, but you know what you're here for." Instantaneously with a mix of Abel Tesfaye’s voice and sick beats, The Weekend introduced lyrics that would set the framework of the sultry album, House of Balloons. Though comparable to Frank Ocean and How to Dress Well, Abel Tesfaye has surpassed their music with a sound all his own. House of Balloons is an R&B album with a slightly indie feel that is overflowing with songs of cautionary love tales, tragedy, and heartache. Produced with such emotional honesty and rawness, listeners can’t help but be swayed the music Abel has created. In my personal favorite, “Wicked Games”, The Weekend brilliantly invokes in listeners emotions of tragic pain, defeat, and desperation. With the haunting lyrics, “Bring your love, baby, I can bring my shame/Bring the *****, baby, I can bring my pain/I’ve got my heart right here/I’ve got my scars right here,” Abel perfectly showcases his emotional and painstakingly crude lyrics. In his review giving the album an 8.5, Joe Colly perfectly describes what makes House of Balloons so original and hypnotic, “What makes this whole thing work in an album context is that all the thematic and sonic pieces fit together-- these weird, morning-after tales of lust, hurt, and over-indulgence … are matched by this incredibly lush, downcast music. It's hard to think of a record since probably the xx's debut … that so fully embodies such a specific nocturnal quality. And even though the image of nightlife painted by The Weeknd isn't a place you'd ever want to live, it's one that's frankly very hard to stop listening to.” (Colly, Pitchfork.com). Rolling Stone also gave a worthy 4 star review of House of Balloons commenting, “It can all be disturbingly raw…The wormy hooks and earnest falsettos suggest the possibility of ginormous hits…” In my overall opinion, with the awesome beats that are not lacking in meaningful lyrics, House of Balloons is certainly brilliant: a mix of R&B/Indie album like none I have never heard. There is no less than one object or feeling in each song the listener can relate to and empathize with. I have no doubt that The Weekend has further potential in the future and I am looking forward to future albums from The Weekend.