Album Review: The Weeknd, Echoes of Silence
The highly anticipated 3rd mixtape from Ethipian-Canadian artist The Weeknd is well worth the hype surrounding it. It’s the third offering of a trilogy, with the first two releases being the well received "House of Balloons" and "Thursday." After one listen to Echoes of Silence, it’s clear that The Weeknd is no gimmick.
choes of Silence has the audacity to cover Michael Jackson’s "Dirty Diana," and I daresay The Weeknd is the only artist who could rival the original. Vocally, the cover is top-notch, and the production has the same build up-let down, R&B-rock fusion format as Jackson’s version.
Then there’s "Outside," where The Weeknd taunts “I’ll let you show me his moves, let you do what he taught you,” with a honey-dipped tenor to compliment his boasts of sexual prowess. On "Montreal," the bold percussion and bridge sang in French seems blast the listener back to the early 90s, while also giving "Echoes of Silence" an exotic flair.
"Same Old Song" beautifully laments the break-up of a past lover. Over Timbaland-esqe, trippy production, and oozing with braggadocio, the Weeknd sings “I made it big, poppin’ , yeah/ Tell me how you like me now” with a killer falsetto. And The Fall celebrates a celebrity’s self-destruction, personifying The Weeknd’s personal mantra, “XO Till We Overdose.”
With influences ranging from hip-hop, R&B, dubstep, and rock, Echoes of Silence is an enjoyable listen for fans of many genres. Undoubtedly being the best R&B release for some time, The Weeknd has the potential to bring R&B music back to the forefront, in a climate where urban music is overwhelmingly dominated Hip Hop. 4.5/5 stars.
Stand-Out Tracks: Montreal, Same Old Song, Outside
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