Reviews

My name is Emilio (Grade 10), and I would rate After Hours a 4/5 because this is a well-constructed album with a beautiful sense of sound and production. The Weeknd is at the top of his game as I think that all of the tracks are enjoyable and make up for a cohesive album. It is The Weeknd’s fifth album and released by XO and Republic Records, which features an R&B and a synth-pop type sound. The whole album coincides around The Weeknd’s cycle of mind and how it juggles between loneliness and regret after managing without his partner. It combines a chill and terrifying vibe throughout the album that takes you on a roller coaster of emotions. I heavily enjoy the synthwave sounds that are produced within all of the tracks as they complement The Weeknd’s voice greatly. He is versatile with his style, as both the chill and upbeat sections of this album are amazing. The first third of the album consists of chill, calm tracks, the second third has upbeat, energetic songs, and the last third also has chill tracks but with an eerie sense. For me, the biggest highlights are in the middle section, such as Blinding Lights, Heartless, Faith, and In Your Eyes. These songs stuck with me the most and were the most memorable due to their upbeat, entertaining, fun production mixed with the new wave vocals. Although, that does not deteriorate the other tracks because I still think they are strong and well produced. All in all, it is a fantastic album that I would recommend to everyone but mostly to those who like synth-pop type music.